Two men have been sentenced today, Tuesday 25 March, for their role in violent disorder in Southport last summer.

Thomas Birchmore, of Manley Street, Ince-in-Makerfield in Wigan, and Gavin O’Connor of Idle Road, Bradford appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today after they all pleaded guilty at a previous hearing for taking part in violent disorder in Southport on 30 July last year.

Birchmore, 31 years, was captured kicking a police vehicle on the day of the disorder in Southport and received two years in prison.

O’Connor, 46 years, was seen to throw numerous missiles at police officers during the disorder in Southport and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

Also in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Monday 24 March, was 30-year-old Ryan Williams for his involvement in violent disorder in Southport last July.

The court heard that Williams, of Black Brook Close in Southport, threw full bricks at police and the mosque on St Luke’s Road. He persistently participated in the disorder and received one year and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty at a previous hearing.

Meanwhile yesterday, Monday 24 March, detectives arrested a 35-year-old man from Wigan on suspicion of violent disorder when he landed at Manchester Airport from Spain. The suspect was seen throwing missiles at officers during the disorder at Southport. He has been bailed with conditions pending further enquiries.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “This latest sentencing of three men brings the total number to 237 years for the 128 people that have been brought before the courts so far.

“In addition, we have made 185 arrests and charged 146 people in connection with violence and disruption which damaged our communities on Merseyside.

“The disgusting scenes witnessed will not be tolerated and we advise anyone else who took part in the disorder to do the right thing and hand themselves in.”

Images and footage are still being worked through so please contact us with any information via our public portal mipp.police.uk or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Latest galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website https://www.merseyside.police.uk/news/merseyside/news/2024/november/latest-cctv-appeal-following-disorder-in-merseyside-during-the-summer/

Merseyside Police

Karl Croaker, 32, gesticulated at a line of police to come forward and fight him

A Middlesbrough rioter who gesticulated and shouted at a line of police to ‘come forward and fight him’ has been jailed.

Karl Croaker screamed at riot police: “F****** try it. Come on!” before he pushed an officer. The 32-year-old has spent the last seven months in prison on remand, since being arrested during the Middlesbrough riots on August 4.

On Monday, Croaker appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced, after pleading guilty to violent disorder at an earlier hearing. He stood in the dock as his solicitor Michele Turner told the judge that he is an “isolated individual or lives with his parents”. Ms Turner said that Croaker received messages about the planned protest, which started at the Cenotaph, and saw thousands walk along Linthorpe Road.

“He thought it was a protest about the rise in knife crime,” Ms Turner continued, ” and he was swept along with the emotion that day.” Croaker was caught on CCTV, “bouncing on his feet and gesticulating at officers to come forward and fight him,” Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said.

Croaker could be seen on the footage in a black baseball cap, with a gold chain around his neck, making obscene gestures and goading a line of police. He screamed at them:: “F****** try it. Come on!” before he pushed an officer.

Ms Haigh said that the civil unrest had a huge affect on residents, who reported, “mobs hurling bricks, and chanting outside their homes.” Wheelie bins were set on fire; the windows of the court and Teesside University were smashed; and missiles were thrown at the police.

Judge Geoffrey Marson told Croaker that he “must have known what had happened in other cities and towns; and that the large scale public disorder was stoked by disinformation spread on social media. You had ample opportunity to leave, but you chose to stay.”

Croaker, of Longford Street in central Middlesbrough, was jailed for 20 months.

Gazette Live

A Leyland man who threw missiles at police officers and forced his way into a shop is the latest person to be jailed in relation to Violent Disorder in Merseyside last year.

Curtis Wright, 21, of Southbrook Road, Leyland, was jailed for 22 months for Violent Disorder and Burglary other than a dwelling at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday 21 March.

On Saturday 3 August, Wright was seen to throw missiles at police officers on Paradise Street, Liverpool City Centre, before going with others to a phone repair shop on Church Street and forcing entry to the premises.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “Wright joined a mob in Liverpool intent on causing damage and harm to officers, members of the public and businesses, just days after the tragic events in Southport.

“As well as the fear caused to those communities, we sadly saw multiple officers hurt carrying out their duties to protect and serve the communities. Our officers and staff will continue to identify, pursue and bring before the courts those who brought such shame to the region.”

Anyone with information should continue to come forward, through @MerpolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The total of people arrested by Merseyside Police has now reached 184, with 146 charged and 125 people sentenced to a combined 230 years and six months so far.

Latest galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website:
https://www.merseyside.police.uk/news/merseyside/news/2024/november/latest-cctv-appeal-following-disorder-in-merseyside-during-the-summer/

Merseyside Police

Hull Crown Court heard he had ‘no excuse’ for his ‘moronic behaviour’

A “moronic” looter took advantage of the violent scenes of mass disorder in Hull city centre to go into the Lush store, grab a bag and shamelessly help himself to as much as he could carry.

