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Former EDL member hurled abuse outside Sunderland mosque on his way to a night out

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August 23, 2024
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A former EDL member who hurled vile abuse towards a mosque during disorder in Sunderland has been jailed.

David Hann shouted “dirty Muslim ****ing *******s” and “murdering *******s” outside the place of worship when violence broke out across Sunderland on August 2.

The unemployed 58-year-old said he had been on his way to a social club when he stumbled across the violent demonstration and decided to join in.

Prosecutor Omar Ahmad told Newcastle Crown Court police officers, dogs and horses were pelted with missiles as disorder spread throughout the city that Friday afternoon and the area was unsafe for ordinary members of the public.

Mr Ahmad said: “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.
“At times lone police on vehicle patrol found themselves targeted by offenders in the middle of the protest.

“Families of a number of officers were at home in fear for their loved ones out on duty, having witnessed the horror of what was unfolding on news and social media.”
The court heard the city’s police hub was damaged, business premises were smashed and shops were looted.

Mr Ahmad said Hann was caught on camera wearing a blue Adidas top and black trousers and added: “He was seen in the area of the mosque.
“During the disorder he was part of the crowd that formed in that location.

“He was seen shouting in the direction of the mosque.”
Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said in an impact statement it remains unclear how much damage was caused by the rioters but the cost of repairs could run to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Police vehicles as well as community buildings and businesses came under attack.
Ms Jardine said the violence was met with a £1million policing operation and the psychological cost to officers involved is yet to be known.
She added: “The North East is a wonderful, vibrant and safe place to live and work.

“The vast majority of our people are law abiding, proud members of the community.”
Hann, 58, of Ryhope Street South, Sunderland admitted religiously aggravated threatening behaviour
Hann told police when questioned he had been on his way to the social club when he saw the police presence and was angry at the time about the tragedy in Southport and about police “tactics” at protests.

Hann told the probation service he was once a member of the EDL.

Nick Murphy, defending Hann, said: “He did not participate directly in any violence but his actions contributed to the atmosphere.

“He is getting too old for this type of offence.”
Mr Murphy said Hann could lose his home as a result of his actions that day.
A second man at the same hearing, Jack Fowler, 24, of Northbourne Street, Elswick, Newcastle, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

The court heard he was caught on camera at different areas of the city where trouble had spread and was filming what went on.
Mr Ahmad said Fowler, who was carrying a St. George cross flag and wearing a mask to cover part of his face, had approached a police line and was “shouting abuse and seen waving and encouraging others to approach the police line.”

Fowler told police when he was questioned he had travelled to and from the protest by Metro but did not throw anything, cause any violence or threaten anyone.
Penny Hall, defending Fowler, said: “It was not his intention to go out and commit violence or be part of any violence that day.”

Miss Hall said Fowler had tried to push people away from the trouble.
Judge Paul Sloan KC jailed Hann for eight months and Fowler for two years.

The judge told the men: “You and others brought shame upon the city of Sunderland.

“For no justifiable reason whatsoever you and many more gathered in the city centre and participated in an orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder.
“The mayhem was widespread.”

Judge Sloan added: “It is an unavoidable feature of mass disorder that each individual part, whatever might be its character taken on its own, inflames and encourages others to act in a similar fashion.”
The judge said people who involve themselves in mass disorder must expect severe sentences.

Both men have previous convictions.

Sunderland Echo

Judge tells smirking dad ‘you shake your head’ as he jails him

By
August 23, 2024
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Rory Allington-Mott winked as he was led down to the cells

A racist thug smirked and shook his head as a judge scorned him for the “repulsive” views that saw him target a mosque with bricks during a riot.

Liverpool Crown Court was told today, Friday, that Rory Allington-Mott played a “leading role” during the violent disorder on both Sussex Road and St Luke’s Road on July 30 this year.

Martyn Walsh, prosecuting, told the court the 34-year-old, of High Street in Southport, was part of a violent mob that targeted a mosque chanting “who the f*** is Allah” just an hour after a peaceful vigil was held in memory of three young girls killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party the previous day.

