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Gary Harkness pleaded guilty to violent disorder

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August 12, 2024
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Harkness, aged 51 and of North Road West, Plymouth pleaded guilty to violent disorder on Monday August 5.

Prosecutor Claire Tresidder said Harkness was standing on the House of Fraser side of Royal Parade and was seen “to be standing at the front of the group constantly throughout the incident”, “making offensvie hand gestures towards the Civic Centre group”. She said he was being “abusive approximately eight times” and there were “two physical altercations with police”.

The court was told Harkness was seen “making w***** gestures” towards counter-protestors. Harkness was also seen attempting to break through police lines and reach the counter-protestors.

Ms Tressider said on occasions police had to push Harkness away and at one point he pushed a police dog handler and then attempted to grab the dog handler’s “hand or baton” and walked towards the dog handler “in an aggressive fashion”.

The court heard Harkness had previous convictions the latest being in 2018 which was for possession of a prohibited weapon and drugs offences.

His advocate told the court that Harkness “doesn’t hold right wing views or affiliation” and that he “regrets being there” on the night. He said Harkness was seen “amicably chatting” to people on the “anti-fascist” side of the road.

District Judge Smith said the powers of the Magistrates’ court was insufficient and as such Harkness would be remanded into custody ahead of a sentencing hearing at Plymouth Crown Court on Monday.

Plymouth Herald

Lynden Parker: Enters guilty plea, case referred to Crown court

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August 12, 2024
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A man pleaded guilty to throwing a missile at a hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers.

Lynden Parker, 26, of no fixed abode, was seen on footage shared on social media to be throwing an item at the hotel in Newton Heath.

“Two people had entered the hotel who the crowd believed to be asylum seekers, the police have said,” prosecutor Tess Kenyon told the court.

“Someone was also heard to shout ‘P*** c***’ before the bottle was thrown. The Crown do not allege this was said by the defendant.”

Mitigating, Mr Hewitt said his client ‘threw it at the hotel and then left’.

Remanding him into custody because of his ‘appalling behaviour’, District Judge Joanne Hirst said: “This inflamed the crowd and no doubt frightened those who were going into the hotel. You have previously thrown a missile at a football match and assaulted somebody, so there is evidence of previous thuggish conduct.”

He will next appear at Manchester Crown Court on August 19.

MEN

Jeweller faces jail for gun gestures towards police at Westminster disorder

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August 12, 2024
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Russ Cooke say he can’t remember hurling racist abuse and making gun signs at police

A retired jeweller who made gun and knife gestures towards police in a torrent of abuse and racism during disorder in Westminster is facing jail.

Russ Cooke, 66, shouted that officers should be “put to the sword” and was heard referencing “f***ing Muslims” during the incident in Whitehall on July 31.

Westminster magistrates court heard Cooke also mentioned the IRA and was heard shouting “bang bang” as he pointed a gun sign at lines of police.

He has now pleaded guilty to three racially aggravated public order offences, and has been remanded in custody to await sentencing.

Disorder broke out in Whitehall that day at the end of an “Enough is Enough” protest, as large groups of people became embroiled in clashes with police while flares were launched at the Downing Street gates and a statue of Winston Churchill.

Prosecutor David Burns said Cooke, who had been drinking, was caught on police body-worn cameras as he was “shouting and pointing towards the direction of the officers”.

He said Cooke shouted “they are going to be put to the sword” before he made a gesture with his hand of slitting his throat.

Cooke called officers “mugs”, and said “no wonder they call them filth”, the court heard.

Mr Burns said offensive words were aimed at Muslims, and he also “made reference to the IRA while making a gun symbol with his hands, shouting ‘bang, bang’.”

Cooke, who has no previous convictions, told the court as he pleaded guilty that he cannot remember his actions on that day.

“I don’t remember none of it, I don’t know what to say”, he said from the dock.

The court heard Cooke, a retired jeweller from Islington, admits have a “serious drinking problem” and denies being a racist, saying he “got carried away due to being drunk”.

