Young woman ‘encouraged others to attack police officers’ at Bristol riot

Charly Pitman, 24, from Brislington , was found guilty of riot by a jury today (April 28)
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A 24-year-old woman has been found guilty of riot after she struck police officer shields and helmets after the Kill The Bill riot last year.

Charly Pitman, 24, from Brislington, was accused of positioning herself at the front of a crowd challenging police officers at Bridewell Police Station during the disorder on March 21.

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At Bristol Crown court today (April 28), she was found guilty of riot by a jury. She will be sentenced on May 23.

During the trial, the jury was told that she had positioned herself at the front of the crowd challenging police officers as they attempted to separate them from the city centre police station.

Charly Pitman was accused of escalating tensions and encouraging others to attack police officersCharly Pitman was accused of escalating tensions and encouraging others to attack police officers
Charly Pitman was accused of escalating tensions and encouraging others to attack police officers

Footage was shown of her acting aggressively towards the officers, striking their shields and helmets.

She becomes the 18th person to be convicted over the disorder which left police officers injured and Bridewell Police Station badly damaged.

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Detective Superintendent James Riccio said: “Charly Pitman may not have used the highest levels of violence but she took up a prominent role at the front of the crowd and her actions undoubtedly escalated tensions and encouraged others to attack police officers.

“The fact the jury took little more than an hour to convict her highlights how clear her offending was. She denied acting together with others with a common purpose but the jury evidently had no doubt she was guilty of riot.”

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