A woman who was caught on camera attacking police officers and smashing the window of Bridewell Police Station during the Kill The Bill protests has been found guilty of riot.
Mariella Gedge-Rogers, 27, of Clifton, was convicted following a unanimous decision by the jury following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
Gedge-Rodges was found guilty of being part of a group that used or threatened violence and together, caused others to fear for their personal safety. The 27-year-old was arrested six days after the riot took place outside the city centre police station on Sunday, March 21 last year after her image was released as part of a police appeal.
READ MORE: Bristol Kill the Bill protester cleared of riot
During her trial, digital evidence including footage from officers’ body-worn cameras, CCTV and mobile phone footage was played to the jury.
Gedge-Rogers is seen to hit a police officer on the head with a skateboard in the footage and throw missiles at other officers from the roof of the police station. She was also seen to repeatedly strike the front window of the station with her skateboard before handing it to a man for him to do the same.
Detective Superintendent James Riccio said: “Mariella Gedge-Rogers did not deny taking part in the horrible events in Bristol city centre that night but claimed she acted alone and not as part of a group.
“The evidence presented to the jury however clearly showed her joining forces with others on the roof of the police station to hurl missiles at officers. She was also captured handing her skateboard, which she had used as a weapon, to another individual for them to use. The jury were subsequently left with little choice but to conclude she was not acting alone but was part of a violent mob.”
Gedge-Rogers will appear in court for her sentence on Thursday, March 10, bringing the total number of people to be sentenced for the March 2021 riot to 15.
Jasmine York, 26, of Brislington, is due to be sentenced on Monday, March 14 after being convicted of arson on Monday, February 7, although she was cleared of riot charges. To date, the 13 people sentenced have been jailed for a combined total of 51 years and eight months.
Criminal proceedings relating to the events of Sunday, March 21 are ongoing against other defendants.
Follow the latest updates on this story and others like it here
