Men who Clashed with ‘EDL’ Far-Right Group in Leeds are Jailed

Two men who confronted a far-right “EDL” group in Leeds city centre, kicking and punching them to the ground, have been jailed.

Sameer Ali and Adnan Ghafoor appeared at Leeds Crown Court, where it was revealed that they were part of a 17-person group that assaulted a small gathering of men displaying Union Jack flags.

Ali received a 20-month prison sentence, while Ghafoor was sentenced to 30 months, which includes 18 months for the affray and an additional 12 months for breaching a suspended sentence he was already serving.

It came after a protest outside Leeds Arts Gallery on the Headrow on August 3, 2024.

This included “pro-English Defence League” supporters, and counter-protestors.

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore said the protest was initially peaceful.

But at around 4:42 pm, a group of Asian males were walking along Great George Street when four males appeared, heading in the opposite direction.

CCTV footage showed verbal exchanges between the two groups before Ali threw punches to the nearest male.

He then punched a second and third male and kicked them on the ground. It happened in front of horrified onlookers in a nearby bar.

He was dragged away by another male and could be seen laughing and fist-bumping others as they walked away.

During the violence, Ghafoor ran across the road and hit a male three times who was being held in a chokehold.

Ali and Ghafoor later handed themselves into the police station.

Ali has no previous convictions.

On the other hand, Ghafoor has numerous previous convictions, including racially aggravated assault and racially aggravated provocation of violence.

He has also had jail sentences for driving offences, including causing serious injury through dangerous driving.

In mitigation for Ali, Graham O’Sullivan said his early guilty plea was his best point.

He said Ali was sorry and added: “He recognises the harm of his offence.”

Frances Pencheon, for Ghafoor, said the group was not a “mob looking for trouble”, with many who did not know each other.

She said that he did not try to cover his face and the four men in Union Jacks used language towards them that was “inflammatory”.

She added: “He deeply regrets that he involved himself. He fully accepts he should not have involved himself.

“He is also remorseful of the impact it will have had on people in town that day.”

“He allowed himself to get caught up in the situation that unfolded and ended within 30 seconds in a height of heightened emotions.

“It was a short-lived moment of madness against a backdrop of what was said to him while he was walking along.”

The Recorder of Leeds, Guy Kearl KC told the pair that “severe sentences” would be handed out to involve themselves in such violence.

He said: “Both of you involved yourselves in violence in the street in the city centre of Leeds. This was witnessed by people in the nearby bar, on the pavement and in their cars.

“They will have been shocked, fearful, upset and distressed by your actions.”