Father-of-two Josh Hill brazenly targeted the shop after it was broken into during the notorious day of rioting in August. He now wished he “could turn the clock back” and later confessed: “It was the stupidest thing I ever did.” He realised that there was “no excuse” for his opportunist actions, Hull Crown Court heard.

Hill, 27, from Hull but recently of no fixed address, admitted an offence of burglary at the Lush store on August 3.

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.

There was also disorder at a tyre business in the Milky Way area and fires were set as well as cars being damaged. A number of shops in Jameson Street were targeted by looters, including Lush, Shoezone, O2 and Greggs.

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, 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, said 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.

Hill wanted to have stable accommodation but he had delayed trying to find this because of the uncertainty about what would happen to him in the court case. He had two children aged six and two.

Hull, who had been on bail, was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence and 200 hours’ unpaid work.

Hull Live

“When he saw his picture on social media, he was incredibly embarrassed and ashamed of himself and he handed himself straight in to the police”

Violent scenes in Hull city centre led to a young music fan getting caught up in rioting and behaving like a “complete yobbo” while he was on his way to a big Humber Street Sesh festival that was also attracting crowds that day.

Shay Carroll was seen laughing as he hurled a drinks can towards the police cordon outside the hotel that was at the centre of the trouble, Hull Crown Court heard. Carroll, 21, of Plane Street, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, admitted an offence of violent disorder on August 3.

Blaise Morris, prosecuting, said that the offence happened on the day of a large-scale public disorder in Hull city centre involving trouble in Ferensway outside the Royal Hotel, where asylum seekers were being housed at the time. There was racist chanting, fires were set and damage was caused.

Carroll was seen on drone pictures at the cenotaph behind the police cordon. He was standing on a bench at first but he got off it and laughed as he hurled what looked to be an empty drinks can towards the police. He laughed again and stood back on the bench.

“To his credit, he did hand himself in after an image of him was circulated on Hull Live and Facebook,” said Mr Morris. Carroll had no previous convictions but he had a caution in 2019 for assault and using threatening words or behaviour.

Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Carroll was not intending to join the riots and he was on his way to the Humber Street Sesh music festival that was going on that day. A friend became involved in the confrontation with the police.

“When he saw his picture on social media, he was incredibly embarrassed and ashamed of himself and he handed himself straight in to the police,” said Miss Scott. “He has taken responsibility for his actions. He would never involve himself in anything so stupid again.”

Carroll realised the impact of the trouble that day and he had written a letter of apology to the court. “He has shown genuine remorse,” said Miss Scott. “He has been in employment since the age of 16.”

Carroll had previously worked in factories and construction yards as well as at a pallets company but he lost a job at a kitchen company in January for medical reasons.

“He has let himself down with this offending,” said Miss Scott. “This sort of behaviour is disgraceful and he doesn’t want to repeat and he won’t repeat it.

“He is a low risk of reoffending. This defendant was involved for a very short period of time. This was the throwing of one can in the midst of a much bigger incident.” Carroll found out a couple of months ago that he was going to be a father because his girlfriend was pregnant.

Judge Mark Bury told Carroll: “I have seen you behaving like a complete yobbo. Your involvement in that violent disorder was limited. Others played a far bigger part than you.

“It represents serious criminality and also represents a stain on this city.

People such as you behaved in this way against the police while they were just trying to keep order. You were just caught up in the moment and a moment that you now bitterly regret.”

Carroll was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours’ unpaid work and 10 days’ rehabilitation.

Hull Live

A woman has been jailed for providing a false alibi for a 15-year-old boy who took part in rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Kaylee Cunningham, 36, told officers the boy was at her house when he was actually part of a group throwing rocks and wood at riot police outside the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August last year.

Sheffield Crown Court heard the boy was arrested but later released by police after Cunningham provided him with the alibi.

Cunningham, of Kendray, Barnsley, was jailed for 12 months on Thursday after admitting perverting the course of justice at a previous hearing.

Police later examined the teenager’s phone and found he had filmed himself taking part in the disorder.

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC rejected her claim that she had been pressured into lying by the boy’s father and noted that police had expressly warned her about the dangers of making a false statement.

‘You were a liar’

Judge Richardson told Cunningham: “You have been very, very foolish and, I’m afraid, you have to be punished.”

“It was a pernicious act to do as you did, and you did it entirely wilfully.

“Courts do not like liars and you were a liar.”

The court heard the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a 12-month referral order after admitting violent disorder at Sheffield Youth Court.

More than 70 people have been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court for their roles in the Rotherham disorder, which left 64 police officers, three horses and a dog injured.

More than 200 asylum seekers and staff were trapped in the building during the unrest, with some rioters breaking into the building.

BBC News

Two men who threw missiles in violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool city centre with one assaulting a police officer are the latest people to be sentenced today, Thursday 20 March.

The court heard that Kevin Clark travelled from Wigan to Southport to take part in violent disorder on Tuesday 30 July last year.

