Britain has a two-tier justice system, Robert Jenrick claims as a pro-Palestinian protester is spared jail for spitting at a police officer during clash in central London

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick lambasted Britains two-tier justice system after it emerged a pro-Palestinian protester dodged jail despite spitting on two police officers. 

Jamila Zadran, 32, was caught on film spitting at the constables during a clash between Israeli and Palestinian protesters on January 18 in central London.

She claimed she did not mean to spit at the officers and was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work. 

But her sentence drew comparisons with a far-Right protester jailed for more than two years for spitting on and goading an officer at a demonstration.

Mr Jenrick labelled the judges decision to spare Zadran ridiculous. He told The Mail on Sunday: It is ridiculous that the judge did not think the protester deliberately spat at the police officer.

The footage is clear cut. This will only add to the perception that we have a two-tier justice system where fashionable causes are treated more leniently.

When Daniel McGuire, 45, spat on an officer in Plymouth last year during an extremist rally, he was locked up for 26 months.

McGuire was charged with violent disorder after the protest, organised in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick lambasted Britains two-tier justice system after it emerged a pro-Palestinian protester dodged jail despite spitting on two police officers

Jamila Zadran, 32, was caught on film spitting at the constables during a clash between Israeli and Palestinian protesters on January 18 in central London

In contrast, Zadran was charged with only two counts of assault by beating an emergency worker, which she admitted at Westminster Magistrates Court last week.

Violent disorder is a more serious matter which can, unlike assault by beating, be dealt with in a Crown Court, where lengthy custodial sentences are more likely.

McGuire was jailed at Plymouth Crown Court by Judge Robert Linford who condemned his behaviour as acts of deliberate violence and said: The word goes out from this court – we do not want you here behaving in this way.

But when Zadran turned up for her sentencing District Judge Neeta Minhas accepted her account, and handed her 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay prosecution costs of £499.

Judge Minhas said: Whilst I understand you were not aiming at them, the consequences were that they were in the line of fire and were impacted.

They are police officers trying to do a frontline public service role and they do not deserve that behaviour directed towards them.

The officers, who only been identified only as PC Blake and PC Rose, both gave witness statements.

PC Blake said: Spitting is so disgusting. Zadran showed no remorse and never apologised.

David Burns, prosecuting, said: Ms Zadran shouted abuse towards the opposite Israeli group. She has then been told to calm down.

She had then moved towards one of the Israeli group, and spat at two officers in the face, he said.

Her lawyer Jude Lanchin described her offence as a reckless act rather than an intentional one while conceding that it is not acceptable in any way to spit towards anybody.