Gareth Rigby fined after becoming ‘aggressive’ to police in ‘shameful mass disorder’ in Bolton
Gareth Rigby, 43, of Masefield Drive in Bolton, was fined after he admitted a single charge of using threatening words or behaviour during yesterday’s protests in Bolton.
Prosecutor Mr Cooper told Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning that the defendant was stopped by the police at around 2.30pm because they suspected he had ‘substances’ on him.
No substances were found but the defendant became ‘aggressive’ towards the officers, the court was told.
Rigby threatened the officers and told them to ‘f*** themselves’, according to the prosecutor.
When the defendant was cautioned by the officers, he was said to have told them ‘you get f***ed’.
In a statement read out in court, the arresting police officer said:
“I’m sick and tired of people who think it’s part of my job to put up with this kind of behaviour.”
He said the defendant, who is on benefits, never offered an apology.
The court heard Rigby has 15 previous convictions for 23 offences including being drunk and disorderly last year.
David Philpott, defending, told the court his client had spent one night in police custody and that it was not an offence which could attract a prison sentence.
District Judge Joanne Hirst told the defendant:
“You involved yourself in the shameful mass disorder in Bolton yesterday.”
The defendant had shown ‘significant disrespect to the police who were trying to keep members of the public safe’, said the judge.
However, the judge acknowledged it was a ‘non-imprisonable offence’ before fining the defendant £120. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs plus a £48 victim surcharge.
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