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Ex-soldier admits stirring racial hatred online

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August 12, 2024
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A former soldier has pleaded guilty to stirring up racial hatred after posting a series of anti-Islamic messages on social media.

Daffron Williams, 41, from Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, acknowledged in one tirade he was racist, and said “they want us to become Islamic”.

Two other men from the area also appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on similar charges.

Geraint David Boyce, 43, of Tonyrefail, also admitted publishing threatening images on Facebook, including one post urging people to burn down mosques, and Jamie Michael, 45, of Penygraig, is charged with distributing audio or video material to stir up racial hatred.

The men were charged as part of investigations into recent widespread violent disorder that followed the deaths of three children in Southport last month.

The court heard that Williams had posted several threatening, abusive or insulting messages on a Facebook account between 19 July and 11 August, intended to stir up racial hatred.

One image showed men in Islamic clothing holding swords, chasing a young boy in a union jack t-shirt.

Another image carried the caption “time to wake the lion to save our children’s future”.

Ryan Colamazza, prosecuting, said: “These are the kinds of comments which inspire and promote the actions we’ve seen.”
‘Absolutely horrendous’

Williams served with the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, the court was told.

Sophie Jones, defending, said “recent events had triggered his PTSD”, but he was “deeply ashamed” of his actions.

Ms Jones added that Williams’s behaviour was an outburst due to the recent political climate.

District judge Stephen Harmes dismissed an application for bail, describing one of Williams’s online tirades as “absolutely horrendous”.

He added: “What you say about people in this country and civil war is appalling.”

Boyce also pleaded guilty to publishing threatening images on social media, including an image with the caption “no more mosques”.

Both men were remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday.

Mr Michael has also been remanded in custody until he appears at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on 23 August.

More than 700 people have been arrested so far in connection with unrest in parts of the UK over the past two weeks.

BBC News

Workington woman accused of social media post to stir up racial hatred

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August 12, 2024
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A WOMAN has appeared in court accused of publishing a social media post likely to stir up racial hatred.

Megan Morrison, 27, appeared at Workington Magistrates’ Court to face one charge of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, outlined the case. He said it was alleged that Morrison made a comment on a Facebook post on August 6, making reference to an incident in Rotherham, where a hotel had been attacked two day earlier during a riot.

The defendant allegedly suggested that some action should be taken to the Cumberland Hotel in Workington and had allegedly posted, ‘it’s full of them’ with an eye-rolling emoji.

A member of the public challenged the defendant and suggested the comment was inappropriate. She is alleged to have responded with an eye-rolling emoji.

Mr Kelly said: “It must be seen in the context of what’s happening nationally in a time of increased social tension. On that basis, I contend it’s not suitable for summary trial.”

John Cooper, defending, said Morrison had four children at home and was the only person in the household who works, in a part time role at a Maryport pub.

Mr Cooper said: “There has been no issue with that hotel. It’s empty. It’s never been a hotel that’s had anyone other than the homeless during Covid.

“It’s her first time before the court. She has been in the police station for two days.

“The criminal justice system has been ramped up recently so cases can be heard in a few days.”

District judge John Temperley said the case was too serious to be heard in the magistrates’ court.

Morrison, of Mona Road, Salterbeck, Workington, will be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on August 14.

The defendant, who sobbed throughout the proceedings, was granted bail, with conditions not to use any social media. When told the date of her crown court hearing, Morrison sobbed, “It’s my daughter’s birthday.”

Judge Temperley warned the defendant that although she was being granted bail, all sentencing options would be considered, if she is convicted at the crown court.

News and Star

Man pleads guilty to violent disorder

By
August 12, 2024
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A man has admitted to causing violent disorder after unrest broke out in Bristol city centre.

Jamie Easterbrook, 43, of Hanover Place in Redcliffe, Bristol, was arrested at his home on Saturday in connection with the incident on 3 August.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of violent disorder at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where he was remanded into custody.

He will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 16 August.

In total, 21 people have now been arrested in connection with the disorder in Bristol on 3 August, with nine so far charged with offences.

