Two men found guilty over involvement in 'violent mob' during Epping asylum hotel protest

Oliver Partridge
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:47:39 +0000

A jury has found two men guilty of violent disorder following their participation in a protest outside an asylum hotel in Epping, Essex, that descended into chaos.

Lee Gower, 43, from Epping, and Phillip Curson, 53, of Upminster in east London, were convicted today for their roles in the disturbances at the Bell Hotel on July 17 last year.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the pair had joined what began as a peaceful demonstration, before becoming part of a "mob that attacked police officers".

Gower was acquitted of a separate charge of assaulting an officer - meanwhile, a date for the pair's sentencing has not yet been confirmed.

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The demonstrations at the Bell Hotel were sparked after Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian asylum seeker, was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman.

Kebatu had arrived in Britain on a small boat just days before the alleged offences took place, and was subsequently found guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court of five offences, including sexual assault, and received a prison sentence.

However, he was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford in October, before authorities detained him again and deported him to Ethiopia later that month.

The case prompted multiple protests outside the hotel throughout the summer, seeing violent disarray from local residents, and others travelling from afar to express their disdain.

On the afternoon of the incident concerning Gower and Curson, crowds began assembling outside the Bell Hotel from approximately 4pm, with between 400 and 500 people gathering for the demonstration.

The situation deteriorated around 5.30pm, when roughly 50 counter-protesters arrived at Epping station and were escorted by officers towards the venue.

Protesters at the hotel rushed up the road to confront the arriving group, prompting police to establish a cordon separating the two sides.

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Chief Inspector Stuart Austin of Essex Police gave evidence that bottles, milk and flour were hurled at officers, while some demonstrators attacked police using shields.

Vehicles belonging to the force had their windscreens struck, and wing mirrors ripped off.

Prosecutor Sam Willis told the jury that "although the protest began peacefully, it became violent, and these defendants are alleged to have been part of an aggressive mob that resorted to repeated acts of violence and vandalism, turning the town of Epping into a scene of disorder and chaos".

The violence included "punching, kicking, throwing, pushing and shoving, mostly aimed at police officers and police vehicles, but also sometimes aimed at the counter-protesters," he said.

Defence counsel for Gower argued his client attended over a legitimate concern, and acted in self-defence when pushed by officers.

Curson's barrister similarly maintained his client pushed an officer in self-defence amid the confrontation.

Six other individuals have already admitted violent disorder charges relating to the same incident.