Two Men Convicted of Violent Disorder in Epping Asylum Hotel Protest

A jury convicted two men of violent disorder for their involvement in a protest outside a hotel in Epping, Essex, on July 17, 2023. The protest, which began peacefully, escalated into violence involving attacks on police officers and vehicles. The demonstrations followed the conviction of an asylum seeker for sexual assaults.

The convictions relate to participation in the protest. One defendant was acquitted of a separate charge of assaulting an officer.

The protest stemmed from the case of an asylum seeker charged with sexual offenses. The asylum seeker was convicted of multiple offenses, including sexual assault, receiving a prison sentence. The asylum seeker was mistakenly released from prison in October 2023, then detained again and deported later that month.

Multiple protests occurred outside the hotel throughout the summer of 2023, involving local residents and others from farther away, with a large crowd gathering. Counter-protesters arrived and were escorted by police toward the hotel.

Response Protesters moved up the road to confront the counter-protesters, leading police to establish a cordon between the groups.

Police testified that demonstrators threw bottles, milk, and flour at officers, and some used shields to attack police. Police vehicles had windscreens struck and wing mirrors removed. The prosecutor told the jury that the protest began peacefully but turned violent, with defendants part of a group that engaged in punching, kicking, throwing, pushing, and shoving, directed mostly at police officers and vehicles but also at counter-protesters.

The defense counsel for one defendant argued that he attended due to legitimate concerns and acted in self-defense when pushed by officers. The barrister for the other defendant stated that he pushed an officer in self-defense during the confrontation. Other individuals have admitted to violent disorder charges related to the same incident.