East London career criminal David Notley jailed for Whitehall disorder

David Notley, 67, of High Road in Buckhurst Hill, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and a religiously aggravated public order offence after he was involved in the Enough is Enough demonstration near Downing Street on July 31. 

Notley was seen striking fighting poses in front of police, surging back and forth towards officers, called them c***s and joining in anti-Muslim chants.

Prosecutor Alexander Agbamu said Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, organised the demonstration and members of the far-right responded with the seeming intention of replicating scenes seen earlier in the week across the country. 

Police imposed conditions that demonstrators must remain on Richmond Terrace and the protest must end by 8.30pm. 

However, the demonstration grew violent as demonstrators broke out of the area and bottles were thrown at officers. 

David Notley pictured wearing a black cap at the Enough is Enough demonstration in Whitehall (Image: PA) Mr Agbamu played footage of Notley’s role in the disorder. 

He said: “By way of summary, in that footage we could see Mr Notley had made his way to the front of that crowd who were confronting police. 

“He struck fighting poses, surging back and forth, joined in chanting ‘you’re not English anymore’. He then helped to push another demonstrator into a police officer which precipitated a physical confrontation between police and demonstrators. 

“We can see that for the duration of this clip, at least, the defendant remained at the front of the crowd.” 

Judge Freya Newbery described Notley as a career thief and burglar. 

In 2009 he was jailed for 20 years for his involvement in an attempt to smuggle nearly £400,000 worth of cocaine hidden in pot plants from Nicaragua to Waltham Abbey. 

The 120 pot plants were found during a border inspection at Tilbury Docks. 

Notley was on licence at the time of the demonstration so when he was arrested last Tuesday (August 13) he was recalled to prison. 

David Notley pictured in 2009 (Image: Met Police) Notley represented himself at his sentencing hearing at Inner London Crown Court on Monday (August 19). 

He told the court he went to the demonstration to support the three girls who were killed in Southport. 

Notley said: “I was actually already in the area that day so I hadn’t planned to go to that march. I was already in Piccadilly Circus and my phone beeped with the message about the three girls and I just went to that. I got swept up in it basically in the moment of doing it.” 

He added: “The only thing I refute in the prosecutor’s observations is that I was pushing people. No way. I was pushed from behind. I would never do that sort of thing. I’m not into that sort of thing I’m nearly 70.” 

Judge Newbery said: “I suspect you had fallen into the trap of believing a lot of things put on social media, wrongly, and probably done to do just that, prompt someone like you to join in. 

“You didn’t think about anything, not least that you were on licence and a criminal offence would put you back in prison.” 

David Notley (Image: Met Police)

Judge Newbery commented that it was “somewhat ironic” that Notley seems to regard himself as an asset to society given his criminal record. 

While Notley did not engage in violence himself, Judge Newbery said his actions could and probably did encourage others to threaten police and engage in disorder. 

“That protest descended into really horrible and sickening violent language and activities which caused fright and upset to very many ordinary law-abiding people in London,” she said. 

She said violent protest cannot be tolerated by society and a severe sentence is necessary for punishment and deterrent. 

He was sentenced to 20 months in prison of which he will serve at least half.