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Two men sentenced for part in protest violence

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October 8, 2024
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Two men have been sentenced for their involvement in a violent city centre incident.

The pair appeared in court after hundreds of far-right protesters and a counter group gathered for demonstrations near Castle Park in Bristol on 3 August.

Benjamin Tavener, 35, of Charfield, was handed a 16 months prison sentence after footage showed him throwing an object and throwing a punch at a police horse.

Kieran Leach, 21, of Keynsham, was jailed for 20 months after acting aggressively towards police officers, assaulting a cyclist and throwing punches outside the Mercure Hotel.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was also handed a nine-month intensive referral order at Bristol Youth Court.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Herbert said: “More than 30 people have now been sentenced for their part in the shocking scenes of disorder in Bristol that day.

“We have made it absolutely clear that those responsible would be identified and arrested and that’s what we continue to do with 52 people having been arrested and 43 of those having been charged.”

Avon and Somerset Police said they continue to appeal for the public’s help to identify a number of people as part of the investigation into the disorder on 3 August.

BBC News

Balaclava-clad Middlesbrough rioter who abused police ‘tarred as a racist’

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October 8, 2024
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Teesside Crown Court heard Jamie Govan ‘had fallen victim to malign influences online’

A rioter who screamed and swore at a line of riot police and ignored their repeated demands for him to move away has been jailed.

Jamie Govan, 26, was caught on police bodycam footage shouting at the police on Linthorpe Road during the Middlesbrough riots: “You’re protecting them whilst they rape little kids.” Govan told his barrister he went to the riots on August 4 because he was “unhappy about people arriving in our country on small boats.”

Teesside Crown Court has heard that Govan hid his face with a balaclava, but was easily identifiable because of the distinctive yellow and black top he wore, as he approached a line of police who were blocking protestors from spreading onto Clarendon Road.

Govan, of Hartington Road in Stockton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder, before he was due to stand trial. He has no previous convictions.

On Monday afternoon, Govan’s barrister Matthew Moore-Taylor said that he had attended the protest “…through naivety; he had fallen victim to malign influences online. He was subject to misinformation about those who arrive on small boats. The only way he could express his opinions was to attend that march.”

Govan was captured swearing at the police and struggling with officers as they arrested him. Mr Moore-Taylor said that Govan’s attendence at the Middlesbrough riots was “politically motivated- not racially motivated.”

Govan’s barrister said that inmates at Durham prison chant “EDL” at him and that he has been “tarred as a racist.” The court heard that Govan is now trying to address his drinking and that he is in a “fragile mental state” whilst he is being held on remand.

Judge Laird told Govan that he accepted that, “you were not racially motivated, that your attendance was prompted by an ideological objection to illegal migration.”

Handing Govan an 18-month prison sentence, the judge told said: “You were aggressive, but you did not strike anyone or throw missiles. You repeatedly approached police lines and shouted and swore.

“You were repeatedly told to move back. Your behaviour was so aggressive you were arrested, and you struggled violently.” Govan will serve 40% of his sentence, before he is released on licence.

Gazette Live

He drove past a baying mob and parked in front of watching cops before grabbing a bottle of beer and joining in

By
October 7, 2024
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Laurence Dunkerley, 37, was jailed for 25 months

A man was driving past a baying mob outside a hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers when he parked up, grabbed a bottle of beer and joined them.

Laurence Dunkerley, 37, was captured on body-worn footage in a neon green t-shirt whilst swigging from the bottle. He and a group of males and youths were loitering in the middle of a busy road whilst others were hurling racist abuse towards the hotel and police.

As a bus drove up to the group he stood in front of it before tapping his bottle at the window as it drove past. When the Tactical Aid Unit arrived to move the group on, he became abusive.

Manchester Crown Court heard that there was widespread disorder throughout the country, including Greater Manchester, after false information was spread online as to the attacker of three children who were killed in Southport in July.

As a result, a large group gathered outside the hotel on Oldham Road in Newton Heath, some of whom were wearing balaclavas. Initially, the gathering appeared peaceful but police were later deployed at around 6pm as it turned violent.

Missiles were thrown towards the hotel as well as racist chants of ‘Go home’, towards those inside the hotel. At one stage as residents returned to the hotel, water was thrown at them, the court heard. A bus was also attacked during the chaos.