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

On Wednesday 7 August protesters gathered for an anti-racism demonstration in Old Market to counter a rumoured anti-immigration rally.

Police said the vast majority of those on West Street had shown “patience and generosity” to officers.

However, one man was arrested after a police vehicle was damaged during the rally.

On Monday, Ardel Shapalang, 40, pleaded not guilty to damaging the vehicle, which belongs to Dorset Police.

He was released on unconditional bail and is due to go on trial at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 11 October.

Tensions have been across England after the killing of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

False claims were spread online that the person responsible was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.

Supt Mark Runacres called the unrest in Bristol “shameful”, adding the force would not facilitate “acts of criminality”.

BBC News

Man admits to stirring up racial hatred on TikTok

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August 12, 2024
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A 34-year-old man has admitted to sharing a video on TikTok in an effort to stir up racial hatred.

James Aspin, of Blyth, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to distributing the recording, during a hearing at Bedlington Magistrates’ Court.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the charge related to a video published on TikTok on or before 8 August.

He was remanded into custody and is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 19 August.

At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, John Paul Kirtley admitted violent disorder in relation to riots in Sunderland on 2 August.

The 26-year-old, of Rutherglen Road, in the city, was remanded and will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 22 August.

Ashley Mark Wilkinson, 35, of Porter Terrace, Murton, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder in Sunderland on the same night.

In addition, he denied one count of possessing articles with intent to cause criminal damage and one count of possession of a Class B drug, relating to items discovered during protest activity in Newcastle on Saturday.

He was also remanded into custody and will stand trial on 20 August.

Unrest spread across the country after three young girls were stabbed to death in Southport on 29 July.

So far, 927 people have been arrested and 466 charged in relation to the disorder, a spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said.

BBC News

Two admit stirring up racial hatred after Southport attack

By
August 12, 2024
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Two men have admitted publishing written material to stir up racial hatred during a week of unrest in England.

Cheshire Police said Christopher Taggart, 36, and Rhys McDonald, 34, published material between 29 July and 6 August.

The men, both from Runcorn, admitted publishing written material to stir up racial hatred at Chester Magistrates’ Court and will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday.

Taggart also admitted possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Unrest broke out across England in the days after the fatal stabbings of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar at a Taylor Swift-themed event in Southport on 29 July.

Prosecutors and police have previously said the disorder was fuelled by misinformation on social media.

A Cheshire Police representative said while there had been “no incidents of violent disorder” in the county, the force had “arrested and charged several people for hate crime and inciting hatred” in the aftermath of the Southport attack.
BBC News

Sellafield worker jailed after sharing ‘offensive’ Facebook posts

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August 12, 2024
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A FIFTY-one-year-old Egremont man has become the latest person in the county to be jailed for posting racially aggravated online social media posts linked to national civil unrest.

Sellafield worker Lee Joseph Dunn, of Church Street, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court this afternoon (Monday).

Dunn pleaded guilty to one offence. He admitted sending, by means of a public electronic communications network, a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.

His crime occurred on July 30 and 31 and involved three shared Facebook posts.

Prosecutor George Shelley said Dunn had posted three separate images. The first one showed a group of men, Asian in appearance, at Egremont crab fair 2025, with the caption: “Coming to a town near you.”

The second also showed a group of men, Asian in appearance leaving a boat on to Whitehaven beach. This, said Mr Shelley, had the caption: “When it’s on your turf, then what?”

A final image showed a group of men, again Asian in appearance, wielding knives in front of the Palace of Westminster. There was also a crying white child in a Union flag T-shirt. This was also captioned, said Mr Shelley, with the wording: “Coming to a town near you.”

Cumbria Police had confirmed before the hearing that Dunn had been charged with posting offensive and racially aggravated content online.

Dunn was said by his lawyer, Andrew Gurney, to have apologised for his online actions. He had removed the offensive content he posted, and was given credit for this by the district judge, a John Temperley.

Dunn was handed an immediate eight-week jail term — discounted by a third from 12 weeks in view of his guilty plea — by district judge John Temperley.

