Three more jailed after ‘kill the bill’ riots

Three more people have been sentenced following riots which took place during the ‘kill the bill’ protests nearly two years ago.

Dozens of people were arrested on the evening of March 21 2021 when an afternoon of peaceful protest turned into a riot as Bridewell Police Station came under sustained attack.

The protest was taking place in response to the government’s proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill, with some people making their way back to outside Bridewell Police Station as the march around the city ended.

All Saints Street at 10.43pm on March 21, 2021 – photo: Martin Booth

Dominic Gillett, Joseph Paxton and Charlie Milton were sentenced at Crown Court on Tuesday.

Gillett, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to riot while Paxton, of Montpelier, and Milton, of St Werburgh’s, admitted a charge of violent disorder.

Gillett was jailed for four years and eight months, Paxton for two years and three months, and Milton for two years and two months.

It brings the total number of people who have now been jailed for offences committed during the riot to 30. Together, they have been sentenced to 94 years and eight months.

Police horses on the night of the ‘kill the bill’ riot – photo: Martin Booth

At the hearing, the judge viewed evidence of the offences which took place outside Bridewell Police Station, including footage from officers’ body worn cameras, CCTV and mobile phone footage.

The footage captured Gillett using a bike to smash the window of a police station, and him helping to set fire to a police van, before climbing on top of another.

Detective superintendent James Riccio said: “All three of these men admitted being involved in one of the worst nights in Bristol’s recent history.

“They violently attacked officers as they tried to maintain order and in the cases of Gillett and Milton, we also found evidence of them causing damage to police property.

“Our investigation into the events of 21 March 2021 is one of the largest we’ve ever undertaken, with thousands of hours of digital material reviewed.

“Like in previous cases, the weight of visual evidence we gathered against these three men has directly led to their admissions of guilt.

“Together, with the Crown Prosecution Service, we continue to put these offenders before the courts where they are being held accountable for their actions.”

The judge said to Gillett, Paxton and Milton: “Victim personal statements tell harrowing tales of real fear. Each of you were involved in that disorder, each of you played a different role, each of you played a part.”

In November, 2022, police paid damages to five people who were among a peaceful protest that was broken up by dozens of officers in full riot gear.

The protesters claimed that they were assaulted by police officers who violently cleared them from College Green after a day of speeches, songs and art.

The charge of riot is rarely used against protesters in the UK. Yet following the ‘kill the bill’ demonstrations in Bristol, dozens of people have so far been charged with riot, and the police and Crown Prosecution Service say that they are not finished yet with bringing people to justice.

In May 2022, Kadeem Yarde of Bishopston became the first ‘kill the bill’ defendant to be cleared of all charges.

Main photos: Avon and Somerset Police

Read more:

• Are Bristol’s ‘kill the bill’ protestors being made an example of by the state?
• Police pay damages to peaceful ‘kill the bill’ protestors
• ‘Kill the bill’ rioter jailed for 14 years

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