12:42PM, Sat Jul 7, 2012

EDL Thug Who Set Protester Alight In Newcastle Is Spared Jail

By Hugh Macknight Location: Newcastle

An EDL thug who hurled a lit firework into the hood of an anti Jubilee protestor and set his hair alight has been spared jail.

Sky Tyne and Wear cameras caught Anthony Crawford throwing the explosive into a crowd of peaceful protesters at Grey's Monument in Newcastle city centre.

It landed in the hooded top of Barnaby Drew, of Byker, Newcastle, then exploded, burning his shoulder, hair, and blasting a hole in his jumper.

The explosion left the 19-year-old temporarily deaf and damaged his ear.

Newcastle Magistrates handed Crawford, 22, of Elmway, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, a 15-week suspended sentence after he admitting assault by beating.

He was ordered to pay £150 in compensation.

Crawford had joined a group of protesters from the extremist right-wing EDL at the Rose and Crown pub, on Newcastle's Newgate Street, for a pre-arranged meeting.

His legal team told the court he was handed the lit firework before throwing it and he had not intended to cause injury.