Three men have been jailed for their roles in violent disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex.
Martin Peagram, Dean Smith and Stuart Williams all pleaded guilty to violent disorder at earlier hearings.
The three Essex residents have now been sentenced for a combined time of just over six years, with each jail term varying from 22 months to 28 months.
The sentencing, at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, was the first for violent disorder outside the Bell Hotel in Epping.
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Multiple demonstrations were held outside the hotel after asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu sexually assaulted a woman and a 14-year-old girl in the town.
The 38-year-old Ethiopian national, who arrived in the UK on a small boat days before the incidents in July, was jailed for 12 months at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last month.
Gordon Carse, prosecuting at Chelmsford Crown Court, said: "This case is about the disorder arising from the high-profile protest in Epping outside the Bell Hotel on July 17 this year."
He said the protest was the third in a series, which he described as "ongoing", with the first two on July 12 and July 13 having been "relatively peaceful".
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Dean Smith was jailed for one year and 10 months
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He said police estimated around 500 protesters attended at the height of the incident on July 17, with a flatbed van carrying a sign that said “protect our kids”.
He said 50 counter protesters arrived and police "worked to maintain public order and keep the two groups separate”, but "police officers were subjected to sustained attacks for over four hours".
Mr Carse said officers were "pushed, punched and kicked”, police vans were kicked and damaged and "missiles were thrown towards the officers".
He said the disorder "forced the early closure of nearby businesses”, and neighbouring forces, including the Metropolitan Police, helped Essex Police.
Martin Peagram was jailed for two years and two months
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He told the defendants: "Each of you, what you did went beyond protest and that became criminal when you acted as you did.”
He said he was “satisfied this was racially motivated at least in part”.
The Lawyer for Williams said he "got carried away”, while the representative for Peagram said the defendant described his own behaviour as “idiotic".
Dean Smith, who punched an officer's shield and pushed and shoved police, was jailed for one year and 10 months; Martin Peagram, who kicked a police car, kicked out at officers and threw a car at police, was imprisoned for two years and two months; and Stuart Williams, who kicked out at an officer and got onto the roof of a school for children with special needs, will serve two years and four months.
Stuart Williams was jailed for two years and four months
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Defendant Luke Fleming, 21, appeared separately before the court on Monday.
Fleming, of Buckhurst Hill, pleaded not guilty to a charge of violent disorder and was bailed until a trial to take place from March 23 next year.
The current Labour Government has pledged to end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament in 2029.
However, recent Home Office figures have indicated that the number of asylum seekers in hotels has seen a slight increase since Labour came to power in 2024.
The use of hotels for asylum seekers has sparked outrage over the safety of residents, the high cost to taxpayers, and the impact on local communities
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The use of hotels for asylum seekers has sparked outrage over the safety of residents, the high cost to taxpayers, and the impact on local communities.
Protests have been held across Britain at hotels, as well as outside Government buildings in Westminster.
Anti-immigrant "Pink Protest" groups have demonstrated, often met by anti-racism counter-protesters.
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