A rioter who shouted in a police dog’s face has been sent to prison for 20 months.
Bradley McCarthy, 34, joined an anti-immigration march and was involved in clashes with counter-protesters and police in Bristol.
McCarthy, who was heard to have a “stable family life”, was one of more than 490 people to be charged in connection to the riots that spread across the country earlier this month.
Video evidence showed McCarthy “threatening” people and shouting at police, including an officer’s dog.
Prosecutor Emily Evans said the defendant played a “prominent role” in the incident, which took place in Castle Park and on Bristol Bridge on August 3.
“football-style chants”.
Ms Evans told Bristol Crown Court how McCarthy’s behaviour with Left-wing protesters was described as “threatening” and that he engaged in “football-style chants”.
“He is at one stage referring to members of the opposition as ‘p--- c---s’, said Ms Evans.
After McCarthy was seen goading “protesters to cross the police line”, the court heard he was arrested for breaching the peace. However, he remained in the area.
“But instead of taking that as a sign to go home, he can later be seen shouting at police officers and also shouting in a police dog’s face,” the prosecutor said.
‘YOU WERE SHOUTING IN THE DOG’S FACE FOR SOME REASON’
At a previous hearing, McCarthy, from Knowle, Bristol, admitted violent disorder.
The father of three had previous convictions for violence, weapons offences and public order, but had not been in trouble for several years.
Robyn Rowlands, defending, said McCarthy had recently tried to help a person at the roadside who was dying after trying to take their own life, which had an “exceptional effect” on his mental health.
“This is somebody who appears to have in the last six years done a remarkable turnaround,” he said. “He has a stable family life and is absolutely committed to his family.”
Passing sentence, Judge Julian Lambert said McCarthy should have “well understood” the effect of his actions.
Addressing the defendant, he said: “You were then shouting at officers, including aggressively getting to the level of a dog and shouting in its face for some reason.
“You did all this in a tinderbox atmosphere where it only takes the actions of one person to spark very serious group violence. You should have well understood the potential incendiary effect of your actions.”
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