Hampshire man jailed for charging at police 'like a rhino'

Ryan Wheatley, a South African-born man who draped himself in an England flag during last week's protest, was jailed for 12 months after he assaulted Sergeant Rob Perry at Grosvenor Square on Wednesday evening.

Wearing a grey t-shirt as he sat in the dock at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, his second court appearance just five days after the incident, Judge Christopher Parker KC said he had no doubt Wheatley's actions could have caused "violent civil disorder".

Ryan Wheatley was jailed for 12 months (Image: Hampshire Police)

Prosecutor Andrew Houston said Wheatley, 40, joined a mob of around ten men protesting about illegal immigration, with a counter protest also happening.

There was around 400 protestors in total, Mr Houston said.

Southampton Crown Court heard that Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, joined the protest alone, and was given an England flag to drape around his shoulders.

He also wore a mask covering his face, and shouted obscenities as well as making rude hand gestures.

The court was told he was upset to be called a Nazi and fascist because he was born in South Africa.

Police spotted who they had described as a "huge fat man" acting in a violent manner and going around the car park, and were keeping track of him.

READ MORE: Watch the moment protestor 'barrels' into police

Sgt Perry told him to stand back before he stormed at the officer, the court heard.

"The defendant, like a rhinoceros, ran straight at Sgt Perry", Mr Houston said

"Sgt Perry was pushed backwards by the defendant's bulky weight.

"This caused some of the group to move towards Mr Wheatley but obeyed the police to stand back."

Wheatley, a grandfather, was then tackled to the ground and pepper sprayed as officers sought to get a grip of the situation. He was incapacitated before being arrested and taken into custody.

Police arresting Wheatley during the protest in Southampton city centre (Image: Alex Shute)

While being interviewed he told the police he was not a racist or far right, as he was born in South Africa and had grown up in the UK, Mr Houston added.

Wheatley told officers he had heard about the protest on Reddit and wanted to "peacefully" protest against what he thought was "illegal immigrants committing crimes which he had seen in the media".

He explained to police the reason he wore a face mask was because people in the opposite group were filming and he did not want to be identified.

A victim statement made by Sgt Perry to the court said he and his family accept he was "lucky" that he wasn't injured, adding the incident "makes me think what could have happened".

He said his main role as a father is to "come home safely" and that the incident makes him think "what could have been".

READ MORE: City leaders join anti-racism protest in Southampton

In 2020, Wheatley was convicted of possession of Class A drugs.

Mitigating, Keely Harvey, told the court the reason Wheatley walked around the car park was that he wanted explain he wasn't racist or a fascist, as he was born in Johannesburg.

Ms Harvey added prison has been "quite an eye opening" experience.

She said he did not wish to stir up violence when he walked up to the crowd but wanted to explain his position but accepts what he did was a mistake.

She added: "While he recognises we have the right to protest and opinion, those rights come with responsibility. In this instance he hasn't carried out that responsibility properly."

Jailing him for 12months for assault by beating of an emergency worker, Judge Parker explained the protest had been widely publicised and that "it is perfectly clear to me that you intended to cause violence or threaten violence with the other group".

He said police officers were there to protect the public and that with his actions, Wheatley sought to "intimidate" the police.

He added: "[Police officers] don't go to work expecting to be [victims of agrression] by idiotic and violent hooligans."