Counter-protesters jailed for brawling with ‘pro-EDL far-right protesters’ in Leeds
Two men have been jailed for a combined 32 months for involvement in a mass brawl in Leeds city centre.
Sameer Ali, 21, of West Park Drive, Leeds, is jailed for 20 months for affray.
Adnan Ghafoor, 31, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for affray, with his sentence including a 12-month term for breaching a suspended sentence.
The pair were part of a group of 17 people who became involved in a street fight with a group of ‘pro-EDL far-right’ demonstrators on August 3 after allegedly receiving racist abuse.
CCTV footage shows Ali punching three men, while Ghafoor can be seen punching one man who was being held in a chokehold by others.
The defence barrister for Sameer Ali told the court that Ali had been provoked by ‘Islamophobic threats’ and ‘abuse’, with comments such as ‘f*** Allah’ made by far-right demonstrators during the day.
But Judge Guy Kearl KC said the racist abuse could not be confirmed by the CCTV footage.
Sentencing, Judge Kearl said it is ‘not clear’ who spoke first between the two groups of protesters, and ‘in one sense, it matters little’.
‘The law applies to everyone, no matter what colour, race, religion or political persuasion, there is no distinction,’ he added.
‘The violence used by you and others was unlawful’.
Addressing Ali, Judge Kearl went on to say: ‘You threw left and right-handed punches towards a bald man and then you participated in the smaller group by following that group across the road towards the bar.
‘There you confronted a second man whom you also punched.
‘You then attacked a third man who was being held by others. Then you returned to the second man – you punched him, causing him to fall to the ground and then kicked him whilst he was on the ground.’
The judge adds: ‘You walked away down the centre of the road, laughing and congratulating yourself and others in your group.’
The two men, who were not known to eachother prior to the attack, handed themselves into police the next day following a ‘moment of madness.’