Jail threat to teenage G8 yob

Published on Friday 30 June 2006 12:44

A TEENAGE G8 protester who hurled bread crates and a scaffolding pole at police officers during last year's summit has been warned he faces a jail sentence if he causes any more trouble.

Activists were caught on police camera last July 4 throwing a scaffolding pole, cooking oil and bread crates at officers in Edinburgh.

David Watson, 17, of Coalgate Avenue, Tranent, East Lothian, was shown picking up bread crates and other missiles off the street and hurling them at officers. He was heard swearing and seen smiling after being cheered by the crowd.

He threw a scaffolding pole at a police line in South St David Street which only narrowly missed the heads of several officers, fiscal depute Gillian More told Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Two other protesters on the same charge have already been sentenced.

Hungarian Andras Ozsvath, 25, of the Cowgate Centre in Edinburgh, was jailed for 28 days after admitting rolling an industrial wheelie bin towards constables in Meuse Lane. And Rowan Banner, 26, of Warrender Park Crescent, was ordered to do 300 hours' community service after pleading guilty to throwing buckets of used frying oil at officers while dressed as a green fairy in Rose Street, and digging up a paving stone to hand to another protester.

Today Sheriff Gordon Liddle deferred sentence on Watson, who is already serving a probation order, for him to be of good behaviour.

"If he steps out of line then he faces the prospect of custody," he warned.