Last week the same judge had given 31-year-old Billy Thompson, of Victory Crescent, Maryport, an immediate 12-week sentence. Thompson had written a racially aggravated Facebook post which contained emojis both of an ethnic minority person and a gun.

Sentencing Thompson, Judge Temperley had said of the zero tolerance approach being taken by courts:

“This offence, I’m afraid, has to be viewed in the context of the current civil unrest up and down this country. And I’ve no doubt at all that your post is connected to that wider picture.

“I don’t accept that your comments and the emojis that you posted were directed at the police. I’ve read in the case summary of the comments you made on arrest which clearly demonstrate to me that there was a racial element to the messaging and the posting of these emojis.

“That has to be reflected in the sentence as does there need to be a deterrent element in the sentence that I impose, because this sort of behaviour has to stop.

“It encourages others to behave in a similar way and ultimately it leads to the sorts of problems on the streets that we’ve been seeing in so many places up and down this country. This offence is serious enough for custody.”

News and Star

Man who shouted ‘England ’til I die’ as he threw bricks at police outside Sunderland mosque pleads guilty to violent disorder

By
August 12, 2024
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A man shouted “England ‘til I die” as he threw bricks at police as they guarded a mosque during violent disorder in Sunderland.

John Paul Kirtley, 26, also kicked an officer’s protective shield and hurled a beer keg in the direction of police when violence flared.

Kirtley, of Rutherglen Road, Hylton Red House, Sunderland, faces up to three years behind bars after he admitted a charge of violent disorder.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard he was among a baying mob which struck on the night of Friday, August 2.

District Judge Zoe Passfield said Kirtley had accepted his role in “large-scale violent disorder” – and remanded him into custody.

Prosecutor Paige Sparks said: “The defendant is described as holding a blue flare and shouting on camera, ‘England til I die’, and is seen on footage holding an England flag and acting aggressively and kicking an officer’s shield.

“He threw a brick, near where police were protecting a mosque. He picked up a beer keg and threw it towards police.”

Jason Smith, defending, did not apply for bail and made no representation to the court.

Judge Passfield told Kirtley he will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday, August 22

Sunderland Echo

17-year-old boy pleads guilty to violent disorder

By
August 12, 2024
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A 17-year-old boy has admitted the charge of violent disorder at Youth Court.

The court heard that the boy – who cannot be identified for legal reasons, being under 18 – is currently from the Torquay area and is in care.

Prosecutor Claire Tresidder said the boy’s social worker was not in attendance in court.

She explained that police video footage showed the boy wearing a face covering while on the House of Fraser side of Royal Parade. She said he was seen to kick an item that appeared to be alight before he then picked up a can and threw it towards the counter-protestors.

Ms Tresidder said the boy was also heard changing “we want our country back”.

When questioned by police he replied no comment to all questions. While he had no previous convictions he was given a conditional caution last month for an offence which took place in May.

His advocate said his client had been in care for a short while and he was in Plymouth visiting friends. He did accept his involvement and had a history of some issues including self-harm.

District Judge Smith told the boy that a significant number of people across the country were being sentenced for violent disorder, reminding him that “this is serious”.

He adjourned the case until September 5 for a sentencing hearing at Youth Court before granting the boy conditional bail with a curfew.

Plymouth Herald

16-year-old Plymouth girl pleads guilty at Youth Court to violent disorder

By
August 12, 2024
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Prosecutor Claire Tresidder explained to the court how the girl – who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions on people under the age of 18 – was seen by police throwing two items items including a vodka bottle.

The girl, who sat in the dock while her parents sat in the well of the courtroom at Plymouth Magistrates’ court, had no previous convictions.

Her advocate, Graham Kinchin said his client’s case was similar to that of another youth who appeared last week.

District Judge Stuart Smith said this was a “serious matter” and “many many people” are being sentenced across the country in relation to the disorders.

He said he would adjourn sentencing to allow for the Youth Justice Service to prepare reports.

He granted the girl conditional bail with an 8pm to 6am daily curfew until the sentencing hearing at the Youth Court on September 5.

Plymouth Herald