Callum Flynn, 29, of Belgravia Gardens, was involved in the Enough is Enough demonstration near Downing Street on July 31.
Other demonstrators threw metal barriers, missiles and assaulted police officers but Flynn’s role was to kick at a metal barrier, try to push through the police cordon and chant at officers.
At Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday (August 27) Flynn insisted he is not a racist and has no affiliation with the far-right. He said he was there to protest the UK border policy and got carried away.
Deciding to jail Flynn, Judge Benedict Kelleher said: “The court cannot lose sight of the context here. This was disorder occurring when tensions were high across the country and there was risk of further disorder.”
The demonstration, organised by Daniel Thomas, took place the day after riots in Southport following the killing of three children.
Police imposed conditions that demonstrators must remain in a cordoned area of Richmond Terrace and the protest must end by 8.30pm.
The demonstration grew violent as people broke out of the area while glass bottles and cans were thrown at officers.
Flynn was identified as being part of a group within the cordon at around 7.15pm.
Prosecutor Gregor McKinley said: “He comes to notice as there was a group of demonstrators trying to push through the police cordon.
“He was one of the people pushing at the barriers and generally remonstrating with police at that stage of the demonstration.”
Police body worn video footage showed metal barriers being picked up and thrown at police by another man while other protesters charged at officers.
While that was going on around him Flynn was seen to kick a metal barrier towards police.
Flynn (centre in blue tshirt) pictured chanting at police (Image: Jordan Pettitt) He was arrested on August 9 while working in central London. When interviewed by police he answered no comment to all questions.
Andrew Forsyth, defending Flynn, said:” Mr Flynn wants it to be known that he is not in any way a racist.”
He said Flynn works on a building site and gets along with “people of all colours and creeds”.
Mr Forsyth said Flynn was there to protest the UK’s border policy.
“That is, as your honour will know, a perfectly reasonable concern and something they were entirely within their rights to protest against,” Mr Forsyth said.
Callum Flynn (Image: Met Police)
Flynn does not have a considerable criminal record, though in 2016 he was convicted of stealing bicycles.
Mr Forsyth said Flynn had too much to drink before the protest and was a “follower not a leader”.
“It is a single kick at a barrier. My submission in relation to that is that it is a kick in anger but it is not a concerted attempt to bring that barrier down. Nonetheless he is thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour,” Mr Forsyth said.
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Sentencing Flynn, Judge Kelleher said of the kick: “It was not, in my judgement, particularly forceful and it didn’t push the barrier over. However, by that point you must have been aware it was a very volatile situation.”
He said while police were doing their best to maintain order, Flynn’s actions could have encouraged others to further threaten them.
While Judge Kelleher accepted that Flynn is genuinely remorseful, he said the context of the offence taking place at a time of disorder across the UK means a prison sentence is necessary.
Flynn said “cheers” as Judge Kelleher sentenced him to eight months in prison.
