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Ringleader who ‘orchestrated’ mob violence jailed

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September 24, 2024
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A man who “orchestrated and encouraged” mob violence has been jailed for three years and three months.

Lancashire Police said John Robinson, 31, verbally abused officers and members of the public in Blackpool on 3 August, often using racist and xenophobic language.

Robinson was also seen throwing a bottle at a police vehicle and stopping members of the public in their cars before hurling abuse at them

He was described by the police as a “main player” who also encouraged others to emulate his “disgraceful” behaviour.

‘Violent and abusive’

When police moved in to arrest Robinson, he tried to rip a body camera and radio from one officer’s stab vest before attempting to punch him in the head.

Robinson, from Blackpool, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.

“Robinson was a clear ringleader,” said Assistant Chief Constable Karen Edwards.

“Not only was he violent and abusive towards members of the public and my officers, but he also encouraged others to emulate his disgraceful behaviour.

“Robinson is just one of many being sentenced for his part in the disorder.

“I welcome the significant sentence handed down on him, and I hope this continues to show just how seriously these crimes are taken.”

BBC News

Bolton dad ‘turned on heels and ran’ after throwing lighter at police

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September 23, 2024
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A dad threw a lighter at police before “turning on his heel and running away” on a day when violence broke out in Bolton town centre.

Bolton was among dozens of towns and cities saw violence erupt following the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday, July 29.

Six days later, on Sunday, August 4, protests took place in the town centre.

Officers formed a “human barrier” to separate two rival groups, each containing around 250 people, who were facing off in Bolton town centre.

CCTV from the day captured Kieran Liddell, 27, on camera and Bolton Crown Court was told that he threw a lighter at a police line before “turning on his heel and running away”.

He was shown taking part in disorder on Victoria Square, Oxford Street and Bradshawgate, where the object was thrown.

The court heard how the disorder had significantly impacted the community with one female officer who wears a hijab, left “too scared to go to work” as a result of the unrest.

An impact statement read out by prosecutor David Lees said: “Over 440 officers were deployed across Greater Manchester at the time of the unrest.

“This had a specifically profound impact on the Black and Muslim officers, who were concerned for their safety.

“The Muslim community described feeling ‘under siege’ as a result of the attacks and many innocent bystanders were left trapped in premises during the unrest.”

Liddell, of Deansgate, Bolton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on September 14.

The court heard he had 10 previous convictions for 14 offences, including drugs, failure to comply with court orders and violence, dating back to when he was aged 14.

Defending, Julien Goode said Liddell, who has a baby with his partner, claimed he was “unaware” of the unrest and had “got caught up in the emotion” after going out shopping with his partner in the area.

He said he is the primary carer for his mother, who is suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with concerns that she will “lose her battle” while he is incarcerated.

Sentencing, Judge Jon Close, who acknowledged Liddell’s guilty plea, said: “It is clear that you felt a degree of entertainment from his participation in the unrest in Bolton.

“However, unlike a number of those involved, Liddell had no suggestion of facial coverings during the unrest and there is no suggestion that anything was defaced as a result his actions. He wasn’t pre-armed.

“Yet you exposed officers to risk of injury at your hands. There is no doubt that you regret that which you did.

“I do not find racial motivation, otherwise the sentencing would have been a lot more harsh.”

Liddell was sentenced to a year and 10 months.

Bolton News

‘Misinformation’ led to man taking part in riot

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September 23, 2024
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A man who “armed himself with debris” and “launched a missile” towards police officers during large-scale violence outside a hotel in Rotherham has been jailed.

Daniel Kendall went to the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on 4 August to protest after being “fed misinformation” about asylum seekers, a judge said.

The 21-year-old, of Sandymount Road in Wath-upon-Dearne, admitted violent disorder at a previous court appearance.

Jailing him for two years and four months at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, Judge Sarah Wright, said: “Those participating in this form of violent behaviour must be punished.”

Video played to the court showed Kendall, dressed in black, picking up a piece of debris and throwing it towards a line of officers.

It was part of widespread violence where a hotel housing asylum seekers came under attack, with police officers injured.

Windows were smashed and fires were started, with some people gaining access to the lower floors of the hotel.

Staff inside a panic room were protected by freezers leaning against the door, prosecutor Neil Coxon said, referencing an impact statement from hotel maintenance manager Paul Coulson.

“The protesters wouldn’t care who we were, they would just hurt us in my opinion. It felt like it went on forever,” Mr Coulson wrote.

Dale Harris, defence barrister for Kendall, said his client was like many defendants and had gone to the event after seeing it promoted on social media.

However, he said the sentences handed out by judges had set the bar “too high” within the sentencing guidelines.

