A 16-year-old girl who threw up a Nazi salute at the Plymouth riots while drinking vodka claims she didn’t know what the symbol really meant.
The teenager, who can’t be named because of her age, was arrested for her involvement in ‘violent thuggery’ after joining an anti-immigration protest on August 5, during the period last month where it was kicking off all over Britain.
A court was shown footage of the girl at the riots, which showed her lobbing items at police officers and obstructing a police van attempting to attend the scene. At one point, she performed a Nazi salute.
Judge Matson told the girl:
‘You have pleaded guilty to your involvement in the violent disorder that took place on Plymouth Royal Parade.
‘It can only be described as appalling, violent thuggery, it brought the city centre to a standstill, it had a very significant impact on the people that were there, not least the police who were trying to control the disorder.’
‘You threw a bottle which hit an officer who was there doing his duty, trying to prevent this awful disorder. I also note you did a Nazi salute, that’s a racist and hugely offensive sign – there’s no place in our society for people to make signs like that.
‘You said you didn’t know what it meant, if that was the case why did you do it?
‘Even if you didn’t, why would you make a sign if you didn’t know what it means?
‘It’s clearly a horrific symbol of racism.’
Pretty solid argument from the judge, to be fair. If she didn’t know what a Nazi salute was, then why did she do it? Why not do the Macarena instead? I suppose she was fully aware that throwing a bottle and hitting a police officer was illegal, so at least she didn’t try to excuse her way out of that one.
Addressing the court, the girl, who has no previous convictions, said:
‘It was really bad what I’ve done, I was really childish.
‘I was drunk, and it was the heat of the moment and I’m sorry for that.’
The girl was given a 12-month intensive referral order and ordered to pay a £26 surcharge (a lot of money for a 16-year-old!). She managed to avoid a custodial sentence, which is probably fair enough, given her age and naivety.
More time in school, less time at riots, I think!
For the anti-government rioter who fly-kicked a police officer into oblivion while his back was turned, click HERE.
