A 23-YEAR-OLD raver who attacked a police officer during a lockdown-breaking Halloween party at a disused warehouse has been ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and pay nearly £800 in fines, costs and compensation.

Bristol magistrates heard that Jerin Nixon from Newent also damaged a phone exchange box and refused to leave the site when told to go.

The court heard that police who arrived at the scene in Yate were faced by a Halloween party from hell, with 700 ravers inside the warehouse and another 200 to 300 trying to get in, all in breach of Covid social gathering restrictions.

Avon and Somerset Police prevented up to 300 people gaining entry to the illegal all-night rave, which saw officers met with “scenes of hostility and violence” as they tried to break it up.

They later launched an investigation aimed at tracking down some of the ravers and posted a gallery of people filmed on police body cameras and by the public that they wanted to question.

Two of the principal organisers of the event were also tracked down and served with £10,000 fines for breaching Covid rules, while another 13 received retrospective fixed £200 penalties for attending.

Nixon of Horse Fair Lane, Newent, admitted assaulting PC Christopher Wright, criminal damage and failing to leave the rave when ordered to do so.

He was sentenced to do 150 hours of unpaid work and fined £500.

He must also pay £150 in compensation for the damage to the exchange box and £50 to the police officer, and £85 in prosecution costs, meaning a total bill of £785.

Five other people accused of involvement in the rave were due to appear in the same court yesterday (February 9).

Police say they prevented up to 300 people reaching the site, before officers managed to break up the gathering.

A force spokesperson said following the rave: “A dedicated investigations team are continuing to look into offences that occurred at the event, which was held on Saturday, October 31 and into the following day.

“Officers were quickly on the scene when informed about what was happening and despite facing violence, they prevented approximately 250-300 people attending the event in a warehouse.

“However, approximately 500-700 people did gain access to the site.

“Officers were able to close down the event, make eight arrests and seize music equipment during the police operation on the day.

“A further four arrests were made in the days that followed.

“Since then, officers have been trawling through footage supplied by the public and on officers’ body-worn cameras to identify others involved.

“Many individuals we wish to speak to have been identified by officers, but a number of them have not been recognised and therefore it was necessary to release them publicly.”

Detective Superintendent Lisa Simpson said: “We’re grateful for the public’s support with coming forward with names to help us identify people not known to our officers.

“It makes a huge difference to our enquiry as we look to fully investigate what happened over the Halloween weekend and bring those involved to justice.”