Man Denies Violent Disorder, Damage Charges at Epping Asylum Hotel Protest

Charlie Land, 23, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, has pleaded not guilty to charges of violent disorder and criminal damage following a demonstration outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on July 17. He is accused of damaging a Metropolitan Police carrier by kicking its wing mirror, jumping on its bonnet, kicking the windscreen causing it to crack, and throwing a traffic cone. The demonstrations have been ongoing since July 13, triggered by the charge against an asylum seeker at the hotel for the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, whose trial began recently and is expected to conclude this week. Land appeared briefly at Chelmsford Crown Court, where he was granted bail ahead of a further case management hearing scheduled for September 22 to set a trial date. Judge Jamie Sawyer presided over the hearing, outlining the allegations against Land. The case highlights tensions surrounding the asylum seeker accommodations and related protests in the area.