A yob has been jailed for 12 months for his part in a city centre riot.

Brady Allen, 22, was one of a large group of louts who paraded through Sunderland on August 4, 2024, attacking police officers and damaging shops.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Allen, of Winslow Close, Sunderland, was seen on CCTV footage in Keel Square, where he passed a beer keg to a pal to launch at police while encouraging other thugs to do the same.

He was also seen receiving stolen goods from a city shop and trying to set alight material hanging down from the ceiling of a police hub that was ransacked and damaged by fire. Vic Laffey, defending, said the hooded hoodlum stopped short of setting the police hub alight because he “realised it was a bad idea”.

Allen, who had no previous convictions, could be seen on camera drunkenly strutting around Sunderland at the front of the group.

The riots were part of a series of demonstrations across the country following the murders of three young girls in Southport.

The organised protest, which resulted in several police officers being hospitalised, took place 19 months ago although Allen, who sobbed in court, was only tracked down last summer as he was not on police databases.

In mitigation, Mr Laffey said his client, who admitted violent disorder, had no political affiliation and “got drawn into something”, adding that he has ADHD which was exacerbated by boozing. He added he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to violent disorder.

Judge Julie Clemitson said: “You, together with many others, brought shame upon the city of Sunderland.

“You gathered in the city centre and participated in what’s been described as ‘an orgy of violent destruction’.

“It involved serious violence against people and property.

“Police officers were subjected to serious and sustained levels of violence.

“Each individual act inflames and encourages others to behave in a similar fashion.

“Over those couple of hours you showed a complete lack of respect to the people of Sunderland and a lack of regard for police officers.

The judge said she had taken into account his neurodiversity but that it was his “immaturity and intake of alcohol” that were the prevailing factors in his offending.

Sunderland Echo

A man who admitted violent disorder during the Hull riots has received a six-year sentence.

Shops were looted, fires started, cars damaged and police officers attacked following demonstrations involving anti-immigration protesters on 3 August 2024.

Billy Bragger, 25, also previously pleaded guilty to burglary, racially aggravated criminal damage and arson.

Bragger was sentenced to a Section 45A hospital order under the Mental Health Act at Hull Crown Court on Monday, with the possibility of being transferred to prison if he was deemed well enough.

The violence in Hull erupted as part of a wave of disorder that spread across parts of the UK following the fatal stabbings of three girls in Southport on 29 July.

About £400,000 of damage was caused when the Shoezone, O2 and Lush shops on Jameson Street were looted, with missiles hurled at a line of police officers guarding a hotel housing asylum seekers.

BBC News

A man who attacked police officers during violent disorder outside a hotel being used to house asylum seekers has been jailed.

Darren Ward, 55, was filmed “aggressively pushing officers and displaying threatening behaviour” at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August 2024.

Three months after the disorder he handed himself in at Barnsley police station, after he was pictured in an appeal showing “perpetrators of the violence”, South Yorkshire Police said.

At Sheffield Crown Court on Monday Ward, of Norville Crescent, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 20 months.

Ward did not provide an explanation for his conduct during police interviews.

BBC News

A man who has pleaded guilty to his role in the violent disorder that caused chaos in a North East town centre will have to wait to be sentenced.

A judge ordered a medical report to be compiled on Andrew Grieves to assess whether he has a diagnosed learning disability.

The 24-year-old became embroiled in the rioting that broke out in Middlesbrough following the death of three young girls in Southport in the summer of 2024.

Teesside Crown Court heard how further medical reports would be required before the defendant could be sentenced.

Gary Wood, representing Grieves, said his client was taken out of mainstream education as a teenager due to his learning difficulties.

He urged the judge to adjourn sentencing to allow time for a psychological report to be compiled on the defendant.

Grieves, of Acorn Close, Sacriston, County Durham, pleaded guilty to violent disorder in Middlesbrough on August 4, 2024.

Judge Richard Bennett adjourned sentencing until April 27 to allow time for the report to be completed.

He said: “I had intended to sentence you today, but I have read conflicting information,” he said.

“In your pre-sentence report it suggests that you have a learning disability but in the psychiatric report, the doctor suggests the position may not be as difficult.

“I need that sorting out. I need to know precisely what it is and I can’t sentence you until I know that.

“I can’t tell you what your fate will be but I can tell you it crosses the custody threshold and it will be decided at the next hearing whether you serve that sentence or whether I am able to suspend it.”

Grieves was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing.

Northern Echo

You joined in with wanton mob violence… it was despicable behaviour’

Dad Liam Curwen spat at officers and threw a brick towards the police line during the violent disorder in Hanley.

The 32-year-old was part of a mob which walked towards the police line on Town Road on August 3, 2024, just days after three girls were murdered in a Southport dance studio.

He spat towards the police line and threw a brick which hit an officer’s shield. Now Curwen has been jailed for 27 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Barry White said the defendant was seen to leave Hanley Bus Station and walk past The Albion pub towards the city centre on the day of the disorder. He joined a group on Town Road. Mr White said: “He and others walked towards the police line. The defendant had his right hand raised. He appeared agitated and angry.

He spat towards the police line. He continued shouting and pointing at the police line. He moved towards police holding a brick in his right hand, having picked up a paving block. He threw it. It hit a shield in the police line. He went back to the city centre. He covered his face.”

The defendant was arrested on January 24, 2025. He answered no comment to questions in his police interview. Curwen, of Murhall Street, Burslem, later pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Debbie Leadbeater, mitigating, said Curwen is remorseful. Miss Leadbeater said: “He was meeting a friend and got caught up in the group activity. He and his partner are carers for their children.

“There is a very good chance of rehabilitation in his case. I hope you will consider a suspended sentence. He needs further assistance in how to cope with things when they are getting out of control. The work that could be done with probation could ensure he does not appear before the courts in the future.”

Recorder Robert Smith said: “You and members of your group walked towards the police line. You spat towards police on the police line. You ran towards police holding a brick. You are shown on a video to pick up paving bricks. You threw a brick at the police, hitting a riot shield of an officer in the police line.

“I accept any imprisonment would adversley effect your partner and children. You should have thought about that before you involved yourself in a large-scale violent disorder. You participated, spitting at officer, wielding a brick and throwing a brick at the police line.

“What you did was not a peaceful protest. You joined in with wanton mob violence. It was despicable behaviour. I cannot and will not suspend the sentence.”

Stoke Sentinel