Roger Haywood, who ‘led’ Blackpool disorder, sentenced – a recap

We’ve just heard – and seen – Judge Robert Altham sentence Roger Haywood to two years and six months for his involvement in recent disorder in Blackpool. Here’s a quick recap of what was said:

Judge Altham said Haywood led an “angry” mob through the seaside town in Lancashire – throwing missiles at police officers and injuring a security guard at a shopping centre

Later he “beckoned” a group of people to break through a police barrier near the town’s cenotaph, trying to use a loudhailer to encourage the crowd but – in the judge’s words – was “too intoxicated” to do so

The judge described how Haywood assaulted two police officers – kicking one in the hand and another in the arm – and reminded the court that officers “should be able to go to work without being pelted by missiles”

Haywood was sentenced to 30 months (or two years and six months) after pleading guilty to violent disorder during the riot, as well as three weeks for each of two counts of assaulting an emergency worker

These will be served concurrently – so at the same time – and up to half of the sentence will be served in prison, before Haywood is released on licence

BBC News