He tried to force his way into Sainsbury’s, he’s lucky he didn’t get in

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February 10, 2025
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Owen Royden has avoided a jail term

A man hurled missiles and tried to force his way into a Sainsbury’s store as it was looted during rioting in Piccadilly Gardens. Owen Royden, who is homeless, was part of a group that gathered in Manchester city centre on Saturday, August 3 last year.

Part of the ‘very large crowd’ that assembled at around 2.30pm, Royden, 30, was caught on camera ‘throwing a cup to an opposing crowd’, Justin Hayhoe, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court.

Royden was also filmed ‘marching’ down Mosley Street behind a group which was ‘chanting in an offensive and really unpleasant way’. As he approached the Sainsbury’s store on Mosley Street, he ‘pulled his clothing up over his face’ and was part of a group which ‘tried to force their way in’.

A number of people have already been sentenced for looting the store. Royden didn’t enter and ‘gave up relatively quickly’, Mr Hayhoe added. Around 15 minutes later, he was seen throwing an unidentified object towards police as a person was being arrested and removed from the crowd at the bottom of Mosley Street. No one was hit or injured.

At around 4.30pm he was issued with a dispersal notice and ordered to leave the city centre. He was identified from footage and arrested a month later. “He decided to join in widespread disorder which caused considerable cost to the public and stores,” Mr Hayhoe said.

Royden, of no fixed address, admitted violent disorder at an earlier hearing. He has previous convictions including for arson and sexual assault.

Patrick Buckley said Royden had mental health difficulties. “He is well aware of the condition he suffers,” he said. “Whilst we all understand the degree of chaos which is caused by living on the streets.”

The Recorder of Manchester, Judge Nicholas Dean KC, told him: “You are only 30, but you have had a troubled time in the last few years.

“That is in part because of your mental health, in parts because of your use of alcohol and drugs. The violent disorder you have pleaded guilty to occurred at a time when, in this country, there was rioting and violent behaviour being perpetrated in ways far more serious than your participation.

“I don’t know what persuaded you to become involved, but involved you were, albeit in a way that can only accurately be described as peripheral. This combination of behaviour qualifies as amounting to violent disorder. But I have dealt with, probably, hundreds of cases of violent disorder and this is a case which falls at the very bottom end of the spectrum of seriousness of such offending.”

He said Royden had ‘got carried away with what others were doing.’ “You’re clearly a vulnerable man, in part because of your mental health, in part because of your addictions, and in part because of your homelessness,” he added.

Judge Dean said it was ‘fortunate’ he didn’t enter Sainsbury’s as ‘if you had involved yourself in looting a shop, I would have had no choice but to send you to prison.’

He imposed a 12 month community order with a nine month alcohol treatment requirement and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days. “The elements of the sentence won’t solve your problems, but may help you solve them” Judge Dean said.

“You need to turn a corner and help yourself or else you’re likely to find yourself before the courts again and again, and that just means the likelihood of prison,” he added.

Manchester Evening News

Teens plead guilty to rioting in summer unrest

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February 8, 2025
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Two teenagers have pleaded guilty to rioting, police have said, after disorder over the summer saw a hotel used by asylum seekers targeted by violent groups.

The Holiday Inn in Tamworth was attacked on 4 August as a wave of disorder swept the country.

Aged 14 and 17, the youths cannot be named for legal reasons, but Staffordshire Police said they were only the third and fourth people in the county to face the more serious charge of rioting.

They are due to be sentenced at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on 4 April.

The force said the17-year-old also admitted assaulting an emergency worker.

Officers said they had arrested 200 suspects last year in connection with violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth, and a total of 82 people had so far been charged.

They said they expected more charges to follow, and that they had been trawling through footage from August to gather the evidence needed to bring cases to court.

Trouble broke out in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on 3 August, during which police came under fire from missiles, including metal poles and bricks.

Rioters also targeted the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth a day later, starting a fire.

The disorder was part of a wave of protests and riots that swept the UK in the wake of the Southport stabbings, driven in part by false claims the culprit was an asylum seeker.

BBC News

Two sentenced for abuse at asylum seeker hotel

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February 7, 2025
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Two people have received suspended jail terms after admitting racially harassing asylum seekers at a Rotherham hotel, days before mass disorder at the site.

Debbie Walker told people inside the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers a “protest” was “starting now” on 31 July last year, Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard. Disorder broke out the following weekend.

Lee Frettsome told those inside “I don’t like the colour of your skin or your people… your time will come,” prosecutor Rob Coyne told the court on Wednesday.

