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Harry Potter actor jailed for two years over London riots

Jamie Waylett at the start of his trial last October
Jamie Waylett at the start of his trial last October
DOMINIC LIPINSKI/PA

Jamie Waylett, 22, who played the villainous Vincent Crabbe in the Harry Potter movies, has been jailed for two years for his part in the London riots.

Waylett’s trial at Wood Green Crown Court was told that the actor was caught on CCTV swigging sparkling wine that had been looted from a branch of Sainsbury’s in Chalk Farm Road, north London.

An hour and a half later Waylett was caught on camera again, this time among a gang of masked youths carrying petrol bombs.

Waylett, who played a Hogwarts school bully but in real life is reported to be on friendly terms with Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, was arrested after police pored through hundreds of hours of footage filmed by Camden Council cameras.

In interview he told police he was ‘fascinated’ by the disorder, but denied taking part in violence.

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‘He agreed he had been handed a bottle of champagne to drink out of and at one point covered his face after spotting acquaintances,’ said Rebekah Hummerstone, prosecuting.

‘He also agreed he had been carrying a petrol bomb and said he was asked by other people to carry it. He had some trouble with them in the past and felt obliged to comply.’

But he insisted that he had no intention of using the petrol bomb and had thrown it in a nearby rubbish bin, she added.

‘The prosecution say he appears to have travelled to Camden from his home to join in and play his part in the civil disorder,’ Ms Hummerstone said.

‘His handling of the petrol bomb is sufficient of his intention that evening.’

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He appeared in six Harry Potter films before his character was written out in the final Deathly Hallows instalment.

Waylett, of West Hampstead, north west London, had already admitted swigging from a stolen bottle of Champagne during the rioting, but denied having an article with intent to destroy or damage property, and violent disorder.

Today he was cleared of intending to destroy or damage property with the petrol bomb, but convicted of violent disorder. Waylett already has a previous conviction for cannabis possession.

Judge Simon Carr sentenced the actor to two years for violent disorder and 12 months for handling stolen goods, to run concurrently.

Jailing him, the judge said: “A considerable amount has been said about what happened over those few days. Anyone watching the footage in this case can only imagine the mayhem that took place on the streets.

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“You chose to go out on to the streets on what was the third day of the violence. The footage shows you in the near vicinity of a Sainsbury’s in Camden which was being looted. You were pictured on a number of occasions with a bottle full of petrol with a rag as a wick.

“I accept entirely the jury’s verdict that you did not throw or have any intention of throwing it, but merely being in possession of it would have been terrifying to anyone who saw you.”

Judge Carr told Waylett he would be eligible for release after a year in jail.

The star, who had a shaved head and a goatee beard, wore a white shirt with an open collar and a dark suit to hear the sentencing. He nodded to the public gallery as he was led down to the cells.