SIMPSON: LAW STUDENT ADMITS PART IN FEES RIOT AT TORY HQ

A student activist is facing jail today (Weds) after he admitted his involvment in the riot at Tory party headquarters.

Bryan Simpson, 22, is said to have jabbed a police officer and thrown a megaphone during the disturbances at Millbank last year.

Pictures also showed the Strathcyle University student apparently snatching a hat from a police officer.

Simpson ran for president of the university’s student association in March under the banner of opposing funding cuts.

The law student admitted affray, despite previously electing a trial by jury and telling supporters at a previous court hearing he refused to be judged by ‘a magistrate who is on 180 grand a year.’

Simpson, of Glencairn Drive, Glasgow, is believed to have been part of a ‘splinter group’ that broke off from the university’s 100-strong delegation. 

Hundreds of rioters invaded the building on November 10 last year causing up to £170,000 worth of damage.

They smashed windows, fought police and set fire to placards as around 2,000 members of staff were evacuated.

Protestors went to the seventh-floor of the building where Edward Woollard threw a fire extinguisher from the roof. The 18-year-old was later jailed for 32 months for violent disorder.

But Simpson did not enter the building.

Simpson, who is currently working for Unite Union and in a call centre, appeared at the court wearing a black suit and white shirt.

Tony Ventham, defending, said: ‘He is of good character, has just achieved a 2:1 law degree and is due to start a masters in law in October.

‘He is aware of the likely outcome of this case.’

Judge Susan Tapping said: ‘I am keeping an open mind about sentence until I have seen CCTV footage of the incident and a pre-sentence report.

‘I am not pre-judging at all.’

Simpson, who is due to attend his graduation ceremony in November, has been remanded on unconditional bail until sentencing on October 13.

He refused to comment outside court.

At the earlier hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court he said through a megaphone: ‘Every single one of us is going to have a trial in the crown court.

‘Our trial is not going to be heard by a magistrate who is on 180 grand a year, and has never understood welfare cuts and living on the dole.’

Student Zenofon Kotsakis, 20, of Latimer Road, north Kensington, west London, also admitted violent disorder at the same hearing today (Weds).

He was also remanded on unconditional bail prior to sentencing on October 13. 
ends