Kill the Bill protester filmed pushing bin into BURNING police car during riot convicted of arson

A Kill the Bill protester accused of leading an attack on a Bristol police station has been convicted of arson.

Jasmine York, 26, was filmed leading a crowd in chants of ‘ACAB’, which stands for ‘all cops are b******s’, and ‘f*** the police’, as violence erupted in the city on March 21 last year. 

The protester had attended a vigil for Sarah Everard at 2pm, but later joined crowds marching to Bridewell Police Station to demonstrate against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

She live-streamed the protest from her phone and was also filmed helping to push an industrial bin towards a burning police car – acting as further fuel to the blaze.

Prosecutors alleged York was a ‘leader and instigator’ of the disorder as she stood trial at Bristol Crown Court accused of riot, and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

A jury at Bristol Crown Court acquitted York of the two charges she faced, but convicted her of an alternative charge of arson. 

York denied any wrongdoing, claiming she placed herself between the crowd and officers because she knew she would not retaliate in the face of police violence.  

A vandalised police van explodes outside Bridewell Police Station after protesters set it on fire during a riot on March 21 last year

Demonstrators stand near a burning police vehicle during the protest in Bristol. Thirteen people have been sentenced in connection with the riot to date

Police are confronted by protesters demonstrating against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on March 21

Riot police, backed by police vans, move down Bristol’s Rupert Street during the protest last year

Jasmine York has been found guilty of arson after being filmed pushing a bin towards a burning police car

The court heard York suffered a dog bite and several baton strikes during the protest

She told a 101 call handler she believed her left hand was broken and asked who she can report an assault by police to.

However, in voice notes to a friend recovered from her phone, York could allegedly be heard saying she had ‘destroyed loads of stuff’ that related her to the protest.

During the trial, two officers present during the riot described being pelted with bricks and bottles as protesters tried to drag them from the police line.

Sergeant Lucy Williams told the court she was ‘terrified’ during the incident.

She added: ‘I think it was hard to see at the point where it was going to end.’

Sergeant Nick Smart said: ‘It felt like a mob mentality where there was a risk of the crowd surging forwards.’

Giving evidence in her own trial, York said she filmed the riot for the safety others and denied being violent.

She said: ‘When you make a report of violence people don’t always believe you, so filming is important for that reason.’

York continued: ‘I’ve been taught not to respond to violence with violence so I am quite a good person to have around – especially as it was quite a young crowd there.’

A crowd launches fireworks at police officers during the protest, which police say brought shame on the city

Police horses had to be deployed to hold back groups of people outside Bridewell Police Station

A rioter smashes the windscreen of an already vandalised police van as violence erupted in the city

Jasmine York (pictured entering Bristol Crown Court on January 31) was accused of instigating the attack on the police station

‘I just wanted to film for the safety of others.’

 She admitted her chants describing the police as ‘b******s’ and ‘f*** the f****** feds’ were ‘a bit rude’.

Following her conviction today, Russell Fraser, representing York, said she was prescribed medication for emotionally unstable personality disorder.

He asked for probation and psychiatric reports to the prepared.    

Judge James Patrick ordered the reports and released York on unconditional bail to appear for sentencing on March 14.

He said: ‘A custodial sentence remains a possibility.

‘Please co-operate with probation and the psychiatrist. If there are no reports on March 14 and it is your fault, I will sentence you without.’

York will be the 14th person to be sentenced for taking part in the riot, police say.

Detective Superintendent James Riccio, the senior investigating officer, said: ‘The ugly scenes which took place outside Bridewell Police Station brought shame on the city of Bristol.

‘Images of burning police vehicles were broadcast around the world and they will continue to serve as a reminder of the disorder brave police officers were faced with.

‘York played a role in these scenes and will now face justice for her actions.’