First-class thug - Final rioter convicted
A STUDENT in line for a first-class honours degree has been jailed for his role in Bristol's Tesco riots.
Patrick Besiris was captured on CCTV and amateur video footage, repeatedly throwing rocks at a line of police officers with riot shields.
He is the final defendant to be convicted for taking part in the three incidents of disorder which hit Bristol last year – two centred on a controversial Tesco store in Cheltenham Road in April and a third that erupted as riots in London spread across the country in August.
Police vowed to track down the hundreds of people involved. At the time, Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham warned those who took part: "My message to all of you is simple. If you were involved in this disorder in any way then when we identify you, we will arrest you."
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In the end 137 people were arrested and of those, 72 were cautioned or convicted, with 17 sent to jail.
Police have declined to reveal how many offenders were arrested at the time and how many were tracked down later using CCTV.
The Avon and Somerset force has also been unable to reveal a total figure for the cost of policing the riots, but Chief Constable Colin Port said: "The costs of processing these people through the criminal justice system, from arrest and charge to sentencing, and imprisonment for some, will cost the public purse hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"The swift passage through the courts and the sentences handed down are testament to the work of the police and others in the criminal justice system, but also to the people of Bristol and the readers of the Post."
Bristol Crown Court heard 21-year-old Besiris, of Filton Road, had overcome adversity to get a place at the University of the West of England, where he was in his final year of a BA in politics, played rugby and was chairman of his student campus.
But his promising future was left in tatters after he was jailed for 14 months yesterday, having pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Judge Michael Roach, who has had jurisdiction of all cases connected to last year's disorder, told him: "Your behaviour on the night in question was disgraceful.
"It is obvious that that sort of behaviour must attract a custodial sentence."
Richard Posner, prosecuting, said Besiris was convicted for his role in the second night of trouble near the Tesco store in the early hours of April 29, the day of the Royal Wedding.
Plans for a protest "party" a week on from the first night of trouble had drawn a 200-strong crowd to a squat known as Telepathic Heights, opposite the Tesco store.
Besiris was shown on the corner of Stokes Croft and Nine Tree Hill, wearing a mask and throwing missiles. He had written that he had been "Looking forward to Stokes Croft round two," on his account on social networking site Twitter.
Srikantharajah Nereshraaj, defending, said Besiris wished to apologise to the police and community.
He said: "It was inexcusable and unjustifiable. He saw the CCTV and was ashamed and appalled."
Mr Nereshraaj said his client had overcome ADHD and an inherited bi-polar disorder to obtain good qualifications and was on track for a First Class BA Honours in politics.
He had been voted chairman of St Matthias campus, played rugby for his university and local club and had re-instated a social group which raised money for good causes including bereaved students.
Afterwards John Rushforth, UWE Bristol deputy vice-chancellor, said: "The University, whilst upholding students' rights to peaceful protest, does not in any way condone violence. There is a university disciplinary process, which can result in a range of outcomes including withholding of degree. We never prejudge the outcome of that process until the university has considered fully the facts of the case."
Click here for more on the number of arrests and convictions.
And there is more here from DCI Will White, the detective in charge of investigating last year's riots.
Comments
by ANDYJRM
Friday, June 08 2012, 9:21AM
“@Bedmoblues - what degrees did they do, and are they any good in the charity call centres, i.e are they achieving target? If so, I might be interested in speaking with them.....”
by BedmoBlues
Thursday, June 07 2012, 4:45PM
“@Katachua - yes two. They both work in charity call centres. I know several law graduates, none of them can get training contracts. Again call centres.
Whilst mildly offensive you are quite correct about art/humanities degrees. I do so hope your natural interest turns out to be a total waste of time and then you too can feel the disappointment of knowing you're likely to never fulfill your aspirations.
Possibly, don't be such a sarcastic ******* about other peoples' interests and aspirations.
Good luck with the engineering, fingers crossed you don't lose anything vital in machinery. Or even better become redundant when we finally can whats left of the engineering sector and outsource you lot to china as well.
