Man who featured in viral social media footage is jailed for violent disorder

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December 23, 2024
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A man who was involved in the violent disorder in Southport and featured in viral social media footage has been jailed for two years and six months.

Brian Spencer, 40, of Lytham Road, in Southport, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday 23 December, after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

He was also jailed after admitting racially/religiously aggravated harassment, which relates to a separate incident the following day at Southport Hospital when he verbally abused another patient when receiving treatment for the injuries he sustained during the disorder.

The injuries he sustained were captured on mobile phone footage and subsequently shared widely on social media after some wayward missiles hit him on the head and groin during the appalling scenes in Southport on Tuesday 30 July.

Officers received hundreds of hours worth of CCTV and mobile phone footage, which they are still working through, and Spencer was clearly identified.

Spencer could be seen acting in an aggressive manner and part of a large group of people who were standing only a few yards in front of officers and throwing bricks.

He could also be seen on footage punching a police vehicle several times and picking up and throwing wheelie bins at officers and carriers.

Later that evening, officers were called to a separate incident where Spencer was in attendance, and took him to hospital for treatment to the head injury he had sustained during the disorder.

The officers recognised him from the viral social media footage and he was arrested. It was while receiving treatment for his injury that Spencer racially abused another patient.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “The actions of the people who took part in the disorder was extremely serious and many officers were injured during the despicable scenes as bricks, bins and other missiles were thrown at them. Spencer was involved in the violence and will now spend a significant amount of time in prison.”

“We continue to review footage and information as it comes in, and we will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.”

The total number of people arrested by Merseyside Police has now reached 163, with 117 charged and 88 sentenced to 182 years and four months.

Images and footage are still being worked through so please contact us with any information by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Merseyside Police

Southport rioter hit in privates by flying brick after taunting police is jailed

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December 23, 2024
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A rioting thug who went viral after being hit in the head and groin by flying house bricks was today jailed for two-and-half years.

Brian Spencer, 40, sank ten pints and a litre of rum before taunting police during violence which erupted in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

He was twice struck in the face and head after gyrating in front of officers, before turning around and being hit for a third time in the crotch. Spencer, who admitted violent disorder, also racially-abused a Polish patient at the town’s hospital while awaiting treatment for his injuries.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how painter-decorator Spencer was at the centre of riots in the seaside town on July 30, a day after three children were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

In footage which quickly swept across social media, he was filmed swinging his hips and dancing in front of a line of police officers in a bid to goad them.

A previous judge described Spencer’s dancing as delivering his “best Mick Jagger impression”.
But as the father-of-four attempted to provoke a reaction, a large brick bounced off a riot shield into his face, while another hit the back of his head.

As Spencer walked away, rubbing the back of his head, another block struck him in the groin causing him to double over in agony.

Jailing him, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said Spencer hurled wheelie-bins at police cars and was caught on camera “cheering”, “bouncing around” and “enjoying the chaos”.

She said: “You were an enthusiastic and active participant, positioning yourself at the front of the mob. At times bouncing around, encouraging others and clearly enjoying the chaos and harm that you and other like-minded thugs were creating.

“You are able to be seen on the footage until it comes to an end. You antagonised the police, you were shouting, cheering and dancing around in the street.

“The reason why you were struck is because you were at the front of the mob. The mobile footage of you being struck has been widely spread.”

The court heard how Spencer acted like a “general” in the mass disorder outside a mosque in Southport, hours after a peaceful vigil had been held to mourn those killed and injured a day earlier.

Footage was played in court of bare-chested Spencer hurling a wheelie-bin at a reversing police car and hoisting another bin above his head.

He was seen encouraging other rioters to push forward towards police riot lines and seen dancing as objects were hurled at officers.

Alaric Walmsley, prosecuting, said: “He was leading from the front. He was acting like a general, supporting and cheerleading as well as using weapons. “He can be seen taunting the police.”

Mr Walmsley added: “There’s video of the defendant being stuck to the head with a brick and then in the groin, which went viral at the time, which was shared on social media.”

Spencer was taken to hospital for treatment after police were called to his brother’s home in Southport.
He was put in a cubicle to sleep off his intoxication but racially abused a Polish-speaking patient and a hospital cleaner when he awoke, telling them: “Get out of our country, you don’t belong here.”

Judge Pierpoint said: “Despite you being injured as a result of unlawful activity, the police were there to help you. They put you in an ambulance, the ambulance took you to hospital and you were in the process of being treated by staff there.

“Despite all of this and the help you were being given, you racially-abused another patient, all in the hearing of other patients and staff members.”

