Sentenced Woman threw bottle at police officer in Kill the Bill disorder

THROWING a bottle which struck a policeman’s head has resulted in a woman receiving a suspended jail term.

Katie Webster attended the Kill the Bill protest in Bristol on March 21, 2021, as she had legitimate concerns against the proposed government legislation.

But when trouble flared between protesters and police she spotted a woman on the ground and feared for her safety. After failing to pull her clear she threw a bottle which struck the helmet of a police constable.

Webster, 27, of no fixed address, was due to face trial this week at Bristol Crown Court. However, she entered a guilty plea to assaulting an emergency worker.

Judge Michael Cullum heard she suffered from mental health difficulties and court proceedings had weighed heavily on her. He handed her 21 weeks’ prison, suspended for 12 months. The judge told Webster: “The norm must be those who commits such assaults will receive immediate custodial sentences. I balance events with the offender.”

Webster was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and undergo up to 20 days of rehabilitation. She was told to pay £600 court costs.

Mandla Ndlovu, prosecuting, read an impact statement from the police officer concerned in which he said that in 12 years of service he had never encountered anything like that night. The officer had said it made him want to give up Police Support Unit duty as it was not worth the hassle and he could not cope with the upset it caused his family as they watched events unfold on TV.

Hannah Webb, defending, said the “silver lining” for her client was that she had set in motion mental health support. Ms Webb told the court: “She expressed remorse to Probation. She expressed remorse in her psychiatric report. She accepts the use of force was unacceptable.”

Ms Webb said her client accepted drinking half a bottle of wine on the day in question. She said Webster had attended the event peacefully and participated in no violence other than the throwing of the bottle, due to a genuine concern for the woman on the ground.

The initially peaceful protest was against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill, proposing to give extended power to police to shut down demonstrations. But as the day wore on there were clashes between police and protesters outside Bridewell Police Station.

People were injured in the melee, including 44 police officers. At least £212,000 worth of damage was caused to police property.

She accepts the use of force was unacceptable Hannah Webb