May Day riots nurse jailed

A McDonald's resturant was targeted by rioters

A Scottish nurse who was described as one of the ringleaders of the May Day riots in London has been jailed for 15 months.

Darryl Walker, 23, from Kilmarnock, had admitted violent disorder and burglary during the anti-capitalism demonstration on 1 May.

Walker, 24, was caught on camera repeatedly kicking the windows of a McDonald's restaurant, hanging off its sign and ransacking an exchange bureau.

The demonstration erupted into violence

He then urged the crowd to cause more destruction and gave one-fingered salutes before celebrating by shaking other protesters' hands.

After his face was shown on the BBC's Crimewatch programme, Walker boasted to colleagues that he was involved in the trouble.

Managers at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, recognised Walker and he turned himself in after being confronted.

At Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court, in central London, Judge Jeremy Connor said Walker had played a key role in the violence.

After watching video footage of the riots, he told Walker: "It is quite clear that at one stage you were a significant leader of the crowd, and an instigator of it.

"It was a terrifying experience for the staff of those premises, and for the rest of London.

'Kicking a window'

"No-one can forget the sight of triumph which was on your face as you completed your part."

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused when the anti-capitalist demo erupted into violence.

Business staff - including a heavily-pregnant woman - were forced to barricade themselves inside premises.

Prosecutor Yogain Chandarana said: "Walker was at the front of a significant crowd of thousands, particularly at the McDonald's.

"On the video, he is seen whipping up the mob instinct. From the start of the attack he is seen kicking a window, before the rioters smashed a sign and pulled at the door.

"Again, he takes a prominent role in encouraging the mob. He is in celebratory mood once the ransacking is complete.

Police used film footage to track down offenders

"At the bureau de change, he uses a long metal pole to smash one of the windows.

"He then enters the premises and is seen exiting with a display cabinet which he takes outside and throws to the ground."

Walker was shown on television wearing 18-hole boots and a black T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan: "Black Man, White Man, Rip The System."

During the worst of the violence, he hid his face with a mask.

Just months before the riots, Walker took part in a peaceful demonstration against genetically-modified foods in Edinburgh.

Afterwards, he gave an interview to a radio station saying that peaceful protests were the only way to get a message across.

Veronica Coward, defending, said Walker felt shame and remorse following the incident.

She said: "Because of his admissions, he can no longer practice as a nurse.

"He was overtaken by madness on that day. He feels a hypocrite to have extolled the virtues of pacifism throughout his life and then to have committed these offences."