The mother of a woman who was jailed after being caught on camera attacking police and smashing the window of Bridewell Police Station during a Kill The Bill protest has criticised her jail sentence, describing it as "inhumane".
Mariella Gedge-Rogers, 27, of Queens Court, Clifton, was convicted last month following a unanimous decision by a jury following a trial at Bristol Crown Court. Gedge-Rogers was found guilty of being part of a group that used or threatened violence and, together, caused others to fear for their personal safety.
She was arrested six days after the riot took place outside the city centre police station on March 21 last year after her image was released as part of a police appeal. During her trial, digital evidence including footage from officers’ body-worn cameras, CCTV and mobile phone footage was played to the jury.
Read more: Bristol Kill the Bill rioter who 'used her skateboard as a weapon' is jailed
Gedge-Rogers could be 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 and, following a trial, was jailed for five-and-a-half years.
However, her mum Heidi Gedge has now defended her daughter. The 61-year-old said her daughter is considering appealing the sentence and that they are seeking legal advice.
The NHS worker said: "She is not a regular protester, she went along because a couple of her friends were going on.
"She is not part of any anti-fascist or anti-police groups. She went along to exercise her right to protest - a lot of people do not want the police to have more powers.
"I think she got caught up in the whole thing. A lot of alcohol was being drunk that night and she had been drinking herself.
"Her behaviour that night was completely uncharacteristic. She had never done anything like that - after the attack from the police, I think she lost the plot a bit.
"Mariella has never been involved in anything like this before and has never been violent, aggressive or harmed another person."
On Sunday, March 21, 2021, between 2,000 and 3,000 people gathered at College Green to protest against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. However, by 6pm, the protest had turned violent outside Bridewell police station and at the time police said up to 500 people were 'involved in criminality' during the event. Dozens of police officers and protesters were injured as both sides clashed in a night of violence.
Police have since arrested more than 80 people in connection with what happened that night, with more than 40 being charged and more than 15 people having been jailed to a combined total of more than 55 years.
Avon and Somerset Police said it remains in the middle of one of the largest investigations ever carried out by the force, after police vehicles were damaged and set alight, officers were assaulted and a neighbourhood police station was vandalised during a riot in Bristol city centre. The force said evidence has been meticulously gathered, reviewed and submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for charging decisions to be made.
The mum-of-one said that her daughter was portrayed in court like a thug or a rioter, as someone who went down there to cause trouble. However, she said that her daughter was only involved for two hours, until 7.30pm, long before the demonstration spiralled out of control.
'Traumatised'
Ms Gedge claimed that, towards the beginning of the incidents outside Bridewell Police station, three officers pinned her daughter down in the floor, with her head in the gutter, and that one of them stood on her hand. If that is what they wanted to do, she added, police should have arrested her daughter then as the mum said her daughter was "traumatised" by the behaviour of the police.
During the court case, Kannan Siva, defending, said Gedge-Rogers attended the March 21 protest with peaceful intentions in mind, but that her behaviour changed after she was forcibly restrained. The court heard Gedge-Rogers was ashamed and remorseful about her actions and wished to apologise "whole-heartedly".
A police spokesperson said that Gedge-Rogers struck officers' shields with her skateboard twice prior to being restrained, and then struck an officer in the head three times after the restraint. BristolLive understands the officer was wearing a helmet with a visor at the time. BristolLive also understands that no formal complaint has ever been received by the police force in relation to the restraint.
"The moment she was on the floor, all that was going on in her mind was George Floyd and the Sarah Everard case. She is not a big girl, they didn't need to do that to her - it was unnecessary," continued the mum. "They sent her back and she was really frightened, she has PTSD and this triggered feelings of being attacked by men in the past.
"The court heard about her pre-existing mental health conditions, but they were not acknowledged by the judge."
Ms Gedge said that the 27-year-old hasn't had a formal diagnosis for this condition or Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which she said her daughter also suffers from. During the court hearing, Siva, defending, said his client had acted out of character, with contributory factors being her complex mental health issues and alcohol consumption.
She said she feels her daughter gave a true and honest account of her version of the events, but that she feels the judge took no consideration of this.
The mum said that Gedge-Rogers did a couple of things that she regrets and that, for example, her daughter hit the police officer's visor three times but that no injuries were sustained. She also said that Gedge-Rogers received 32 character references, but that only two people were allowed to speak in court and a third reference was then read out.
