Ex-squaddie chanted ‘we want our country back’ at Hanley riots – now he’s jailed

Dad-of-five Ricardo Ferranti had been ‘buying clothes for a party’ when the Hanley riots erupted

Ex-squaddie Ricardo Ferranti has been jailed after he chanted, shouted abuse, obstructed police vehicles and pushed an officer during the Hanley riots. The 41-year-old also shadow-boxed in front of an officer who was trying to keep the peace in Town Road on August 3.

The defendant broke through the police line but was detained by a police dog which bit him twice. Now Ferranti has been jailed for 25 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said Ferranti was captured on video during the disturbance. At 10.50am he was seen joining in chanting in Cannon Place. In Broad Street he stood in front of a police vehicle on two occasions and shouted, ‘We want our country back’.

Miss Cortese said: “In Broad Street he shouted and raised his finger in the air and shouted, ‘Allah, Allah, who the **** is Allah’? He raised both hands in the air and shouted towards counter-protesters.

“On Potteries Way he could be seen walking along the police line. He got very close to one of the officers. He reached over the officer to point a finger at the counter-protesters. The officer used a shield to push him back.

“He pushed the officer and shadow-boxed in front of him. He moved towards the officer and began to argue with him. He was struck by the shield. He pushed the officer back.

“He was further seen on body worn footage to say, ‘You are all a bunch of rapists and f****** scum’. He walked past the police and ran between the gap and was detained by a police dog. When detained he said he had done nothing wrong and was just going home.”

The defendant told police he had no idea the protest was taking place and had gone to Hanley to buy clothes for a party. He said he went to go home and ran. But the police dog bit him twice and he had an injury which was treated with staples and a stitch.

Ferranti, of Victoria Avenue, Kidsgrove, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Scott Ashdown, mitigating, said: “He said they were herded around like cattle. Rather than distance himself from the herd he contributed to that herd mentality. He demonstrates a significant degree of insight into the damage or harm that comes from such large-scale disorder. He is disgusted, with hindsight, when looking at how he behaved and what he contributed to on this day. He has no relevant previous convictions. He has been a valuable member of the community. A reference from his commanding officer described him as a gentleman and an exemplary soldier during his time in the armed forces.”

Mr Ashdown said Ferranti is married and the breadwinner for five children. He added: “There is remorse. It is genuine.”

Judge Graeme Smith said: “Any individual is entitled to protest but that does not include a right to use or threaten violence. But many protests did result in violence.

“The disorder in Hanley started in Cannon Place. You were seen in that location. It moved up and ended up around Town Road where there is a mosque and Islamic centre. It is close to The Potteries Centre with cinemas and restaurants and next to a park. It was a Saturday when many members of the public would have been out eating, shopping and enjoying their leisure time. You had gone to shop.

“There was a substantial police presence. The violence ranged from pushing and shoving to the throwing of missiles. You were injured when you were taken to the ground by a police dog when you ran through a police line.

“Verbal abuse was exchanged with protesters and the police, who were simply keeping the peace. You were involved in the verbal elements of what happened.

“The protest moved to Town Road with the intention of getting to the mosque.

“You had gone into Hanley. You were joining in very enthusiastically with the protest shouting and pushing people at the police line. There is no suggestion you threw any missiles. You moved to Broad Street where you obstructed police vehicles and continued shouting and chanting. You continued for a number of hours to enthusiastically participate in what happened.

“In Town Road you were challenging officers. There was pushing and shoving. You were pushed back. You shadow-boxed in the direction of an officer and you continued with the chants.”

Stoke Sentinel