Stuart Polley, of Washington, has been jailed for three years and four months for taking part in a riot in Sunderland city centre last August

A rioter who “brought shame” on an England flag and Sunderland was reprimanded for laughing as he was jailed.

Stuart Polley was caught on camera participating in widespread disorder while wearing a pink shirt with a St George’s flag draped over his shoulders.

A court heard his criminality involved throwing a piece of metal fencing towards a police van and breaking up a wooden bench to produce further missiles. As the wider facts of what happened in Sunderland city centre on August 2 last year were outlined by prosecutors, Polley was told off by Judge Amanda Rippon near the start of the hearing at Newcastle Crown Court for his reaction in the dock.

She told his barrister: “I’m going to give you a couple of minutes to read the riot act to your client, who’s laughing and seems to think it’s funny. If I come back and he is anything other than a statue in the dock I will read him the riot act, and I use that term quite deliberately and any person in the public gallery who he is engaging with, I will remove.”

Laura Miller, defending, later explained that Polley had not expected the wider facts of what happened to be outlined as he was not directly responsible for those. She said his reaction was shock rather than amusement.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, told the court of Polley’s involvement: “The defendant was identified as an individual who participated in acts of disorder. He was captured in a series of pieces of footage.

“He was first seen on camera drinking and milling around with others on Keel Square. He has an England flag on his shoulders.

“As disorder breaks out, he was seen near the Empire theatre at the front of a crowd who were confronting officers in protective equipment. He and others were seen pushing a picnic table towards a police van.

“The defendant returned to the same vehicle a short time later. He was dragging a piece of metal fencing and throwing it towards the vehicle. Not content to leave matters there, he was seen to break up a wooden bench, no doubt to obtain further missiles.”

When he was interviewed, he said he attended to show support for the protest and had three or four pints beforehand. He admitted being in the crowd but but said he played no part in the violent acts.

When shown the CCTV of what he had done, he said he had no memory of doing it.

Polley has four previous convictions, including an arson attack for which he was jailed in 2018 after setting fire to a house in revenge, blaming the absent occupier for the death of his cousin.

For the latest offence, he pleaded guilty to riot and was jailed for three years and eight months. Judge Rippon told him: “You were present at what was a planned event and mirroring what had occurred in other cities and towns over a few days you, together with others, brought shame on Sunderland. For no justifiable reason whatsoever, you and others gathered in the city to participate in an orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder.

“Your pink shirt was readily identifiable in footage, over which you draped an England flag, which you wore as you rioted and brought shame on that flag.”

Laura Miller, defending, said Polley is remorseful for what he did. She added: “He has expressed that he is ashamed of his actions. He called his behaviour on the footage absolutely ridiculous.”

She added that those close to him say he is kind, caring and compassionate and a good role model.

Chronicle Live

Peter Towers admitted setting three deliberate fires in the space of eight hours

An arsonist who started three fires in eight hours, including torching a school bus, has been jailed.

Peter Towers pleaded guilty to three counts of arson, and admitted charges of criminal damage and having an offensive weapon.

Now, Towers, from Rosemary Crescent in Winsford, has been jailed for 10 years at Chester Crown Court. On Sunday 4 August 2024, during the far-right disturbances that swept across the UK, Cheshire Police were alerted to three intentional fires that had been started in Winsford between 3pm and 11pm.

These incidents occurred on High Street, Queensway, and Ford Court.

Eyewitnesses reporting the fires described seeing two men, fitting the descriptions of 31-year-old Towers and Joshua Sigley, reports Cheshire Live.

The fire on High Street was started using rubbish placed on the ground and a green jerrycan filled with petrol.

CCTV footage from a petrol station showed Towers arriving on a bike, filling a green jerrycan with petrol, and making payment.

Dashcam footage then captured Towers meeting with 25-year-old Sigley just minutes later.

On Queensway, a school bus was completely destroyed after being set alight, resulting in £70,000 worth of damage.

Two men matching Sigley and Towers’ description were then spotted attempting to set fire to trees near to Ford Court.

Both men were subsequently arrested at an address in Winsford on Sunday 4 August 2024 and later charged.

Sigley, from St Chads Fields in Winsford, was jailed for three-years in June after confessing to three counts of arson.

Detective Inspector Ross Hamilton stated: “Sigley and Towers’ actions were incredibly dangerous, fuelled by the national disorder last summer, and could easily have ended up injuring someone, or even worse.

“To target a school bus and cause £70,000 worth of damage is shocking.

“This should serve as a strong reminder of how serious these crimes are regarded and robust action will be taken against anyone who chooses to behave in this manner.”
Liverpool Echo

He was passed crisps, drinks and other items during the incident

A young troublemaker joined in the looting of a Greggs shop during a day of rioting in Hull city centre and he was also seen “kicking things” onto a fire and “firing” a fire extinguisher around.

