The suspended Labour councillor Ricky Jones, 57, has been charged with one count of encouraging violent disorder after he was filmed addressing a crowd at a London demonstration on Wednesday evening.
Jaswant Narwal, the chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service – London North, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan police to charge Ricky Jones, 57, with one count of encouraging violent disorder.
“Jones was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on Wednesday 7 August during which he appeared to make remarks and a gesture to encourage others to act violently towards far-right protesters.
“He has been arrested and charged within 48 hours, and will now appear at Westminster magistrates court this afternoon. We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Jones was remanded in custody during his court appearance. Wearing a Hugo Boss T-shirt, he entered no pleas at Westminster magistrates court on Friday afternoon.
Deputy senior district judge Tan Ikram said: “It is alleged that using a microphone you addressed a crowd at an anti-fascist protest and, talking about others you described as ‘disgusting Nazi fascists’, you said: ‘we need to cut their throats and get rid of them.’”
He will next appear at inner London crown court on 6 September.
Source: theguardian.com
