Mother who took her child to a riot in a pushchair pleads guilty to violent disorder

Nevey Smith will be sentenced next week as judge blasts her for ‘putting child at risk’

A young mother who brought her child to a riot in a pushchair has pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Nevey Smith, 21, of West Street, Oldham, admitted throwing water over police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester on July 31.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon told Manchester Magistrates’ Court: “Footage shows her throwing liquid from a bottle towards police officers who were trying to maintain order.

“She had a child with her in a stroller.”

Defending, Robert Moussalli said Smith had “lost her temper” during the disorder and “threw some water”.

District Judge Joanne Hirst told Smith: “You put your own child at risk.”

The judge added Smith was “not as heavily involved as others in the demonstration” and was “not heard to utter any direct racist abuse”.

She was released on bail and will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on August 19.

Smith is one of hundreds of people arrested and charged after the disorder which broke out after the murder of three young girls in a knife attack in Southport.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said in its latest update that 1,024 people had been arrested and 575 charged across the UK in relation to the unrest. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, as of Monday, 273 people have been charged in relation to the disorder.

The NPCC figure is higher to reflect charges which are solely issued by police and do not involve the CPS.

Two 12-year-old boys are believed to have become the youngest people to be convicted of a criminal offence in connection with the nationwide public disorder.

Evening Standard