Jasmine York: 26-year-old jailed for pushing bin into flaming police car during Kill the Bill riot in Bristol

A protester who pushed a bin into a burning police car during the ‘Kill the Bill’ riot in Bristol has been handed a nine month prison sentence.

Jasmine York was heard saying ‘we will burn your ******* cars’ as she shoved a large wheelie bin into a police car which was engulfed in flames as the riot raged outside Bridewell Police Station on March 21 last year.

The 26-year-old, of Brislington, was jailed for nine months at Bristol Crown Court today (Monday, March 15) after a jury found her guilty of arson following a trial last month.

She is the fifteenth person to be sentenced for crimes committed during the riot, which saw fireworks let off in the street and missiles fired at police.

Thye have been jailed for a combined total of 57 years and 11 months.

Judge James Patrick said York had played her part in ‘the unlawfulness’, rejecting her claim that she had acted out of fear that night.

He told her: “You were very aware of the damage caused to police equipment and property paid for out of national taxation for the benefit of the community.”

The judge highlighted that the fact that York had admitted her behaviour ‘did not de-escalate events’ and that she had returned to the scene of the disorder having previously left, which was an ‘aggravating factor’.

Detective Superintendent James Riccio, the senior investigating officer at Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Jasmine York unquestionably contributed to the unrest felt by many that shameful night.

“She may not have physically attacked officers but she added fuel to the fire of a burning police car, creating an intimidating atmosphere for officers trying to maintain order.”