Walker and Frettsome admitted racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress, and received community orders and nine-month sentences suspended for 18 months.

‘Venomous’

District Judge James Gould said the defendants, who have been in an on-and-off relationship for 25 years, “displayed little insight” into the harm they caused.

He said the fact they knew about events to come was “of note”, given the context of mass violent disorder the following weekend, although they did not take part.

“You had been monitoring social media and no doubt seizing on distorted, unfounded and racially motivated views,” he added.

“The abuse that you both issued was venomous.”

Both Frettsome, 53, and Walker, 50, were “acting aggressively” to asylum seekers, witnesses said, with Walker heard saying “I will kill you all”.

Walker, of Billingley View, Bolton-upon-Dearne, shouted a profanity about Allah at a security guard, said “I will come back” and banged on the glass with her fists.

A member of security staff said in a statement: “I haven’t caused these people any upset. I don’t understand what their intention is.”

He said he was “saddened people want to take time out of their day to upset service users”.

‘Entrenched, warped and racist’

Erika Hradecka, defending, said Walker’s 25-year history of mental ill health, including diagnoses of paranoid schizophrenia and Fregoli syndrome, meant she was “probably not fully aware of what she was doing”.

She added that Frettsome, of Bateman Square, Thurnscoe, who served in the South African army in the 1980s, “says he is not racist, and he is ashamed and remorseful”.

Judge Gould said the couple had “expressed entrenched, warped and racist views”, but that he viewed Walker’s offending in the context of her illness.

Other than Walker having one police caution for cannabis possession, neither had previous convictions or cautions.

Frettsome was ordered to do 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours’ unpaid work. Walker was given 15 rehabilitation requirement days.

Both pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and will pay £85 in costs and a £187 surcharge.

BBC News

Woman sentenced following disorder and burglary in Southport

By
February 4, 2025
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A woman has been sentenced today, Monday 3 February, for her role in violent disorder in Southport last summer.

Emma McAteer, of Pollard Road in Wavertree, was arrested and charged on Monday 27 January, with violent disorder and burglary in Southport on Tuesday 30 July.

She appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today after pleading guilty at a previous hearing.

The 26-year-old was captured on CCTV throwing three missiles at police officers on Sussex Road. She then pushes through the crowd gathered outside Windsor minimart, enters the shop via a broken open shutter and steals items from the shelf. She is then seen carrying out stolen goods in her arms.

Today, McAteer, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “McAteer has been jailed today for the role she played in the large-scale violent disorder which took place in Southport and resulted in numerous police officers being injured and property being damaged.

“The part she played that day in a community that was in mourning was despicable, and she has now been brought to justice for her disgraceful actions.”

The total number of people arrested for disorder in Merseyside now stands at 171, with 129 charged and 107 sentenced to a combined 210 years and four months in prison.

We would encourage anyone with information to contact us by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Current galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website: Latest CCTV appeal in relation to summer disorder in Merseyside | Merseyside Police.

Merseyside Police

Criminal who threw stones at police in riot jailed

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February 3, 2025
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A heavily-convicted criminal who threw rocks at police and tried to set a bin on fire during anti-immigration riots has been jailed for more than two years.

Lucas Taylor was part of a 400-strong mob that confronted police after peaceful protests turned violent in Middlesbrough on 4 August 2024, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The disorder was one of a number of such violent outbreaks in towns and cities across England in the wake of the murder of three girls in Southport.

Taylor, 44, had initially denied a violent disorder charge but changed his plea to guilty on the opening day of his trial. He was jailed for 25 months.

About 1,000 people were estimated to have joined a protest march in the town, with the procession down Linthorpe Road initially peaceful, prosecutor Rachel Masters said.

But violence broke out when an item was thrown at the march from the direction of Claremont Road, a residential street which was quickly blocked off by police, the court heard.
‘Heat of the moment’

About 400 people, including Taylor, challenged a line of officers at the junction of Linthorpe Road and Ayresome Street at about 16:00 BST with the intention of drawing the police into violence, Ms Masters said.

Taylor, of Worcester Street in Middlesbrough, was caught on camera and seen by police throwing rocks towards officers and attempting to set a wheelie bin on fire, the court heard.

He was arrested several days after the riot after attacking a security guard at Aldi, the court heard.

The court heard Taylor had 141 convictions for 320 offences on his criminal record, including for theft, pubic disorder, drugs and assaults.

In mitigation, Richard Bennett said Taylor was not an instigator of the violence but had been “extremely foolish” and “got caught up in the heat of the moment”.

