Teen brickie told off by dad at Hanley riot in ‘moment of stupidity’

Lewis Holdcroft, 19, of Bentilee, handed himself into police

A teenager who became embroiled in the violent disorder as Hanley descended into anarchy has been spared jail.

Lewis Holdcroft turned up at the city centre protest wearing a hoodie and was seen to encourage others taking part in the disturbance.

At one point the 19-year-old picked up a missile but did not throw it. Instead he handed it to someone else who hurled it towards a police cordon separating his group from the counter-protesters.

Now Holdcroft has been sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, after a judge took an exceptional course at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Prosecutor David Bennett said the large-scale public disorder took place in Hanley on August 3 last year. He said: “Three hundred people were directly involved at the height of the disorder.”

CCTV showed Holdcroft standing in a group at 4.10pm. Mr Bennett said: “He was approached by a man with a brick in his hand. The man threw the brick towards the police. He was standing next to the man throwing bricks towards the police cordon.

“He jogged with others towards the old church. They jumped over a small wall and returned with items in their hand. The defendant had his hood up and had an item in his hand. Others began throwing items at counter-protesters and the police cordon. The defendant removed his hood shortly after that. He was identified and was arrested on September 20.”

In his police interview he said he was sorry and said he should never have gone. He may have picked up a brick but his dad told him to put it down. He gave it to another man who threw it towards the cordon. He denied throwing anything.

Holdcroft, of Winchester Avenue, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Elizabeth Power, mitigating, said Holdcroft handed himself in to the police. Miss Power said: “He is thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed about what he got involved in. It was a moment of stupidity. It is clear he got caught up in the moment with others.

“Yes, there is a part where he does go off camera and returns with something in his hand. Others do throw missiles. He did not throw missiles but he handed it to another who did.”

She said Holdcroft is a hard-working bricklayer. Miss Power added: “It is unlikely he will be before the courts again.”

As part of the suspended sentence Holdcroft must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days and 200 hours unpaid work.

Judge Richard McConaghy said: “On July 29 last year there was an appalling incident at a dance studio in Southport. In the days that followed there was a proliferation of misinformation online, most of which focussed on the offender’s ethnicity and immigration status. Protests took place in many places across the country including Hanley. On August 3 there was a protest around the Town Road and mosque.

“You can be seen on CCTV to be present with others. It seemed to me you encouraged them. Some people can be seen to throw missiles. You did not throw yours.

“Your father made it quite clear you needed to drop what you had picked up and you complied with that order from him. You have never been in trouble in front of the courts before. You were 18 at the time of the incident.”

The judge said he could take an exceptional course and step back from sending Holdcroft straight to prison. This was because of his age, his personal mitigation, there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in his case and his relatively brief involvement in the incident.

Stoke Sentinel