Man jailed for throwing plant at police during Sunderland city centre riots

A council worker who threw a plant at a police officer during a city centre riot has been put behind bars.

The single, soil covered item hurled by Harry Farrer hit the cop’s helmet during the trouble that swept through Sunderland, and mirrored similar scenes in other UK cities, on August 2 2024.

Farrer, who lost his job with the local authority because of his involvement, handed himself into the police after he featured in a press appeal to trace those involved in the violence.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Farrer, who had been drinking, was “part of the crowd” that gathered and turned aggressive in the city centre and he ended up behind a police line that was trying to control the violence.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court: “He picks something up from the ground, I wouldn’t like to say with certainty what he has thrown.

“He is behind the police line.

“It strikes the officer on the back of the helmet.”

Farrer, 22, of Sea View, Sunderland, admitted violent disorder.

Nicholas Lane, defending told the court: “He handed himself in to the police station when circulated as wanted.

“What he has thrown is soil, a plant that had been taken from a plant pot. That is, of course, behind the police line but it doesn’t appear to have caused very significant inconvenience or harm to that officer, who continued to walk away.

“I accept it was a clear distraction from an essential policing task.”

Mr Lane said Farrer had character references, a good employment record, positive work ethic and added: “He was employed by the local authorities who manage the area in which this offence took place.

“They terminated his employment on his arrest.”

Recorder Jason Pitter KC sentenced Farrer to 27 months behind bars.

The recorder said the violence that day affected “community cohesion” and added: “One can only imagine how terrifying it would have been for members of the public who were present but also for the actual police officers.”

Mr Wardlaw said during the widespread trouble that day police officers, dogs and horses were pelted with missiles as areas became unsafe for ordinary members of the public.

He added: “Officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence. Officers were attacked with missiles and verbally abused.

“Four officers required hospital treatment and some are not fit enough to return to frontline duties.”Police vehicles were targeted and damaged. Several patrol cars needed repairs.”

The court heard the city’s police hub was set on fire, business premises were smashed and shops were looted.

Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said in an impact statement police vehicles as well as community buildings and businesses came under attack that day.

Ms Jardine said the violence was met with a £1.517m policing operation and the full psychological cost to officers involved is yet to be known.

Sunderland Echo