Ricky Jones, 57, appears in court charged with encouraging violent disorder
Ricky Jones, 57, appeared in court on Friday charged with encouraging violent disorder at an anti-fascist demonstration on Wednesday.
He was arrested on Thursday and charged with encouraging violent disorder after a video emerged in which he appeared to call for far-Right protesters’ throats to be “cut” during a demonstration in Walthamstow, north-east London.
Although far-Right rioters have made up the majority of those appearing in court over the past few days, the first defendants to be sentenced on Friday were two Asian men from Leeds who, like Mr Jones, participated in counter-protests.
Sameer Ali, 21, and Adnan Ghafoor, 31, both from West Bank in Leeds, received sentences of 20 and 18 months respectively for their attack on “pro-EDL” protesters.
Meanwhile, in Birmingham, Habeeb Khan, 49, appeared in court accused of possessing an imitation AK-47 after a video circulated on social media.
Mr Jones was arrested on Thursday after footage of the alleged incident was shared online.
He had served as a Labour councillor in Dartford from 2019, before he was suspended by the party.
Mr Jones spoke in court only to confirm his name and date of birth. Members of his family were present.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram told Mr Jones: “In the midst of serious public disorder across the country, it is alleged that using a microphone, you addressed the crowd.
“You said: ‘We need to cut their throats and get rid of them.’”
Mr Jones, of Dartford, Kent, was remanded in custody ahead of a pre-trial and preparatory hearing at Inner London Crown Court on Sept 6.
Ali, 21, and Ghafoor, 31, admitted affray after they attacked “pro-EDL” rioters during a clash between opposing demonstrations in the city centre on Aug 3.
Ghafoor was also ordered to serve an additional 12 months for breaching an unrelated suspended sentence.