It meant those who took part in violence “at the more serious end” may not receive sentences much higher than his client, he added.

“I do submit that the bar initially in these cases has been set too high,” he said.

A pre-sentence report suggested Kendall could serve his sentence in the community, Mr Harris said.

But the judge said joining violent disorder involving a lot of people made the offence more serious.

‘Entirely pointless’ violence

Also appearing was Ross Hart, of Rose Grove in Wombwell.

He had admitted a charge of violent disorder after being filmed by a police helicopter damaging air conditioning units at the hotel.

Hart was then filmed rocking a police van, which almost flipped over, the court heard.

He “makes no excuses” for his behaviour and said his participation was “entirely pointless”, his defence barrister said.

The 29-year-old has borderline personality disorder which may have gone someway to explaining his behaviour, his barrister added.

He was jailed for two years and 10 months.

BBC News

Man who vowed to kill migrants jailed for two years

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September 23, 2024
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A man who vowed to murder immigrants and “smash up” mosques has been jailed for taking part in a violent protest at a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Cameron Bowling, 41, of Farnborough, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Potters International Hotel in Aldershot on 31 July.

He banged on a window, swore at people inside and made violent threats, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Rufus Taylor said Bowling’s actions were motivated by racist hostility.

More than 200 protesters gathered at the hotel, as part of the rioting that swept across England in the days after the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport, the court heard.

Judge Taylor said a small group entered the car park, kicked footballs against windows, damaged blinds and a perimeter wall, set off flares and threw bicycles into a skip.

He said they shouted slogans including “we want our country back” and “get ’em gone”, the court heard.

The judge said Bowling played a significant role in the disturbance, which left hotel residents “petrified”.

In videos played in court, the defendant told police officers on the scene he would like to “murder” immigrants and “smash up mosques”, adding: “There’s not enough of you to stop that.”

Asked by an officer what he thought he was achieving by banging on the window, Bowling replied: “I’m letting them know they’re not [expletive] welcome.”

The defendant opened a gate which let protesters into the hotel car park, the court heard.

Neil Fitzgibbon, defending, said Bowling had a successful flooring business and had a “huge amount to lose” from an extended prison term.

Friends described him as “compassionate” and “hard-working” in letters of support, the court heard.

Four other people, including a 13-year-old girl, have pleaded guilty to charges over the incident and will be sentenced at a later date.

Another defendant is due to stand trial in April 2025.

BBC News

Business owner went to the pub to celebrate – then took his balaclava off

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September 23, 2024
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A balaclava-wearing thug who carried a box of beers to a large-scale disturbance outside a hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers has been jailed.

Ryan Leckey, 24, joined a mass demonstration outside the hotel on Oldham Road, in Newton Heath, on July 31 this year. He was seen to throw a missile towards the hotel whilst others hurled abuse at the occupants and the police.

Afterwards, he went to celebrate in a pub nearby before he was caught on CCTV taking his balaclava off, Manchester Crown Court heard.

At the same incident, 42-year-old Darren Butler threatened one officer that he would ‘kick your f***ing head’ in before shouting: “They are protecting nonce’s.”

Both were jailed today, September 18, after admitting violent disorder. Disorder spread across the country last month after misinformation spouted online about the killing of three children in Southport.

Prosecuting, Kate Gaskell said police were deployed to the hotel after reporting of a large crowd forming. Racist abuse was hurled as missiles, including eggs, bottles and bricks, were thrown, she said.

Leckey, of Newton Heath, was caught on bodycam walking down the road carrying a large box of beer over his shoulder.

“He was seen picking something up and throwing it, directing it towards the hotel,” Ms Gaskell said. “He was then seen to move off to a local pub and celebrated his actions before taking off his balaclava.”

Mitigating for Leckey, who had no previous convictions, Rebecca Filletti said her client was ‘extremely sorry’.

“He is sorry to the people there, sorry to the victims of this, sorry to the police and sorry to his family,” she said. “He has asked me to tell the court he is ashamed of his behaviour that day and said his family have worked too hard to see him in this situation.”

The court heard that Leckey’s parents were on holiday at the time but had previously expressed concern about his peers. The business owner, who runs his own shoe cobbling company, said he joined a group of friends during the incident.

Butler, of Oldham, was captured on the footage approaching officers who were trying to move the crowd away, with a number of others.

“He could be heard to shout: “I will kick your f***ing head in”. He also shouted: “They are protecting nonce’s”, the prosecutor added.

After the footage of the incident was played to the court, Butler, who appeared over videolink from HMP Dovegate, said: “I am disgusted with myself.” When he was arrested he told officers that he was an ‘idiot’ for going to the riot.

