Neo-Nazi Scots jailed for shop riot

Nottingham Crown Court was told how a gang of 40 skinheads, many

dressed in combat jackets and wearing Nazi insignia, wrecked the

Mushroom Store, a minority bookshop, causing #10,000 of damage on a busy

afternoon in January last year.

The gang terrorised customers to ''amuse themselves'' after a Blood

and Honour gig in London by the skinhead group Skrewdriver was cancelled

by police.

Stephen Bradley, 24, of Belmont Street, Townhead, Coatbridge,

Lanarkshire, who was among those who entered the shop, was jailed for

three years after admitting violent disorder.

Iain Simpson, 28, of Hillhead Road, Kirkintilloch, was among the other

11 jailed for two months after they admitted a lesser charge of

threatening behaviour.

Mr Paul Mann, prosecuting, said because of the cancellation the

skinheads were very upset. ''They chose to travel to Nottingham to amuse

themselves and had a drink in a pub there.''

Two shop assistants and a disabled customer were injured in the

attack. As missiles smashed through the shop windows, 15 other customers

took cover behind bookshelves.

Mr Mann said: ''One of the skinheads, wearing an antique Nazi badge,

took hold of a lady. Three of them began attacking the manager, striking

him in the head and back.''

Judge Richard Benson told the 12 he was sentencing them for their

crimes and not their political views. ''This was an incident of loutish

thuggery,'' he said.

After the hearing violence flared when supporters of the 12 left the

court and clashed with left-wing protesters outside.

One man was seriously injured and taken to hospital after being

attacked by a gang of 30 men chanting anti-Nazi slogans. There was one

arrest.