A Polish man recruited by far right thugs to fight anti-fascists in Liverpool shockingly revealed his grandfather was executed by the Nazis.

Pawel Starzynski was one of three men from a group calling themselves the “Polish Hooligans” jailed over ugly scenes last year.

Opposing factions hurled missiles and caused up to £25,000 of damage to St George’s Hall on Saturday, February 27, 2016.

A woman was left scarred for life, a man suffered a broken nose and a police officer was knocked unconscious outside Lime Street Station.

Another officer suffered a broken wrist and a 75-year-old black woman was racially abused and struck in the head by a stone.

(Image: Handout)

Fascist group the North West Infidels gathered on the hall steps, where swastikas were daubed on walls and neo-Nazi flags flown, amid disgusting ‘sieg heil’ salutes.

They clashed with rivals and riot police, who struggled to contain the violence when their ranks were bolstered by the Polish faction, at around 2.30pm.

Starzynski ran over to join the neo-Nazis, stopping to throw a smoke canister at counter-protesters gathered at the foot of the steps.

He wore a black hooded top emblazoned with “Polska Hooligans” and a badge showing a person being kicked, captioned “good night left side”.

The 36-year-old was also wearing a clown mask, which he took off to reveal a gum shield, and had “sparring mitts” on his hands.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Police later discovered his phone number had been used as a contact for arranging transport on a “f*** Islam and ISIS” event poster.

The dad-of-two, of Ware, Hertfordshire, who travelled up to Merseyside for the “anti-immigration demonstration”, admitted violent disorder at the start of a trial.

Patrick Willamson, defending Starzynski, said he was not involved in daubing swastikas on the building or shouting “sieg heil”.

He said: “His great grandfather was a senior administrator in the Warsaw Council in the Second World War and was executed by the Nazis.

“He would want publicly to distance himself from any link with the swastika symbol. He finds it as abhorrent as any other right-thinking individual.”

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, said: “That makes his conduct all the more shameful.”

The court heard how the Polish unit agreed to support event organisers and North West Infidels members Shane Calvert and Wayne Bell.

Simon Driver, prosecuting, said: “The arrival of this group was a catalyst for an increase in the levels of violence.”

Police came under attack from both sides with industrial fireworks, flares, bottles, cobble stones and eggs.

After four and a half hours, officers encircled the right wing supporters and marched them back to Lime Street Station.

They recovered a pepper spray canister from the steps and knuckle dusters, a baton and a dog chain from the area where the Poles were held.

Judge Menary imposed criminal behaviour orders, banning Starzynski and three other Polish men from entering Liverpool for five years.

He said the clothes and fighting equipment worn by Starzynski, along with the “intimidating” clown mask, “clearly showed his intentions for the day”.

The judge accepted sending him to prison would have a significant impact on his family, but jailed Starzynski for 20 months.