A compilation of videos taken from both CCTV and body-worn camera footage showed Allington-Mott hurling “at least 20 bricks” towards police officers, police vehicles and the local mosque. He also picked up a wheelie bin and a recycling bin and again hurled them at a line of police officers, who did not have protective clothing on, as other missiles from the thousand-strong crowd rained down on them.

The court heard Allington-Mott, who had travelled around two hours to Southport, also pushed over a wall at the mosque which “provided ammunition” to other rioters. Addressing the racist thug during his sentencing remarks, Judge Denis Watson KC said: “You shake your head, but that underlines your entrenched racist views which are repulsive to right-minded people in this country.”

The court heard Allington-Mott has a litany of previous convictions dating back to 2007. These included convictions for possession of an offensive weapon, harassment, drug driving, possession of cannabis, assaulting a police officer and racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage.

The court heard Allington-Mott attended the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury town centre – which was housing asylum seekers at the time – on April 20 last year. The thug approached staff and asked if they were accommodating asylum seekers before he smashed 21 windows with a hammer before making off from the scene.

He was handed a suspended sentence for the racist attack, but the court heard his strong opinions regarding race made his unpaid workplace a “toxic” place. A note from his workplace supervisor read out in court drew attention to comments Allington-Mott made about people of other races, including: “They come raping my country and my women” before he added: “I have to blow the f****** up.”

The court heard he triggered his suspended sentence in January of this year when he failed to provide a specimen to police. He was released from prison on April 8 this year and his licence expired on July 8.

Allington-Mott was arrested on August 16 after he was identified by officers and interviewed the next day. He provided a no comment response to every question asked of him.

Allington-Mott originally appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court earlier this week but did not enter a plea. However, he entered a guilty plea during the plea and trial preparation hearing today at the higher court and the judge moved ahead and sentenced him straight away.

In mitigation, Zahra Baqri, defending, told the court: “I do not seek to minimise the seriousness of the incident. There is little I can say in mitigation. The strongest point is his entry of a guilty plea. He wanted to plead guilty at the lower court but was advised to wait for footage.”

Ms Baqri told the court her client “clearly requires rehabilitation and education” in respect of his strong racist views. She added: “He tells me he understands that his behaviour will be regarded as disgusting and disgraceful by normal people. That shows a slight glint of progress.”

She added her client suffered with delusional thoughts and paranoia but had never sought medical advice. Instead, she said, he had self-medicated with recreational drugs. She added he also suffered from anxiety and depression.

The court heard Allington-Mott is a trained brick-layer and had two children, aged seven and eight, with his former partner. Sentencing, Judge Watson told the defendant he was part of a “mob engaged in a violent confrontation that lasted for several hours”. He added: “This spouted other incidents in Liverpool and across the country.”

Judge Watson told the defendant, who wore a grey t-shirt and sported short, fair hair, that an individual’s actions during violent disorder are capable of encouraging others to act in a similar way. However, the judge told him: “You weren’t sucked in because it was your purpose to be there to engage in the violence.”

The judge sentenced Allington-Mott to three years and three months in prison. As Allington-Mott was led down to the cells, he winked towards the press bench.

Liverpool Echo

Fact check: Several people have been sentenced for racially aggravated crimes

By
August 23, 2024
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Many people have been sent to prison after pleading guilty to various offences following recent disorder.

A widely shared online post claimed that “of all the people arrested during the race riots, not a single conviction was for racial abuse or a hate crime”.

Evaluation

Several people who have been sentenced following the recent disorder were convicted of racially aggravated crimes or stirring up racial hatred.
The facts

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which prosecutes criminal cases in England and Wales, said David Wilkinson, 48, was convicted of “racially aggravated criminal damage”.

Police and prosecutors also said Wayne O’Rourke, 35 of Salix Approach, Lincoln, Rhys McDonald, 34, of Oxford Road, Runcorn, Tyler Kay, 26, from Northampton, and Christopher Taggart, 36, of Caesars Close, Runcorn, all pleaded guilty to publishing written material to stir up racial hatred.

Philip Hoban, 48, of Northcote Crescent, Leeds, was jailed for causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm/distress through words or behaviour in Leeds city centre, West Yorkshire Police said.

