Sunderland dad jailed after throwing missiles at police outside Aldi during riot

Shane Amer, of Sunderland, has become the latest yob to be locked up for rioting in Sunderland

A rioter threw missiles including a beer keg at police during scenes which brought shame on Sunderland. Shane Amer has become the latest mindless yob to be locked up for turning the city centre into a no-go zone for members of the public on August 2 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Amer was not driven by any ideology but joined in when the mass disorder broke out while he was out drinking. Prosecutor Neil Pallister said he was seen with others participating in a series of acts amounting to riot.

Mr Pallister told the court: “The video compilation shows the defendant, who was wearing a blue jacket and grey trousers, throwing missiles at the police line outside The Yard building. He then goes on to commit further acts of violence, throwing missiles at the police during an interaction outside Aldi and he threw numerous missiles at the police outside The Yard building.

“He and others were throwing items including rocks, traffic cones and a heavy floor support stand, towards the police line. He and others threw metal beer kegs towards the police. He threw one at head height towards an officer, who had to duck out of the way.

“He was seen with others kicking at windows at The Yard building and they kicked and pushed a bin towards the same building.

“He took a leading role. He came across a parked police vehicle and used a metal beer keg to try to smash the unoccupied police vehicle. He then rolled the keg along the ground, having covered his hands with clothing he was wearing, presumably to try to remove fingerprints and DNA evidence.

“He was part of a large group advancing towards the police line, pushing a picnic table towards the police out of the front of the Empire theatre.”

Amer, 29, of Shrewsbury Crescent, Sunderland, who has ten previous convictions, including six for theft and four for burglary, pleaded guilty to riot. He was jailed for three years and two months.

Judge Gavin Doig said Amer and others had “brought shame on the city of Sunderland” and he said each individual act “inflames and encourages others to behave in a similar fashion”, meaning the overall picture has to be considered when passing sentence.

Cole Cockburn, defending, said: “He did not plan to be there. His involvement was not ideological. He went out with friends and found himself in scenes of escalating disorder.

“His actions were not the worst witnessed that night. At the time he was abusing cocaine and alcohol but he is now sober of those although he has substituted this was occasional cannabis use.

“He acknowledges the terror those officers must have felt and is very ashamed to have played a part. He feels he has embarrassed himself and his family and his one-year-old son. He is ashamed because his son would one day know his dad went to prison.

“He has mental health problems. He thinks that stemmed from a previous addiction to crack cocaine.

The Chronicle