Leader of group behind flag campaign in England charged with 14 offences

The leader of a group that has raised Union Jack and St George’s flags across England faces 14 criminal charges, including racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour and assault.

Ryan Bridge, 45, from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, co-founded Raise the Colours. The group describes itself as a “grassroots movement for unity and patriotism”.

The charges include seven counts of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Bridge also faces three counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or provoke, unlawful violence.

The remaining charges are two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress, one count of racially aggravated fear of violence and one count of common assault. Bridge is due to appear in court.