A HEREFORDSHIRE man has been jailed for violent disorder after throwing a fence panel at police.

George Coldicott, 28, of Leominster, and Ashley Harris, 36, of Kingswood, near Bristol, were both sentenced having pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

The men were part of a group which used or threatened violence and caused others to fear for their safety during the disorder in Bristol on August 3.

Bristol Crown Court heard Harris had thrown objects, including bottles and cans, towards police officers and counter-protesters, fought with – and hit – members of the public and “lashed out” at police officers.

He pleaded guilty when he appeared in court and was sentenced to three years in prison.

The judge said he was part of the “violent mob” and was “jeering, shouting and screaming” at police officers and members of the public while being “totally out of control”.

Coldicott appeared at Inner London Crown Court where he was sentenced for his involvement in disorder in Bristol on August 3 and London on July 31. He is the first person known to be from Herefordshire who has been convicted of an offence related to this summer riots.

Body-worn video captured in London showed him throwing a metal fence panel at a police officer and in Bristol, he was also seen throwing an object towards a police officer.

He was subsequently arrested and charged for violent disorder in both Bristol and London and he pleaded guilty to both offences. He was sentenced on August 30 to 22 months in prison for the London offence and 34 months for his role in the Bristol disorder, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Detective Chief Inspector Clement Goodwin said: “Both Harris and Coldicott played a significant part in the significant violent disorder we saw in Bristol on August 3.

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“Their actions put the public and police officers at risk. Judges have recognised this and handed them both lengthy prison sentences.

“Our investigation is now well under way with 43 people having been arrested and 29 being charged. Twelve people have now been jailed for their involvement in the shocking disorder in Bristol.”

Officers continue to appeal for the public’s help to identify a number of people we want to speak to as part of the investigation. Their images, and details of how to provide information, can be found by following this link: https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/images-released-as-part-of-investigation-into-the-disorder-in-bristol/

The fatal stabbing of three young girls at a dance class in the seaside town of Southport sparked the worst unrest the UK has seen in more than a decade.

The violence in towns and cities across England and in Northern Ireland was fuelled by misinformation online. Unrest was also whipped up online by the far-right and those opposed to immigration.