Joshua Bowker, representing Butler, said his client was there for a short period of time and did not take any weapons or throw any missiles. “His involvement is the words said and his demeanour,” the barrister added.

“He suggests he attended out of intrigue and is very regretful.” He said that Butler, who has 25 previous convictions for 52 offences, was last before the courts in 2018.

Sentencing them, Judge Alan Conrad KC said that following the disorder against innocent people: “The courts must make clear, and will keep making clear, that for this sort of behaviour in a civil society, only serious punishment will follow. Deterrent sentences are necessary.”

Leckey, of Lightbowne Road, Newton Heath, was jailed for 16 months. Butler, of Cattlin Way, Oldham, was jailed for 17 months. Both will serve half of their terms in prison before being released on licence.

Yahoo News

Mother and daughter jailed for riot violence

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September 23, 2024
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A mother and daughter have been jailed for taking part in a riot while out walking the family dog.

Amanda Walton, 52, and Megan Davison, 24, admitted violent disorder during disturbances in Middlesbrough on 4 August.

Video played to Teesside Crown Court showed Davison jumping on the roof of a red car while Walton was seen throwing a missile, damaging a car’s wing mirror and rummaging through a bin.

Judge Francis Laird KC jailed Walton for 22 months and her daughter Davison for 20 months.

Davison, of Seaton Street, Middlesbrough, was said to have been high on a “cocktail of drugs” and became swept up in the violence.

The mother-of-two was also seen sticking a finger up at a police officer and walking away from a shop while “concealing items”, said Rachel Masters, prosecuting.

The court heard Walton, of Ashling Way, Middlesbrough, brought her chow chow to the march and a video showed both women holding the pet’s lead at times as a mob made its way up Parliament Street.

Walton handed herself in after police circulated images of the trouble, while Davison was arrested at her home.

Jon Harley, defending Davison, said she had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs the night before following a break-up and was still intoxicated during the march.

Since being in prison she has managed to stay drug-free, he said.

Gary Wood, for Walton, said she was at the protest out of concern for her daughter.

“She hadn’t planned to be involved, in fact she is present in the street with her dog,” he said.

Judge Laird said the seriousness of the disorder, set against other outbreaks of trouble elsewhere in the country, meant neither sentence could be suspended, but he gave both credit for pleading guilty which reduced their jail terms.

BBC News

‘What on earth were you thinking?’ – Judge slams young mother who took baby to Manchester riot in a pram

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September 23, 2024
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Nevey Smith’s defence lawyer told a court that she did not know what an asylum seeker was

A young mother who took her toddler to a riot at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester has been criticised by a judge, but spared an immediate jail sentence.

Nevey Smith, 21, admitted throwing water over police during the trouble on 31 July while her 20-month-old child was with her in a pram, claiming that she “lost her temper” while on a day out with the baby’s grandmother.

She had joined the mob that had been throwing bottles, bricks and eggs at the Holiday Inn amid nationwide unrest after three girls were stabbed at a holiday club in Southport two days previously.

Describing her as “misguided, naive and immature” at her sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, Judge Patrick Field KC said: “You chose to join (the disorder) notwithstanding that you had your 20-month-old child in a pushchair.

“What on earth were you thinking? I doubt you had his safety in mind.”

Smith was handed a community order and made to attend reviews at a women’s problem-solving court, and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

The judge also told Smith that she had a “lot to learn” and “quite a lot of growing up to do”.

He said that her role was “minimal and peripheral” as she had not been involved in throwing bricks or encouraging others to do so.

Daniel Calder, defending, told the court that Smith had not set out to attend the protest on the day, and had been passing the riot when she “foolishly” got involved.

He said that Smith had not expressed discriminatory views and did not know what an asylum seeker is.

Smith was handed a community order and made to attend reviews at a women’s problem-solving court, and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Her mother, Vanessa Smith, 42, was also at the protest and admitted violent disorder. She will be sentenced on Thursday.

The Independent

Yob who travelled to Manchester to ‘join in’ with riots moaned jail was ‘frightening’

By
September 20, 2024
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Liam Ryan, 28, claimed that he wanted to ‘support the families of the Southport attack’

A yob who travelled from West Yorkshire to Manchester to ‘join in’ with the riots has been jailed.

Liam Ryan, 28, was one of a large group of men who attacked a lone black male in Piccadilly Gardens on July 31. The incident was filmed and posted on social media.

In the footage Ryan was wearing a bright yellow coat with his hood up to conceal his identity. He was seen to punch the man twice as others shouted: “Kill him… fill him in… stamp on his f***ing face.”

