Crawley yob jailed after race riot

A RACIST yob has been jailed for his part in a march which saw Asians attacked at random and police pelted with placards.

James Butler, from Southgate, was given 16 weeks behind bars after drinking "11 pints" and telling police he "may have kicked someone".

The 18-year-old travelled to Luton to join "March For England", organised by in response to a protest by Islamic extremists.

Luton Magistrates Court heard problems began when a group of Muslims disrupted a homecoming parade by the Royal Anglian Regiment in the town on March 10 last year, branding soldiers "Butchers of Basra".

Prosecuting, Jason Woolfe said Butler joined a "counter demonstration" on May 24.

He said the protest saw windows smashed and an Asian man attacked, with witnesses reporting chants of "scum, scum, scum" from the mob.

The court viewed CCTV footage showing a small group running across a dual carriageway where they attacked a car containing three Asian men, also subjecting them to racist taunts.

Some of the estimated 200 people on the march wore balaclavas, while many waved English and British flags.

Mr Woolfe said Butler, of Beeches Crescent, told the police he had drunk 11 pints and may have kicked someone.

He added: "He appeared at the front of the group and turned and tried to incite the others."

The court heard he had previously received a reprimand for using racially aggravated words or behaviour.

His lawyer Amy Connell said Butler, who works for ASDA in Crawley, accepts his actions but says he felt "provoked" by police.

She said: "He is immature, easily-led and does not think things through."

Jailing Butler and three other men involved in the violence, District Judge Carolyn Melanby said: "People who behave in this way will lose their liberty."

The four each admitted one count of affray at an earlier hearing and were sentenced on January 19.