Violence erupted across the country after three young girls were killed at the children’s dance event in Southport, fuelled by speculation and misinformation online.

Around 1,000 rioters took to the streets in the Merseyside town barely an hour after the community had gathered to remember Alice Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Stancombe, 7.

More than 50 police officers were injured, with riot shields stolen and police vehicles looted and set ablaze.
In interview, Spencer denied rioting and claimed he had been trying to stop others from attacking the police.

But he later admitted his account was untrue, telling officers what he had done was “naughty”. Spencer, who has 12 previous convictions for 22 offences, said he had drunk 10 pints and a litre of rum before marching to the mosque.

He told officers: “I just apologise again. It’s honestly not me, that. I honestly can’t apologise enough.” Charles Lander, defending, said Spencer “wished to apologise” to the victims of the Southport knife attack and the police.

He said: “Alcohol intoxication is no excuse but one only has to watch the video of those horrifying events to see how drunk he was.

“He went viral because of his drunkenness, that he himself was hit. It shows the drunken state he was in.”

Spencer, of Southport, who admitted violent disorder and racially-aggravated harassment, was supported in court by friends and family.

The court heard that he was already subject to the terms of an 18-month community order after kicking a police officer while drunk in December 2023.

Judge Pierpoint told him: “You do, now, in the cold, sober light of day express real remorse and regret for what you got involved in.

“Not only are you sorry for what you did towards others but you’re also embarrassed about your role in this, not least because your involvement in this has been widely shared on social media.

She added: “While drink may go some way to explain your behaviour, it is not an excuse.”

Axel Rudakubana, 18, from Banks, Lancashire, has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder over the attack at the Hart Space centre in Southport. He is also charged with producing the toxin ricin and possessing an Al-Qaeda terrorism manual and faces a trial next year.
Daily Mirror

https://x.com/i/status/1818611388429820118

Senior anti-terror detective ‘unconvinced’ views of extremists change with time

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December 19, 2024
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It comes after Alan Edward, 55, was jailed for 10 years after being convicted of 14 charges, including four terrorism offences.

One of Scotland’s top counter-terrorism officers has said he is “unconvinced” the views of extremists change with time, after a neo-Nazi extremist was jailed.

Alan Edward, 55, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday after he was convicted of 14 charges, including four terrorism offences.

Police said the father-of-one idolised Anders Breivik, a Norwegian neo-Nazi terrorist who killed eight people in a car bomb and then shot 69 others dead in 2011.

Edward was found guilty of possession of a cross-bow, machete, sword, knuckleduster, and arrowheads, which were said to give rise to “the suspicion that your possession was for the purpose in connection with the commission or preparation or instigation of an act of terror”.

He was also convicted of inviting support for proscribed terror group National Action.

During sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, defence lawyer Allan MacLeod said Edward is “focused on the future” and has no intention of repeating his crimes.

But Detective Superintendent Stephen Clark, Police Scotland’s head of counter-terrorism, told reporters later he is doubtful that extremists’ views truly change with time.

He said: “I remain unconvinced that people’s views will change just because they’re old, but there are mechanisms in place that whilst individuals remain within the prison establishments, that we try and dissuade them from holding such ideological views.

“We have means of trying to manage those individuals once they do get released from prison, whenever that may be, and we have a robust management policy in place to ensure they don’t continue to harm communities.”

Judge Fiona Tait handed Edward a 15-year extended sentence, comprising 10 years in prison and five years of supervision on licence following his release.

Asked if he believes Edward was a “ticking time-bomb” who would have eventually moved from rhetoric to physical violence, Mr Clark said: “Mr Edward through our investigations had clearly breached terrorism legislation by what he had posted online.

“While we uncovered a cache of weaponry which does look very concerning, there was no indication that he was targeting a particular location or individuals necessarily.

“Had that been the case, then we would assure he would be taken off the streets, which is exactly what our officers did.”

In a message to those who have similar views to Edward, he added: “Today’s sentencing demonstrates exactly how Police Scotland will robustly investigate individuals who have such views and who breach terrorism legislation.

“The sentence handed down by the court is a good vindication of how this is viewed both with the police and the court system.”

Evening Standard

Boy, 13, admits disorder through floods of tears

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December 18, 2024
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A boy who threw a traffic cone at a police car during this summer’s rioting told a judge he will “never be bad again” as tears streamed down his face while he was given a 12-month youth referral order.

The 13-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also caught on CCTV wielding a hammer in Hull city centre on 3 August.

At Hull Magistrates’ Court earlier, which was sitting as a youth court, the teenager, flanked by his parents, admitted violent disorder through floods of tears while being comforted by his mother.