Dylan Reed was part of the “horrendous” disorder that broke out that day but he was now “rightly ashamed” and “disgusted” at his antics, Hull Crown Court heard.

Reed, 24, of Melrose Street, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, admitted offences of violent disorder and burglary on August 3 last year. Michael Masson, prosecuting, said that Reed was seen on CCTV pictures using a bicycle to smash against the window of the Greggs store in Jameson Street at about 6.50pm during the day of rioting.

He was seen being given drink and crisps from the shop while it was being looted. “Things have been thrown out of the Greggs shop,” said Mr Masson.

“A man comes up to him and offers him further items.” Reed was seen kicking things onto a fire that had been started. He was also seen “firing” a fire extinguisher during the general disorder.

Ben Hammersley, mitigating, said that Reed regretted his involvement in the trouble. “This is behaviour that he is ashamed of and disgusted at,” said Mr Hammersley.

“His remorse is mirrored in his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.” There were references for Reed, including from one of his employers. He had a variety of jobs in construction and at a tyre fitting service.

He moved from Middlesbrough to Hull about four years ago to escape negative influences after suffering problems there. “He has made great strides in his life off his own back,” said Mr Hammersley. “This is undermined by what he did that day.”

Judge John Thackray KC told Reed: “Your offending formed part of the horrendous disorder that took place in this city just over a year ago. Police officers were injured.

“Police officers were permanently scarred. There was huge financial cost, not to mention the distress caused to various communities.

“You were very much on the periphery of the offending. Nevertheless, the offence is serious.”

Reed, who was on bail, was given a 20-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours’ unpaid work and 10 days’ rehabilitation. “It has been a close-run thing,” said Judge Thackray.

“If you commit any offence over the next two years, you start with 20 months and anything else on top for new offences. If you give excuses and don’t turn up on time, then you will end up serving this sentence.”

Hull Daily Mail

A man who looted a vape shop during one of last summer’s city centre riots has been jailed for two years and two months.

Paul Stoddart, 36, was one of a number of people who broke into the shop in Sunderland on 2 August 2024 and stole £42,000 worth of stock, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He also kicked a broken window during the widespread disorder, which was one of a number of anti-immigration protests around the country to turn violent after three girls were murdered at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport.

Stoddart, from Sunderland, admitted violent disorder and burglary.

Violence erupted in Sunderland after a protest march descended into chaos, with dozens of police officers attacked along with buildings and cars, prosecutor Omar Ahmad said.

Stoddart, whose extensive criminal history included dishonesty and violence, was seen on CCTV kicking at the broken windows of a building on Keel Square, the court heard.

He and others then broke into a nearby vape shop with Stoddart captured by cameras entering the stockroom and talking vapes from shelves, Mr Ahmad said.

‘Everything kicked off’

More than £42,000 worth of stock was stolen with the total impact of the burglary, including repair work and loss of trade, reckoned to be more than £80,000, the court heard.

Police identified Stoddart, of Ridley Terrace in Hendon, from CCTV and arrested him at his home on 31 November, the court heard.

He told officers he had “got dragged into it” when “everything kicked off” and he was ashamed of his actions.

In mitigation, the court heard he had an alcohol problem and was drunk at the time.

BBC News

A man who was caught on CCTV throwing tyres and other debris on to a fire during the height of last summer’s Hull riot has been jailed for 16 months.

Carl Dunn, 58, of Saffrondale, Anlaby, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson at a previous hearing.

Sentencing Dunn at Hull Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge John Thackray KC said it was clear he “was not playing a leading role” in the disorder, which occurred on 3 August 2024.

However, he told Dunn that the footage of the incident was “depressing and horrifying to watch”, and he said that only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified.

Similar scenes, fuelled by misinformation, were seen across the country following the murder of three young girls at a dance class in Southport.

Michael Forrest, prosecuting, played the footage to the court and pointed out Dunn, wearing all-white clothing, throwing tyres and other material on to fires around a garage in Milky Way, near Spring Bank.

Dunn’s offending did not extend beyond that, Mr Forrest told the court.

During the wider disorder, people – including children – were left “cowering” in the garage, noted Judge Thackray.

Rachel Scott, mitigating, urged the judge not to pass an immediate prison sentence.

She said Dunn had “very significant” mental health difficulties, including psychosis, adding his life had spiralled after his partner of 18 years took her own life in 2011.

Dunn, who was “passionate about cats”, had been offered employment by a local rescue charity, said Ms Scott.

Judge Thackray noted Dunn had a number of previous convictions, including for assault in 2022.

‘Mob violence’

He said he was satisfied Dunn had not lit any fires during the disorder.

However, he said the court needed to look at the disorder “as a whole” when sentencing those involved.

“During the 12 hours of racist, mob violence, immeasurable harm was caused,” he said.

“Eleven police officers were injured, including one who was left permanently scarred.”

Dunn, who was trembling in the dock, was told he must serve up to half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

BBC News