A roofer who aggressively confronted police officers during a far-right protest in Whitehall has been sentenced to 16 months in prison. Alfie Arrowsmith, 28, of Crayford, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after he participated in the “Enough is Enough” demonstration near Downing Street on July 31.
The court heard that Arrowsmith repeatedly squared up to officers, shouting “Come on then” and “let’s have it” in an attempt to provoke them. Video footage shown during the trial captured Arrowsmith walking along the police line, leaning into officers’ faces, and pushing against them while others in the crowd threw bottles and cans at police.
The protest, organized by Daniel Thomas, followed riots in Southport and quickly escalated into violence. Despite police-imposed conditions that demonstrators remain within a specific area and the protest ended by 8:30 pm, some participants broke out of the designated zone, leading to clashes with officers.
Prosecutor Gregor McKinley detailed how Arrowsmith’s actions contributed to the disorder, while his defence, Stephen Nelson, claimed that Arrowsmith had initially believed he was joining a peaceful protest. Nelson emphasized that Arrowsmith, who has no prior convictions, had been working at The Ritz hotel on the day of the protest and had been drinking with friends before joining the demonstration. Nelson also highlighted that Arrowsmith serves as the sole carer for his wheelchair-bound mother, who had suffered a stroke.
However, Judge Vanessa Baraitser dismissed these arguments, stating that Arrowsmith had deliberately positioned himself at the front of the crowd and actively encouraged others to challenge the police. She added that he might have believed that being part of a large crowd would shield him from consequences.
As Arrowsmith was sentenced to 16 months in prison at Inner London Crown Court, he blew kisses to his crying girlfriend and mother, who attended the hearing. Judge Baraitser emphasized that the severity of his actions necessitated immediate custody, stating that “appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody.”
