English Defence League Activist Jailed For Demo Violence

A notorious English Defence League activist – involved in violent incidents during organised demos – has been jailed for 14 months.

East Londoner John McAndrew, 29, (pictured) of Grange Road, Plaistow was also served with a Conviction Related Antisocial Behaviour Order (CRASBO) banning him from attending any EDL protests or Muslim-affiliated building or event for five years.

He was convicted of affray after throwing large stones onto the busy A4 dual carriageway during rush hour at an EDL demo outside West London Magistrates’ Court (pictured) on May 11, last year.

A month later during an EDL rally in Dagenham on June 18 he was part of a mob that assaulted two men connected to the demo.

McAndrew, who has several public order convictions, will also have to serve part of a suspended sentence for affray, which he breached during the demos.

Police Constable Mark Gellard, of the Barking and Dagenham Anti-Social Behaviour Team, said: “John McAndrew is an individual whose often violent behaviour is linked with his attendance at demonstrations and protests, particularly surrounding the English Defence League. 



“This behaviour affects those who live, work and frequent the areas where some of these demonstrations have taken place.

“I hope today’s Anti-Social Behaviour Order sends a clear message that police will take robust action against those who break the law under the guise of protest.”



The National Domestic Extremism Unit, a national policing unit, supported the application to impose an Anti-Social Behaviour Order upon conviction.



Detective Constable Alison Stuart, from the National Domestic Extremism Unit, said: “The right to protest is a fundamental part of a democratic society, and we seek to strike a balance between the rights of people to protest with the rights of the community to go about its daily business without excessive disruption.



“We have a duty to the wider public to take action against those individuals who have routinely exploited otherwise peaceful protests to create disorder, to prevent them from doing so in the future.”