Stokie teen with England flag wrapped around face hurled missiles at mosque

Oliver Meir Hulme went on the rampage during the Hanley riots

Teenager Oliver Meir Hulme hurled missiles in the Hanley riots. The 19-year-old was only 17 when he became involved in the trouble.

He threw missiles towards the mosque in Town Road and chucked a brick at a police officer. But he was spared an immediate custodial sentence at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court because of the lengthy delay in his case coming to court, his age and immaturity at the time, and his genuine remorse.

The trouble erupted on August 3, 2024.

Prosecutor Ibrahim Ilyas said: “The defendant was part of a group throwing missiles. At 1.42pm in Town Road he was seen throwing items towards the mosque. At 1.56pm he threw a bottle of water towards police. At 2.01pm he was on a slip-road by Potteries Way and was seen holding a brick. He threw it at an officer. He went down Quadrant Road with an England flag wrapped around his face and later on his shoulders. He crouched down to put items in his pockets.”

Police attended the defendant’s home on June 23, 2025 and his iPhone was seized.

Meir Hulme, formerly of Malorie Road, Norton, but now of Little Chell Lane, Tunstall, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

Catherine O’Reilly, mitigating, said Meir Hulme was 17 at the time and has no previous convictions or cautions. He has shown real remorse and has not committed any further offences since. She said there has been a long delay in the case.

Miss O’Reilly said: “It was completely out of character for this defendant. His family are horrified by his actions. They remain supportive of him but by no means condone this type of behaviour. He says he does not have any particular political views. He went to meet a group of friends and got caught up with what was happening around him and joined in. There was an exceptional level of immaturity on the part of this defendant. He says he has grown up a lot since then. He appreciates he has placed himself in a very, very difficult position.”

Meir Hulme has completed a bricklaying course.

Miss O’Reilly added: “His powerful mitigation, coupled with the delay in this case, allows you to step back from an immediate sentence. He is remorseful, embarrassed and ashamed.”

Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Meir Hulme to 18 months’ detention in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for two years, with 240 hours unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement for up to 20 days.

Judge Smith said: “You threw a number of missiles, a bottle of water, stones or bricks. There was an assault on an emergency worker. You threw a brick towards an officer at extremely close range. The group was targeting the mosque.

“There are significant mitigating factors: your age and lack of maturity, at the time you were only 17, you have no previous convictions, and you express genuine remorse. There has been a very significant delay. There is no obvious explanation as to why it happened. The case has been hanging over you for a year. Given these exceptional circumstances, I am just persuaded that I can suspend this sentence.”

Meir Hulme must pay £200 compensation to the officer as well as £150 costs.

Stoke Sentinel