During the plea hearing, Judge Mark Daley accepted the boy had not intended to cause trouble.

Violence flared in several towns and cities across England following the fatal stabbing of three young girls at a dance class in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

In Hull, a hotel was targeted, police officers were attacked with missiles, shops looted and cars were damaged and set alight as a demonstration descended into chaotic unrest.

Prosecutor Emily Robinson told the court the boy was present with a large group and had thrown the traffic cone at the police car, which was parked on Ferensway, and landed just short of hitting the vehicle.

In footage played to the court, the youngster was seen walking through a crowd of people with the cone before hurling it. The mob, which included John Honey, who was jailed for his part in the riot, was repeatedly attacking the vehicle.

The judge heard the 13-year-old saw a hammer on the bench and picked it up “not knowing what to do with it”.

Mitigating, solicitor Craig Davie said his client had not threatened anyone with it and was incredibly remorseful about his actions.

He said the boy had played a small role and accepted he should not have taken part.

Mr Davie added: “At the time he didn’t think of the consequences but only afterwards did he realise how serious it was and the impact of it.

“He attended town with a friend and it took him by surprise. He allowed himself to get involved.”
‘Kick up bum’

Mr Davie said the boy’s actions had left him fearful of the impact on his future.

Handing the referral order, Judge Daley explained to the boy why he decided not to jail him.

“A lot of people went into town to cause trouble but I don’t think you were one of them,” he said.

Just before the sentence was passed, the boy’s father told the judge: “This has given him a kick up the bum.”

“I’m never gonna do anything bad again,” added the child, while wiping his tearful face.

BBC News

Andrew Tate and brother Tristan ordered to forfeit £2million after losing tax battle with UK police

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December 18, 2024
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Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been branded ‘serial tax evaders’

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been ordered to forfeit more than £2million after losing a legal battle with police over their taxes.

The controversial brothers were branded “serial tax and VAT evaders” after being accused of failing to pay money owed from their online businesses between 2014 and 2022.

Devon and Cornwall Police brought a case to Westminster magistrates court, arguing tax is owed on £21million of revenue from their online businesses including War Room, Hustlers’ University, Cobra Tate and OnlyFans.

On Wednesday, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled that police can seize money held in seven frozen bank accounts with ties to the brothers.

The judge said what appeared to be a “complex financial matrix” was actually a “straightforward cheat of the revenue”.

In July at an earlier hearing, Sarah Clarke KC, representing the force, referenced a video posted online by Andrew Tate, in which he said: “When I lived in England I refused to pay tax.”

The court heard he said his approach was “ignore, ignore, ignore because in the end they go away”.

The brothers are accused of paying just under $12million into an account in the name of a woman identified only as J, and opened a second account in her name, even though she had no role in their businesses.

Part of the £2.8million that Devon and Cornwall Police targeted is cryptocurrency held in an account in her name.

J received a payment of £805,000 into her Revolut account, the court heard.

Of this, £495,000 was paid to Andrew Tate, and £75,000 to an account in J’s name that was later converted to cryptocurrency, it is alleged.

Gary Pons, for J, argued that the funds in the Gemini account were in cryptocurrency and therefore could not be frozen at that time.

In the Tates’ defence, Martin Evans KC said that the bank transfers made by the brothers were “entirely orthodox” for people who run online businesses.

If they had wanted to distance themselves from the money, they did “a singularly bad job” because they moved it into accounts in their own names, he added.

The siblings spent money on a number of “exotic motor cars” but nothing illegal, he told the court.

The Tate brothers are currently facing a series of criminal allegations in Romania, and are set to be extradited to the UK once those proceedings are concluded to face further accusations here.

They are accused of human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to exploit women in one case in Romania, in which Andrew Tate is also accused of rape.

The Tates deny the charges.

Bedfordshire Police secured an international arrest warrant for the brothers relating to allegations of rape and human trafficking dating back to 2012-2015, which they also deny.

Andrew Tate was formerly a Big Brother contestant in 2016, and has gone on to cultivate a substantial online following.

The former kickboxer describes himself as a “misogynist”, and has been banned from TikTok, YouTube and Facebook over claims of hate speech.

However he still has a following of almost 10 million on Elon Musk’s X.

Evening Standard

Bolton rioter wielded ‘tripod’ and made cutthroat signs

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December 17, 2024
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A rioter wielded what looked like a “tripod” and made threating “cutthroat” gestures as disorder gripped the town centre last summer.

Joseph Bigland, 43, had been living in Bolton town centre while homeless as violence whipped across the country after the tragic killings of three children in Southport last July.

