Ryan Bridge pleaded not guilty to 13 offences.

The co-founder of the Raise the Colours group which puts flags on lampposts has denied racial harassment including allegedly telling a woman speaking in Greek to “go home”, a court heard.

Ryan Bridge, 45, who set up the activist group which puts St George’s Cross and Union flags on lampposts, pleaded not guilty to 13 offences at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Bridge, of Birmingham, appeared in court wearing a grey suit, with poppy and England flag lapels on his tie and another poppy attached to his coat.

He denied racially harassing a man who was wearing a keffiyeh in support of Palestine at a service station in Oxfordshire on January 31 2026.

Ryan Bridge, founder of Raise the Colours, arriving at Oxford Magistrates' Court where he is charged with 14 offences relating to reported incidents between January 31 and March 31 2026. | Joe Giddens/Press Association

placeholder image — Ryan Bridge, founder of Raise the Colours, arriving at Oxford Magistrates' Court where he is charged with 14 offences relating to reported incidents between January 31 and March 31 2026. | Joe Giddens/Press Association

He denied two further counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, one section 4a public order offence, and one count of common assault relating to alleged incidents on March 24.

Bridge was allegedly present with his activist group placing flags on Abingdon Road in Oxford on March 24 where he was confronted by local residents, the court heard.

He is accused of telling a woman speaking with an Italian accent who was filming him: “You’re not in Italy anymore, you’re in England. Speak English.”

He is also accused of telling a woman who was on the phone to her brother speaking in Greek to: “Go home”.

After being told these offences could be tried at a crown or magistrates court, Bridge said: “Judge and jury at the crown court please.”

Bridge is charged with seven counts of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress; three counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or provoke, unlawful violence; two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress; one count of racially aggravated fear of violence; one count of common assault. | Joe Giddens/Press Association

District Judge Rana released Bridge on bail to appear at Oxford Crown Court on December 3 for a plea and trial preparation hearing in relation to these charges.

Bridge also pleaded not guilty to seven section five public order offences relating to alleged incidents on either March 24 or March 31, as well as one count of common assault on March 31.

He will appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on April 12 and April 21 in relation to these charges.

Around 10 Raise the Colours supporters waved flags outside the court before the hearing.

Bridge denies 13 offences, including three counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress, and seven counts of using threatening words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress under Section 5 of the Public Order Act.

He also denies one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress under Section 4a of the Public Order Act, as well as two counts of common assault.