A prominent Kent ‘flagger’, anti-migrant activist and boxer has been convicted of violent disorder but spared a prison sentence despite multiple previous convictions for violence.
Fred Ketteringham, resident in Herne Bay, was convicted at Canterbury Crown Court following a vicious New Year’s Eve brawl at the Herne Bay Angling Club in 2022.
Permanent damage
During the incident, a woman was badly beaten amid shouts of “kill the s***”, while a man was left with permanent hearing damage.
Despite having 11 previous convictions, Ketteringham narrowly avoided immediate custody.
Judge Simon Taylor KC imposed a two-year suspended prison sentence, 150 hours of unpaid work and £5,000 compensation, citing – among other factors – the defendant’s “promising boxing career”.
Ketteringham signed with Warren Boxing Management in August 2025 and his professional debut is scheduled for tonight (31 January) at York Hall in Bethnal Green, on a televised card.
He also plays football for Herne Bay.
In 2015 he received a 21-month prison sentence for involvement in a brawl in Sittingbourne, and was also later convicted for carrying ammonia outside a nightclub.
Any suggestion of contrition on this occasion was dispelled in court when Ketteringham celebrated his co-defendant’s fate with a fist pump from the dock, prompting a sharp rebuke from the judge.
Ketteringham, who also goes by the name Freddie Ton, is not simply a violent offender who happens to box. He has been a prominent figure in far-right “flagging” activity across Herne Bay, seen erecting flags with Harry Hilden and other ‘Flag Crusaders’.
Leading role
In October 2025 he played a leading role in organising an anti-migrant demonstration in the town, during which he was seen setting off fireworks and harassing women.
His social media presence has included multiple Facebook accounts, one deleted after Searchlight highlighted its violent racist language.
Ketteringham’s close associate Harry Hilden, himself a cage fighter, has been actively encouraging supporters to attend the Bethnal Green bout, framing it as a show of loyalty as much as a sporting event.
The court heard that Ketteringham has not been convicted of a violent offence since 2016 and that he now leads a “disciplined lifestyle”.
