Two south Essex men have appeared in court charged with alleged offences relating to demonstrations in central London in July. 

Georgie Jones, 28, from Pitsea, and Martin Power, 58, from Brentwood, appeared in the dock together at Inner London Crown Court, Southwark, on Friday, September 6. 

Jones, of Rectory Road, is charged with violent disorder and two counts of assaulting a police officer during a protest in Westminster. 

Power, of Roman Road, is charged with affray. 

However, the court heard that the two men's cases were not linked and had only been listed together because they appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court at the same time on August 10.

Judge Benedict Kelleher ordered that the two prosecutions be severed so the men can be dealt with separately. 

Jones's plea hearing was postponed for two weeks, to September 19, while he instructs new lawyers. 

A provisional trial date was set for him on February 10.

Power entered his plea as planned.

Wearing a navy blue shirt and a smart, grey jacket, he entered a plea of not guilty to the affray charge, which alleges that he "used or threatened unlawful violence" at the Westminster demonstration, which would "cause a person of reasonable firmness, present at the scene, to fear for his personal safety". 

Barrister Callum Munday told Judge Kelleher: "His actions on the day did not amount to affray. He didn't use or threaten any unlawful violence."

Mr Power's trial was fixed for June 16 and is set to last three days. 

Judge Kelleher granted him bail, with a condition "not to attend any public demonstration involving three or more people."

Mr Jones was remanded to Wormwood Scrubs.