Bolton Crown Court heard how two rival groups of protesters and counter-protesters had faced off against each other as police kept them apart on Sunday August 4.

Judge Jon Close said: “Many of the protests were at best misguided and utterly unjustifiable.”

Addressing Bigland, he added: “Unusually you had not travelled to the scene of the protest because you at the time were street homeless living in the area the protest took place.”

But he said that Bigland was caught on CCTV making threats of violence and “comments of a racial nature” toward the counter-protesters.

Judge Close said: “While shouting that racial abuse you were in possession of what appeared to be a tripod and were making a cutthroat gesture towards the counter protesters.”

A previous court hearing had been shown videos by prosecutor Philip Hall which caught Bigland holding “two pieces of wood”, making threating comments and making the cut-throat gesture.

Bigland, who has 36 previous convictions for 47 offences, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being arrested.

He looked on via videolink from prison as the court heard about the wider impact the disorder had had on the country.

Staff and shoppers at town centre businesses had been scared while bystanders had often been trapped inside premises as the violent scenes unfolded.

Judge Close said that this was “disorder and division that pulls at the very threads of our civilised society.”

He added: “Fortunately Bolton was not as battle scarred as other areas in the North West.”

At a previous hearing Anthony Horsefall, defending, had argued Bigland, of Bradford Street, had played a “peripheral” role in the disorder.

Taking up the defence at the final sentencing hearing Mark Friend reminded the court that Bigland had not sought out the disorder but had simply been living in the town at the time.

He said that the 43-year-old had “struggled with a variety of issues and vulnerabilities” and had lived a “difficult and at times isolated existence.”

Judge Close jailed Bigland for two years.

Bolton News

‘Disgraceful’ Keynsham man pushed cyclist off bike during Bristol riot

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December 14, 2024
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Scott Leach was verbally abusive towards police officers

A Keynsham man involved in ‘disgraceful behaviour’ has become the 36th person to be sentenced for their involvement in the Bristol riot.

Scott Leach, 55, was verbally abusive towards police officers and pushed a member of the public off their bike on Saturday, August 3, when violent disorder broke out in the city.

Leach was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday, December 5. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. He walked free from court after pleading guilty after having been charged with violent disorder and assault by beating.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Herbert said: “Scott Leach was among a significant number of people who contributed to the disgraceful behaviour we saw on that day. It is right that he has appeared before the court as a result and been sentenced, having admitted his part.”

Custodial sentences totalling more than 50 years have been handed down to 36 people for their involvement in the riot

Bristol Post

Carlisle’s Derek Heggie jailed over ‘grossly offensive’ video posts

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December 13, 2024
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CARLISLE-based bare-knuckle boxer and podcast host Derek Heggie has been jailed for publishing two “highly inflammatory” videos which demonised Muslim immigrants.

The city’s crown court today heard that Heggie, 41, whose criminal record includes a sex offence, described Muslim immigrants as “murderers, rapists and child molesters.”

He also made offensive comment about the Prophet Muhammad, the court heard.

Heggie began one of his videos on his YouTube channel by stating: “We’re sick to death of you lot coming in this country illegally, doing everything to our women and children, living off us, killing us.

“You don’t even like our cultural values.”

Heggie uploaded the two videos during national civil unrest – including riots – that was triggered by the Southport stabbings.

He went on to state: “This is about staying calm and trying to win our country back by any means necessary. If that means having to go to war, then how long can you be calm for… we’re all in danger.”

Prosecutor Tim Evans told the court Heggie made the videos on August 3 and August 7, speaking directly to the camera.

At the time, the authorities were contending with riots that had been triggered by misinformation surrounding the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport. Despite delivering his “lecture” about the alleged criminality of immigrants, Heggie had himself been before the court eight times, said Mr Evans.

The defendant’s 32 previous convictions included a sex offence, public disorder, police assault and causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm and distress. His most recent conviction was in Scotland for dangerous driving in April.

Part of one video included Heggie, who claimed he had 45,000 followers, promising to donate any revenue from the posts to the legal feels of Tommy Robinson, far-right activist whose original name was Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Tariq Khawam, defending, said Heggie accepted that his two videos contained information which was “wrong, ill-informed and potentially dangerous.”

“He understands that,” said the barrister.

Mr Khawam spoke also of mental health issues that the defendant had experienced in relation to a particular issue, though he did not specify what that was.

Judge Nicholas Barker said that “racist attitudes” were at the heart of the “thuggish violence” and civil unrest following the tragic Southport stabbings, in which three children lost their lives and others were injured.

