Girl, 13, admits violent disorder at hotel protest
A 13-year-old girl has admitted using or threatening unlawful violence following a protest at a hotel in Aldershot.
A police officer was injured when disorder broke out at a demonstration involving about 200 people outside the Potters International Hotel on 31 July.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sat with her parents at the short hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court, sitting as a youth court.
She is due to be sentenced on 30 September.
Prosecuting, Kerry Richardson said if the girl had been an adult, she would be recommending a two year custodial sentence.
District Judge Tim Pattinson ordered a pre-sentence report before adjourning the hearing.
Following the girl's conviction, senior crown prosecutor Thomas Power, said: "This alarming incident will have caused genuine fear amongst people who were being targeted by these thugs - and it is particularly distressing to learn that such a young girl participated in this violent disorder."
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary previously said the majority of people attending the protest outside the hotel which housed asylum seekers "gathered in a peaceful manner".
Some disorder was reported but officers were able to disperse the group quickly.
There were been outbreaks of violence in towns and cities across England and in Northern Ireland, including Plymouth, Sunderland, Belfast, Rotherham, Manchester and London.
It followed the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport - with unrest fuelled by misinformation online.
Seven men have also appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court charged in connection with the Aldershot protest.
Joe Howell, 19, of Bareham Drive in Ash, Surrey pleaded not guilty to one charge of assaulting a police officer and gave no indication of a plea for one charge of using threatening or unlawful violence.
He has been released on conditional bail and ordered to appear for a hearing at Winchester Crown Court on 4 September.
Cameron Bowling, 40, of Broadhurst in Farnborough is also charged with one count of using threatening or unlawful violence.
He appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court and gave no indication of plea. Mr Bowling was released on conditional bail to appear at Winchester Crown Court on 4 September.
A warrant without bail for the arrest of Perrie Fisher, 28, of Hillside Road in Farnham was issued.
He was charged with one count of using threatening or unlawful violence, but failed to attend court.
The remaining four men are:
Jamie Lee Turvey, 34, of Montgomery Road, Farnborough
Alby Brannan, aged 18, of Winchester Road, Ash
Kieron Marney, 25, of Fairview Road, Ash
Clive Patfield, 60, of The Chantrys, Farnham
They all face one charge of using threatening or unlawful violence and have given no indication of plea.
The men were released on conditional bail and will also next appear at Winchester Crown Court on 4 September.
Steven Tiquin, 41, Grosvenor Road, Aldershot, also appeared in court charged with assaulting an emergency worker, affray and a racially aggravated public order offence.
These charges relate to an incident on 3 August, when police were investigating reports of disorder following the protest.
A police officer was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Mr Tiquin did not enter a plea and was also released on conditional bail to appear at Winchester Crown Court on 4 September.
Follow BBC South on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.
