Six month sentence for former Etonian

A former Etonian has been sentenced to six months in youth detention for his participation in a May-day anti-capitalist riot that caused £50,000 damage to a McDonald's restaurant earlier this year.

A former Etonian has been sentenced to six months in youth detention for his participation in a May-day anti-capitalist riot that caused £50,000 damage to a McDonald's restaurant earlier this year.

The 17-year-old was sentenced at West London Youth Court after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to violent disorder and causing criminal damage.

The teenager, who was a student in the same year as Prince William, was recorded on video throwing objects at police and smashing a crowd control barrier.

The annual protest on May 1 began as a peaceful day in the sunshine but degenerated into pockets of violence as masked demonstrators battled riot police in the heart of the capital.

A hardcore group pelted police with bricks, beer cans and traffic pylons as some protesters ransacked a McDonald's fast food restaurant near Trafalgar Square.

Staff fled in terror as the rioters smashed windows and looted food, causing 50,000 pounds in damage. A television camera crew was also attacked.

Nine police officers were injured - one was hit in the face with a brick - and dozens of people were arrested after a day of what Prime Minister Tony Blair called "mindless thuggery".