“As for the defendant, he attended wearing a bright neon-coloured top,” prosecutor Kate Gaskell said.

“He was first seen leaning into a car, then taking something from the car. He then appears to stand in front of a yellow bus and use his beer bottle to tap the side window before it drops to the floor.”

When the police arrived they tried to move the group on, but Dunkerley could be seen to be abusive towards officers.

He was said to have five previous convictions for eight offences including for battery and criminal damage.

Michelle Brown, mitigating for Dunkerley, said he was diagnosed with psychosis following the death of his brother in 2016. She said he had been doing voluntary work to address his mental health issues since.

Of the offence, she said: “This appears to be a misguided attendance. He appears to wander on the outskirts, perhaps aimlessly.

“He was driving past and parked directly in front of the police. This is not a brazen attempt by him and he is not persistent. In his own words, this was a stupid mistake and out of character for him. He is embarrassed and wishes to move on from this.”

Sentencing, Judge John Potter said: “You attended the disorder knowing or believing it had been arranged. It was a deliberate act by you to attend and remain there.

“You and others were told to move on but you were obstructive and aggressive when they were simply trying to protect the public. I accept you did not directly cause damage or use violence towards another, but you did behave aggressively towards the police and tried to encourage others you were with and were part of a mob who did act violently.”

Dunkerley, of Marlborough Drive, was jailed for 25 months. He will serve half the term in prison before he will be released on licence.

Manchester Evening News

Man, 81, sentenced after city centre protests

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October 7, 2024
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An 81-year-old man who stamped on another man who was being arrested during protests in Nottingham city centre has been sentenced.

Keith Edwards, of Kinglake Place in The Meadows, Nottingham, was charged following demonstrations on 3 August.

On Monday, Edwards admitted assault by beating and was given a 28-day suspended sentence at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

He is thought to be the oldest person to be charged in the wake of the disorder that broke out across the country following the killings of three young girls at a dance class in Southport.

Hundreds of people gathered in the city centre as part of demonstrations organised by rival groups.

Police arrested 15 people on the day, though the force said events remained “largely peaceful”.

Denis Quinn, prosecuting, said Edwards had claimed he had gone into the city centre to buy a loaf of bread, but got “drawn into what was happening”.

In footage shown to the court, Edwards could be seen walking over to a man on the floor who was being detained by three police officers, and stamping on his leg.

He was also identified in an earlier clip, played in court, telling a protester “children killed in Southport by your friends”.

In bodycam footage showed to the court, Edwards was told he was being detained for “kicking the man on the floor”, to which he corrected the officer, saying “I stamped on his leg”.

Jim Buckley, defending Edwards, added: “Clearly this was out of character.”

Edwards had no previous convictions and told police he had never previously been arrested, the court heard.

‘Wholly unnecessary’

During sentencing, district judge Sunil Khanna told Edwards he had, “until now”, been a man of “impeccable character”, but got himself embroiled in what he called “large-scale civil disorder”.

He said: “A male who was being beaten up was detained by police.

“He was lying face-down on the floor, hands behind his back, three police officers on top of him with no threat to any person.

“Despite that, you walked up and stamped on his leg.

“It’s beyond me why you felt the need to do this, because clearly, everything was under control, the police had everything under control – what you did was wholly unnecessary.”

He added: “You’ve never done anything like this before and I’m sure you won’t again.”

Edwards was also ordered to pay court costs and a victim surcharge totalling £239.

BBC News

The smirking paedophile hunter now in jail

By
October 7, 2024
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Shaun Holt has been jailed for two-and-a-half years



A smirking thug who stood ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with the far-right denies being a racist.

Shaun Holt, 42, has been locked up for two-and-a-half years for his role in rioting in Manchester city centre. Far-right activists organised a demonstration in Piccadilly Gardens, after ‘entirely false’ rumours about the identity of the alleged perpetrator of the killing of three young girls in Southport circulated online.

The incident turned violent and police had to intervene to quell the disturbances. During the ugly scenes, Holt’s actions ‘encouraged’ an attack on a lone black man, and he struck an Asian man to the head.

After being arrested, Holt, from Stockport, told police that he’d attended after having seen the event publicised online. His lawyer denied that Holt was part of any ‘far-right political group’.

He claimed that Holt’s ‘concern is for children more broadly’. The M.E.N. understands that Holt runs a paedophile hunter group.

