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A young student scarred for life when neo-Nazis clashed with anti-fascists in Liverpool has revealed her horrifying ordeal.

Abbie James, 22, was struck by what is thought to be a cobble stone ripped out of St George’s Hall plateau during the violent disorder on February 27 last year.

She was left with a five-inch scar to her forehead and later underwent plastic surgery – only to be taunted by celebrating fascists gloating online.

Right-wing activists involved in the event, held by anti-immigration group the North West Infidels, have now been sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.

(Image: UGC)

Miss James told the court how she and her boyfriend were walking through the city centre early in the afternoon when they saw a riot.

She said: "Both Chris and I stopped to see what was going on. After a short time, I was hit to my forehead with what I believe to be a cobble stone."

Miss James was taken to hospital and told she had a fractured skull. She required 15 stitches to repair the gash.

The victim said: "Since then, I've had many sleepless nights. My whole personality changed and I could not be alone.

"I've found it difficult to talk about and have suffered with headaches since the incident. I've become extremely self-conscious about my forehead."

In a Facebook post at the time of the incident, Miss James said: "Just so thankful it wasn't a child, as the force would have killed them."

She said: “Hair and a piece of the stone that hit me was lodged into my skull and I’ve had to have a little part of my skull scraped away.”

After an initial story went on the ECHO’s website, the North West Infidels shared a link to the article on its Twitter account.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

The post said: "You come to attack us and face the consequences simple as that scarred for life result!!!"

Miss James insisted she was only present at the scene by chance when walking with her boyfriend Chris Hall from his Kensington home.

She told the ECHO: “We saw the people on the steps of St George's Hall and got a bit closer to see what flags they were waving.

“More and more people started turning up and smoke bombs started going off.

“The police dogs came out and I said to my boyfriend that we should probably go, because it was getting pretty terrifying.

“As soon as I had said that, something struck me in the middle of my head. I didn’t pass out but I was dazed and fell to the floor.”

Miss James, who lives in Huddersfield, said Liverpool John Moores University student Mr Hall carried her to a nearby police car.

She said: “The protesters on the steps, wearing the black masks, were all cheering as I was carried out of the crowd with blood all over my face.”

(Image: Handout)

The post by North West Infidels was roundly condemned online, including by members of their group.

ComradeBlackWolf tweeted: “Well done lads, you hit a local girl just looking at your demo, which is why you were there with a brick.”

The user added later: “She didn’t stand on any side of the demonstrations, there is no way you can justify this.”

A male bystander suffered a cut and broken nose, a police inspector was knocked unconscious and a police constable sustained a broken wrist.

The court heard a 75-year-old black woman attending an antiques fair at the hall was racially abused and struck in the forehead by a stone.

Nazi swastikas were daubed on walls and a Victorian statue was targeted in up to £25,000 of damage caused to St George’s Hall.

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, imposed criminal behaviour orders, banning five men from entering Liverpool for five years, for their “planned hooliganism”.

Shane Calvert, 36, from Blackburn, was jailed for two years; Wayne Bell, 37, from Castleford, for two and a half years and Brian Stamp, 34, from South Shields, for 16 months.

Alan Raine, 41, from Sunderland, and Nikki Prescott, 43, from Blackburn, each received 16 months in jail, suspended for two years.