She turned up to a riot wearing a yellow dress and holding a box of eggs – then ended up in court
Destiny Waugh walked to a petrol station to buy eggs before handing them out to youths who ‘used them as missiles’
A beauty therapy student turned up to a riot in a yellow dress and bought eggs that were handed out to teenagers and launched ‘as missiles’ towards police during violent disorder in Newton Heath.
Destiny Waugh, 19, walked to a Shell garage near to where the scenes of disorder were unfolding, on Oldham Road on July 31 this year, and bought two cartons of six eggs, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Crowds had begun gathering outside the Holiday Inn earlier that evening, which reportedly housed asylum seekers, before the situation ‘escalated’, with bottles, bricks and eggs launched at hotel grounds and police as racist slurs were also shouted, the court was told.
During the incident, a bus was also attacked, with innocent passengers forced to ‘flee to safety to behind the police lines’ Mr Gavin Howie, prosecuting, said. He said that there was ‘no evidence’ that Ms Waugh took part in those incidents specifically.
However, the court was shown CCTV images of Ms Waugh walking along Oldham Road towards a nearby Shell Garage at around 7.18pm. It is there that she was captured buying two cartons of eggs and paying with cash, before walking back to the scene holding a white carrier bag, the court heard.
“The best course of action here would have been for her to keep walking and not to return,” Mr Howie said. “She [is seen] helping herself to two cartons of six eggs. She purchases those with cash and then returns to the scene where a number of youths were gathering.
“She approaches a group of boys and hands them the eggs, which were used as missiles and launched towards police officers stood at the entrance gate. This is a classic case of aiding and abetting – delivering the ammunition into their hands.”
The court heard that Ms Waugh, ‘kept herself out of the way’ and ‘didn’t actively engage in the throwing of the eggs’. She left the scene a short time later.
The court was told how Destiny, who works part time as a cleaner and is a student in beauty therapy, told police that she had stumbled across the large group of protesters as she walked along Oldham Road that evening.
“She claimed she had no idea why the crowd were there and was not fully clued up on the Southport attacks,” Mr Howie added.
“Ms Waugh’s involvement was relatively short however her actions encouraged teenage boys to take part, in turn, providing encouragement to others for this to escalate.”
Ms Waugh handed herself in to police on September 7 after her picture was shared as part of a public appeal to identify suspects involved. She later plead guilty to the charge of violent disorder.
Defending, Ms Verity Quaite said Destiny had no previous convictions and said she had been left ‘disgusted with herself’ over her actions.
“She essentially provided the eggs, didn’t throw them herself and was there for a relatively short amount of time,” Ms Quaite said. “The court can be confident she will not appear before the courts again.
“She has shown a considerable amount of immaturity here; she has been incredibly foolish and she said she feels disgusted with herself.”
Sentencing, Judge Alan Conrad QC described Ms Waugh’s actions as ‘extremely stupid’. He said: “In July of this year, there were terrible and tragic events in Southport following which there was an outpouring on social media, including a large amount of false and inflammatory postings, leading to widespread and hate-filled incidents of violent disorder
“It is that context which makes cases such as this so serious. You purchased eggs which you passed on to youths for them to be used as missiles. There is no evidence you did anything further. After you handed them over, you left the scene. You were extremely stupid in acting as you did.
“You are 19 years of age, with no previous convictions and indeed the information I have shows you to be of positive character in terms of your studies and work ethic. You are well regarded by others and surrendered to the police when you became aware you were wanted.”
Ms Waugh, of Risbury Walk, Manchester, was sentenced to 16 months in young offenders institute, suspended for 18 months. She must complete 150 hours of unpaid work, attend 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay £150 in costs.
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