‘Complete yobbo’ got caught up in Hull riot on way to Humber Street Sesh

“When he saw his picture on social media, he was incredibly embarrassed and ashamed of himself and he handed himself straight in to the police”

Violent scenes in Hull city centre led to a young music fan getting caught up in rioting and behaving like a “complete yobbo” while he was on his way to a big Humber Street Sesh festival that was also attracting crowds that day.

Shay Carroll was seen laughing as he hurled a drinks can towards the police cordon outside the hotel that was at the centre of the trouble, Hull Crown Court heard. Carroll, 21, of Plane Street, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, admitted an offence of violent disorder on August 3.

Blaise Morris, prosecuting, said that the offence happened on the day of a large-scale public disorder in Hull city centre involving trouble in Ferensway outside the Royal Hotel, where asylum seekers were being housed at the time. There was racist chanting, fires were set and damage was caused.

Carroll was seen on drone pictures at the cenotaph behind the police cordon. He was standing on a bench at first but he got off it and laughed as he hurled what looked to be an empty drinks can towards the police. He laughed again and stood back on the bench.

“To his credit, he did hand himself in after an image of him was circulated on Hull Live and Facebook,” said Mr Morris. Carroll had no previous convictions but he had a caution in 2019 for assault and using threatening words or behaviour.

Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Carroll was not intending to join the riots and he was on his way to the Humber Street Sesh music festival that was going on that day. A friend became involved in the confrontation with the police.

“When he saw his picture on social media, he was incredibly embarrassed and ashamed of himself and he handed himself straight in to the police,” said Miss Scott. “He has taken responsibility for his actions. He would never involve himself in anything so stupid again.”

Carroll realised the impact of the trouble that day and he had written a letter of apology to the court. “He has shown genuine remorse,” said Miss Scott. “He has been in employment since the age of 16.”

Carroll had previously worked in factories and construction yards as well as at a pallets company but he lost a job at a kitchen company in January for medical reasons.

“He has let himself down with this offending,” said Miss Scott. “This sort of behaviour is disgraceful and he doesn’t want to repeat and he won’t repeat it.

“He is a low risk of reoffending. This defendant was involved for a very short period of time. This was the throwing of one can in the midst of a much bigger incident.” Carroll found out a couple of months ago that he was going to be a father because his girlfriend was pregnant.

Judge Mark Bury told Carroll: “I have seen you behaving like a complete yobbo. Your involvement in that violent disorder was limited. Others played a far bigger part than you.

“It represents serious criminality and also represents a stain on this city.

People such as you behaved in this way against the police while they were just trying to keep order. You were just caught up in the moment and a moment that you now bitterly regret.”

Carroll was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours’ unpaid work and 10 days’ rehabilitation.

Hull Live