‘Racist’ Man Who Shouted in Police Dog’s Face Jailed

A man who shouted in a police dog’s face and was “racist and abusive” during unrest that marred Bristol has been jailed.

Bradley McCarthy, 34, of Knowle West, appeared at Bristol Crown Court earlier, charged with violent disorder over his “prominent role” in the city centre disorder.

It comes after hundreds of far-right protesters and a counter-protest group gathered for two demonstrations near Castle Park on 3 August.
McCarthy was caught on video “threatening” opponents and shouting at the police, including at a police dog.

He is the seventh person to be given a prison sentence in relation to the incident, along with a total of 30 people arrested.

Last night, a 15-year-old was also charged with violent disorder and is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court later.

Police have warned other suspects can expect “a knock on the door soon”

Tensions have been high across England after the killing of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July, with false claims spread online about the person responsible.

At the sentencing, His Honour Judge Lambert said McCarthy’s actions had not been peaceful that night, but were “a violent ignorant defiance of the law.”

“There has been coordinated action by extremists to cause violence and by so doing to generate fear throughout the community,” Judge Lambert said.

“You should have well understood the potential incendiary effect of your actions.”

McCarthy was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court for his role in the disorder

The court was shown two videos of him demonstrating in Castle Park and one of him on Redcliffe Hill, where protesters attempted to storm a hotel that was believed to house asylum seekers.

Prosecutor Emily Evans told the court he used racist and abusive language, threatening football style chants, and goaded with counter protesters to cross the police line and taunt police dogs.

Defence solicitor, Robin Rollins, said McCarthy had assisted a suicide victim in the weeks before the demonstration, which may have affected his mental health.

He had “lost all sense of himself”, Rollins said.

Following the sentencing, McCarthy shrugged his shoulders as he left the dock and said to his family: “See you in 10 months”.

Avon and Somerset Police are still investigating the Bristol disorder, and have issued a warning to those involved to expect a “knock on the door soon”.