He previously told a court getting involved in the Hull city centre rioting last year was ‘the stupidest thing I ever did’

A looter who got a very welcome birthday present when he narrowly avoided being jailed after serious rioting in Hull city centre has again managed to stay out of prison – despite breaching his suspended sentence.

Father-of-two Josh Hill became one of the few people arrested after the mass disorder to be spared prison – but now, after his birthday stroke of good luck back in March, he has again defied the odds to be given what could be his last chance to stay out of custody.

During the rioting, he took advantage of the violent scenes of trouble to go into the Lush store, grab a bag and help himself to as much as he could carry, Hull Crown Court heard. Hill, 27, of Hull, admitted breaching a suspended prison sentence imposed for an offence of burglary at the Lush store on August 3 last year.

At a hearing on March 17 – Hill’s birthday – he was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence and 200 hours’ unpaid work. But he was brought back to court for breaching the order on June 16 and 23 by failing to attend for sessions of his unpaid work.

The court heard that he had completed some of the hours but he still had 137 hours remaining. He faced having the suspended sentence activated but, in the end, he was given another chance to comply – with 10 extra hours added.

Judge John Thackray KC warned him: “I am unlikely to give you another chance next time. Get the hours done.”

At the March hearing, the court heard that a large-scale demonstration took place in Hull city centre, similar to protests that had been organised nationally after the deaths of three girls in Southport.

Police went to fights in King Edward Street and they were called to disorder outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway, where asylum seekers were living at the time. The disorder spilled out to the cenotaph area opposite the hotel.

Hill was among those who “took advantage” of the disturbances that were going on in the city and he went into the Lush store. He was seen picking up a paper bag and “filling it with as much as he could” before leaving.

The total bill to Lush during the disorder, including extensive damage, loss of stock, the interruption to business and increased insurance, had been put at more than £31,000, the court heard.

Ben Hammersley, mitigating, told the earlier hearing that Hill pleaded guilty at an early stage. He had only a few previous convictions and none for dishonesty offences. He acted out of character.

“He has no excuse for what he did,” said Mr Hammersley. “He went in to see what was going on and he says that he got carried away. He wishes to apologise to those affected and he wishes that he could turn the clock back.”

Hill had said: “It was the stupidest thing I ever did.” Alcohol was a factor at the time in disinhibiting him and causing him to show “moronic behaviour” at a time when his life was “a bit of a shambles” anyway.

Hull Daily Mail

He joined in the violent disorder on Ferensway last summer

A troublemaker joined in violent scenes outside a hotel where asylum seekers were being housed at the time – and threw missiles towards police who were trying to prevent the disturbances escalating out of control.

Jack Dawson was among a series of people who were arrested in the aftermath of the frightening scenes of rioting that broke out after the deaths of three young girls in Southport, Hull Crown Court heard.

Dawson, 22, of Albert Avenue, west Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3.

Amber Hobson, prosecuting, said that Dawson was one of those who were involved in a large-scale demonstration in Hull city centre. “Similar protests had been organised nationally following the tragic events that had taken place in Southport,” said Miss Hobson.

Police were in Ferensway, including outside the Royal Hotel, where asylum seekers were being housed at the time. The disorder spilled onto the cenotaph area, opposite the hotel.

Dawson was seen on footage that was filmed of the incident. He was on Ferensway and was part of a large group who were throwing missiles at police officers. He was on the road outside the Royal Hotel and could be seen throwing missiles towards police.

At 2.39pm, a large group advanced towards officers and Dawson was part of that group. Some of those in the group attacked officers and Dawson could be seen to throw a missile.

At 4.36pm, Dawson was on Spring Bank and he could be seen to select and throw missiles – believed to be stones – towards a police van and officers. He was arrested on December 20 and, during interview the next day, he made no comment to all questions.

Dawson had convictions for 14 previous offences, including using threatening words or behaviour in January 2023, when he was given a conditional discharge, and causing criminal damage in July 2022.

Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that Dawson pleaded guilty at an early stage before Hull Magistrates’ Court on May 28 and he regretted his behaviour. He had recently had a taste of custody after previously being on bail following the first hearing of the case at Hull Magistrates’ Court.

At an earlier hearing before Hull Crown Court, he asked to be remanded in custody straight away rather than continuing to be on bail. He had believed at the time that he faced an inevitable prison sentence and he wanted to start it that day.

But, at a resumed hearing, he was given a 20-month suspended prison sentence and 20 days’ rehabilitation.

Hull Daily Mail

Lewis Holdcroft, 19, of Bentilee, handed himself into police

A teenager who became embroiled in the violent disorder as Hanley descended into anarchy has been spared jail.

Lewis Holdcroft turned up at the city centre protest wearing a hoodie and was seen to encourage others taking part in the disturbance.

At one point the 19-year-old picked up a missile but did not throw it. Instead he handed it to someone else who hurled it towards a police cordon separating his group from the counter-protesters.

Now Holdcroft has been sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, after a judge took an exceptional course at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Prosecutor David Bennett said the large-scale public disorder took place in Hanley on August 3 last year. He said: “Three hundred people were directly involved at the height of the disorder.”

CCTV showed Holdcroft standing in a group at 4.10pm. Mr Bennett said: “He was approached by a man with a brick in his hand. The man threw the brick towards the police. He was standing next to the man throwing bricks towards the police cordon.

