Kill the Bill riots: Man who tried to set fire to police vehicle with officers inside jailed

FOUR more people have been sentenced at Bristol Crown Court for offences committed during the Bridewell riots of March 21 2021, Avon and Somerset Police has confirmed.

Amongst those arrested, one is reported to have attempted to set fire to a police vehicle in which officers were sitting.

Another had apparently helped to set a mobile police station alight.

Two of the four sentenced were given immediate jail terms, which means the total – so far – of those sent straight to prison for offences committed during the 2021 riot is now at 34 people, with a combined sentence of 109 years and four months.

The following defendants were sentenced on Friday :

» Rokas Barisauskas, 21, of Manchester – admitted charges of riot and arson and was jailed for six years.

» Daniel Ellis, 27, of Hartcliffe – admitted charges of riot and arson and was jailed for four years and six months.

» Carmen Fitchett, 24, of St Andrew’s, Bristol – admitted a charge of affray and was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. She will also be subject to a curfew between 5pm and 5am for two months and will have to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

» Leah Brenchley, 22, of Fishponds – admitted charges of assaulting an emergency worker and criminal damage and was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for nine months. She will also be subject to a curfew between 5pm and 5am for two months and undergo 15 days of rehabilitation.

During the riot, Rokus Barisauskas kicked and splashed drinks on police officers, posing for selfies with a few while hurling offensive names at them.

He assaulted a mobile police station with a shield, causing damage to the windscreen, as well as two other police vehicles with officers inside.

At the height of the violence, he attempted to set a van ablaze, even though officers were present within it.

Daniel Ellis was captured on camera launching kicks at officers and employing a police shield to forcefully collide with them.

He was identified as a significant instigator of the chaos, actively participating in the act of setting a mobile police station ablaze, ultimately leading to its destruction.

Carmen Fitchett engaged in verbal abuse towards officers, engaging in physical altercations and hurling objects at Bridewell police station.

Meanwhile, Leah Brenchley forcefully pushed and bumped into officers, defacing bus shelters, bins, and a police vehicle with graffiti.

Detective Superintendent James Riccio said: “The fact the courts have now given out prison sentences amounting to more than 100 years shows the gravity of offences committed on that shameful evening. To say the riot is a stain on the history of Bristol is no understatement. The actions of the minority who engaged in the violence were wholly unacceptable. Our communities do not want to see wanton disorder on the streets, so it’s right those who freely chose to act in this way now face the consequences of their actions.

“Rokas Barisauskas and Daniel Ellis were involved in some of the most serious violence which occurred on the night, and both used what’s previously been described as the ‘uncontrollable weapon of fire’ to cause maximum damage.

“The fact Barisauskas was willing to try and set a vehicle ablaze while people were inside beggars belief.”

A further statement from Avon and Somerset Police reads: “We’d like to remind all concerned that criminal proceedings relating to the events of Sunday 21 March 2021 are ongoing against other defendants and that they have a right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”