The court was also told he is on medication for mental health issues and has suffered a past heart attack.

District Judge Briony Clarke remanded Cooke in custody until a sentencing hearing at Inner London crown court later this week.

“Because of the context in which these offences were committed and the large scale disorder that took place at the time – not assisted by your involvement – my powers of sentencing in this court are insufficient”, she said, when deciding to send the case to the crown court.

“You travelled to the location from your home address and have taken part in widespread disorder, and made incredibly unpleasant comments.”

She added that she must remand him in custody because of a risk of further offending when drunk: “It seems you have a drinking problem and you haven’t been seeking any assistance.”

Earlier, a second man was sentenced after he shouted “paedo” at police officers during the same disorder in Westminster on July 31.

Christopher Jones, 52, admitted using abusive words towards officers who had been called out to tackle the disorder.

The court heard Jones was not charged with any criminal offence of violence and his lawyer insisted he was not accused of “general thuggery”.

Mr Burns said Jones was heard shouting that his son is a “f***ing 16-year-old kid” before adding “paedo”.

Sundeep Pankhania, mitigating, said Jones had been “behaving entirely appropriately” during the earlier protest in Westminster, and the offensive words were shouted “out of frustration and fear”.

“It is completely distinct from general thuggery”, he added.

Jones, who lives in Romford, pleaded guilty to a public order offence of using threatening or abusive words, and Judge Clarke ordered him to pay a £350 fine.

She noted he has past convictions for offences including criminal damage and theft, but no past incidents of public disorder.

Jones was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £140 victim surcharge.

“I suggest you steer clear of this sort of incident in future, and do not repeat this sort of behaviour”, she added.

Jones was arrested on Sunday and spent around 24 hours in custody before being released by the court.

A third defendant, Jason Guiver, 51, pleaded not guilty on Monday to an allegation of affray.

It is said Guiver, a £60,000-a-year commercial director at a payroll company, was “remonstrating” with police as they protected a cordon, allegedly made threats, and he is accused of pushing one of the officers.

Judge Clarke remanded Guiver, of Ongar in Essex, into custody until a hearing at Inner London crown court on September 9.

Evening Standard

Man who stole police officer’s baton during disorder jailed for three years

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August 12, 2024
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Guy Sullivan was jailed at Plymouth Crown Court on Monday.

A man who grabbed a police officer’s baton and ran off with it during disorder in Plymouth has been jailed for three years.

Guy Sullivan, 43, admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to the incident during protests in the Devon city on August 5.

Plymouth Crown Court heard the lone officer was up against a grass verge and was using his baton to strike forward in a bid to push back protesters around him.

Sullivan, of New George Street, Plymouth, then came behind the officer and grabbed the baton out of his hands.

The officer was pulled to the ground and attacked by other protesters as onlookers filmed and shouted “get him”, “do him” and “let him have it”.

Judge Robert Linford told Sullivan: “You ran up behind Pc Hannaford, who was doing what he could to try to keep the mob, because that’s what they were, at bay.

“You took his baton and made off with it. As a direct consequence of that, Pc Hannaford, who has been a police officer for a very long period of time, was taken to the ground and beaten.

“He curled himself into a ball while these people set upon him.

“He must have been terrified, not withstanding his years of experience. He says so close to his retirement this incident has left a sour taste.

“You played your part in that mob violence. The courts are going to come down hard on people who are part of that widespread disorder.”

The judge jailed Sullivan for 26 months for the violent disorder.

Sullivan had previously received a 16-month prison sentence for smashing into a Tesco Express store during the protests and stealing £281 worth of alcohol.

Judge Linford reduced that sentence to 10 months, which Sullivan will serve after the 26-month sentence for violent disorder.

Prosecuting, Lewis Aldous said the officer “ended up on the floor and sustained injuries to his head”, but was not seriously hurt.

He told the court that the police baton was later recovered from the home of another defendant charged in relation to the protest.

