A Havering electrician who threw a beer bottle at police during the summer’s riots has been jailed for 16 months.

Jay Keeling, 27, of Hyland Way in Hornchurch, also lunged at police during the mob violence in Whitehall on July 31, instigating a surge against officers.

He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, September 6, to one count of violent disorder while in a group of three or more people.

Judge Benedict Kelleher proceeded directly to sentence.

“The defendant is anxious to know his fate,” said defence barrister Gethin Payne.

The court watched four videos that captured Keeling’s contributions to the disorder near Downing Street.

In one, Keeling - wearing a white shirt and khaki shorts – was among a crowd chanting “You’re not English anymore” at police.

In others, he was part of a group that surged forwards towards police.

“You can be seen turning your back to the officers and pushing backwards into one of them with some determination,” said Judge Kelleher.

“Others around you join in what was obviously an attempt to become physically engaged with the police.”

Police had to push him back over the safety barrier, into the crowd.

“Clearly, that had made you even more angry and irate,” said the judge.

“Within a few moments of that you can be seen on the other footage producing a beer bottle and throwing it from above shoulder height in an arc towards the police line.”

That, said the judge, was “an extremely dangerous thing to do, and it is only luck that means that you didn’t in fact cause serious injury by doing that.”

Keeling was then seen shouting and jabbing his finger at police, before the crowd chanted “Shame on you” and other abuse at the police.

He approached the barrier and began shaking and kicking it.

Keeling was arrested on August 9 and admitted to police that he was present and participated in the demonstration.

When shown the video footage, he admitted his crimes and twice apologised, said  

The court heard that Keeling, who lives with his parents, had no previous convictions and committed the offences while his parents were abroad celebrating their 60th birthdays.

“They came home to find out not only had he been arrested for this but he was in prison,” said Mr Payne.

“They have asked me to express their shock… They are more shocked than anyone that he got involved with this.”

Keeling, who entered court in a grey T-shirt with a grey sweatshirt tied around his shoulders, showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down.