Man admits to 'barrelling into police officer' at demo

Ryan Wheatley pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates' Court to assault by beating

A man who "barrelled into" a police officer during a night of protests has pleaded guilty to assault.

Ryan Wheatley, 40, was one of two men arrested in Southampton on Wednesday as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted "racists go home".

Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, admitted at Southampton Magistrates' Court to a charge of assault by beating.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.

Leah Dillon, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had attended the protest wearing a mask and a hooded top with an England flag draped over his shoulders.

She described how he had been spotted by Sgt Rob Perry attempting to run at the counter-demonstrators who had no police protection at the time.

"He went towards them, he was running towards them, this was perceived as an attempt to engage them in violence," she said.

Ms Dillon said "he ran straight into" Sgt Perry who used an incapacitant spray before arresting him.

Wheatley accepted in an interview that he had "barrelled into the officer", the court was told.

Up to 400 people gathered and chanted "racists go home" in Southampton on Wednesday, outnumbering about 50 anti-immigration protesters

The prosecutor read a statement from Sgt Perry in which he said: "I was very concerned about his intention should he be given the chance to interact with the group."

Sgt Perry described the defendant as a "very large male" and recalled that he sprayed him "because of the sheer size of him - I felt it was the safest way to control him".

Barry Keel, defending, said Wheatley had expressed remorse for his actions and accepted he had "let his family down".

He added the defendant had a history of drug problems.

Mr Keel told the court Wheatley read about the protest on Reddit, and his concern was "about illegal immigration rather than immigration per se".

He said the defendant had been given the England flag by another protester and had left the other demonstration because "he was concerned and upset about being called a racist or a Nazi".

The demonstration in Southampton on Wednesday followed a week of disturbances in parts of England and Northern Ireland after the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport - with unrest fuelled by misinformation online.

Police have said the majority who attended the protest in Southampton were "peaceful and respectful".

A second man, aged 18 from Eastleigh, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to cause criminal damage at Southampton and has since been released on bail pending further police inquiries.

A 17-year-old arrested on suspicion of wilfully obstructing the highway at a protest in Portsmouth on Wednesday has also been released on bail