During protests in Manchester last month, a woman faced severe racist abuse and was spat on.

Thomas Richard, 56, was among a considerable group gathered at Piccadilly Gardens on August 3. Video evidence shown at Manchester Crown Court demonstrated how the group surrounded three young women in hijabs and headscarves, launching Islamophobic slurs at them.

Amidst the chaos, several males, including Richard, were seen spitting at the women. Another man’s spit landed on one of the women who had been shopping in the city centre.

The protest was sparked by online misinformation regarding the background of a man accused of killing three children in Southport.

After pleading guilty to violent disorder, Richard, of Miles Platting, was sentenced to jail on September 24.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman expressed her deep disappointment and disgrace towards the far-right EDL members' actions. She noted that the assault was entirely unprovoked and left her feeling violated and dehumanized.

She mentioned that she now feels terrified to leave her home because of the attack.

The 22-year-old victim, a white British woman wearing a hijab and a keffiyeh scarf representing Palestine, was observing the events at Piccadilly Gardens when the situation escalated.

As the group became more aggressive and the police tried to disperse them, she attempted to move across Piccadilly Gardens. She heard xenophobic and Islamophobic shouts and comments about her religion. She felt the animosity of the words, particularly as she was alone.

Confronted by a member of the group, she was accused of antagonizing them. She stated that she was merely observing and later felt that she should have left but did not want to succumb to intimidation in a public space.

The situation intensified with the arrival of two Muslim girls in headscarves, and they were soon surrounded by a larger group chanting hateful slogans.

When the victim told the crowd to leave the girls alone, the insults were directed at her, and many began recording her. They questioned her beliefs and made derogatory comments.

As the aggressiveness of the crowd increased, some members pulled on her keffiyeh scarf and a Muslim man came to her aid. At that moment, she felt spit land on her cheek.

In footage, Richard can be seen shouting aggressively and making gun gestures towards the women, though he did not hit the victim with his spit.

Richard continued shouting racist and xenophobic comments. A journalist present confirmed hearing him make additional derogatory statements.

Richard's defense attorney acknowledged that the women were targeted and pursued despite police presence. On the day of the incident, Richard claimed he was passing through on his way to St Anne's Square when he got caught up in the protest thinking it would be peaceful.

Despite his apologies and claims of being swept up by the crowd, he did not leave the scene and became more involved.

Sentencing Richard, Judge Patrick Field KC condemned the protest as an expression of uninformed prejudices. He commended the woman's calm defiance, noting her humanity contrasted sharply with the aggressors.

Richard, of Kingsland Close, Miles Platting, received a 20-month jail sentence and a three-year ban from a specific area in Manchester city centre.