Prosecuting, Duncan Wilcock said that during the incident, on Saturday, August 3, a lone black man was set upon by a number of thugs who punched and kicked him. Holt had ‘encouraged’ the assault by running towards the victim, before making ‘gestures’ while at the back of a group, the court heard.

Shortly after, Holt was seen assaulting an Asian man by ‘striking him to the head’. Holt, who has two previous convictions for violence, was arrested two days later.

He admitted that he’d been present at the incident but denied his behaviour amounted to violent disorder. Holt told police that he’d seen the protest advertised on Facebook and decided to attend.

He arrived with four or eight cans of cider, drinking a ‘few’ and handing out some to others. But Holt later pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Sentencing, Judge John Potter told him: “You, Shaun Holt, were part of that ‘far right’ group. You say you are not someone who should be viewed as a racist.

“On that day you chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with others who clearly were. Your presence encouraged others to indulge in grotesque acts of racist violence, and indeed you are seen on the camera to indulge in such violence yourself.”

Defending, Fen Greatley-Hirsch claimed that Holt played a ‘peripheral’ role in the disorder. He said that Holt had become ‘carried away’ and was ‘going along with others’.

The lawyer said Holt has ‘several’ children, including a teenage daughter who he has sole care for and has ‘significant health difficulties’. Mr Greatley-Hirsch appealed for Holt to be spared jail, noting his last previous conviction was from a decade ago.

But Judge Potter ruled that the case was too serious, telling Holt, of Oak Road, Stockport, that he’d played a ‘full part’ in the ‘appalling’ incident. He also imposed a three year criminal behaviour order.

Manchester Evening News

“They were frightened and terrified”: A trip to Wetherspoons ended in jail

By
October 7, 2024
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Anthony Whitelegg had travelled into the city centre to meet friends

A businessman ended up in jail after a trip to Wetherspoons turned sour. Anthony Whitelegg, 40, had travelled into Manchester city centre to meet friends in the pub.

But Manchester Crown Court heard that he joined a ‘mob’ which left members of the public in terror. Far-right activists had organised a demonstration in Piccadilly Gardens after three young girls died in Southport.

There was a large police presence as officers tried to keep the far-right group and counter protesters away from each other. Prosecutors told how Whitelegg and another man, 18-year-old Aaron Davy, were both standing within the far-right group.

They could be seen on footage, as demonstrators became involved in a stand-off with officers in the gardens on August 3. “You both should have left the area, but you decided not to do so,” Judge John Potter told the pair.

They both then travelled down Mosley Street, where a Sainsbury’s store was looted. The judge said Whitelegg and Davy, who had his face covered, were both ‘part of the mob’ on the street, although they didn’t enter the shop.

Both men were handed alcohol by a thief who had stolen it from Sainsbury’s. Whitelegg and Davy both pleaded guilty to violent disorder. “Members of the public were frightened and terrified as to what was taking place,” the judge said.

Whitelegg’s barrister Rebecca Filletti said of the defendant: “He had gone to Wetherspoons with some friends. He hadn’t gone there with a plan of getting involved in this.”

He was ‘ashamed’ to have ended up in court, and handed himself in to police after realising officers wanted to speak with him, she said. Ms Filletti said Whitelegg wasn’t personally involved in any violence, and had a ‘peripheral’ role as ‘part of the melee’. She said he had recently started his own business after building up experience working for a fencing company.

Ms Filetti said Whitelegg had kept out of trouble for about 20 years following previous convictions for violence in the mid 2000s. Davy’s barrister did not offer mitigation on his behalf, after the judge indicated he would not send the defendant to prison.

Whitelegg, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 25 months in prison. Davy, of Liney Road, Cheadle, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was ordered to observe a curfew for three months, from 9pm to 7am. He was also told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days

Manchester Evening News

Climbing up scaffolding, storming Sainsbury’s and trying to smash a window… all ‘a bit of fun’

By
October 7, 2024
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“He simply went along with it for reasons that he cannot really explain”

A thug who ‘randomly’ attacked shops and climbed up scaffolding thought his crimes were ‘a bit of fun’, a judge said.

Daylan Burgess, 20, has been jailed for his role in large-scale disorder which broke out in Piccadilly Gardens. Far-right activists had organised a demonstration for August 3 after three young girls died in Southport.

