Teen jailed for trying to storm pub during Birmingham anti-EDL protest

Haris Ghaffar, aged 19, from Handsworth, admitted a charge of violent disorder

A teenager has been jailed for trying to storm a pub during an anti-English Defence League protest in Birmingham. As a drinker was attacked by marchers in the smoking area of The Clumsy Swan in Yardley, Haris Ghaffar could be seen breaking away from the group and trying to kick in a wooden door.

Terrified staff and customers inside the venue had barricaded the entrances, which held firm. Ghaffar, who was wearing a balaclava, then walked into a shop and bought a drink. The 19-year-old was identified on CCTV and arrested at his home later in the day.

Ghaffar, of Thornhill Road, Handsworth admitted violent disorder and was sentenced to 20 months at Birmingham Crown Court earlier today, Wednesday, September 18. Prosecutor Mark Phillips stated the incident occurred 'against the background of civil unrest', which arose from misinformation about the ethnicity and religion of a man suspected to have killed three young girls in Southport.

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On August 5 this year an unauthorised Muslim protest took place in Bordesley Green in response to false rumours that the EDL were going to march in the area. The gathering started around 4pm outside an Islamic centre in Daniels Road and swiftly moved on to the McDonald's in Belchers Lane.

CCTV showed a large number of those present were wearing face coverings and balaclavas while some were believed to be armed with weapons, such as hammers. The court was told there was heavy disruption to traffic in the area including ambulances struggling to access Heartlands Hospital.

There were also reports of cars being driven dangerously, a Sky news van being attacked, a National Express bus being boarded by protestors and a car driver being attacked. Mr Phillips said at around 8pm protesters were marching near to The Clumsy Swan pub in Yardley, which prompted the assistant manager to lock the doors and ask customers to fetch stools from the smoking area inside.

But at one stage one of the customers opened the doors and started to act 'aggressively' towards the marchers, which prompted a group of them to retaliate and attack him, forcing the man to the ground. Mr Phillips said: "The defendant was not directly involved in that attack. What he did was just after the attack or while it was going on.

"Other customers started to kick the windows in the pub. The defendant went to an adjacent wooden door. He was the first to do this and to kick the door.

"The prosecution say in doing so because he was the first he in fact encouraged others to do so. And so they did. A number of others, run at the door, some taking flying kicks at the door.

"Inside the pub members of staff and customers were trying to barricade the door to stop people getting in. They were trying to brace it with furniture."

In a statement the assistant manager of the pub said the incident was 'scary' and that staff were 'shaken up'. One employee described the scenes as 'hectic'.

After being arrested Ghaffar claimed he believed people associated with the EDL were inside The Clumsy Swan at the time. He had never previously committed a crime.

Jonathan Barker, defending, said: "He had just turned 19 and got swept up in the emotions that were high, particularly that day. Without thinking he made the decision to kick the public house on four or five occasions."

He added Ghaffar had expressed genuine remorse and the incident was out of character. Judge Melbourne Inman KC, passing sentence, described the misinformation that led to the widespread disorder as 'utter rubbish'.

He said: "I accept there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. Equally important is the understanding that for this type of civil disorder it is quite clear the only appropriate punishment can be achieved by immediate imprisonment.

"It must be made clear to everyone this type of civil disorder will result in prison sentences and the court has a duty to ensure it does all it can to protect the public against this type of disorder and violence."