Men admit violent disorder outside asylum hotel

Two men have admitted violent disorder during a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex.

Shaun Thompson, 38, and Luke Fleming, 21, “used or threatened unlawful violence” near The Bell Hotel in Epping on 17 July, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Protests were staged there during the summer after a migrant living at the hotel was charged with and later jailed for sexual offences.

Fleming, from Thaxted Road in Buckhurst Hill, and Thompson, from Buckingham Road in Epping, will be sentenced at a later date.

Thompson had already admitted criminally damaging a police vehicle by punching it at a previous hearing.

Fireworks were let off and eggs were thrown at police officers and at the hotel on 17 July, Essex Police said at the time.

It described the protest initially being “peaceful” before disorder broke out among some.

At least eight of its officers were injured that evening, the force also said.

Thompson and Fleming were released on bail ahead of their sentencing.

BBC News