There was a large police presence as officers tried to keep the far-right group and counter protesters away from each other. Burgess’s lawyer said the defendant had ‘no understanding’ of the issues behind the demonstration, as he was jailed for 16 months.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Burgess, who had his face covered, was caught on camera having climbed to the top of some scaffolding in Piccadilly Gardens. He climbed back down and joined a ‘mob’ which had then moved down Mosley Street.

The store was looted, as innocent members of the public tried to do their shopping. Burgess, of Regent Square, Salford, stormed into the store with others and caused damage by knocking items from shelves.

Shortly after, he picked up a ‘large road sign’ and launched it at the window of a vape shop further down the street, as others also attacked it. Burgess was identified from footage where his face covering had slipped. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

You later remarked you thought doing this amounted to having a bit of fun,” Judge John Potter said of the defendant. Speaking of the incident in Sainsbury’s, he added: “Customers and staff in the shop were terrified as over £300 worth of damage was caused.”

Defending, Michael Johnson appealed for the judge to spare Burgess from being sent to prison, noting he has been diagnosed with ADHD and autism. “He is suggestive, immature, and prone to acting upon impulse,” Mr Johnson said. “He was a follower and not a leader on that day.

“He has no interest and in fact no understanding of any of the controversies that may have played a part in these events. He simply went along with it for reasons that he cannot really explain.”

But the judge ruled that Burgess’ actions warranted an immediate prison sentence. He told the defendant: “Your willingness to view violence and then cause damage, randomly, to two shops in a group shows, in my judgement, you pose a danger to the public.”

Manchester Evening News

Male Jailed For Trying To Incite Disorder in Huddersfield

By
October 5, 2024
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A 20-year-old who used social media to try and incite unrest in Huddersfield has been jailed in the latest conviction in West Yorkshire for disorder.

Harvey Gardener (20) of Queens Way, Kirkburton was jailed for nine months at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday August 28 for encouraging or assisting in the commission of an either way offence believing it would be committed.

The charge related to social media posts Gardener created between August 3 and August 5 encouraging violent disorder in Huddersfield.

His sentencing followed that of a Leeds man who was jailed on Tuesday in a separate case investigated as part of the force’s response to the national disorder.

Nicholas Hemmingway (34) of Walpole Road Leeds was jailed on August 27 for a total of 12 months.

The 34-year-old was jailed for an offence of intending to cause religiously aggravated harassment, alarm and distress in an incident in Leeds on August 3.

Both males were also made subject of five year Criminal Behaviour Orders at their sentencing hearings.

James Gettings (35) of Landseer Walk, Bramley was sentenced to eight months in prison at Leeds Magistrates Court on Thursday 15 August.

West Yorks Police

Rioter, 60, threw rocks at cops as he threatened to ‘bite officer’s face off’

By
October 5, 2024
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A man who threw rocks at police and told an officer he would ‘bite his face off’ has admitted his part in a Staffordshire riot. Martin McCluskey, 60, was seen on footage repeatedly challenging officers who were on the frontline in the violent disorder in Tamworth on August 4.

McCluskey approached an officer and told him he would ‘bite his face off’ before launching rocks at him. Stafford Crown Court heard he continued to walk up and down the police line, shouting abuse and launching missiles.

The officer he threw the rocks at was also hit with a bicycle that was thrown in his direction. Despite wearing a public order helmet, the officer still suffered bruising and reddening to his face because of what happened. He was also doused in petrol.

McCluskey also kicked a glass bottle at an officer, causing it to shatter against the officer’s shin. The defendant was arrested after he was identified by detectives.

He went on to plead guilty to violent disorder and two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. McClusky, of Bolehall, Tamworth, was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing at the same court on October 30.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Ellison said: “McCluskey’s actions clearly reflect what the brave officers were faced with that day: acts of mindless criminality and violence with no regard for those trying to keep people safe.

“Our officers showed immeasurable courage in the face of the violence to carry out their duties and keep the public safe from harm. These officers are people living in local communities, with families and friends of their own. They, along with local residents, did not deserve what happened to them.

“We will never tolerate acts of aggression towards officers or members of our communities. McCluskey will be serving time behind bars for his actions, and those who committed similar acts will meet the same fate once our detectives find out who they are.”

MSN