A chef from Horfield who admitted disorder at a Kill The Bill Protest in Bristol last year has been jailed.
Matthew O'Neill admitted attacking police, bashing at the windows of Bridewell Police Station and fuelling a fire which was started in the wheel arch of an unoccupied police van. He told Bristol Crown Court: "You must understand it's better to hit something than to hurt people."
O'Neill, 31, of Browning Court, pleaded guilty to riot and arson. Jailing him for five years, Judge James Patrick told him: "The police are all public servants who are human beings. What has been done to them dehumanises them. You admit you went overboard."
Read more: Watch moment Bristol man Callum Davies throws missiles at police
Mark Worsley, prosecuting, said on March 21 thousands of people took to the streets of Bristol to march and then sit down outside a Bristol police station. The peaceful protest was against the controversial Government bill curtailing the right to protest.
'Kill the Bill' campaigners protested against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, giving police and the Home Secretary increased powers to stop protests. It also makes a special new law to protect monuments and statues, in the wake of the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, with the crime of damaging them punishable by up to ten years in prison.
But scenes on March 21 turned ugly, with protesters letting off fireworks, throwing missiles at police, setting a police van on fire and smashing the windows of Bridewell Police Station. Police put out a series of appeals to trace the perpetrators and arrests followed.
O'Neill was captured on camera, armed with a police shield and baton, in a skirmish with officers and bashing on the windows of Bridwell Police Station. He was also seen fuelling a fire which had been started to the offside rear wheel of an unoccupied police van.
When arrested O'Neill admitted being at the scene. He denied setting fire to anything and said he was attacked by police - originally pleading not guilty but pleading guilty to offences three days before a planned trial last month.
Jacob Bindman, defending, told the court O'Neill had a "tragic" history, a criminal record motivated by drug addiction and a mixed personality disorder. But he said his client is community-minded, has strong friendships and is willing to do things for others.
Mr Bindman said: "His conduct got out of hand. He accepts it went overboard and he will pay a heavy price for that. "Mr O'Neill felt some of the police conduct was over the top and was violent towards protestors."
Sign up for our new Bristol's Court Insider newsletter for the latest court and crime news - from arrests to trials and sentencings
