Anti-fascist scholar, 19, who hurled missiles at far-right mob jailed
An anti-fascist law student who threw missiles at a far-right mob after he joined the wrong protest has been jailed for 14 months.
Aminadab Temesgen, 19, was racially abused when he accidentally joined an anti-immigration protest in Plymouth city centre on August 5.
He then retaliated by hurling missiles at the group who had racially abused him.
Plymouth Crown Court heard Temesgen’s hopes to become a lawyer now lie in ruins after he admitted his part in the violent disorder earlier this month.
He was caught on bodycam footage throwing a van and bottle towards the police lines and far right mob.
Aminadab Temesgen, 19, was racially abused when he accidentally joined an anti-immigration protest in Plymouth city centre on August 5
Police officers with dogs intervene during violent disorder in Plymouth on August 5
Police officers detain a man who was part of a far-right protest in Plymouth on August 5
Temesgen’s barrister Zoe Kuyken said the Sunday school teacher intended to stand on the anti-fascist side but ended up on the other side of the protest where he suffered racial abuse.
She said he has always wanted to be a lawyer and was studying law at university but that will not happen ‘with this on his record’.
Judge Robert Linford said Temesgen had ‘every justification to be mad and angry’ at the racial abuse he suffered but ‘no justification’ for throwing missiles and taking part in ‘widespread lawless behaviour’.
He said the Plymouth teenager was a hard-working decent person who had completely ruined and utterly destroyed his chances of being a lawyer.
The judge also jailed a 34-year-old Plymouth man for 20 months after he admitted violent disorder during the same incidents.
Jamie West, a father-of-four, was seen on footage swearing and gesticulating at police before throwing a stone towards the anti-fascist protesters.
Jamie West, a father of four, was seen on footage swearing and gesticulating at police before throwing a stone towards the anti fascist protesters
Anti-racism activists gather at Guildhall square to face off far-right protesters after they announced a protest in Plymouth on August 5
Anti-racism activists gather at Guildhall square, Plymouth to face off far-right protesters on August 5
West told police he had been drinking and went to protest about the boats coming to Britain and wanted them to stop.
The court heard he was not a racist with a ‘burning political agenda’ but had been stupid.
Judge Linford said West was not a leader or organiser but said: ‘You fuelled the fire of disorder with your criminal acts.’
