Sunderland man jailed after ‘thugs with mob mentality’ clashed with police protecting mosque

Daniel Kirtley has become the latest person to be jailed after widespread violent disorder broke out in Sunderland last August

A man who was with a group of “thugs with a mob mentality” who clashed with police protecting a mosque has been jailed.

Daniel Kirtley attended Sunderland city centre out of “curiosity” on August 2 last year as a protest turned into a riot which brought shame on the city and left police with a bill of £1.5m.

A court heard Kirtley was identified as participating in the widespread disorder on a series of pieces of footage. This included joining a group who had headed towards a mosque.

While some people squared up to police, Kirtley could be seen standing in front of officers. Michael Bunch, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court the police line tried to advance three times and officers had to push Kirtley back.

Mr Bunch said: “The first two times, he immediately returned to the his position in the line. The third time, he was pulled back by another member of the crowd.

“He could then be seen further down the road, bending down and picking up a missile which he threw towards the police line.” Kirtley, who had been drinking, said he had been with two cousins and headed to the city centre after seeing others heading that way.

Mr Bunch said: “He said he had been talking to the police when an officer used his shield to knock him to the floor. That’s not captured on the footage.

“He said he was angered by that and picked up a brick, which he threw. He said he threw it deliberately high so it didn’t hit anyone. He said he wished he hadn’t done that act.”

In an impact statement, Northumbria Police said they had submitted a claim for £1.5m to the Home Office.

Kirtley, 35, of Lyndhurst Terrace, Sunderland, who has nine previous convictions but nothing since he was a youth, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was jailed for 16 months.

A judge asked Mr Bunch if the police were there to protect the mosque. He said that was the intention, although it was not in the “immediate vicinity” and there was no evidence Kirtley was motivated by hostility based on religious beliefs.

He added that officers were concerned the mosque was the “direction of travel given the movement of the people towards that street”. Mr Bunch said: “It was more a matter of concern that was the ultimate aim. There’s nothing to say that this defendant had that in mind.”

Kirtley pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 16 months. Recorder Caroline Sellars told him the disorder he joined in was “carried out by thugs with mob mentality” and said a deterrent sentence was necessary.

Jason Smith, defending, said Kirtley’s involvement was “limited”. He told the court he had been sitting with his cousins when he saw lots of people going past and attended the scene out of “curiosity”, having noticed on social media that a protest was taking place.

Mr Smith added: “He stupidly attended because he had been drinking. He is a confirmed alcoholic. He attended to see what the event was all about.

“He deeply regrets that he became involved. He has shown extreme remorse.”

Chronicle Live