Three men have been found guilty of violent disorder following disturbances outside an asylum hotel in Essex. Keith Silk, 33, Jonathan Glover, 47, and Charlie Land, 24, were convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court for their involvement in what prosecutors described as an "aggressive mob" during the protests.
The incident took place on 17 July outside The Bell Hotel, an establishment housing asylum seekers. While the demonstration initially began peacefully, the situation deteriorated into "serious public disorder" around 17:30 BST, according to prosecutors. This escalation coincided with the arrival of approximately 50 counter-demonstrators, leading to confrontations between the two groups.
Evidence presented during the trial detailed the actions of the convicted men. Keith Silk, from Loughton, was captured on camera throwing a bottle at a police vehicle and attempting to dislodge a hotel sign. Charlie Land, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was identified as a hooded figure seen smashing the windscreen of a police vehicle and tearing off wing mirrors. Jonathan Glover, from Waltham Abbey, was observed confronting and engaging in an altercation with officers, during which he reportedly lost two teeth when pushed back by a riot shield.
A senior police officer, reflecting on the scenes, previously described them as the most severe he had witnessed in his two decades of policing. These convictions follow those of several other individuals involved in the demonstrations at The Bell Hotel. Another protester, Phillip Curson, 53, from Upminster, is due to be sentenced on 14 August.
The three men – Silk, Glover, and Land – are now awaiting their sentencing, which is scheduled to take place on 19 August. The convictions underscore the serious legal consequences for individuals involved in public disorder, even when protests originate peacefully.