BBC News

Shameless women went on brazen Crocs and bathbomb shoplifting spree during riot

By
February 2, 2025
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As thugs smashed shops and wreaked violence in Hull city centre during last summer’s riots, Elizabete Zvirgzdina and Lucy Houghton grabbed a basket and helped themselves to stock from Lush and Shoezone stores

Two teenagers gallingly lined their pockets with Crocs and bath bombs as they brazenly looted city centre shops during last summer’s riots.

Elizabete Zvirgzdina and Lucy Houghton helped themselves to stock as shops were smashed and looted during the wave of violence last summer, in which thugs across the country brought violence and destruction to UK streets following the Southport attacks. The two were named and shamed after admitting their role in the shameful displays in August last year.

Appalling images showed yobs breaking into a Lush and Shoezone store in Hull city centre following a nearby riot on what was a weekend of violence described as “a stain on this city”. The two both handled stolen Croc-type sandals which had been taken from the Shoezone by another man and dumped on the pavement.

Zvirgzdina, 19, admitted burglary at the Lush store in Jameson Street, Hull, involving entering the shop as a trespasser and stealing “multiple products” of an unknown value, on August 3, Hull Live reports. She also admitted burglary with intent to steal at the 02 store, also in Jameson Street.

Houghton, also 19, also admitted handling the stolen goods at Hull crown court on Friday. The court heard that shoes, which had been taken from the raided store, in Jameson Street, were put on the pavement outside the shop and both Zvirgzdina and Houghton picked them up and stole them.

CCTV showed Zvirgzdina also entering an O2 store at 6.37pm after the windows had been previously smashed, showing her wandering around but not taking anything. Minutes later, she entered the Lush and even picked up a basket, helping herself to as much stock “as she could carry” from the popular cosmetics store.

The two were later “seen with several pairs of Crocs in their hands,” said prosecutor Jennifer Gatland. Both women handed themselves in to the police on August 5. When Zvirgzdina was searched, she was found in possession of cannabis. Judge Mark Bury said: “That wasn’t very clever – going to the police station with cannabis.”

Zvirgzdina told police that she had drunk five to seven vodka and Cokes. She went to the protest outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway and said that it was about “kicking all the foreigners out of the hotel”.

She admitted being outside Shoezone and picking up the Crocs and going around Lush with a basket. She claimed that she had gone into O2 “for 30 seconds” and, during the incidents, she had “recorded it on TikTok Live”, the court heard.

“There was some degree of planning,” said Miss Gatland. “Clearly, there was substantial impact and a substantial degree of loss caused by the loss and damage.” Zvirgzdina and Houghton had no previous convictions.

Claire Holmes, mitigating, said: “Both defendants behaved in an appalling way on this particular day but, since then, they have done all that they could to try to put forward their best mitigation. They both handed themselves in to the police station.

“They were both in drink, which is no excuse. Neither defendant seeks to excuse their behaviour in any way. They are both apologetic.” Judge Bury said that one of them later claimed that she was not in drink.

He asked Zvirgzdina: “What were you thinking of then?” She replied: “I didn’t think anything. I just saw everyone else doing it so I thought it was acceptable.”

When Judge Bury told her that it was not acceptable, she hastily added: “I know it’s not acceptable but I see everyone else doing it.” She said that her father lived in Latvia and her mother lived in Gilberdyke. Zvirgzdina said that she had a “little brother” and admitted that her behaviour was a very bad example to set him. “I apologise,” she said. She was working. Judge Bury told her: “For goodness’ sake, stay out of trouble.”

Houghton told the court that she was unemployed. “I have applied for jobs,” she said. Her mother was “ashamed” of her. “I am sorry,” she said.

Judge Bury told her: “You are better than this. You have got to do something with your life. You did something really stupid, although you didn’t yourself break in to any store.”

Judge Bury told both women: “August 3 of last year represents a stain on this city. There was large-scale public disorder of a totally unpleasant, racist and violent type. Police officers were injured. Racial minorities were being verbally abused.

“You were not involved in that, either of you, but later in the day, when the shops had been looted and broken into by people with bats or sometimes just their boots, property was being stolen by people who thought it was the right thing to do to help themselves.” Zvirgzdina also admitted a separate offence of possessing cannabis on August 5.

Judge Bury added: “Both of you are totally ashamed of the things that you did. Both of you are far better people than this. I believe you two are the only two defendants that I have not locked up in these proceedings, so if you want to know how lucky you are, that’s how lucky you are.”