Jordan Parlour, 28, of Seacroft, Leeds, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour intending thereby to stir up racial hatred, the CPS added.

Meanwhile, sentencing remarks by judge Guy Kearl KC, sitting at Leeds Crown Court, showed Jordan Plain, 30, of Seacroft, Leeds, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated intentional harassment.

Evening Standard

15-year-old boy pleads guilty to violent disorder in Bristol riot

By
August 23, 2024
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A total of 19 people have been charged following the riot

A 15-year-old boy is the latest person to admit their role in the Bristol riot earlier this month. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the shameful scenes in the city centre on Saturday, August 3.

The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, was the 19th person to be charged following the riot which saw the far-right clash with police and counter-protesters. He was granted conditional bail and will appear at Bristol Youth Court on Thursday, September 12.

The violent and disorder broke out in Castle Park before moving to Bristol Bridge and Redcliff Hill. Police have since arrested a total of 33 people in connection with the disorder, with more people still the subject of a wanted appeal.

Bristol Post

Hull riot: Three more troublemakers jailed after ‘miasma of madness’ in city centre

By
August 23, 2024
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Another trio of offenders involved in the violent disorder on August 3 have been locked up

More troublemakers have been jailed after serious disorder broke out in Hull city centre during frightening scenes that have been branded a “miasma of madness”.

They were the latest to be locked up at Hull Crown Court for their part in the hours of violent disorder that day.

Daniel Mennell , 36, of Belmont Street, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for two years and three months.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that Mennell played a prominent role in the disturbance outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway and he picked up rocks and stones from shrubbery opposite the hotel before throwing them towards police. He joined a line of other people and took a selfie picture of the hotel.

Mennell had convictions for 54 previous offences, including 34 for dishonesty, two for public disorder and others for arson in 2004 and burglary. He had previously been given an antisocial behaviour order in 2004 when he was 15.

Charlotte Baines, mitigating, said that Mennell was sorry for his actions. “He had been drinking heavily,” said Miss Baines. Mennell had gone into the city to see what was going on.

“He very stupidly involved himself in the disorder,” said Miss Baines. “His behaviour was idiotic. At the time, he was under the influence.” Mennell was involved in trouble in only one place. He had tried to turn his life around since 2022 and he had regularly worked as a labourer.

Jarrod Farrah, 32, of Portobello Street, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for two years and he was given a six-year criminal behaviour order.

Farrah was outside the Royal Hotel and he lunged towards police in an aggressive way in Queen Victoria Square. He was with others who threw missiles but he did not do so himself and he was at the front of the group. He gestured and shouted and moved towards the police and lunged towards them. He had convictions for 16 previous offences, including two of assault and others of drugs and criminal damage.

Nigel Clive, mitigating, said: “He is thoroughly ashamed of himself and his behaviour. He knows that he has let Hull down.”

Farrah was involved in shouting and finger-pointing towards police and he was at the forefront on a number of occasions. He did not throw or pick up any objects during the “highly emotionally charged” incident.

When he was shown footage a the disorder, he looked at the floor in disgust. He apologised for his actions.

Father-of-three Farrah had let his family down at a time when it was facing having to attend a funeral. He had twin boys aged five and another son aged 14.

He was in an emotional state. “It’s no excuse at all for his behaviour,” said Mr Clive.

Michael Campbell, 56, of Icelandic Close, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for 20 months.

Campbell was at the front of a group of people confronting police outside the Royal Hotel. He was aggressive towards police and was shouting and gesturing.

He used a bicycle as a “barricade” and to fend off a police dog. He was bitten by the dog on his right lower leg. Campbell had convictions for 11 previous offences.

Michael Forrest, mitigating, said that the bite from the police dog had an impact on Campbell while he was in custody and the pictures of his wound were “graphic”.

Campbell went to Hull Royal Infirmary after being bitten and he was now in a wheelchair because of it as well as using crutches. It was making his time in prison even more difficult.

“He was deeply ashamed when he saw the footage,” said Mr Forrest. “He is utterly disgusted with his actions.” Campbell had six daughters and four grandchildren, who were the “light of his life”. He was in Hull to buy a suit for a funeral at the time of the disorder.

At an earlier hearing, Mr Forrest described the disorder during the day as a “miasma of madness”.