**** off.”
by Cider_Dog
Wednesday, June 06 2012, 1:32PM
“@ben_321 Not sure of the actual relevance of your comment, but....could it that the number of deaths of black / ethnic minorities is simply a reflection of the fact that there is a higher concentration of these particular people in prisons?
Just a thought...”
by Cider_Dog
Wednesday, June 06 2012, 12:48PM
“So before the riot Posh boy Besiris said... "Looking forward to Stokes Croft round two"
And at his trail he said he was..."was ashamed and appalled."
Now I know he has Bipolar but surely this is stretching the point?
He was and remains an idiot, regardless of his background / afflictions / attributes.
He made a decision to break the law and now must take the appropriate punishment, I would imagine that ADHD should make life in prison more bearable anyway...can't think about how bad it is for too long at one time ;)”
by katachua
Monday, June 04 2012, 5:28PM
“@happydays999
"Yes I know an electronic engineering graduate who is now working in research and design. Despite being made redundant twice (all jobs were electronic engineering) he has managed to use his degree and college course to the full - my son."
I know a physics and chemistry gradute who made a career out of computer hardware and software - me!
The fact is that 75% of degrees now are in non-subjects like drama and media studies. There aren't any jobs the make use of them.
Reminds me of the old joke:
An engineering graduate asks "How does that work?"
A science graduate asks "Why does that work?"
An arts graduate asks "Do you want fries with that?"”
by happydays999
Monday, June 04 2012, 4:29PM
“Yes I know an electronic engineering graduate who is now working in research and design. Despite being made redundant twice (all jobs were electronic engineering) he has managed to use his degree and college course to the full - my son.”
by katachua
Saturday, June 02 2012, 6:06PM
“@BedmoBlues
"As for "his career is doomed" - I don't know a single graduate whose doing anything related to thier degree. "
Do you know any science or engineering graduates?”
by katachua
Saturday, June 02 2012, 6:05PM
“@CurtisHewitt
"Wasn't it also JFK who said "those who drink too much cider in the Pipe & Slippers sometimes get carried away"?"
Wasn't it Confucius - aka Kung fu tse?
Actually the proverb is:
Man takes drink.
Drink takes drink.
Drink taks man.
Which is relevant...”
by ceembee
Saturday, June 02 2012, 5:55PM
“Cornsups I doubt very much whether much critical thinking went into this idiot's actions - if hehad thought it through he would have realised the possible consequences. I strongly suspect he like many others jumped on the bandwagon fuelled by drink, drugs etc and for apologists like you to hark on about the ideology/dissatisfaction with the 'system' being the causal factor highlights your own ignorance about the psychology of mob behaviour. FYI it was not the chancellor letting off Vodaphone et al but HMRC head honcho David Hartnett (see Private Eye). As for funding degrees - part of the problem relates more to so many mickey mouse degrees being available - in the 60's & 70's only 4% went on to university and that was affordable. Our educators should be encouraging their pupils to study more rigourously academic subjects such as physics, engineering, chemistry etc rather than music technology, media studies and the like. Housing costs - these started spiralling with the single room rent legislation introduced by a Conservative government along with the loss of the Rent Tribunals coupled with the rise of buy-to-let. By all means we should be challenging unfair systems but not through violence as this approach negates any legitimate cause. Despite the many faults we have much to be thankful for in this country including the NHS, benefits system and freedom of speech.”
by BedmoBlues
Friday, June 01 2012, 12:22PM
“@Finker - you really are gunning for an argument aren't you? Look I'm not an anarchist, I'm not supportive of his actions and I don't want to see a worldwide anti-capitalism revolution. Definitely not.
However, you still don't seem to see the underlying issue with a lot of young people being really angry - more so then previously.
As for "his career is doomed" - I don't know a single graduate whose doing anything related to thier degree. That in itself may be part of the problem. Never mind though, keep on banging on about anarchism and capitalism - you've got a point to make, shame I'm not in anyway involved with it. Please feel free to put further words in my mouth you soap box demagogue.”