The actions of a a far-right thug who knocked over a police sergeant with an ‘enormous’ kick to his back were slammed as ‘totally unacceptable’ by a police chief.
Daniel Allan, 35, was filmed running up behind Sgt Richard Lambert and booting him to the ground next to Big Ben during the Black Lives Matter counter-protest in London on Saturday.
Pictured: Daniel Allen, 35, of Ridley Terrace, Sunderland
Detective Constable Steve Nicholls of the Metropolitan Police’s Central West Command Unit said on Tuesday: ‘Allan’s shameful actions were totally unacceptable and I am pleased that he has been convicted.
‘This swift justice should also be a warning to others who came to central London on Saturday with the sole purpose of causing violence.
‘Police officers are not punching bags and a number of investigations remain under way to identify and arrest those causing violence or assaulting our officers. ‘
When the sergeant was on the floor after being kicked a mob of Allan’s fellow ‘protect the statues’ protesters then set upon on the officer as he struggled to stand up, kicking and striking him repeatedly.
The sergeant suffered bruising to his back and is recovering at home.
Father-of-two Allan, who travelled from Sunderland on Saturday, was arrested after police shared a video of a bare-chested thug kicking Sgt Lambert while wearing distinctive luminous shorts.
He was quickly identified and the electrician admitted violent disorder today and was remanded into custody ahead of sentence at Southwark Crown Court.
He faces two or three years in prison, a judge warned.
Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said: ‘Police had been deployed in order to prevent public disorder in relation to protests taking place within central London.
‘Specifically there were concerns about demonstrations that had been labelled as ‘right wing’, in fact there was the intention they had to protect public statues which had been targeted in previous demonstrations and prompted counter demonstrations.
‘Throughout the day police fought running battles with demonstrators. A small group of officers were walking in a group through the demonstrators on Bridge Street received verbal abuse and had projectiles thrown at them.
‘Suddenly and without provocation Mr Allan kicked out at police sergeant Richard Lambert in his back with his right foot causing him to fall to the ground.
‘This prompted the rest of the group to attack the officers. He was again kicked while picking himself up but that person wasn’t arrested.
‘Officers circled to protect their colleagues and Mr Allan ran back into the crowd, however he had a distinct appearance and footage of the incident was uploaded and it was circulated.
‘Mr Allan was captured after other officers saw the footage and recognised Mr Allan wearing luminous shorts.’
Sgt Lambert said in a statement read to the court: ‘I felt an enormous kick to the small of my back, I fell to the floor with immediate pain to the lower back due to the kick.’
The man, Daniel Allan, kicking police sergeant Richard Lambert in the back, sending him to the floor
The police officer crashed to the ground, while Mr Allan, bare-chested, fled from the scene
Other far-right thugs then started attacking Sgt Lambert as he struggled to get back to his feet after the assault
Mr Allan’s attack sparked violent clashes between the ‘statue defenders’ and police officers
Eleanor Fraser, defending, said: ‘Mr Allan was struck by a police officer’s baton, he showed the mark in interview, which was something of a retaliation but he accepts that it was unjustifiable.
‘Upon arrest he had a panic attack and has had a further six panic attacks in custody.’
District Judge Nicholas Rimmer told Allan: ‘You have pleaded guilty to the matter of violent disorder, the guidelines put the starting point at either three or two years for this serious episode of conduct therefore I commit you for sentence at Southwark Crown Court.
‘The seriousness of conduct consists of being part of a wider protest in which missiles were being thrown, you personally kicked out at police sergeant Richard Lambert to his back, that seems to have caused further violence.’
Allan admitted violent disorder and was remanded into custody ahead of sentence at Southwark Crown Court.