Judge John Thackray KC said that the fact that Campbell was bitten by a police dog did not reduce his culpability but he did suffer a “bad injury”.

The offences of all those involved were part of “12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence” that caused “immeasurable harm”. The video footage was “depressing and horrifying to watch” and it was “utterly deplorable public disorder involving huge numbers of people”.

Hull Daily Mail

Brothers jailed for role in violent disorder

By
August 23, 2024
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Two brothers who were at the forefront of rioting outside a hotel in Rotherham earlier this month have been jailed.

Luke and Paul Sissons were involved a range of violent incidents at the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, on 4 August.

Video played to the court showed an attack on a police dog van and violent confrontations with riot officers, with Luke Sissons telling a one officer: “I hate immigrants.”

They were both jailed for three years at Sheffield Crown Court.

The Holiday Inn Express, which housed more than 200 asylum seekers, was extensively damaged in the violence with windows being smashed.

Paul Sissons, who is a tunnelling team leader on the HS2 project, was filmed over a period of nearly four hours.

He was pictured in a mob shouting at police and chanting “Tommy Robinson”, before rocking a police van with officers and a dog inside.

Sissons, 37, of Two Gates Way, Barnsley, was then filmed throwing missiles at a group of cornered officers.

A final video showed him kicking at a police shield, something the judge described as “vicious”.

Police dog used

His brother Luke Sissons, 34, of The Green View, Shafton, Barnsley, was also part of the mob rocking the van and footage was shown of him at the front of a group goading officers with riot shields who were pinned against the hotel wall.

He had been outside the hotel since at least 11:30 BST and was filmed drinking and speaking with a police officer.

He said he hated police officers, called them “grasses”, and said he hated immigrants.

Watching via video link, he regularly had his head in his hands and “watched on with horror”, his defence barrister said.

The case was “one of the worst examples of violent disorder”, because of the volume and persistency of it, The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said.

The brothers both pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing.

Also appearing was Christopher Rogers, 38, of Millmoor Road, Barnsley.

He had spent the day filming the violence on his phone.

As he went to leave the area at about 19:00 BST, he was seen with a group of people who were masked and throwing missiles at police.

There was a short foot chase with officers where he was bitten by a police dog in the groin.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder, and was jailed for two years.

BBC News

Computer programmer, 31, admits stabbing an Eritrean asylum seeker, 25, at a hotel used to house migrants – but denies trying to kill him

By
August 22, 2024
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A computer programmer has admitted stabbing an Eritrean asylum seeker at a hotel used to house migrants.

Callum Ulysses Parslow, 31, knifed Nahom Hagos, 25, in the lobby area of the Pear Tree Inn and Country Hotel in Hindlip, Worcestershire, on April 2.

The hotel had been used to house migrants for three years but was closed earlier this year for refurbishments and was due to be reopened for the public.

The victim, who had previously lived at the hotel as an asylum seeker, was rushed to hospital following the attack but his injuries were not life threatening.

Parslow was arrested on a towpath of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and threw a pocket knife on the ground.

He appeared at the Old Bailey today and admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having a bladed article.

Parslow denied attempted murder and will stand trial for two weeks at Leicester Crown Court on November 7.

Parslow appeared in court via video link from HMP Belmarsh wearing a grey t-shirt and tracksuit trousers.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told him: ‘Your trial will take place on 7 October and in the mean time you’ll remain in custody.’

Counter-Terrorism Policing West Midlands had been called in to lead the investigation.

Assistant Chief Constable Grant Wills of West Mercia Police, earlier said: ‘This was a truly shocking incident and my thoughts continue to be with the victim as he recovers from his injuries.

‘We understand the details of this charge may be alarming to the community, but we can reassure you that there isn’t believed to be any wider risk to the public.

‘The local policing team from West Mercia Police will remain visible in the area for your reassurance.’

Parslow, originally from Hereford, worked as a computer programmer for an automotive diecast manufacturer in Worcester.

He remains remanded in custody.

