A former Labour councillor has been remanded in custody after being charged with encouraging violence during an anti-fascist protest in Walthamstow, east London. Ricky Jones, 57, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where he entered no pleas.
Jones, who was wearing a Hugo Boss T-shirt during his court appearance, was arrested on Thursday following the emergence of a video in which he allegedly called for the throats of far-right protesters to be “cut” while addressing a crowd at the demonstration on Wednesday.
Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram outlined the charges against Jones, stating: “It is alleged that using a microphone, you addressed a crowd at an anti-fascist protest and, talking about others you described as ‘disgusting Nazi fascists’, you said ‘we need to cut their throats and get rid of them.’ The Crown says that those words were capable of encouraging others to commit acts of serious violence, and further that you believed that your words would encourage violence against others."
Jones was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at Inner London Crown Court on September 6.
Ahead of Jones’s court appearance, Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for north London, issued a reminder to the public about the importance of not prejudicing court proceedings. We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and that he has the right to a fair trial,” Narwal said. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
Jones, who has served as a councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, has already been suspended by the Labour Party in light of the allegations. A spokesperson for the party stated: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated.
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