A young student scarred for life when neo-Nazis clashed with anti-fascists revealed her horrifying ordeal as several thugs were sentenced for their role in the disturbance.
Abbie James, 22, was struck by a cobblestone ripped out of St George’s Hall plateau in Liverpool during the violent disorder on February 27 last year.
She was left with a five-inch scar to her forehead and later underwent plastic surgery – only to be taunted by celebrating fascists gloating online.
Abbie James, 22, was struck by a cobblestone ripped out of St George’s Hall plateau in Liverpool during the violent disorder on February 27 last year
Miss James told Liverpool Crown Court how she and her boyfriend were walking through the city centre early in the afternoon when they saw a riot.
She said: ‘Both Chris and I stopped to see what was going on.
‘After a short time I was hit to my forehead with what I believe to be a cobblestone.’
Miss James was taken to hospital and told she had a fractured skull. She required 15 stitches to repair the gash.
She was left with a five-inch scar to her forehead and later underwent plastic surgery – only to be taunted by celebrating fascists gloating online
Police came under attack from both sides with industrial fireworks, flares, bottles, cobble stones and eggs
She said: ‘Since then I’ve had many sleepless nights. My whole personality changed and I could not be alone.
‘I’ve found it difficult to talk about and suffer with headaches since the incident.
‘I’ve become extremely self-conscious about my forehead.’
The North West Infidels right wing group shared a link to the article on its Twitter account.
The post said: ‘You come to attack us and face the consequences simple as that scarred for life result!!!’
Liverpool Crown Court heard that opposing factions hurled missiles and caused up to £25,000 damage to the historic hall in central Liverpool.
Nazi swastikas were daubed on walls, cobblestones were torn up and a Victorian statue was damaged in the incident.
Shane Calvert, Wayne Bell and Brian Stamp appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday alongside allies Nikki Prescott and Alan Raine.
Calvert admitted conspiracy to commit violent disorder, while Bell was convicted after a trial. Prescott, Raine and Stamp admitted affray.
Simon Driver, prosecuting, said the fascists had enlisted a group of Polish men called the ‘Polish Hooligans’.
He said: ‘They displayed North West Infidels banners and neo-Nazi flags.
They made gestures, which included the Nazi style ‘sieg heil’ salutes.’
Liverpool’s Lime Street was brought to a standstill during a far-right demo by the North West Infidels
CCTV showed the stand-off, with rival factions separated by riot police, who held the first group at the pub and escorted them away.
Police came under attack from both sides with industrial fireworks, flares, bottles, cobble stones and eggs.
Mr Driver said: ‘A police inspector was knocked unconscious by a missile and a police constable suffered a broken wrist.’
People attending an antiques fair within the hall had to be locked in for their own safety.
A 75-year-old black woman who emerged was racially abused and struck in the forehead by a stone.
Police eventually encircled the fascists and marched them to the station.
Judge Menary imposed criminal behaviour orders, banning the five men from entering Liverpool for five years, for their ‘planned hooliganism’.
Judge Menary jailed Calvert, 36, from Blackburn, for two years and Stamp, 34, from South Shields, for 16 months.
He jailed Bell, 37, from Castleford, for two and a half years.
Unemployed Raine, 41, from Sunderland, and doorman Prescott, 43, from Blackburn, each received 16 months in jail, suspended for two years.
Raine received a 25-day rehabilitation activity, 200 hours of unpaid work and a four-month home curfew, from 8pm to 6am.
Prescott must complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity, 250 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 compensation.
Nazi swastikas were daubed on walls, cobblestones were torn up and a Victorian statue was damaged in the incident