Representing Sullivan, Christopher Cuddihee said his client had “blundered into the situation” and did not look back to see the officer being attacked.

“He was drunk that evening, stumbling around, and stumbled into this disorder,” Mr Cuddihee said.

“He has never been political in his life. Unfortunately, he has inserted himself into this very serious incident in a very unhelpful and potentially dangerous way.”

A letter written by Sullivan, apologising to the police, was read to the court.

The defendant has 37 previous convictions for 108 offences.

He wrote: “To all the officers that this concerns, I would like to start by saying how sorry I am for the stupid act I did on the day in question.”

Sullivan wrote that he had previously suffered with drug addiction but had passed all drug tests since being released from prison and was now the father of a “beautiful” baby who is five months old.

“I am going to miss my son’s first Christmas,” he said.

“I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. I can’t believe how stupid I have been, letting everyone down including you.”

As he was led to the cells, Sullivan told the court: “Sorry once again officer, I do apologise.”

Evening Standard

Man from Manchester becomes eighth person to be jailed following disorder in Merseyside

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August 12, 2024
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A man from Manchester has become the eighth person to be jailed following disorder in Merseyside after he was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison.

Dylan Carey, 26, of Castle Hill Road, in Hindley, Greater Manchester, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday 12 August, after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

On Tuesday 30 July, Carey travelled to Southport and was identified on bodycam footage and social media clips hurling objects at officers and also kicking a stationary police carrier during the appalling scenes from that evening.

A specialist team from Merseyside Police continues to review hundreds of hours of footage taken from the disorder in Southport and Liverpool and Carey was arrested at his home on Monday 5 August.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul White said: “The arrests, charges and sentencing of those involved in Merseyside disorder continues this week and Carey is the latest person to find himself behind bars for his appalling actions.

“Carey chose to travel from his home in Manchester to Southport and took part in violent scenes in a town that was still reeling from the horrific murders the previous day. The actions of those who took part in the disorder not only seriously injured officers, but also caused harm and fear in an already devastated community.

“The sentencing results we have seen so far for disorder shows how seriously the courts take this matter. Carey now finds himself at the beginning of an 18 month jail term. If you are thinking of taking part in any planned disorder, ask yourself, is it worth it?”

Merseyside Police

Man jailed for two years after punching officer

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August 12, 2024
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A man has been jailed for two years after admitting assaulting a police officer at a protest in Weymouth.

Jason Francis, 38, of Meadow View Road in Weymouth, was involved in an anti-immigration protest which led to violent disorder on 4 August.

Dorset Police say he was seen moving towards a police line pushing and kicking out at officers – before punching one officer in the face.

He was jailed for two years after pleading guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker.

BBC News

Scaffolder took knuckle-duster to protest ‘on a whim’, court hears

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August 12, 2024
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A scaffolder who took a knuckle-duster to an anti-immigration protest in Southampton has been handed a 12-month prison sentence.

Southampton Crown Court heard that 42-year-old Lee James had been out for dinner with his two teenage sons on 7 August when he decided to go to the protest to “see what it was like”.

The court heard he had read online about “gangs and violence” at protests and had visions of people with machetes and zombie knives at the demonstration.

But Judge Christopher Parker KC said when he sentenced James that the knuckle-duster’s “only purpose can be to cause injury to other human beings”, adding: “You said you wore it to protect yourself but you wore it openly, you were not under any threat.”

James will serve half of the 12-month sentence before being released on licence, and a further 12 months post-sentence supervision.

BBC News

Man who threw vacuum cleaner through window jailed

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August 12, 2024
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A 22-year-old who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window and made an offensive statement to a police officer has been sentenced to 26 months in prison.

Thomas Rogers pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon after he was seen throwing bricks at police in Middlesbrough on 4 August.

In mitigation, the court heard Rogers was a “complex and vulnerable young man”.

