Two men have been jailed for their involvement in the far-right anti-immigration protest that brought violence to the streets of Bristol in August. One threw a punch at a police horse and the other assaulted a cyclist and was filmed squaring up to police.
Now, Benjamin Tavener, 35, from Charfield, South Gloucestershire, and Kieran Leach, 21, from Keynsham, are both in jail. They were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Monday, October 7.
Tavener received 16 months whilst Leach has been sentenced to 20 months in prison, having admitted to violent disorder. Tavener also pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, while Leach pleaded guilty to an assault charge. Video footage from Saturday, 3 August, showed Tavener lobbing an object during the mayhem in Castle Park, and he was also spotted punching a police horse.
Leach was caught on camera acting belligerently towards police officers and the public. A video shows him assaulting a cyclist and being part of the mob throwing punches outside the Mercure Hotel.
Detective Chief Inspector Tom Herbert, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “More than 30 people have now been sentenced for their part in the shocking scenes of disorder in Bristol that day. We have made it absolutely clear that those responsible would be identified and arrested and that’s what we continue to do with 52 people having been arrested and 43 of those having been charged.”
The disorder broke out in Bristol city centre on Saturday, August 3, as far right protesters clashed with police and counter protesters in Castle Park, on Bristol Bridge and then on Redcliff Hill, in an evening of disturbances. Police are still searching for more people wanted for questioning as part of the disorder.
A 16-year-old, who can’t be named due to his age, was also sentenced on Monday, October 7. He was given a nine-month intensive referral order at Bristol Youth Court. He had also previously admitted to violent disorder.