Man, 81, sentenced after summer city centre protests

An 81-year-old man who stamped on another man who was being arrested during protests in Nottingham city centre has been sentenced.

Keith Edwards had previously denied using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour during the protest on 3 August.

Edwards, whose charge was changed to assault by beating, was given a 28-day suspended sentence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Monday.

He is thought to be the oldest person to be charged in the wake of the disorder that broke out across the country following the killings of three young girls at a dance class in Southport.

Denis Quinn, prosecuting, said Edwards had claimed he had gone into the city centre to buy a loaf of bread, but got "drawn into what was happening".

In footage shown to the court, Edwards could be seen walking over to a man who was being detained by three police officers on the floor, and stamping on his leg.

He was also identified in an earlier clip, played in court, telling a protester "children killed in Southport by your friends".

In bodycam footage showed to the court, Edwards was told he was being detained for "kicking the man on the floor", to which he corrected the officer, saying "I stamped on his leg".

Jim Buckley, defending Edwards, added: "Clearly this was out of character."

Edwards had no previous convictions and told police he had never previously been arrested, the court heard.