Daily Mail

Middlesbrough rioter with police grudge tried but failed to set fire to wheelie bin pushed at cops

By
August 22, 2024
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Michael Stevenson, 34, was caged for 26 months at Teesside Crown Court

A man who tried but failed to set fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards riot police during disorder in Middlesbrough has been jailed.

Michael Stevenson was later recognised by a police officer who watched YouTube footage of the widespread trouble in the town on August 4.

The 34-year-old could be seen trying to set fire to rubbish in a large wheelie bin which he then helped push towards police lines

When he was arrested four days later, Stevenson said he had been visited at his home by police five years earlier and he had “acted in retaliation for that”, said Rachel Masters, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court. He admitted a single count of violent disorder.

Judge Francis Laird KC sentenced him to 26 months, saying: “You chose to take part in an organised and large-scale act of public disorder.” Gary Wood, defending, said Stevenson, of Newport Road, Middlesbrough, was isolated from other people, had mental issues and will find prison very hard.

Gazette Live

Teen jailed for throwing missiles at police

By
August 22, 2024
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A masked teenager who threw bricks, bottles and a beer barrel at police during Bristol’s unrest has been jailed for two years.

Cassius Adamson, 19, of Lockleaze, joined a far-right protest high on drugs on 3 August. He was front of a group which gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

The labourer pleaded guilty to violent disorder when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.

Judge James Patrick, who described Adamson’s behaviour as “disgusting”, added: “This offending had a significant community impact and brought shame on this city.”

Hundreds of far-right protesters and a counter-protest group gathered for two demonstrations near Castle Park on 3 August.

The unrest caused families, particularly those with an ethnic background, to become fearful, stockpile food and board up their businesses, Judge Patrick added.

Adamson is the ninth person to be jailed for violent disorder after the unrest. Thirty-three people have been arrested and 18 charged.

The court heard, Adamson joined the demonstration after drinking two litres of spirits and taking MDMA, ketamine and cocaine earlier that day.

Giles Nelson, defending, said the teenager was “deeply remorseful” and had been “swept along” in the violence having had a difficult childhood with learning difficulties.

“With the fact he is such a loner, has attachment disorder and ADHD, when he was in that corridor of violence, he became a sheep and a follower.”

Mr Nelson added: “He does not have any idealistic attitudes or any racist attitudes. He is easily influenced and easily used. There is no excuse for his behaviour.”

Judge Patrick told Adamson: “I have to deal with you for persistent lawlessness in the name of patriotism.

“You were involved in throwing missiles, cans and bottles, towards the police. You were gesturing, shouting and you were filming.

“You were aggressively trying to get to the hotel. The group, including you, threw missiles at the police, including a traffic cone, and also at others.”

He explained four empty beer barrels were thrown at a police van, one of which was thrown by Adamson. He then also also used a brick and a glass bottle as a missile.

The judge said the “persistence” and “violence” of Adamson’s behaviour” for nearly an hour towards public servants and “also while masked” was too serious to suspend the sentence.

He added: “The police incurred hundreds of thousands of pounds of costs.”

BBC News

Conspiracy theorist grandad jailed over disorder

By
August 22, 2024
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A “conspiracy theorist” who abused police when an anti-immigration protest turned violent has been jailed.

Grandfather Peter Lynch, 61, went to the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August with a placard which called police officers, MPs and the media “corrupt”.

He shouted “racist and provocative remarks” towards officers and called asylum seekers in the hotel “child killers”, the Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Sheffield Crown Court during his sentencing.

Lynch pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder and was jailed for two years and eight months on Thursday.

“Family man” Lynch, who recently had a heart attack, had gone to protest at the hotel against immigration, his defence barrister said.

He had “a general conspiracy theory against anyone and any form of authority”, and his placard referenced the “deep state” and space agency Nasa.

Video played to the court showed Lynch “revving up” the situation before it turned violent, the judge said.

He was filmed calling the police “scum”.

His sign and protest was not unlawful, but his verbal abuse towards police officers during the “racist incident” crossed the line, the judge added.

Lynch, of Burman Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, was a “full participant” in the disorder, the court was told.

“You were unquestionably endeavouring to rev up the situation the best you could,” Judge Richardson added.

The placard stated that police chiefs, reporters, civil servants, judges and the Environment Agency were all “corrupt”.

BBC News