Man pleads not guilty to violent disorder after demonstration outside Epping hotel

Multiple demonstrations have been held outside The Bell Hotel in Epping since July 13

Author: Ellie Robson and Sam Russell, PAPublished 1st Sep 2025

A man has pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and to the criminal damage of a police carrier, after a demonstration outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex.

Charlie Land, of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, denied a charge of violent disorder said to have happened in Epping on July 17, during a brief hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday (1 September)

Land, 23, also pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal damage.

It is alleged that he damaged a police carrier belonging to the Metropolitan Police on the same date.

Land was bailed until a further case management hearing at the same court on September 22, when a date for trial will be considered.

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