I may never get a job now, says Ollie the remorseful rioter

A teenager pictured in a riot helmet and swearing at police at the student protests said today his life had been "ruined".

Ollie Moore, 17, was one of thousands of young people who took part in the demonstration in Whitehall on Wednesday.

He was photographed in front of a vandalised police van. Protesters had covered it with graffiti, smashed the windows and climbed on the roof before breaking in and removing police equipment.

It emerged today that Mr Moore only got caught up in the chaos after coming to London for a job interview. The teenager, who left Thamesmead School in Shepperton aged 16, spoke today of his regret and how he now fears he will never be able to get a job.

The former employee of Natterjacks clothes shop in Kingston refused to speak in detail about his part in the protest. But he told the Standard: "[This] has ruined my life."

He was quoted in the Sun as telling a friend: "My mum went crazy at me when she saw it in the papers — and I don't think I've done my job prospects much good. I didn't even know the protest was due to take place. You can see I was wearing a smart shirt for my interview.

"I was on my own and just joined up with the crowd. I saw a police riot helmet on the ground and put it on to give the cameramen a picture."

One of Mr Moore's former colleagues said: "He was never any bother and certainly did not seem the violent type."

Scotland Yard was forced to deploy more than 1,500 officers to attempt to contain the protesters.

The van had been following the crowds to gather intelligence about where they were heading, but it was quickly overwhelmed and abandoned when the occupants feared for their safety. Masked protesters stripped it and managed to turn on the blue lights and siren.