MAN FOUND WITH SPEAR AFTER RIOT ‘WANTED TO HUNT DEER’
28-YEAR-OLD SPOTTED WITH ‘WEAPON’ AFTER KILL THE BILL PROTEST IN CITY CENTRE
AMAN found with a homemade spear after Bristol’s Kill the Bill riot claimed he wanted to protect police and hunt deer.
Bradley Edmonds, of Ilchester Crescent in Bedminster Down, was spotted with the weapon in Bristol city centre at around 5am on March 22.
The 28-year-old was metres from Bridewell police station, which shortly beforehand had been damaged by people protesting the proposed Police and Crime Bill.
Edmonds says he is a self-taught martial artist whose parents “taught him to kill”, Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday.
He pleaded not guilty to carrying an offensive weapon, claiming he had been in the area to “protect the city and protect the police”. He also said the spear was for hunting deer.
Edmonds claimed he had been unaware of the protest, having spent the night taking magic mushrooms with an “anarchist-type” who “may have been called Jeffrey”.
The magistrates deliberated for only a few minutes before finding him guilty.
Edmonds was found on Rupert Street with a wooden stick, one end pointed and the other end with a material wrapped round it “as if to be used as a torch”, said prosecutor Paul Ricketts.
Police found a balaclava and shovel on Edmonds. He was wearing two pairs of gloves, the inner pair made of latex and the outer “more substantial”.
Mr Ricketts said: “He said he had been diagnosed with ADHD and he needed to channel his energy into a positive mental state in some way. He said he goes outside and trains in his martial arts.
“He stated he has made and adapted a spear out of oak, which he says is 5ft long, and he has narrowed the end into a spike. He has carved his street name on it.
“He said he could kill a deer with the spear and he is a dangerous guy and his parents taught him to kill.
“Mr Edmonds said he dips the cloth on the spear into paraffin and lights it on fire.”
The defendant told officers he had been at his brothers’ house the previous evening, drinking two cognacs and eating a KFC meal.
“He stated he cycled home to Bedminster Down, where he lives with his mother, went inside, turned the music on loud and left the Xbox on to provide himself with an abili,” Mr Ricketts continued.
Edmonds took a shovel out with him “in case he saw some nice flowers” to dig up and give to his mother, he told police.
The prosecutor added: “He went through Redcliffe and punched and kicked bicycle racks. He said he impressed himself with his martial arts skill.
“He saw a friend who may have been called Jeffrey but he was not sure. He was an anarchist type. They shared a spliff, and the male invited him back to his squat.”
Edmonds was offered magic mushrooms, and claimed he was “tripping” and his memory was not clear after taking the drugs.
“He said he used a fire extinguisher to spray Bridewell police station to get the dirt and gunk off it and clean it,” Mr Ricketts said.
“He had no idea of the violent disorder that took place. He also stated he was there to protect the city and protect the police. He said if he saw anyone committing damage to the station he would ‘bonk’ them with his spear. He would jab them on the chin.”
Edmonds told the officers interviewing him that if they wanted war, he would “bring war”.
Wearing a grey hoodie and grey joggers in the dock, Edmonds chose not to give evidence during the trial.
Edmonds’ lawyer Vanessa Pople said: “The term ‘offensive weapon,’ as you’ve heard, is any weapon made or adapted to cause injury to a person. There is no evidence this wooden stick was made to cause injury to another – another meaning a person, not an animal.”
Ms Pople argued Edmonds’ comment about “bonking” someone on the chin does not prove an intention of violence.
“In his interview, he said he would use the spear in that way to protect police property being damaged,” she said. “It’s a hypothetical situation.”
The probation service will complete a presentence report ahead of Edmonds’ next hearing on July 22.
Eight other people have appeared in court accused of offences connected to the riot, which took place after a protest against the Police and Crime Bill. The legislation would curb people’s rights to peacefully protest.
The charges include riot, arson, violent disorder, outraging public decency, theft of police equipment and possession of a Class B drug.
Kill the Bill arrests
AVON and Somerset Police have arrested three more people as part of the investigation into the riot close to Bridewell Police Station.
The latest arrests are:
» A 27-year-old man arrested on suspicion of riot
» A 23-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of violent disorder
» A 21-year-old man arrested on suspicion of violent disorder
All three have been released under investigation to allow further enquiries to take place.
❝ He said he could kill a deer with the spear and he is a dangerous guy and his parents taught him to kill Paul Ricketts