Six right-wing thugs – including a father and son from Rochester – have received sentences totalling more than 15 years for their part in the Dover riots.

The judge told them that their chants of “Sieg Heil” together with Nazi salutes would have been “deeply offensive” to those who had lived through the Second World War or had lost love ones.

Groups of left-wing supporters had clashed with right wing protesters in Dover on January 30 with missiles and punches being exchange during running battles.

Judge Adele Williams said that after viewing hours of CCTV footage of the fights that “It was clear both sides were spoiling for a fight that day.”

She jailed 39 year old James Whitbread, from Mooring Road, Rochester to four years after he was convicted of violent disorder .

She told the smiling and smirking rioter, who had led the Nazi chants, that he was an “arrogant, self-absorbed man with an ungovernable temper”.

The judge added: “You cared nothing for the affect on the people of Dover. There would be people who lived through the Second World War or whose relatives had sacrificed their lives.

“The sight of those of you who performed Nazi salutes must have been frightening and deeply offensive and you and your son’s attempts to excuse that behaviour have been disingenuous, empty and offensive.”

The jury at Canterbury Crown Court heard how he was seen carrying a cosh, throwing objects, including bricks, at rival protesters, kicking a man’s chest and making Nazi salutes.

His 22 year old son Deaton, of the same address, was also convicted of the same offence and jailed for three years.

Judge Williams told him he had been his father’s “willing and enthusiastic follower” – and like James had been seen smiling during the street battles.

Four others, who had each admitted the offence at earlier hearings, were Nicholas Cullin, 40, from Essex; Nathan Waller, 18, a member of The Infidels North Wales, pal Richard Williams, 31, from Holyhead and the founding member of the Infidels and Roy Price, 51, from Romford.

Prosecutor Don Ramble told how at 11 am a left-wing group walked through Dover to a BP garage at the junction of Folkestone Road and Effingham Street to block a planned march by right-wingers.

“They were stopped by police but a right wing group broke through the grounds of Dover College in order to outflank and confront the left wing group.

“At the BP garage violence broke out including fighting, missile throwing from both sides and then the violence moved further down Folkestone Road.

“Sporadic outbreaks took place in Priory Hill, Durham Hill and throughout Dover town centre. The final point of violence was at the Dover Discovery Centre where right wingers ran through the building to confront left wingers, “ he added.

Cullin, Williams and Waller each received two year jail sentences for their part in the fights and Price was given a total of two and a half years after police found a CS canister at his home together with Cannabis.

Detective Constable Kirsty Bricknell of Kent Police said: "Today marks the highest number of offenders sentenced on one day since the investigation into offences committed on 30 January began, and I am very happy with the results.

"These six men contributed to some of the most appalling violence I have ever witnessed, causing a great deal of anguish for the people of Dover who were unfortunate enough to have had their town identified as the location for these demonstrations.

"Kent Police has a statutory duty to facilitate peaceful protest but it has become obvious that many of those who attended on the day had no intention of doing anything other than fighting with those who held differing opinions to themselves.

"Their behaviour was unacceptable and I hope these results send a clear message that such criminal actions will not be tolerated in Dover or anywhere else in Kent."