"They didn't want to know, it felt like the judge had already made up his mind," she continued. "It was almost like it was predefined.
"The sentence is ludicrous. She is not a rioter - she is a protester exercising her right to protest.
"She feels she has been victimised and unfairly treated in our outdated, archaic justice system."
A spokesperson for the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary said they are never able to comment on individual cases, but that judges sentence according to the facts of the case, which may have aggravating or mitigating factors and the sentencing guidelines which are set by the independent Sentencing Council and the law which is set by parliament.
Judge James Patrick said in the sentencing hearing: "You were an active participant in offending. You used your skateboard as a weapon and you had a considerable amount to drink."
Ms Gedge described her daughter's sentence as inhumane, completely disproportionate and totally unreasonable, adding that she doesn't think she should have been charged with riot.
The CPS has said that, following detailed consideration of the evidence, the CPS authorised the police to charge Mariella Gedge-Rogers with one offence of riot. The CPS said she pleaded guilty to violent disorder, but was convicted of the alternative offence of riot by a jury.
The mum, who is living in a house-share in Horfield, said her daughter was really remorseful and that she thought she was going to be found not guilty or that, at the most, she would have to do some community service. It feels like young people are being penalised for protesting, she added.
"She was just a little girl that got caught up in something that blew out of proportion," she continued. "I was so surprised when the jury came back with the guilty verdict.
"I do think there was an element of racism, the jury was all white and the judge was white as well. He had no compassion for her.
"She was such a small part of what happened that night. She was not wearing dark clothing or a face covering, she was just going there as a normal human being to exercise her right to protest. If she had gone there to cause trouble, she would have worn black clothing, a face mask and a baseball cap - not red trousers.
"I feel disgusted by the whole thing. I think they have made an example of her and that she is a victim of the judicial system, which is quite archaic and does not understand people like her.
"They just looked at her as a woman of colour with a skateboard and think that is a weapon. They didn't see her as a scared, frightened girl. She always has a skateboard with her, that is how she gets around.
"She was just treated like a stereotype rather than the lovely, compassionate and creative young woman that she is. She is so supportive of her friends and family, and she is also easy-going and a bit of a free spirit.
"It was really upsetting to see my daughter portrayed in that way."
Speaking about how she is doing in prison now, Ms Gedge - who works for the NHS as an administrative - said that she is trying to keep herself calm and take it all in as the sentence came in as a complete shock. She has been receiving letters from her and also phone calls, but said she hasn't been able to visit her yet.
She said her daughter is feeling angry about the way she has been treated. Ms Gedge said that the past few months have been really stressful and exhausting, adding that she ended needing sleeping tablets due to having problems with sleep. However, she said she has had a lot of support from friends who keep asking how they can help.
Ms Gedge said her daughter was working in a cake shop, but that she is also an aerial performer which is her passion. She said they moved to the Bristol area when Gedge-Rogers was seven, adding that she grew up in the Pill and Portishead area.
What police, the CPS and the Tribunals Judiciary say
Avon and Somerset Police said: "We remain in the middle of one of the largest investigations ever carried out by Avon and Somerset Police, after police vehicles were damaged and set alight, officers were assaulted and our neighbourhood police station was vandalised during a riot in Bristol city centre on Sunday 21 March, 2021.
"Evidence has been meticulously gathered, reviewed and submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for charging decisions to be made. To date, the CPS has authorised charges to be brought against 42 people, of which 38 have been charged with riot. One of these charges was later withdrawn for medical reasons.
"A total of 16 people have now been sentenced as part of the ongoing investigation, with those convicted being given a combined total of almost 58 years in prison.
"As legal proceedings are ongoing, we will not be commenting further to protect the integrity of the court hearings and ensure each and every defendant receives a fair trial."
A CPS spokesperson said: “Following detailed consideration of the evidence, the CPS authorised the police to charge Mariella Gedge-Rogers with one offence of riot. She pleaded guilty to violent disorder, but was convicted of the alternative offence of riot by a jury.
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against other individuals relating to the Bristol riots are active and that they have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these and other proceedings.”
A spokesperson for the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary said they are never able to comment on individual cases. She said: "Judges sentence according to the facts of the case, which may have aggravating or mitigating factors and the sentencing guidelines which are set by the independent Sentencing Council and the law which is set by parliament.
"There is also a route to appeal should a defendant wish to challenge their sentence or conviction."
