A woman who was caught on camera attacking police and smashing the window of Bridewell Police Station during a Kill The Bill protest has been jailed. Mariella Gedge-Rogers, 27, of Queens Court, Clifton, was convicted following a unanimous decision by a jury following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
Gedge-Rogers was found guilty of being part of a group that used or threatened violence and, together, caused others to fear for their personal safety. She was arrested six days after the riot took place outside the city centre police station on March 21 last year after her image was released as part of a police appeal.
During her trial, digital evidence including footage from officers’ body-worn cameras, CCTV and mobile phone footage was played to the jury. Gedge-Rogers could be seen to hit a police officer on the head with a skateboard in the footage and throw missiles at other officers from the roof of the police station.
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She was also seen to repeatedly strike the front window of the station with her skateboard before handing it to a man for him to do the same. Judge James Patrick, the judge handling related cases, jailed Gedge-Rogers for five-and-a-half years.
He told her at a sentencing hearing today (Thursday, March 10): "You were an active participant in offending. You used your skateboard as a weapon and you had a considerable amount to drink."
Kannan Siva, defending, said his client had acted out of character, with contributory factors being her complex mental health issues and alcohol consumption. He told the court Gedge-Rogers is regarded as a peacemaker - someone who diffuses trouble, who is kind and supportive.
Mr Siva said Gedge-Rogers attended the March 21 protest with peaceful intentions in mind. But her behaviour changed after she was forcibly restrained.
He told the court: "She appears to have been swept up by the actions of others, losing control of herself. She was not a ring-leader, she was disinhibited by a number of factors."
The court heard Gedge-Rogers was ashamed and remorseful about her actions and wished to apologise "whole-heartedly".
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