A judge has highlighted the “irony” of violent protesters being caught thanks to videos shared on social media by participants in the disorder in Southampton.
The comments by Judge William Mousley KC came as he handed out prison terms to three more offenders – bringing the total so far to 13.
During the sentencing hearing, Southampton Crown Court was shown video footage of the disorder, including clips posted on social media by some of the protesters, as well as police body-worn video and aerial drone footage.
Judge Mousley said: “It’s something of an irony that so many of these offenders have been caught and prosecuted because people in the crowd were filming what was going on, which they may not have envisaged at the time.”
A 36-year-old man has also pleaded guilty to violent disorder by “launching” a frying pan at officers.
Ryan Atkinson, 36, of Highcliff Avenue, Southampton, who is the 22nd person to be charged after the protest on June 2, entered his plea at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.
He was remanded in custody to be sentenced at the crown court on June 29.
At the crown court, three men were jailed for violent disorder during the unrest, which followed the murder of student Henry Nowak.
Harry Varney, 34, of Southampton, was sentenced to three years imprisonment; Denis Read, 28, of Sarisbury Green, was given a two-year and eight-month prison term; and Benjamin Jones, 23, from Eastleigh, was jailed for two years and two months.
Mariusz Szczyglo, 45 from Southampton, had his case for the same charge adjourned to be sentenced on June 30.
Siobhan Linsley, prosecuting, said that Jones was filmed picking up stones and throwing them at police on three occasions, and kicking a bin into a parked car.
She added: “He was first seen in Belmont Road moving very quickly, he was shouting at the riot officers while filming the disorder. He was filming the small number of police being pursued by the baying crowd.”
She said Jones had one conviction for criminal damage and common assault.
Stephen Tricker, representing Jones, said his client suffered from ADHD and autism, he “expresses sorrow and remorse” for his actions, and said it had been an “impulsive decision” to join the protest.
Ms Linsley said that Read was at the front of the “aggressive” crowd and could be seen kicking a bin and throwing an item at close range at police, but missing, before throwing another seven items including a glass bottle, small tree branches and a long piece of plastic.
She said that Read, a kitchen porter, had four previous convictions for burglary, possession of cannabis and possession of a bladed article.
Thomas Acworth, defending, said: “Denis Read knows what he did was wrong, Denis Read knows just how stupid he was but he is sorry for what he did.”
Ms Linsley said that Varney was filmed swearing at and threatening officers, and punching officers’ riot shields three times.
She said he had a previous conviction for battery.
Khalid Missouri, defending, said that Varney had gone to Belmont Road to “pay his respects” to Mr Nowak and he was not affiliated with any of the organisers of the demonstration.
He added that his client, who had been filming the disorder with his phone, had become angry after he was shoved, causing him to drop his phone and breaking it,
He said: “He isn’t targeting the police for what they did to Henry Nowak, his reaction to this is triggered by his phone, something precious to him, falling.”
Mr Missouri added that Varney had not been filming to share with others, as he did not have any social media profiles.
The demonstration involving 1,000 people started outside Southampton Central Police Station, before hundreds moved on to the Portswood area where Mr Nowak was killed, and where the violence started with, about 150 people remaining present, the court heard.
Anger had erupted after police body-worn video was released showing Mr Nowak being placed in handcuffs moments before he became unconscious and subsequently died.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, who lived in a nearby road with his family, was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 21 years for his murder.
The court hearings have been told that up to 13 police officers and a police dog were injured in the protest and a member of the public suffered a broken jaw.
The police operation involved 100 officers from nine different areas, with a cost of £443,000, and a clean-up cost to the local council of £7,000, the court heard.
So far 10 people have been jailed after the demonstration involving 1,000 people, which started outside Southampton Central Police Station on June 2 before hundreds moved on to the Portswood area where Mr Nowak was killed and where the violence started.
