'Violent mob' at asylum hotel protest turned Epping into 'scene of chaos', court told

A "violent mob" at an asylum hotel protest attacked police officers and turned Epping into "a scene of disorder and chaos", a court has heard.

Lee Gower, 43, and Phillip Curson, 53, of Upminster, deny committing violent disorder during protests outside The Bell Hotel in Essex on 17 July last year.

Gower, of Epping, also denies assaulting a police officer during the protest.

Several demonstations were held outside the hotel over the summer, after asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu was charged with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.

The Ethiopian national, who arrived in the UK on a small boat days prior to the incidents, was later found guilty of five offences - including sexual assault - at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.

Opening the trial on Tuesday, prosecutor Sam Willis said both defendants belonged to a "violent mob".

He told jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court: "This case is about an incident of serious and sustained public disorder arising from a protest in July of last year.

"Although the protest began peacefully, it became violent - and these defendants are alleged to have been part of an aggressive mob that resorted to repeated acts of violence and vandalism - turning the town of Epping into a scene of disorder and chaos."

Mr Willis said Gower, Curson and "others, both identified and unknown" used violence, including "punching, kicking, throwing, pushing, and shoving - mostly aimed at police officers and police vehicles, but also sometimes aimed at the counter-protesters".

He told jurors six people had already pleaded guilty to violent disorder relating to the protest on 17 July.

The prosecutor said crowds began to form outside The Bell Hotel from around 4pm that day - with 400 to 500 people at the demonstration. At around 5.30pm, about 50 counter-protesters arrived at Epping train station, and were escorted towards the hotel by police.

Simultaneously, protesters outside the hotel started to run up the road to confront the counter-protesters.

Police attempted to keep the two groups apart by imposing a cordon, the court heard.

Mr Willis said: "From that point on until around 10pm, what had been a peaceful protest descended into serious public disorder in the streets of Epping.

"Police officers were subjected to sustained attacks, including acts and threats of violence. Officers were grabbed, pushed, punched, and kicked. Police vans were kicked and damaged."

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Barrister Tony Wyatt told jurors Gower used force "in response to what he believed was unlawful force of a police service that had taken sides".

Mr Wyatt added: "His belief was that when the police came there, they came there on the side of counter-protesters."

Barrister Stefan Bisson told jurors that Curson was "in the wrong place at the wrong time", having been at a nearby pub with his partner before the protest, adding that any physical force used was "in self-defence or in defence of others".

Gower, who was arrested in Gloucester on 24 July, gave a prepared statement to police "denying using unlawful violence and stating that he had been acting in self defence and to prevent any escalation of violence or disorder".

He also denies assaulting an emergency worker.

Curson, who was arrested on 28 July after walking into Chelmsford Police Station, denies using or threatening unlawful violence.

The trial continues.

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