A violent protestor who wore a skull mask while involved in the Dover riots has been jailed for 16 months.

Patrick Edwards, 27, of Malvern Road, Portsmouth, threw an object at rival demonstrators when trouble broke out in the town on January 30, 2016.

He was also recorded attempting to break through a police cordon, and at one point showed his face by lowering his mask to argue with officers.

Kent Police detectives reviewed hundreds of hours of footage from the day to identify those responsible with help from other forces across the UK.

Edwards was tracked down to an address in Portsmouth where he was arrested on February 8 this year.

He was subsequently charged with violent disorder and pleaded guilty prior to his sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday last week Jun 21.

Investigating officer Det Con Kirsty Bricknell said: “Wearing a mask to a demonstration is not something a peaceful protestor would do, and peaceful is not a word that could be used to describe Patrick Edwards on this occasion.

“He showed a complete disregard for the law and is now behind bars as a result.”

The violence broke out after a confrontation between far right marchers and anti-fascist counter-demonstrators.

Police have been pursuing the perpetrators ever since and Edwards is now the 59th convicted rioter.