Zvirgzdina was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence and 12 days’ rehabilitation. Houghton was given 40 hours’ unpaid work and 15 days’ rehabilitation.
Daily Mirror

Man sentenced following disorder in Southport

By
January 31, 2025
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A man has been sentenced today, Friday 31 January, for his role in violent disorder in Southport last summer.

John Rasburn, of Gibson Street, Wigan, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty at a previous hearing for violent disorder in Southport on Tuesday 30 July.

Rasburn was captured on CCTV at the forefront of the disorder on St Luke’s Road. He was seen throwing a traffic cone at officers who were trying to protect the community. He then went onto confront officers before spitting at them.

The 47-year-old man was seen throwing an item at officers before then running up to an officer and kicking them.

The court heard that on 11 August, Merseyside Police circulated Rasburn as wanted for his role in the disorder. However, on 16 January he handed himself in to a police station in Greater Manchester.

The next day, Merseyside Police detectives arrested and charged Rasburn with Violent Disorder and two counts of assault emergency worker.

Today, Rasburn was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Duncan Sloan said: “Rasburn went on to the run but ultimately knew he couldn’t hide forever and would need to answer for his actions and the role he played that day to a community that was in mourning.

“He eventually handed himself in, albeit five months later. I hope Rasburn takes the time while in prison to reflect on his shocking actions that day.”

Detective Sergeant Sloan added: “We are relentless in bringing those who helped cause such violence and disruption to our communities to justice and continue to be committed to ensure those responsible are held to account.

“We are identifying more people who displayed such abhorrent behaviour which damaged our communities, and would encourage anyone with information to contact us.”

The total number of people arrested for disorder in Merseyside now stands at 171, with 129 charged and 106 sentenced to a combined 208 years in prison.

We would encourage anyone with information to contact us by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Current galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website: Latest CCTV appeal in relation to summer disorder in Merseyside | Merseyside Police.

Merseyside Police

Man appears in court over Hull riot

By
January 30, 2025
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A West Yorkshire man who took part in last summer’s Hull riot will be sentenced on 7 March.

Ashley Smith, 26, admitted violent disorder and four counts of burglary at Hull Magistrates’ Court on 22 January.

On Wednesday, Smith, of Quarry Lane, Halifax, was told the sentencing date when he appeared briefly at Grimsby Crown Court.

A number of people have been given prison sentences after violence broke out following a demonstration involving anti-immigration protesters in the city centre on 3 August.

BBC News

Three teens appear in court charged with violent disorder

By
January 28, 2025
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171 people have now been arrested for their involvement in the violent disorder

A teen who was caught throwing missiles towards police officers is among two others who appeared in court today, for their involvement in the violent disorder in Southport last year.

Three teens, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Liverpool Youth Court today after pleading guilty at a previous hearing. A 16-year-old boy from Ainsdale was sentenced to a Youth Rehabilitation Order, 120 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £85 court costs for his involvement in violent disorder.

The youth was seen causing damage to the mosque wall and fence in Southport on July 30, last year. He was seen to throw a piece of the damaged wall at the police line. Another 16-year-old boy from Ainsdale was referred to youth offending panel for 12 months for his involvement in violent disorder in Southport.

He was captured throwing several missiles towards officers and kicking down a brick wall. He was then seen to enter Windsor Mini Mart and steal items from the shop.

A 17-year-old man from Southport was referred to youth offending panel for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 court costs for his involvement in violent disorder. He was captured throwing missiles at the police officers during the disorder.

Two people were also charged for their involvement in violent disorder yesterday. Gavin O’Connor, 46, of Spring Close in Oldham, has been charged with violent disorder. He has been bailed and will next attend Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday, February 10.

A 22-year-old man from Tarleton was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. He has been bailed with conditions pending further enquiries. And a 30-year-old man from Bootle was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. He is in police custody to be questioned.

Detective Sergeant Duncan Sloan said: “This latest update demonstrates that we are relentless in bringing those who helped cause such violence and disruption to our communities to justice, and continue to be committed to ensure those responsible are held to account.

“The actions of those who decided to take part in the disorder last summer was shocking for all to witness and brought disgrace to the region.

“We are identifying more people who displayed such abhorrent behaviour which damaged our communities, and would encourage anyone with information to contact us.”

The total number of people arrested for disorder in Merseyside now stands at 171, with 128 charged and 102 sentenced to a combined 205 years and four months in prison.