“He jogged with others towards the old church. They jumped over a small wall and returned with items in their hand. The defendant had his hood up and had an item in his hand. Others began throwing items at counter-protesters and the police cordon. The defendant removed his hood shortly after that. He was identified and was arrested on September 20.”

In his police interview he said he was sorry and said he should never have gone. He may have picked up a brick but his dad told him to put it down. He gave it to another man who threw it towards the cordon. He denied throwing anything.

Holdcroft, of Winchester Avenue, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Elizabeth Power, mitigating, said Holdcroft handed himself in to the police. Miss Power said: “He is thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed about what he got involved in. It was a moment of stupidity. It is clear he got caught up in the moment with others.

“Yes, there is a part where he does go off camera and returns with something in his hand. Others do throw missiles. He did not throw missiles but he handed it to another who did.”

She said Holdcroft is a hard-working bricklayer. Miss Power added: “It is unlikely he will be before the courts again.”

As part of the suspended sentence Holdcroft must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days and 200 hours unpaid work.

Judge Richard McConaghy said: “On July 29 last year there was an appalling incident at a dance studio in Southport. In the days that followed there was a proliferation of misinformation online, most of which focussed on the offender’s ethnicity and immigration status. Protests took place in many places across the country including Hanley. On August 3 there was a protest around the Town Road and mosque.

“You can be seen on CCTV to be present with others. It seemed to me you encouraged them. Some people can be seen to throw missiles. You did not throw yours.

“Your father made it quite clear you needed to drop what you had picked up and you complied with that order from him. You have never been in trouble in front of the courts before. You were 18 at the time of the incident.”

The judge said he could take an exceptional course and step back from sending Holdcroft straight to prison. This was because of his age, his personal mitigation, there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in his case and his relatively brief involvement in the incident.

Stoke Sentinel

A MAN who made dozens of indecent images of children has been sentenced.

Kevin Gordon Searle was sentenced at Weymouth Magistrates Court on Monday, June 13, for two counts of making indecent photographs and pseudo-photographs of a child and one count of possessing a Class B drug.

The 38-year-old pleaded guilty to making one Category A and 39 Category C indecent photographs of children in Weymouth between September 21, 2014 and August 22, 2021.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of amphetamine between August 20 and 22 last year.

Searle, previously of Lichfield Road, Weymouth, and now of Library Road, Poole, was sentenced to a two-year community order. He must undertake 40 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant must also register with the police in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for five years and was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years.

An order for his Huawei phone, Acer laptop and amphetamine to be forfeited and destroyed was also made.

Searle must pay a victim surcharge of £95 as well as £85 towards court costs.

Dorset Echo

Searle was jailed for his part in the English riots. This conviction is from 2022

He told the court it ‘wasn’t right at all how I behaved that day’

A teenager hurled bricks towards police during “disgusting” scenes of serious violence in Hull city centre and it was only by pure luck that nobody was hurt because of what he did during the “large-scale” trouble.

George Walkington was “in the thick of what was going on” throughout the notorious day of disorder on August 3, 2024. Rioting broke out across the country in the wake of the deaths of three young girls in Southport days earlier, Hull Crown Court heard.

Walkington, 19, of Wareham Close, Bransholme, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3.

Ben Hammersley, prosecuting, said that Walkington was present throughout a “large-scale public disorder” in Hull city centre. He was shown in body-worn camera pictures, mobile phone footage and scenes from social media.

Walkington was with others in Ferensway outside the Royal Hotel facing a line of police officers. He was later seen in Jameson Street where he removed his orange top and used it as a “makeshift balaclava” around his head.

He took a brick from another person at about 6.30pm and walked towards the police cordon with the brick in his hand. He threw a brick and it seemingly rebounded from a police riot shield and fell on the ground near the feet of police. He got a second brick and threw it.

Walkington was also outside Greggs while others tried to force their way in but he was not among those who went in. “He was still alongside while others were forcing their way in,” said Mr Hammersley.

“He was in the thick of what was going on and throwing bricks at police,” said Mr Hammersley. “He was in front of the barrier outside the Royal Hotel. The crowd were advancing and targeting that hotel because of it housing foreign nationals.”

Walkington was identified after police searches for his image on a national database. The police went round to his home but he was out. He handed himself in on October 15 and told police: “I haven’t done anything wrong.” He denied throwing anything at police and he said that he had no intention of hurting officers.

Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Walkington pleaded guilty and he had no previous convictions. There were references for him.

Walkington was 18 at the time and he was encouraged by another male to go into the city centre that day. He joined in with others after seeing what they were doing. He threw bricks and put his T-shirt over his head because others were doing so.

“It doesn’t excuse his behaviour,” said Miss Thompson. “He has shown genuine shame for what he has been involved in. It’s by sheer luck that the brick did not hit anyone but he accepts that it was more by luck than design.

“He accepts that his behaviour was disgusting. He wants to apologise to all the vulnerable people there. He is not someone who engages in racial behaviour.”

Walkington told the court: “It wasn’t right at all how I behaved that day. If I could go back, I would change my actions and I wouldn’t have gone.” He said that he was working as a general operative at a flower warehouse.

Walkington, who had been on bail, was given 150 hours’ unpaid work and 10 days’ rehabilitation.

Hull Daily Mail