The attack, which prosecutors claimed was ‘clearly racially motivated’, took place against the background of disorder across the country after the attack in Southport which saw three children killed and others seriously injured.

Ryan, of Bradford, admitted an offence of violent disorder and was jailed for 28 months.

Rob Hall, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was seen to throw a right handed punch at the black male but missed him. He then threw a left hand and hit him, then threw another right handed punch that hit him again.”

He said he moved off after others got involved but kept his hood over his head. Mr Hall also confirmed that the black male had initially thrown a missile into the crowd that had congregated before he was attacked.

Ryan was arrested and interviewed and said he had travelled from Bradford to ‘join in with the protests’.

“He claimed he was not affiliated to the far right group,” Mr Hall continued. “He stated he had several drinks and said he did not know why he became involved in the violence.

“He confirmed he had no reason to assault the male and nobody had encouraged him to join in with the assault, that he knew what he did was wrong and offered to write a letter of apology to the victim.”

The court heard Ryan has previous convictions for criminal damage, a public order offence and had previously been handed a football banning order.

Mitigating, Damien Zelazowski said Ryan was ‘deeply remorseful’.

“He was aware there was a protest and wanted to show support for the families from Southport,” he said. “His intention was not to become involved in the violence – he simply can not explain why he got involved.”

Mr Zelazowski added that Ryan, who works as a window fitter, found the prospect of custody ‘frightening’.

Jailing Ryan, of Thirkleby Royd, Clayton, Judge Patrick Field KC said: “Once in Manchester you became an enthusiastic participant in hateful and loutish violence along with a group of like minded people.

“It’s concerning that’s probably what you came to Manchester for. Nothing about what occurred in Piccadilly Gardens suggests that you or others were involved in a lawful, legitimate, well-intentioned protest.”

He added that it was ‘totally unacceptable, wanton, drunken violence’ by a group ‘motivated by hatred of other groups of people.

“Your behaviour was disgraceful and shameful,” the judge concluded.

Three people jailed for disorder in Merseyside

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September 20, 2024
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Three people have been jailed for more than seven years for their roles in violent disorder in Merseyside.

The three offenders appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 20 September, after pleading guilty to violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool.
They are:

• Daniel Frazer, 24 years, of Seafield Road, New Ferry was sentenced to two years in prison for violent disorder in Liverpool

• Lloyd Killner, 35 years, of Burton Road, Lincoln, was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison for violent disorder in Liverpool

• Callum Savage, 24 years, of Haig Avenue, Leyland in Preston was sentenced to two years, four months for violent disorder in Southport

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “To date we have made 109 arrests, charged 68, and brought 54 people before the courts – they have been sentenced to a total of 116 years in prison.

“Our investigation into the incidents in Merseyside continues with more arrests, charges and sentences being progressed.

“We continue to identify more people who attended the disorder in Merseyside and we will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.”

We would encourage anyone with information to contact us via Public Portal (mipp.police.uk) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Merseyside Police

Man jailed for violent disorder in city

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September 20, 2024
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A man has been sentenced to 20 months in jail for his role in a city centre protest which turned violent.

Joseph Bradford, 20, of Bishopsworth, Bristol, pleaded guilty to one offence of violent disorder after a video showed him as part of a group shouting at police and throwing a can at officers in Bristol on 3 August.

He was sentenced to 30 months detention, reduced to 20 months at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

Sentencing Bradford, Judge Hart told him: “It took little to provoke you to express unacceptable attitudes and to translate them into serious public disorder.”

The unrest occurred when protesters and counter protesters gathered near Castle Park in the city centre.

Prosecutors said Bradford took part in a planned protest in Bristol which had been advertised by a far right group.

Police tried to keep the protesters and counter protesters separate, but right wing protesters became violent, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Bradford had been at the protest in Castle Park and on the Bristol Bridge, the court heard.

He can be seen on video footage confronting police and throwing a can at them.

After police searched for him, Bradford handed himself in on 11 August.

Mr Maunder, defending, said: “It’s fair to say, he is embarrassed and ashamed.

“That is genuine and deep felt. He recognises his abject stupidity involving himself in such an ugly incident and sentiment.

“He has no political motivation or even thoughts. His grandparents were immigrants from the Caribbean.”

Judge Hart said the defendant was “”apologetic and remorseful” during police interviews.

“People who support you will be astonished to see you could behave like this. How you came to do what you did is a mystery to those who knew you. It mystifies me,” he said.

“Our law protects right of peaceful protest and won’t criminalise holding of views, it will not tolerate resort to violence and threats and disorder.”

Demonstrations took place across England after three young girls were killed in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

BBC News