Police are encouraging anyone with information to contact them by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Current galleries of people police would like to speak to can be found on Merseyside Police’s X and Facebook pages, or on its website: Latest CCTV appeal in relation to summer disorder in Merseyside | Merseyside Police.

Liverpool Echo

Two more locked up for their roles in Hull riot

By
January 27, 2025
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They admitted violent disorder following the horrific scenes in the city centre last August

Two more troublemakers have been locked up after serious scenes of violence, disorder and looting broke out in Hull city centre in August.

They were the latest to appear at Hull Crown Court after a frightening outbreak of serious disturbances, including outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway, where asylum seekers were being housed at the time.

Ethan Armstrong, 26, of Raven Walk, off Marfleet Lane, east Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for two years and 10 months.

Morgan Williams, 20, of Wenlock Terrace, off Rustenburg Street, east Hull, admitted violent disorder and burglary at the O2 and Greggs stores on the same day. He was sent to a young offenders’ institution for two years.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that a large-scale demonstration took place in Hull city centre which led to an outbreak of violent disorder nearby.

There were fights in King Edward Street and police were called to Ferensway outside the Royal Hotel. The disorder spilled onto the cenotaph area, opposite the hotel.
Ethan Armstrong – jailed for two years and 10 months

Mr Evans told the court that Armstrong was identified after police inquiries and his actions were seen on CCTV. “The defendant was present in various areas of the city centre throughout the day,” said Mr Evans.

“His aggressive and violent behaviour was caught on either CCTV or body-worn footage. At 1.02pm, he can be seen throwing a powdered projectile of some sort outside Barclays Bank, away from the crowd and down towards King Edward Street.

“At 1.28pm, he can be seen as part of the wider crowd outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway, behind the railings in the cycle lane.” Armstrong threw a missile in the direction of the police outside the hotel and he could be seen, shortly afterwards, appearing to celebrate when the man next to him threw an object that managed to reach the police line.

At 3.12pm, he appeared in the cenotaph area and was aggressive, pushing and shouting at police and, at one point, lunging forward and kicking an officer’s riot shield, sending the officer tumbling backwards.

“The defendant had been evading the police for some time and was arrested close to Marfleet Lane at 8.50am on December 24 after he climbed out and fled the address on Raven Walk,” said Mr Evans.

During police interview, Armstrong accepted that he was present that day but he claimed that he could not recall any of his behaviour that was shown to him on CCTV. He claimed that he was hit on the head with a cosh by a police officer and must have “lost it”.

He claimed that he still had a scar and a lump on his head from where he was hit and that, since the incident, he had suffered from nightmares and night terrors.

Armstrong had convictions for 17 previous offences, starting from when he was aged 11. They included using threatening words or behaviour in October 2022, involving dragging a female by her hair and shoving her. He raised his fist and headbutted her, causing a bloody nose.

He also had convictions for wounding and affray in March 2021, a road rage incident in which he punched another driver in the face, knocking him to the ground, where he banged his head, needing stitches to his mouth and the back of his head.

Armstrong also had a conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm in December 2019, involving repeatedly punching an ex-girlfriend in her face, causing two black eyes, lumps to the forehead, a split lip and bruising to her legs.

He had another conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm in June 2017, involving punching a man, causing a large cut to his upper lip and damage to his teeth.

He also had a conviction for wounding and affray in May 2016, involving punching a man to the side of his head, and one for assault in April 2017, involving punching a man in the face, causing a cut above his eye.
Morgan Williams – locked up for two years

Mr Evans said that Williams was present throughout the disorder at various locations, including outside the Royal Hotel and in Jameson Street.

He was shown on CCTV in Ferensway at about 1.45pm as part of a large crowd that had gathered outside the Royal Hotel. A still image from social media footage was widely published and it showed the moment that Williams threw a bottle towards the police cordon outside the hotel.

He was identified from his clothes. “He was present at the time when large crowds had gathered on Ferensway outside the hotel and large-scale aggression and violence was prevalent,” said Mr Evans.

Williams was later shown on CCTV entering the O2 store in Jameson Street and leaving with items in his hands. He held them up once he had left the store and was shown smiling.

He later entered Greggs and stole what was believed to be bottled drinks. He was shown in other CCTV pictures putting something down his jacket.

“Following a press and media release by Humberside Police, where still images of suspects were released in order to identify further suspects, the defendant voluntarily attended Clough Road police station on September 15,” said Mr Evans.

During police interview, he made no comment to all questions, including when shown CCTV pictures. He had no previous convictions and, unusually for those arrested after these offences, he had been on bail.

Hull Daily Mail