Man, 25, appears in court accused of trying to set fire to police van during Kill the Bill protest in Bristol

• Ryan Roberts allegedly placed lit card beneath vehicle while officer was inside 
• He was also charged with five other offences as a result of last month's protest
• These are made up of criminal damage, assault by beating and violent disorder A 25-year-old man has appeared in court accused of trying to set fire to a police van during a Kill the Bill riot.

  Ryan Roberts allegedly placed lit card beneath the vehicle while an officer was inside during clashes in Bristol city centre on March 21 this year.

  Roberts was brought before a district judge sitting at Bristol Magistrates Court this morning charged with attempted arson with intent to endanger life.

  

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  Ryan Roberts allegedly placed lit card beneath the vehicle while an officer was inside during clashes in Bristol city centre on March 21 this yearRoberts, formerly of Plymouth, Devon, but now living in Easton, Bristol, was charged with five other offences as a result of the protest.

  These are made up of two counts of criminal damage, two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker and one of violent disorder.  

  No plea was formally entered for the alleged offences, but his solicitor, John Haythorne, indicated he would be pleading guilty to all six offences.

  Mr Haythorne, appearing by video link, said: 'I do not think there is any factual dispute because of the nature of CCTV evidence.'

  District Judge Lynne Matthews, sitting in the magistrates court, said Roberts' offences would have to be dealt with at Bristol Crown Court because they are 'too serious to be dealt with by this court'. 

  She added: 'This court does not have the sentencing powers that would be appropriate.'

  The judge refused an application for bail and remanded him in custody until May 5, when he will appear at Bristol Crown Court.

  

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  The anarchy that ensued on March 21 came after a peaceful protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

  Remanding Roberts in custody - just hours before a fresh Kill the Bill demonstration was due to take place in the city - Judge Matthews told him: 'We seem to be in the protest season at the moment and there cannot be a single person in the country who has not seen the footage and there are grounds to believe you would offend again.'

  Bearded Roberts, his blonde hair held in a bun, wore a grey sweatshirt and blue jeans and spoke only to give his new address.

  The anarchy that ensued on March 21 came after a peaceful protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.  

  The legislation would give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance, with those convicted liable to fines or jail terms.