MPS yesterday warned of a “dangerous precedent” being set after protesters who toppled a statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston were cleared of criminal damage.

       Rhian Graham, 30, Milo Ponsford, 26, Jake Skuse, 33, and Sage Willoughby, 22, admitted involvement — but claimed the bronze memorial itself was a hate crime.

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       Four people have been cleared after a statue was toppled Credit: PA 6

       Protesters kneel on the neck of the statue after it was toppled in Bristol

       After a two-week trial, the jury agreed with their legal arguments and cheers erupted in the public gallery when the not guilty verdict was returned.

       But Tory MP Tom Hunt said: “I’m deeply concerned by the precedent set here.

       "It could give green light for all sorts of political extremists to take matters into their own hands, shun the democratic processes for removing certain statues and to ransack our past.”

       Former minister Tim Loughton added: “It effectively allows anyone to rip down statues, vandalise public art and memorials or desecrate buildings, because they disagree with what they stand for.”

       Graham, Ponsford and Willoughby were cleared despite CCTV showing them passing rope around the statue of Colston before it was pulled down.

       Skuse had been accused of orchestrating a plan to throw it into Bristol harbour during the Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020.

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       The four chose to have the case heard by a jury at the city’s crown court even though the case could have been dealt with by magistrates.

       After the verdict, Raj Chada — who represented Skuse — said: “The truth is that the defendants should never have been prosecuted.”

       He added it was “shameful” that the city council had not removed a statue that “caused such offence to the people”.

       Social media users also criticised the verdict, with Jon Lowndes saying: “The process of law is falling foul of public opinion and not doing its job.”

       Brian McMullan added: “Regardless of who Colston was, this is criminal damage and I’m not sure what more evidence is required.”

       Who was Edward Colston?

       COLSTON was a merchant in the Royal African Company - the most prominent firm in the England in the West African slave trade.

       During his time at the company, it is believed to have transported around 84,000 African men women and children as slaves.

       Colston was a philanthropist in his native Bristol and a number of charitable foundations still bear his name in the city.

       The bronze memorial to Colston had been in the city's centre since 1895.

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       The statue was chucked in the river 6

       Rhian Graham has been cleared Credit: Getty 6

       Jake Skuse has been cleared Credit: Getty 6

       Milo Ponsford was also cleared by a jury Credit: Getty

       Statue of Edward Colston is thrown into river after being pulled down in Bristol