Business owner jailed for violence in Bristol

A man with his own removal business has been jailed for two years for his role in a protest that turned violent in Bristol .

Marc Donavon, 40, of Wells in Somerset , joined an anti-immigration march on August 3, which saw beer kegs thrown at police vehicles and clashes in Castle Park in the city.

Appearing before Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Michael Cullum said there were “clear images” of Donavon taking part in the protest.

You could have gone home and been the responsible family man that you had otherwise previously been. This was a deliberately violent protest, and you aligned yourself to it

While he described Donavon’s involvement in the events as “relatively slight” he said he had surrounded himself with people throwing beer kegs at police vehicles, which he had given “encouragement by filming”.

Donavon had also “kicked out” at people, thrown objects at police officers and poured liquid over a passing cyclist.

Alec Small, defending, said the defendant had handed himself in to the police and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Passing his sentence, the judge said: “You’ve been out of trouble for about a decade, your more serious convictions approaching 15 years (old).

“You have worked hard, and I accept you have rehabilitated yourself. You are a hardworking man with a removals business, and you have a family.

“You are before the court for one offence, which is out of character to what has happened for the last decade or more.”

The judge said Donavon’s actions must be taken in the context of those he was with, which would have led people to fear for their personal safety.

“It may not have been your intention initially to attend but you chose to attend,” he said.

“The febrile atmosphere must have made it clear right from the word go that this was going to be, and was, teetering on the point of disorder.

“You could have gone home and been the responsible family man that you had otherwise previously been.

“This was a deliberately violent protest, and you aligned yourself to it.”

Donavon did not take part in the violent protest at the Mercure Hotel, which houses asylum seekers.

Judge Cullum handed him a two-year prison sentence, reduced from three years due to his early guilty plea.

Daniel Lock, 31, from Kingswood, a self-employed electrician, was also sentenced to two years in prison.

The court heard that Lock had “got into a fight” outside the Mercure Hotel after someone spat at him.

Tabitha Macfarlane, defending, said Lock had been of previously good character and had never been inside a police station before.

She read out a statement submitted on behalf of Lock’s football manager who described him as “one of the most kind-hearted and reliable people that I know”, who regularly “goes out of his way to help others”.

Ms Macfarlane said it was in his words “completely stupid behaviour” and he accepted his part in the events.

Judge Cullum said: “You assisted and led in what became a violent situation, quite clearly you were intent in leading from the front row.

“That was entirely out of character, I don’t know what it was about that situation that led you to behave to those people in a way that’s very different to how you have previously acted to other people.”

A third defendant, Thomas Medler, 24, of Lockleaze, was handed a 34-month prison sentence for violent disorder and a further eight for breaching a sexual harm prevention order, giving him a 42-month sentence in total.

Mohammed Osman, 37, of Easton , appeared before the court but had his sentencing pushed back for a pre-sentence report to be written.

He will next appear on Thursday.