Police have released chilling footage of the moment a 26-year-old woman pushed a wheelie bin at a burning police car.
The video shared by Avon and Somerset Police shows Jasmine York, 26, or Brislington, further fuelling the blaze during Bristol's riot last March.
She was captured pushing a large wheelie bin into the vehicle that was already an inferno.
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Today (February 7), York was cleared of riot, but found guilty of arson following a trial at Bristol Crown Court and will be sentenced on March 14.
York told the court that on March 21 last year she attended a vigil for murdered Sarah Everard on College Green.
But she recounted how, afterwards, she followed a protest march via Castle Park to Bridewell police station, where trouble flared and though she was simply trying to prevent people being harmed she was subjected to police violence.
The court has heard trouble flared after an initially peaceful "Kill the Bill" protest against the proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
Scenes turned ugly with a faction of protesters letting off fireworks, throwing missiles at police, setting police vehicles on fire and smashing the windows of Bridewell police station.
York becomes the 14th person to be sentenced as part of the events on March 21 last year.
During the prosecution, the footage was presented to the court and showed her pushing the large wheelie bin into the burning police car which encouraged the blaze.
The prosecution also played footage which it said showed York:
- verbally abusing officers and pushing at their shields
- encouraging others to chant aggressively at officers
- walking off with a police baton
- graffitiing the side of a police vehicle
- kicking a large wheelie bin into officers
It was the Crown’s case that these actions amounted to riot however the jury found her not guilty of this offence.
She was also found not guilty of arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered.
Detective Superintendent James Riccio, the senior investigating officer, said: “The ugly scenes which took place outside Bridewell Police Station brought shame on the city of Bristol.
“Images of burning police vehicles were broadcast around the world and they will continue to serve as a reminder of the disorder brave police officers were faced with.
“York played a role in these scenes and will now face justice for her actions.
“The investigation team deserve great credit for their efforts so far in holding those involved to account for their actions and I know they won’t stop until every person identified is spoken to and every bit of evidence is assessed and if appropriate, put before the courts.”
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