BBC News

Rotherham riots: Man jailed for threatening police officer with wooden stick & attacking dog van

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August 12, 2024
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A haulage business owner has been jailed for two years and eight months after he was pictured in a national newspaper brandishing a piece of wood during rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Ricky Hardman was arrested after a photo of him near the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on Sunday, August 4, 2024 was published by the Daily Telegraph, a judge was told on Monday.

Video was also played to Sheffield Crown Court showing that the 41-year-old defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the hotel.

Hardman could be seen kicking out at the police van, which was being prevented from moving by people lying in front of it.

He could then be seen as part of a group of about six men who violently rocked the vehicle before it managed to drive away.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told Hardman the “major civil disorder” was “perpetrated by an ignorant mob of which you were a part”.

He went on: “The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.

“There’s no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.”

The judge said he could not be sure that Hardman threw the piece of wood he was brandishing at the police but thought he “almost certainly” did.

He said he was at the front of a mob attacking and threatening police, who were “shamefully waving the Union flag”.

The judge said the police officers who protected the hotel against the rioters are “deserving of the highest praise”.

He said: “It must be made clear that those participating in this form of violent disorder will be punished severely by the courts.

“It is the duty of the court to do what it can to protect the public.”

Judge Richardson said the maximum sentence for violent disorder is five years in prison and he had to bear in mind, when setting Hardman’s sentence, that he will be dealing with defendants with even more serious involvement in the Rotherham disorder in coming weeks.

He said it is a matter for Parliament whether this maximum needs to be revisited in light of recent events.

The judge was told about a series of defendants due to appear before him in relation to the Rotherham disorder in coming days and how the efficiency with which these cases is being dealt is leading to knock-on inefficiencies in relation to other prosecutions.

He agreed, but said: “Major civil disorder of this kind has to be prioritised.”

Richard Davies, defending, told the judge his client is “ashamed of himself and the impact that it’s going to have on his family”.

He said Hardman did not go to the hotel to get involved with violence but got “carried away”.

Mr Davies said his client agrees that he has “only got himself to blame”.

Hardman, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder last week.

He sat in the dock with one security guard, wearing a black T-shirt and green trousers, and with his family watching from the public gallery.

Sheffield Star

Teenager who was caught on CCTV throwing bricks at police officers jailed for 18 months

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August 12, 2024
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Cole Stewart threw multiple objects at officers who had been deployed to violent disorder in Darlington on Monday, August 5.

A teenager who was caught on CCTV throwing bricks at police officers has been jailed for 18 months.

Cole Stewart threw multiple objects at officers who had been deployed to violent disorder in Darlington on Monday, August 5. The 18-year-old was then seen “celebrating” after throwing the bricks and other objects near North Lodge Park, with one of them hitting an officer.

He was arrested at the scene and charged with violent disorder, and today, he admitted the offence and was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders’ institute at Teesside Crown Court. Enquiries into the disorder remain ongoing, and officers expect to make further arrests in the coming days and weeks.

Durham Constabulary’s Chief Constable, Rachel Bacon, said: “The level of hatred displayed by those threatening violence to both the local community and my officers was of an unprecedented level. Many of our officers are very young in service and while carrying out their duties of protecting the public, were ferociously attacked with missiles, including bricks, rubble, and glass bottles.

“Some missiles made contact with our officers. However, fortunately no long-term injuries were sustained. We are yet to understand the longer-term psychological effects of this traumatic experience upon officers’ health and wellbeing.

“Neighbourhood officers report that the local community is still traumatised by the events of Monday night, with businesses concerned about potential damage to their premises as well as the safety of their families. As we have previously said, we will not tolerate criminality and violent disorder in our communities.

“I reiterate to anybody who commits these types of acts, we will tirelessly look for you and deal with you robustly. Our investigation into Monday’s disorder remains ongoing, and we will strive for justice on behalf of our communities – they do not deserve to be intimidated by this behaviour.”

If anyone has further information that could assist police enquiries, contact Durham Constabulary on 101, or use the live chat function on the website. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the Crimestoppers website.

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