Mitcham thug spat and kicked at police in Whitehall protest

Mitchell Hanley, 36, of Aitken Close in Mitcham Junction, was involved in the Enough is Enough demonstration on July 31, the day after there were riots in Southport following the killing of three young girls. 

Hanley’s role in the disorder was to spit at, kick and chant abuse at officers. 

Footage showed him chanting “you’re not English anymore” then shouting at officers “three girls, three f***ing girls you c***s”. 

Mitchell Hanley pictured at the protest (Image: PA) Prosecutor Gregor McKinley said: “He was seen spitting towards officers and the defendant kicked out at one of the police officers at the cordon. That kick connected with the officer but there was no injury.”   

Hanley handed himself in at a police station two weeks later on August 14. In his police interview he expressed regret at going to the protest. 

Natasha Lake, representing Hanley, said: “He’s a man for which violence, aggression and intimidation is not in his nature.” 

Ms Lake explained that the protest came during a difficult period of Hanley’s life. 

He was sleeping rough after his relationship with the mother of his daughter came to an end. 

“Mr Hanley became homeless and he approached the local authority but was told there was little they could unless he had mental health issues or a disability,” Ms Lake said. 

“It is this context which led Mr Hanley to feeling useless in himself, let down by others and, he tells me, quite angry.” 

Ms Lake added: “It is clear from speaking to him that he loves his daughter very much. His thought process was ‘what if that was my daughter’.” 

Hanley has been in custody for a month awaiting sentence. 

Mitchell Hanley (Image: Met Police) Mr Lake said: “This period in custody spent on remand has been his first experience of it, and it has not been easy. It’s a place he never thought he would be.” 

Judge Vanessa Baraitser said Hanley contributed to a volatile situation for police as they attempted to maintain order. 

“Tensions were running high across the country and there was significant fear of further disorder,” Judge Baraitser said. 

She said a prison sentence was necessary to both punish Hanley and deter those who look to engage in violent disorder. 

Hanley was jailed for 16 months.