‘Harry Potter’ bully jailed for two years over role in London riots

(Independent UK) – Actor Jamie Waylett, who played Hogwarts bully Vincent Crabbe in six of the ‘Harry Potter’ films, was jailed for two years yesterday for being part of a mob during last summer’s riots in London.

Waylett (22), was found guilty of violent disorder by a jury at London’s Wood Green Crown Court.

But the actor, who had already admitted swigging from a stolen bottle of champagne during the rioting, was cleared of intending to destroy or damage property with a petrol bomb he was pictured holding.

Waylett, who already had a previous conviction for cannabis possession, was with a gang of at least four people who went into the Chalk Farm area of north London last August on the third day of violence in the capital.

He was captured on CCTV at various points during the evening, often wearing a hood.

The footage showed him accepting a bottle of champagne from a rioter who had just looted the supermarket he was standing outside.

Judge Simon Carr sentenced the actor to two years for violent disorder and 12 months for handling stolen goods, to run concurrently.

Jailing him, the judge said: “Anyone watching the footage in this case can only imagine the mayhem that took place on the streets.

“You chose to go out on to the streets on what was the third day of the violence.

“You were pictured on a number of occasions with a bottle full of petrol with a rag as a wick.

“I accept . . . that you did not throw or have any intention of throwing it, but merely being in possession of it would have been terrifying to anyone who saw you.”

Struggled

The star wore a white shirt with an open collar and a dark suit to hear the sentencing.

Judge Carr told Waylett he would be eligible for release after a year in jail.

He nodded to the public gallery as he was led down to the cells.

Waylett’s defence lawyer, Emily Dummatt, said earlier her client had become a “withered actor by the age of 22”.

In mitigation, she told the court: “Although he had the good fortune to be in the ‘Harry Potter’ films, it turned out to be not so good fortune.”

She said Waylett, who has three low-grade GCSEs and a qualification in painting and decorating, had struggled with his fame and began to use cannabis.