Bloody G20 Protestor "Inflamed" Mob Jury Told

A terrified policeman at last year’s G20 riot outside the Bank of England told a jury today: “We were fighting for our lives” as a bloody Glasgow man “inflamed” the hostile crowd.

Harvey Brown, 30, of Cathcart Road has pleaded not guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to violent disorder in Threadneedle Street, City of London on April 1.

Bottles, batteries, scaffold clips, pieces of wood, bleach and rotten fruit were among objects hurled at police by rioters who gathered to protest against the summit of G20 nations.

“He seemed to be inciting the crowd,” PC Paul Darrow told the court. “His actions were entirely aggressive. I wouldn’t say he was the ringleader, but his actions inflamed others.”

The jury was shown T.V. footage of the demo, with Brown – bleeding from a head wound - at the front just feet from the thin police line, which eventually collapsed.

“It got to the point where we were fighting for our lives,” explained the officer. “Mr. Brown was at the front lashing out and very aggressive.

“I was scared. I have never experienced such aggression against police in all my career.”

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Foy told the court: “A number of people attended for other reasons. They were not there peacefully.

“They were there to cause trouble, to have a ruck with the police and Mr. Brown falls fairly and squarely in that category.

“He is seen being aggressive, violent, is goading the police and egging on the crowd and inciting them.

“Thanks to Mr. Brown and others the mood of the crowd changed and became ugly and became a scene of public disorder, with violent clashes breaking out between protestors and police.”

Brown (pictured) was eventually bundled to the ground by three police officers, handcuffed and led away.

“He appeared intoxicated, very aggressive and was playing up to the crowd,” said PC Darrow. “He was drawing a lot of attention to himself.

“He was shouting at officers and there were various chants from the crowd of ‘kill the police, kill the pigs and reclaim the streets’.”

Brown was treated at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington for his head wound, but said nothing to police when quizzed.

He now says his response was a reaction to police aggression.

The trial continues on Wednesday……….