Reading Man’s Jail Term Upheld After Kicking Cop at Far-Right Rally
A 20-year-old from Reading who landed himself behind bars for assaulting a police officer during a far-right protest near Downing Street has had his appeal thrown out. Ozzie Cush was slapped with a 10-month prison sentence after he kicked a Metropolitan Police officer in the hand during violence on July 31.
Prosecutor Slams ‘Unprovoked’ Attack
At the appeal hearing on November 7, prosecutor Alex Agbamu described Cush’s actions as “unprovoked” and unnecessary. “There was simply no need for the defendant to have acted how he did,” Agbamu told the court. During sentencing, Judge Benedict Kelleher blasted Cush for showing “a complete contempt” for the police. The judge called the assault “clearly deliberate,” warning it risked stirring violence by encouraging others to lash out at officers.
Appeal Judges Refuse to Cut Sentence
Cush, alongside three others involved in the demonstration — which erupted after the Southport stabbings — sought lighter sentences at the Court of Appeal. His defence lawyer, Alex Granville, argued for suspended sentences paired with community work to promote rehabilitation and serve as a deterrent.
But Lady Carr, speaking for the appeal judges, stood firm. She ruled Cush’s sentence fitting, citing his previous offences and that he was on bail for criminal damage at the time. Cush was also aware of the police dispersal order but “deliberately returned to attack the officer who was filming events,” Lady Carr said.
“This action risked provoking similar violence from others while police were managing a challenging situation.”
