Men jailed following seafront protest

Two men have been jailed following disorder at a protest on a Dorset seafront.

About 400 anti-immigration protesters gathered on the Esplanade in Weymouth on 4 August, along with about 200 Stand Up to Racism demonstrators.

Ian Vetier, 36, from Weymouth, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 18 months.

Kevin Searle, 40, also from the town, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Prosecution barrister Richard Tett told Bournemouth Crown Court CCTV and mobile phone footage showed Vetier had been part of a large group of protesters near King's Statue and Jubilee Clock.

A statement from PC Mark Matthews said officers noticed Vetier pushing and shoving against a police sergeant.

He said he was shirtless and holding a union jack flag in his right hand at the time.

He told the court the officer felt "in fear of his safety" and at risk of being violently assaulted.

Mr Tett told the court Vetier could be seen shouting "it's a free country mate" in the CCTV footage.

The prosecutor said Vetier was shouting aggressively to police officers, calling them a "waste of space", "scum" and "other similarly charming expressions".

Richard Martin, defending, referred to Vetier as a "house husband".

He told the court he had been "caught up in the heat of the moment".

"This was a highly emotive day. People are entitled to assemble for lawful protest, what he seems to have done is fallen foul of the hostile animus there."

Sentencing Vetier, Judge Mousley told him: "You were part of group of 30 or more adult males causing public disorder during day time when members of the public would have been there."

He added that there had been "no lawful reason" for Vetier's behaviour, and while he did not use violence towards police, his role encouraged others to do so.

Two police officers were injured during the protest, attended by about 400 anti-immigration protesters and 200 Stand Up to Racism demonstrators.

Officers built a physical wall, using themselves and police vans to stop the groups meeting.

Prosecutor Matthew Mortimer said Searle had been with two other males "aggressively pushing and shoving to get through the police cordon".

The court heard Searle poured a can of cider over an officer's face and arms and was seen in footage of the disorder "gesticulating" at police.

Defending, Richard Martin told the court Searle had "cried" when he saw footage of himself at the protest.

Judge Mousley said there was "no lawful reason" for Searle's behaviour, adding: "You were at the front of the group, one of those leading the disorder gesturing in an aggressive manner."

The protest was one of a number across England and Northern Ireland, including Plymouth, Sunderland, Belfast, Rotherham, Manchester and London.

They followed the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport - with unrest fuelled by misinformation online.

Another man, Ian Thomas - charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker - was further remanded in custody when he also appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He is due in court on 9 Sept.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, external, Twitter, external, or Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to [email protected], external.