AN English Defence League supporter from Bolton is part of a large group jailed after violence flared at a protest in Birmingham.

Thomas Nelson, aged 21, of Seaforth Road, Astley Bridge, has been convicted of violent disorder and jailed for 22 months.

He was one of 50 men to have appeared before Birmingham Crown Court over the past five weeks after violent scenes in the city on July 20, 2013.

After EDL protestors listened to speeches and displayed their flags, factions of the crowd of about 2,000 supporters started to turn violent with missiles being thrown at police, who were trying to maintain order.

A number of police officers suffered minor injuries as they tried to restore order in what they said was a "violent minority".

After the disorder in Centenary Square, police launched an inquiry to track down those involved.

West Midlands Police said they conducted operations across the midlands and further afield to catch them all, with appeals to trace suspects featuring on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme in January last year - leading to a flood of calls to the incident room.

People were arrested from as far afield as West Sussex and Tyne and Wear, having travelled to the West Midlands to take part in the demonstration.

The sentences ranged from a 12 month community order to 3 years 8 months imprisonment.

Supt Richard Baker, from Birmingham Police, said: “A team of detectives have worked tirelessly on this investigation for more than a year, determined to trace those involved in the disorder and bring them to justice.

"People who commit public order offences such as these should not rest easy as, no matter how long it takes, we will find you."

Full list of people sentenced:

  • 1. Ashley Rowland, aged 25, of Adwick Road, Nesborough - 31 months
  • 2. Neil Jones, aged 45, of Meadow Farm Drive, Shrewsbury - 15 months
  • 3. Melvyn Parker, 46, of Mewtondale Avenue, Mansfield - 24 months
  • 4. Andrew Edge, aged 44, of Wellington Road, Stockport - 21 months
  • 5. Mark Connor, aged 25, of Tantara Street, Walsall - 22 months
  • 6. James Harrington, aged 30, of Kentmere Avenue, Leeds - 24 months
  • 7. William Bartlett, aged 26, of Hotspur Avenue, Whitley Bay - 12 months
  • 8. Joel Smith, aged 24, of Lupton Road, Sheffield - 30 months
  • 9. James Cocks, aged 35, of Binton Close, Redditch - 24 months
  • 10. Jake Hill, aged 32, of Church Street, Stourbridge - 22 months
  • 11. Alan Fisher Crib, aged 20, of Wheeler Street, Newtown - 10 months
  • 12. Shane Williams, aged 27, of Dragons Lane, Leicester - 24 months
  • 13. Lloyd Lewis, aged 23, of Cooks Close, Atherstone - 14 months
  • 14. Josh Norrey, aged 23, of Priors Way, Erdington - 25 months
  • 15. Adam Beebee, aged 28, of Boundary Road, Erdington - 13 months
  • 16. Anthony Webster, aged 38, of West Road, Newcastle - 21 months
  • 17. Thomas Wilkie aged 23, of Kent Road, Wednesbury - 18 months
  • 18. Rob Pay, aged 35, of Gypsy Lane, Erdington - 22 months
  • 19. James Olley-Shields, aged 22, of Hanbury Hill, Stourbridge - 12 months 
  • 20. John Warrender, aged 28, of Oakdale Close, Oldbury - 15 months
  • 21. Gareth Wall, aged 25, of Moresdale Lane, Leeds - 20 months
  • 22. Thomas Milner, aged 21, of Herbert Street, Darlington - 16 months
  • 23. Philip Collins, aged 28 - 16months + 2 + 17 months TOTAL 35 months 
  • 24. Benjamin Crowder, aged 22, of Lumsdale Crescent, Matlock - 24 months
  • 25. Christopher Michael Layton, aged 28, of Tustin Grove, Acocks Green - 14 months + 6months TOTAL 20 months
  • 26. Jason Harris, aged 40, of Lime Street, Eccles - 20 Months 
  • 27. Lee Joshua, aged 43, of St Marys Court, Brierley Hill - 16 months
  • 28. Michael Dyer, aged 34, of Morse Road, Nailbridge - 12 months
  • 29. Steven Cooke, aged 39, of London Road South, Lowestoft - 24 months
  • 30. Simon Reeve, aged 43, of London Road, South, Lowestoft - 18 months
  • 31. Adrian Rimmel, aged 51, of Swallow Avenue, Smithswood - 24 months
  • 32. Thomas Flynn, aged 22, of Grange Drive, Swindon - 14 months
  • 33. Otis Bloodworth, aged 36, of Market Place, Alford - 18 months
  • 34. Scott Davidson, aged 24, of Camross Drive, Shrewsbury - 12 months
  • 35. Gary Watts, aged 30, of Stevens Close, Canvey Island - 15 months
  • 36. Andrew Warren/McGill, aged 48, of Freehold Street, Shoreham by Sea - 12 months
  • 37. Stuart Snowball, aged 24, of Howarth Street, Sunderland - 13 months
  • 38. Danny Purvis, aged 34, of Newcastle Hill, Kent - 27 months
  • 39. Thomas Nelson, aged 21, of Seaforth Road, Bolton - 22 months
  • 40. Matthew Dunn, aged 28, of Park Rod, Lowestoft - 12 months
  • 41. Marc Collins, aged 34, of Bandywood Crescent, Kingstanding - 12 months
  • 42. Lee Hunter, aged 32, of Nidd Drive, Castleford - 6 months
  • 43. Sonny Marland, aged 20, of Meadow Road, Melksham - 8 months
  • 44. Kenny Graham, aged 20, of Ottawa Road, Middlesborough - 26 months
  • 45. Kane Moffatt, aged 22, of Hawthorne Crescent, Mexborough - 22 months
  • 46. Adam Emms, aged 24, of Donnington Close, Redditch - 13 +13 TOTAL 26 months
  • 47. Joshua Wall, aged 21, of The Ridgeway Erdington -16 + 29 +1 TOTAL 46 months
  • 48. Karl Reed, aged 51, of Maple Grove, Bletchley - community order 12 months (not pictured)
  • 49. Jamie Wilder, aged 22, Devonshire Road, Hastings - total of 6 and a half years (including other offences)
  • 50. Mark Morgan, aged 25, of St Johns Avenue, Newcastle - 16 months

Sentencing of  Michael Wilson, aged 20, of Arkley Crescent, Hartlepool, has been adjourned until January 30.

Dean Kenny is wanted in connection with the investigation.

Two men are yet to appear before court, charged with violent disorder at the counter demonstration on the day of the July 2013 protest. 

Khurram Shabir, aged 22 of Finnemore Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at a hearing in December and awaits sentence. 

Nadeem Zaffar, aged 26, of Somerville Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, awaits trial at Birmingham Crown Court on January 12.