19-05-2025
Man jailed for role in Bristol's summer riots 'doesn't regret' attending protest
A man who was jailed for his part in the protests last summer has said he 'fundamentally regretted having altercations' but did not regret attending the demonstration.
Dan Lock, 32, from Kingswood, South Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after attending a demonstration in Bristol on 3 August.
He was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a 'violent situation' that unfolded outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in the city.
Now, having served six months of his sentence, Mr Lock has spoken to ITV News West Country about his decision to attend a planned 'Stop the Boats' protest in August last year.
Asked if he had regrets over what had happened, Dan said: 'I fundamentally regret having altercations with people, I should have dealt with it in a better way but I don't regret going down there, no.
'I firmly believe if you feel like you need to voice your opinion and you're worried about something then in this day and age there's nothing wrong with speaking out about it.'
The demonstration was one of more than 30 across the country that broke out following the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe in Southport.
Mr Lock is one of 48 to have been sentenced for his role in the Bristol unrest which began in Castle Park on 3 August 2024 before moving across Bristol Bridge, with a group ending up outside the Mercure Hotel.
Prior to the protest, the self-employed electrician had been of previously good character and a court heard had never been inside a police station before.
Reflecting on what happened that day he said: 'I went down there just to see what was going on really. It was a peaceful protest as far as I was aware.
'As time went on things started to get a bit more aggressive from both sides. Missiles were getting thrown, bottles of urine - from both sides.'
Asked why he went, he said: 'I do firmly believe in Stop the Boats. I firmly believe in that. I feel like we are being overran.
'The country hasn't got much funding as it is and we're spending a lot of money on housing illegal immigrants at the minute.
'Money that could be spent on many other things - transport, my grandparents have just had their winter fuel cut, they've had their winter fuel payments taken away from them and we're housing illegal immigrants - spending billions and billions on it, I just don't see the logic in it at all.'
Many asylum seekers are currently being housed in temporary accommodation, such as hotels.
People are not illegal immigrants unless they have had an asylum claim refused and they remain in the country regardless.
Mr Lock said he had hit a member of the 'anti-protest' after they had spat at him and allegedly called him a Nazi.
Sentencing him at Bristol Crown Court for the altercation, Judge Michael Cullum said: 'You assisted and led in what became a violent situation, quite clearly you were intent in leading from the front row.
'That was entirely out of character, I don't know what it was about that situation that led you to behave to those people in a way that's very different to how you have previously acted to other people.'
Mr Lock said during and following the protests people automatically assumed that he was racist, a far right supporter or a member of the English Defence League.
Reflecting on his arrest he said: 'I was spat at. That's what initially started it, someone spat at me and called me a Nazi.
'Because I'm white and I'm bald, do I fit the agenda of someone who is being a Nazi and a racist?'
He added: 'There were some people that were down there to specifically cause trouble, there's no doubt about that.
'But, you can't brandish everyone - just because people are walking around with an England flag - you can't brandish them all racists and far right.'
Mr Lock said he regretted how the protest had panned out as it had had a 'major' impact on his life.
'I never thought I'd go to prison. Ever. I've never been involved in that sort of life,' he said.
'In later life I've always wanted to move to Australia, settle down in Australia - that's off the cards now because of what I've done.
'It's had a major impact on my life - I've been branded a racist, which I'm not.
'I've been branded far right, EDL, my girlfriend received threats, minor threats, but threats because of what happened.'
He said that people should not feel sorry for him and that he did not feel sorry for himself but that he was now working on rebuilding his life.
He said: 'It's a daunting period for me, it's a period that I'm not going to forget for a long, long, long time.
'Since I've come out life is just kind of back to normal. I'm keeping my head down and just trying to rebuild on the time that I've lost and the finances I've lost from being away.
Asked if he sees violence erupting again, he responded: 'No, no, not with the sentences and the way that people like myself were treated, no.
'I think people would be ridiculous to do something like that. I for one lost six months of my life. I wouldn't go down there again.'
