6 days ago
Epping asylum hotel protests see two more in court
Two more men have appeared in court charged with committing violent disorder during demonstrations outside a hotel used to house asylum of people have attended protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on four different occasions this Magistrates' Court heard that Shaun Thompson, 37, of Western Avenue, Epping, was allegedly identified on footage jumping on police vehicles and punching windows on 17 Police said a total of nine people had been charged with offences.
Prosecutor George Dixon said Mr Thompson damaged property belonging to a Metropolitan Police officer in Epping which was either "reckless or intentional".He caused £1,000 in damage, he Thompson pleaded guilty to criminal damage, but not guilty to violent disorder, and he was released on was told not to go within 100m of The Bell Elles, 28, of The Lawn, Harlow, pleaded guilty to committing violent disorder and possessing cannabis on 17 July. He was remanded into defendants are due again at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August, where they are expected to appear alongside other men accused of offences related to the demonstrations.
Crowds gathered outside the Epping Forest District Council offices and outside the hotel on Thursday Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said he was "really grateful" to people in Epping who made their voices heard "peacefully".The protests - against the use of the hotel - have followed a man living in the hotel being arrested, and subsequently charged, with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody.
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