A BNP party member has been convicted of attacking an anti-fascist demonstrator, in a protracted court saga.

Peter Tierney, 53, from Liverpool, was found guilty by a unanimous verdict at Liverpool Crown Court last Thursday for smashing Nicholas Barnett over the head with a camera tripod.

The incident, which took place on St George’s Day last year, saw BNP supporters and members of Merseyside Coalition against Racism and Fascism clash in Liverpool’s city centre.

Mr Barnett required hospital treatment after the incident.

The attack was captured on CCTV and showed Mr Tierney, with his distinct ponytail, running at the protester and attacking him with the tripod. A brawl then ensued between the rival groups.

The Liverpool Nationalist blog posted a defence of Mr Tierney immediately after the incident last April, stating that BNP members had been victims of attacks by “psychotic unwashed leftists”.

The BNP’s website, which describes Mr Tierney as a “super activist”, also maintained he was attacked by “the thug Barnett”, and said that Mr Tierney was likely to appeal against his conviction.

The case has been animated by anti-fascist protesters demonstrating outside various court hearings, one in March which was abandoned after new evidence was introduced. Mr Tierney is due to be sentenced on July 12.

Community Security Trust spokesman, Mark Gardner said: “The BNP’s electoral successes come and go, but cases such as this reveal that the party’s true face never goes away.”