Nine in court over EDL riot in Birmingham city centre

Nine men accused of rioting during a 2000-strong English Defence League demonstration in Birmingham City centre last year have appeared in court.

The men are accused of violent disorder at the demonstration in Centenary Square on July 20 last year.

All nine men were accused of taking part in violent disorder including Mark Connor, aged 24, from Wood Lane in Streetly, Birmingham.

The other men who appeared in court charged with the same offence included William Bartlett, aged, 25, from Hotspur Avenue, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside and Andrew Edge, 43, from Wellington Road South, Stockport.

Kenneth Graham, 19, from Ottawa Road, Middlesborough and James Harrington, 29, from Kentmere Avenue, Leeds, were also up in court as was Raymond Jones, 44, from Meadow Farm Drive, Shrewsbury.

Paul McKenzie, 48, from Braemar Road, Billingham, Cleveland, Melvyn Parker, 46, from Newtondale Road, Forest Town, Mansfield and Ashley Rowland, 24, from Adwick Road, Barnsley also appeared before magistrates.

The district judge sent the case to crown court without any of the men entering a plea. They will all appear at Birmingham Crown Court on March 12.

Birmingham Mail, 25 February 2014