Middlesbrough dad-of-two jailed for town centre riots

A dad-of-two who was at the forefront of racist rioting where he bombarded police with missiles has been locked up.

Jason Brady was caught on camera repeatedly throwing objects at police officers and private property when a far-right protest in Middlesbrough turned violent in August 2024.

The 25-year-old was spotted in the Parliament Road and Union Street area of the town hurling rocks while at the front of a crowd.

Teesside Crown Court was shown a compilation of footage detailing the painter and decorator’s behaviour throughout the rioting where he threw at least nine missiles.

Rachel Butt, prosecuting, said the damage had severely impacted the residents living in and around the town centre.

She said: “He was an active and persistent participant who was repeatedly seen at the front of the group on the CCTV and was repeatedly seen to throw objects at police officers and members of the public’s vehicles.

“We submit that it was incitement to others as he was at the front of the group which occurred in a busy public area.”

Brady, of Raisdale Close, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Kate Clark, mitigating, said her client had turned his life around since his shocking behaviour and urged the judge to pass a suspended sentence.

“The footage itself does not make comfortable viewing,” she said. “He has gone through it himself and during his police interview made comments about ‘how embarrassing and humiliating’ it was.

“He is most ashamed of himself.”

Judge Aisha Wadoodi told Brady that his actions were so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate as she jailed him for 26 months.

She said: “You didn’t just throw one missile there were nine separate occasions you were seen to throw thing.

“You were seen throwing a stone at a police van before throwing an item at a red vehicle on Parliament Road, there was a female jumping on the roof and it then transpired that the vehicle was set on fire.

“You were then seen on Derwent Street throwing an object at the opposing group and again at a line of police officers.

“You stayed in the area and continued gesturing towards the police and the opposing group.”

Northern Echo