He’s the latest defendant to be dealt with following the Hanley riot
A man who threw missiles towards counter-protesters and police during a violent disorder in Hanley has been jailed. Colin Miller, aged 35, picked up rocks and hurled them towards the rival group and police officers who were trying to maintain order.
He admitted to a probation officer that he used racist language during the disturbance. Now Miller has been jailed for 27 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said the defendant’s involvement in the violence in Hanley on August 3 last year was captured on CCTV. Miss Cortese said: “He was in and around Hanley town centre. He was seen walking down towards the counter-protesters. He was stopped by police who told him to go or pushed him back on two occasions.
“No comments could be heard due to the noise from other protesters. He was caught several times picking up an item from the ground and throwing it in the direction of counter-protesters.
“He picked up a third item and threw it towards counter-protesters and bent down to pick up a fourth. He walked down Town Road with a rock in his hand. He was seen to throw the rock towards counter-protesters and the police.
“He picked up rocks and threw them to the ground causing them to break into small pieces. Someone else picked them up and made off with them.”
The defendant was arrested on October 31 when he attended the police station. Miller, of Cemetery Road, Knutton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Hamish Noble, mitigating, said Miller had no previous convictions. He has issues with his mental health and has not worked for some time. Mr Noble said: “He was in town and saw a drone. He followed it and became involved. He was disinhibited by alcohol.
“His actions that day are very much regretted. He apologises through me. He is aware of the impact there has been on the city and on Hanley that day. He should not have acted in the way he did.
“He was not a leader in this. Others were more aggressive than he was. There is a feeling of him going along with the crowd, rather than leading it.
“There is no evidence of racist comments on the footage. He has been frank with the pre-sentence report writer and accepts this.
“He became aware of (his picture) being circulated on social media and handed himself in. He does not have any entrenched or pro-criminal attitudes. He allowed himself to take part in the racist comments.”
Judge Graeme Smith said: “You were initially seen on one side of Hanley. You were shouting, waving your arms and moving towards the counter-protester group. It is not known exactly what you were saying.
“The protest moved to the other side of Hanley to Town Road and was heading towards a mosque or Islamic centre. That particular area is in the centre of Hanley, very close to the Potteries Shopping Centre, cinema, restaurant and a park. It was a Saturday. Members of the public would have been out shopping and enjoying their leisure time.
“The disorder lasted for several hours. There was a substantial police presence. Many of those who attended the protest conducted themselves peacefully but many did not. Weapons were brandished. Missiles were thrown, including by you. A number of people, protesters and police, were injured. Verbal abuse was exchanged.
“The protest was moving towards an Islamic building with the intent of trying to get to that building. There was a period of about half an hour when you were caught either throwing missiles towards the mosque or directly towards the police line, on one occasion. You were also caught on video holding rocks and breaking up rocks, which one other person I have already sentenced picked up and threw towards counter-protesters and the police.”














