No, Bristol man not convicted just for 'baring his teeth' at police

What is the claim? 

Following the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport on July 29, 2024 anti-immigration and misinformation-fueled rhetoric sparked riots across Britain. Far-right protestors converged at the Mercure Hotel on Redcliffe Hill in Castle Park, Bristol, which houses asylum seekers, to demonstrate against the killing of the three young girls. One of many protests that erupted in Britain, these demonstrations and counter-demonstrations have been tempered by anti-immigrant sentiments. 

Social media users have claimed that a man who was part of the riot in Bristol was arrested for "baring his teeth" at the police. A Facebook user shared a mugshot of a man with the caption, "Zak Baker of Bristol, was jailed for 28 months for 'baring teeth' at police officers. Facial expressions are now crimes in communist Britain. Facial expressions will land you in jail for 28 months. This is insanity." Similar claims on Facebook can be viewed here and here; the same claim was made on Reddit as well. 

Screenshot of the claims on Facebook and Reddit. (Source: Facebook/Reddit/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, we found that the man was arrested and sentenced after pleading guilty to violent disorder and not just for baring his teeth at police during the riots. 

What we found 

The URL "ITV.com" is visible in the viral posts, which led us to an August 16 report on ITV News (archived here) headlined "Mum-of-five cries as she's jailed for violence outside Bristol hotel housing asylum seekers." The ITV report states that data engineer Zak Baker was sent to prison for 28 months and that he "was captured on camera acting aggressively as he moved along the line of protestors, baring his teeth at police." We also found a video uploaded by the Daily Mail (archived here) with similar details. 

A reverse image search of the image led us to a report (archived here) published on August 16, 2024, by Bristol Live, which states that Baker was jailed for 28 months for violent disorder following the riots in Bristol and that he was captured on police body-worn cameras with the riot police on Bristol Bridge.

A preliminary report (archived here) by the Avon and Somerset Police was published on August 10, the day Zak Baker and the other accused were arrested and remanded to custody before court proceedings. It states that along with violent disorder, Baker was also "charged with possessing a Class B drug (cannabis)."

We also found a detailed report (archived here) published on August 16 by Avon and Somerset Police about the arrests and the legal proceedings. The report states that Zak Baker, Lisa Bishop, Jamie Easterbrook, and Joseph Bradford, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, were given prison sentences for taking part in the violent disorder in Bristol. 29-year-old Baker was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.

Body-camera footage from the incident shows a man, identified as Baker, verbally assailing riot police and then physically provoking them. He then attempts to kick police dogs and their handlers who walk by. Bristol Judge Picton, who said he was “very obviously encouraging and enticing the crowd” during the riots on 3 August. 

Screenshot of the police body-camera footage shared by Avon and Somerset Police showing Baker attacking the riot police and police dogs. (Source: Avon and Somerset Police).

A BBC article (archived here) reports that Baker was arrested for violent disorder and attacking the police. Other local reports also corroborate that he was arrested for "violent disorder" and not just for baring his teeth at police. 

So far, 29 people have been arrested in connection with the Bristol riots, according to Avon and Somerset police. 

Logically Facts has contacted the Avon and Somerset Police for a response, and this report will be updated accordingly. 

The verdict 

Zak Baker was not sentenced to prison for two years and four months just for "baring his teeth" at the police. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder during riots in Bristol on August 3.