A woman who spat at and hit police officers with a wooden stick during the Kill the Bill protest in Bristol has been jailed for nearly six years. Francesca Horn, 25, was captured on CCTV and police body cameras spitting at officers on multiple occasions and kicking their shields.
She is also seen throwing objects, including a police shield, at them. She also damaged a police van by pulling off its wing mirror.
Horn admitted a charge of violent disorder but denied riot. However she was convicted following a trial at Bristol Crown Court in April.
Tearful Horn, of Montpelier, was sentenced to five years and 10 months this week. She is the 19th person to be held responsible for offences committed during the riot outside Bridewell Police Station on March 21 last year.
Avon and Somerset Police Detective Superintendent James Riccio, the senior investigating officer, said: “Horn repeatedly directed vile verbal abuse at officers throughout the course of the incident and spat at them several times. Her disgusting behaviour then escalated to physical abuse as she kicked at officers’ shields, attacked them with a wooden stick and threw objects at them.”
Supt Riccio added: “Horn denied she was part of a group which used or threatened violence which caused others to fear for their safety but the evidence we presented to the jury was clear and they ultimately agreed she was guilty of riot.”
Activists took to the streets in January at cities across the UK, including in Bristol, calling on the House of Lords to reject the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill which they said would restrict their right to protest peacefully. However what began as a peaceful protest deteriorated into violent clashes between riot police and protesters.
To date, 16 people have been sent to prison in connection with the incident for a total of 60 years and five months. Not all those arrested have been convicted however. In May Kadeem Yarde of Bideford Devon was cleared of riot in relation to the protest following a one week trial.
The bill itself was ultimately passed following some movements between the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It received Royal Assent on April 21.
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