Riots in Dover – Shaun Grimsley, of Staffordshire, charged, Brian Stamp of South Shields imprisoned.

One man has been jailed and another charged over the Dover riots as the first anniversary approaches.

Brian Stamp was sent to prison for 16 months today after hitting someone with a flagpole and throwing objects at rival protesters.

Meanwhile Shaun Grimsley has been charged with violent disorder and will appear in court next month.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that Stamp, 34 and of Talbot Road, South Shields travelled to Kent to take part in a pre-planned political demonstration in Dover last January 30.

Members of the far right, including the National Front and South East Alliance, arrived in the town to march and ended up clashing with left wing protesters who had also flocked in.

Police afterwards uncovered footage of Stamp throwing objects at members of an opposing group in Effingham Street.

The street was the setting for one of the ugliest scenes of the day when both sides hurled missiles at each other from either end.

He was later seen assaulting an opposing demonstrator with a flagpole, causing the pole to break, in Folkestone Road.

He pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder.

Det Con Kirsty Bricknell, the investigating officer for this case, said: “Stamp was taking part in a pre-planned demonstration but, instead of using it as a platform to lawfully voice his opinions, took it as an opportunity to take part in violent disorder.

“The behaviour of Stamp, and numerous other offenders who took part in the disorder, caused a significant amount of disruption for residents in Dover and left a number of people fearing for their safety.

“Despite not being in Kent, and returning to his home in the South Shields, Stamp was unable to avoid arrest.

“ This sentencing shows that Kent Police has the resources to identify offenders from across the UK and that geographical distance is no barrier to us bringing them to justice.”

In a separate development Grimsley, of Foxglove Walk, Hednesford, Staffordshire, was arrested last Thursday after a warrant was executed at his home.

He has since been bailed to attend Folkestone Magistrates Court on Wednesday, February 8.

Det Insp Bill Thornton, from Kent Police, said: “We are continuing to work tirelessly to identify suspects for offences committed before and during the demonstrations in Dover.

“This latest charge shows that we work closely with police forces across the UK to make sure these arrests are made.”

Every since that violent day police have been hunting down perpetrators and had made 80 arrests by November.

A number of other convicted rioters have already been jailed.

Kent Online