Face of hatred
FACE contorted in rage, this is one of two right-wing thugs who travelled from the North East to Liverpool for a neo-Nazi rally which ended in violent clashes.
Brian Stamp and Alan Raine took part in an ‘anti-immigration’ event last year which escalated into shocking scenes that left one woman scarred for life and two police officers injured.
During the disorder Stamp, from South Shields, was filmed screaming obscenities and vile threats at anti-fascists while wearing gloves with reinforced knuckle-pads.
The night before the demonstration the 34-year-old had boasted to an associate about having ‘got some new bad boy gloves.’
But he later claimed that the gloves, which were seized by police, were there to ‘assist his hands,’ which had been injured at previous rallies.
Stamp was jailed for 16 months yesterday after pleading guilty to affray at Liverpool Crown Court.
Alan Raine, 41, from Sunderland, also received a 16-month prison sentence for affray, but suspended by a judge for two years.
The ugly scenes outside Liverpool’s Lime Street Station last year left one woman scarred for life, while a man suffered a broken nose and a police officer was knocked unconscious.
Opposing factions hurled missiles and caused up to £25,000 of damage to the historic St George’s Hall on February 27, 2016.
Nazi swastikas were daubed on walls, cobble stones were torn up from the building’s plateau and a Victorian statue was damaged.
Another officer suffered a broken wrist and a 75-year-old black woman visiting the hall was racially abused and struck in the forehead by a stone.
Stamp was part of a hapless cluster of activists who failed to even make it beyond the Crown Pub and Lord Nelson Street – thanks to riot police. But he was photographed and filmed screaming obscenities and vile threats at rivals, while also captured on camera wearing an unusual pair of gloves.
Simon Driver, prosecuting, said: “Brian Stamp signalled his intentions for the demonstration when he purchased a pair of gloves with reinforced knuckle-pads.
“He messaged an associate, the evening before the demonstration as follows: ‘Demo Eve. Buzzing. LOL. Can’t wait mate. Just got-some new bad boy gloves.’”
Liverpool Crown Court heard he ‘repeatedly surged violently’ towards the counter-protesters and police lines while being escorted by officers to Lord Nelson Street.
Mr Driver said: “He verbally threatened members of the opposing faction, including the words: ‘F*** off... I’ll have your ears mans.’”
Stamp has previous convictions for affray and a series of battery offences.
He was jailed for 16 months last October for his part in another far right march in Dover, which led to violence in January 2016.
Matthew Crowe, defending Stamp, said he was a former alcoholic with mental health problems and going to jail would impact on his 15-year-old son.
David Watson, defending unemployed Raine, said his client accepted being abusive.