A man who became “consumed by misinformation” travelled to, and was at the forefront of the disorder and rioting in a North East town and city last summer.

Ashley Mark Wilkinson, from County Durham, although not an organiser, but, “an active follower” in the rioting and disorder, was today (Monday January 20) jailed for six years at Newcastle Crown Court.

Wilkinson was said to have become “obsessed” with right-wing propaganda, was actively involved in both the serious disorder in Hartlepool on July 31 and the rioting in Sunderland only two days later.

Masked at both events, he repeatedly threw missiles at police and hit their shields with a baton near the Cenotaph in Hartlepool, while encouraging others to join in, all the time draped in a cross of St George.

Then, on August 2 in Sunderland, he threw fencing supports, a beer keg and other items at the police lines, and was again at the forefront of trouble, both in Keel Square and near to the city mosque, off Hylton Road, where he hurled bricks towards officers protecting the place of worship.

A week later he was detained and arrested on his way to attend a further planned protest and counter protest in Newcastle, where he was found to be carrying a back pack containing what has been described as “a riot kit”, containing fishing wire, ball bearings, firelighters, goggles and a face covering.

Although not charged over that incident, he was subsequently faced with counts of violent disorder for both the trouble in Hartlepool and Sunderland, with his offending in the latter upgraded to “riot” following a further review of evidence.

Despite his initial denials, 35-year-old Wilkinson, of James Street South, Murton, was to later admit both charges of violent disorder and riot.

Appearing at his sentencing hearing today via video link from HMP Durham, the court heard he was repentant and full of remorse, having even discussed his actions with an Imam while detained in custody.

His counsel, Tony Cornberg, said the father-of-three suffered with mental health issues at the time of his offending, while also ailing from conditions such as narcolepsy, causing sleepless nights, all exacerbated by his use of cannabis.

Tony Cornberg, defending, said Wilkinson had suffered from sleep problems which affected his mental health and he could stay up for 48 hours consuming right-wing material online.

He said since being held on remand, the defendant has engaged with the counter-terror specialists Prevent and, at their suggestion, met the prison imam to learn more about Islam which had turned his views around, the court heard.

Mr Cornberg said a lack of sleep may have led to Wilkinson feeling paranoia and came to accept what he heard from “well-spoken” and “well-educated” right-wing commentators online.

“He says now that the videos were nothing more than propaganda and fear-mongering,” Mr Cornberg said.

“His issue seems to have a lot to do with authority and conspiracy rather than a hatred of a people, race or religion, per se.”

Passing sentence, Judge Tim Gittins said he acknowledged that the defendant had become “immersed in online material and misleading information” in the days and weeks prior to the events of late July and early August last year, which, “brought shame on the town of Hartlepool and the city of Sunderland.”

But he said by his enthusiastic participation in both events he played a part in “encouraging others to behave in a similar fashion”.

Judge Gittins told Wilkinson: “Those participating in mass disorder must expect severe sentences not only to punish but also to deter others from copying their actions.”

He said right-thinking members of the community were fearful to go into the town and city centres affected where widespread damage and violence was caused by such as Wilkinson.

The court was read statements by both the Chief Constables of Cleveland and Northumbria, Mark Webster and Vanessa Jardine, outlining the impact the disorder and rioting had in terms of injuries to police personnel and vehicles and the longer term psychological affects on officers involved.

Judge Gittins said based on figures put forward by the respective police chiefs the damage appeared to have cost in excess of £2m to the two forces combined.

The judge passed a 22-month sentence on Wilkinson for the violent disorder in Hartlepool and added 50 months for the riot in Sunderland, to be served consecutively, totalling 72 months, or six years.

Northern Echo

A self-confessed conspiracy theorist who attacked police officers at two different riots within three days has been jailed for six years.

Ashley Wilkinson, 35, wore an England flag as he threw missiles at officers in Hartlepool, then hurled items including a beer keg at police in Sunderland, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He was arrested several days later at a Newcastle protest with items including goggles, lighters, fishing wire, ball bearings and cannabis in his backpack, the court heard.

Wilkinson, who claimed he formed anti-Islamic views after watching “misinformation” online, initially denied any involvement in the attacks but eventually admitted rioting and violent disorder.

The protests were organised in the wake of the Southport attack, with crowds gathering in Hartlepool on 31 July after addresses linked to asylum seekers were published online, the court heard.

Wilkinson had his face covered and was draped in a St George’s flag when he repeatedly threw missiles at a line of police officers and wielded a baton towards them, prosecutor Omar Ahmad said.

‘Unprecedented violence’

On 2 August he went to Sunderland and joined protests there, the court heard.

Footage was shown in court of Wilkinson throwing a metal fence and beer keg towards officers in Keel Square, and then hurling a brick at police who were guarding a mosque in Hylton Road, the court heard.

He was arrested on 10 August trying to go to another protest, Mr Ahmad said, with concerning items found in his backpack – although he was not charged with an offence over them.

In statements read to the court, the chief constables of Cleveland and Northumbria Police said officers had faced unprecedented levels of violent and aggression and communities had been badly damaged by the riots.

Nineteen officers were injured in Hartlepool and four in Sunderland, with the two protests costing the forces more than £2m in total, the court heard.

The court heard Wilkinson, previously of St James Street South in Murton, County Durham, but now of no fixed abode, had 24 previous convictions for 59 offences including for dishonesty, criminal drug and drugs.

‘Consumed by misinformation’

In mitigation, Tony Cornberg said Wilkinson had mental health issues and a chronic lack of sleep which led to him spending hours watching videos online, sometimes for days at a time.

Wilkinson was exposed to right-wing “misinformation” and developed strong views about Islam based on “limited” knowledge, Mr Cornberg said.

He said Wilkinson believed there was a conspiracy of secrecy, cover-ups and “betrayal of the British people” but now “clearly sees things very differently”.

The court heard Wilkinson had been involved in the Prevent programme while being held on remand in HMP Durham and spent time talking to the prison’s imam, which had radically changed his opinions.

Judge Tim Gittins said Wilkinson had been at the “frontline” at both protests and was part of a group who had “brought shame” on Sunderland and Hartlepool during an “orgy of mindless violence”.

The judge said every act inflamed and encouraged others and the violence caused “severe disruption”.

He accepted Wilkinson was “consumed by misinformation” and had been “led astray” rather than being a leader, but that did not justify his actions.

BBC News