The 34-year-old threw multiple bricks and rocks at officers for a long period of time and showed extreme aggression throughout. He was also responsible for throwing bricks towards officers resulting in grievous bodily harm.

Clark, of Brookdale Road in Hindley, was sentenced to five years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty.

Next to be sentenced was Cornneliu Mihai Magureanu from Birkenhead for his involvement in violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday 3 August.

The 20-year-old was captured on CCTV watching a crowd of people throw missiles at police officers. He threw a rock at the police line and shouted towards the officers.

Magureanu, of St Annes Close, was sentenced to 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court today after pleading guilty.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “Both men, Clark and Magureanu, displayed shocking behaviour for their involvement in causing violent disorder on Merseyside last summer.

“In particular, Clark’s violent behaviour resulted in the victim requiring surgery to his ankle, physiotherapy and has been left with scars. Clark was not satisfied in taking one officer out, he moved on to another police line and continued his aggressive behaviour attacking them with bricks.

“We continue to identify people and are relentless in pursuing those who took part and brought disgrace to the region.

“We advise anyone else who took part in the disorder to do the right thing and hand themselves in.”

The total of people arrested by Merseyside Police has now reached 184, with 146 charged and 124 people sentenced to a combined 228 years and eight months in prison so far.

Images and footage are still being worked through so please contact us with any information via our public portal mipp.police.uk or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Latest galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website https://www.merseyside.police.uk/news/merseyside/news/2024/november/latest-cctv-appeal-following-disorder-in-merseyside-during-the-summer/

Merseyside Police

A teenage girl said to have been “in the thick of it” at a riot outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has been told she could go to prison.

Elarna Abbey-Garner, 19, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August when she appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court earlier.

Abbey-Garner, of Station Road in Dunscroft, Doncaster, had been on bail for a separate offence at the time, the court heard.

Judge Marcus Waite said an immediate prison sentence would be an option when she was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court.

Judge Waite told the court Abbey-Garner was “said to have been in the thick of it” at the riot, which saw more than 60 police officers injured by demonstrators trying to gain access to the hotel which was being used to house more than 200 asylum seekers.

At the time, the defendant was 18.

The court heard Abbey-Garner has no previous convictions and she was granted unconditional bail ahead of her next court appearance on 25 March.

Judge Waite told her: “Whilst I’m giving you bail for now, that’s not an indication for what might happen at the crown court.

“This may be an immediate prison sentence. There may be alternatives, that’s up to the crown court judge.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said 104 people had been charged in connection with the riot, with 89 of them jailed.

Violence erupted across the country at the start of August following the deaths of three schoolgirls in a knife attack in Southport in Merseyside in July.

BBC News

Building site worker Lewis Edwards who hurled bricks and stones at police as anarchy erupted in Hanley has been spared jail.

The 21-year-old was arrested on September 19 and has served the equivalent of a 12-month prison sentence on remand after his involvement in the violent disorder in the city centre on August 3.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he was captured on CCTV twice during the riot. Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said: “He was standing on a concrete block shouting towards the opposing group, ‘Twenty boys from Shelton, go and get us a kebab’. He was joining in the chanting.

“In Town Road, near the mosque, he picked up a rock and threw it towards the police line. He picked up a large paving stone, raised it over his head and threw it to the ground, causing it to smash to pieces, which meant others could pick it up. He picked up a brick and threw it towards the police line.”

The defendant was arrested at a building site on September 19. Edwards, of Thornhill Road, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Hamish Noble, mitigating, said Edwards was aged 20 at the time and has no previous convictions. Mr Noble said: “He was in a good position in life. He was working and was approaching the end of his gas and plumbing apprenticeship.

“He has no history of substance misuse and has a supportive family. He was with friends. He was disinhibited by alcohol. He had had four or five pints and went to Hanley to see what was happening. He does not hold racist views but accepts that the behaviour displayed was contrary to this. There was a lack of maturity and an element of peer pressure.

“He apologises through me for his behaviour that day. He understands and acknowledges it was totally unacceptable. He has had a significant period of time to reflect on his behaviour while in custody.”

Mr Noble added that Edwards’ grandad has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Edwards to two years in prison, suspended for two years, with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days and 300 hours unpaid work.

Judge Smith said: “Weapons were brandished, missiles were thrown, including by you, and a number of people were injured. There is no suggestion that anything you threw caused an injury.

“Outside the town hall you were shouting slogans with racist connotations. Although they may have been offensive, you were not causing or inciting anyone to violence. In Town Road you were seen picking up and throwing missiles.

“According to your references you have no racist views and are friends with people who hold to the Muslim faith. It is puzzling how you got involved in this.

“You are assessed as a low risk of re-offending. The probation service considers they can work with you. There is the recent diagnosis and treatment is about to start for your grandfather. You have already served the equivalent of about one year. In those circumstances, I am just persuaded that I can suspend the sentence.”

Edwards was ordered to pay £150 costs.

Stoke Sentinel