Russ Cooke say he can’t remember hurling racist abuse and making gun signs at police

A retired jeweller who made gun and knife gestures towards police in a torrent of abuse and racism during disorder in Westminster is facing jail.

Russ Cooke, 66, shouted that officers should be “put to the sword” and was heard referencing “f***ing Muslims” during the incident in Whitehall on July 31.

Westminster magistrates court heard Cooke also mentioned the IRA and was heard shouting “bang bang” as he pointed a gun sign at lines of police.

He has now pleaded guilty to three racially aggravated public order offences, and has been remanded in custody to await sentencing.

Disorder broke out in Whitehall that day at the end of an “Enough is Enough” protest, as large groups of people became embroiled in clashes with police while flares were launched at the Downing Street gates and a statue of Winston Churchill.

Prosecutor David Burns said Cooke, who had been drinking, was caught on police body-worn cameras as he was “shouting and pointing towards the direction of the officers”.

He said Cooke shouted “they are going to be put to the sword” before he made a gesture with his hand of slitting his throat.

Cooke called officers “mugs”, and said “no wonder they call them filth”, the court heard.

Mr Burns said offensive words were aimed at Muslims, and he also “made reference to the IRA while making a gun symbol with his hands, shouting ‘bang, bang’.”

Cooke, who has no previous convictions, told the court as he pleaded guilty that he cannot remember his actions on that day.

“I don’t remember none of it, I don’t know what to say”, he said from the dock.

The court heard Cooke, a retired jeweller from Islington, admits have a “serious drinking problem” and denies being a racist, saying he “got carried away due to being drunk”.

The court was also told he is on medication for mental health issues and has suffered a past heart attack.

District Judge Briony Clarke remanded Cooke in custody until a sentencing hearing at Inner London crown court later this week.

“Because of the context in which these offences were committed and the large scale disorder that took place at the time – not assisted by your involvement – my powers of sentencing in this court are insufficient”, she said, when deciding to send the case to the crown court.

“You travelled to the location from your home address and have taken part in widespread disorder, and made incredibly unpleasant comments.”

She added that she must remand him in custody because of a risk of further offending when drunk: “It seems you have a drinking problem and you haven’t been seeking any assistance.”

Earlier, a second man was sentenced after he shouted “paedo” at police officers during the same disorder in Westminster on July 31.

Christopher Jones, 52, admitted using abusive words towards officers who had been called out to tackle the disorder.

The court heard Jones was not charged with any criminal offence of violence and his lawyer insisted he was not accused of “general thuggery”.

Mr Burns said Jones was heard shouting that his son is a “f***ing 16-year-old kid” before adding “paedo”.

Sundeep Pankhania, mitigating, said Jones had been “behaving entirely appropriately” during the earlier protest in Westminster, and the offensive words were shouted “out of frustration and fear”.

“It is completely distinct from general thuggery”, he added.

Jones, who lives in Romford, pleaded guilty to a public order offence of using threatening or abusive words, and Judge Clarke ordered him to pay a £350 fine.

She noted he has past convictions for offences including criminal damage and theft, but no past incidents of public disorder.

Jones was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £140 victim surcharge.

“I suggest you steer clear of this sort of incident in future, and do not repeat this sort of behaviour”, she added.

Jones was arrested on Sunday and spent around 24 hours in custody before being released by the court.

A third defendant, Jason Guiver, 51, pleaded not guilty on Monday to an allegation of affray.

It is said Guiver, a £60,000-a-year commercial director at a payroll company, was “remonstrating” with police as they protected a cordon, allegedly made threats, and he is accused of pushing one of the officers.

Judge Clarke remanded Guiver, of Ongar in Essex, into custody until a hearing at Inner London crown court on September 9.

Evening Standard