That violence was directed towards immigrants who were in the UK, both lawfully and unlawfully. While Heggie was not involved in that violence, or inciting it, he had uploaded “grossly offensive” messages in his videos.

Those offensive messages were aimed particularly at Muslim immigrants and he also made comments about the Prophet Muhammad.

The judge said: “It is clear to me, Derek Heggie, that you would have realised that those comments were inflammatory, and you did so at a time when civil unrest was a real concern. It is clear that the messages were intended by you to be grossly offensive, particularly to those of the Muslim faith.”

The judge accepted that Heggie – known as Decca – had expressed remorse and he now realised the harm which could have been caused.

He jailed the defendant, who has been in custody since his arrest, for 46 weeks. The defendant, of Welsh Road, Harraby, is likely to serve 40 per cent of that jail term before his release on licence, the court heard.

The defendant originally denied wrongdoing but on the day of his trial he admitted two racially brought under the Malicious Communications Act.

He posted his video, the charge states, for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety”.

Heggie is the latest person to face prosecution following the national civil unrest that followed the Southport tragedy. Scores of people were brought to court nationwide and then jailed as the government adopted a zero tolerance approach aimed at stamping out further trouble.

One man from Egremont and another from Maryport were locked up for racially aggravated Facebook posts.

News and Star

Neo-Nazi who plotted terrorist attack at immigration law firm detained indefinitely in hospital

By
December 12, 2024
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Cavan Medlock armed himself with a knife and went to the offices of a solicitor in Harrow

A self-confessed neo-Nazi who armed himself with a knife in a plot to stab a solicitor as a “rallying cry” for fellow far right extremists will be detained in hospital indefinitely.

Cavan Medlock, 32, brought a six-inch hunting knife, handcuffs, and gaffer tape to the offices of Duncan Lewis solicitors in Harrow, northwest London on September 7, 2020.

His target was Toufique Hossain, the firm’s Director of Public Law, who had recently been identified as a lawyer representing asylum seekers who arrived in the UK on small boats.

Medlock confessed he had planned to “capture” Mr Hossain and put the flags of US Confederates and Hitler’s Nazis on display “to encourage other nationalists to rally to his cause”

In dramatic footage from inside the law offices, Medlock, brandishing the knife, demanded to see Mr Hossain before being heroically tackled by the firm’s receptionist.

Medlock was disarmed during a prolonged struggle, in which he threw punches and aimed kicks at the staffer who had grabbed hold of him.

He was then detained by a lawyer who rushed into the lobby to help.

He admitted he had come to the offices to kill Mr Hossain, and was heard saying “unfortunately I didn’t finish the job”.

Scotland Yard said Medlock had read a news report featuring words from Mr Hossain prior to launching the attack. The incident also followed controversial rhetoric from then-Home Secretary Priti Patel, in which she attacked “activist” lawyers and blamed them for issues on immigration.

At Kingston crown court on Thursday, Mr Justice Bennathan ordered that Medlock is held indefinitely in hospital to receive treatment for mental health disorders.

The court heard he has been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and mixed personality disorder, and has also displayed symptoms of depression.

The judge said Medlock was responsible for a “direct and disgraceful attack on decent and hard-working people doing important and honourable work”.

He found Medlock has “deep-seated racist views about any group of people he regards as not ‘pure’, white and British”.

“He is prepared to use armed violence in pursuit of those views”, added the judge, and while he could not be sure Medlock intended to kill Mr Hossain he concluded he was prepared to use violence “if needs be”.

Scotland Yard said Medlock described himself as a “Nazi” and had a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf manifesto at his home in Harrow, northwest London.

The force said Medlock “wanted to provide a ‘rallying cry’ to inspire other extreme right-wing terrorists”.

In his rucksack when he was arrested was a knife, two sets of handcuffs, two rolls of gaffer tape, a Nazi flag, and a US Confederate flag.

Two days before the attack, Mr Hossain was named in the press as a lawyer who was representing asylum seekers who had been due for deportation, but their flight was cancelled due to fresh human rights legal challenges.

Mrs Patel’s anti-lawyer rhetoric, which was echoed by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was condemned at the time for endangering those working in the profession.

Medlock hurled racist abuse during the incident, at anyone he believed to be of Pakistani heritage, Jewish, or Eastern European.

He had faced a full criminal trial earlier this year, but the case was abandoned when Medlock attacked a black health worker who was sitting with him in the dock.

“It may have been coincidental that the nurse he attacked was black”, said the judge. “It may not.”

The judge then concluded that Medlock was mentally unfit to enter pleas to the charges.

He faced a trial to determine the facts, and a jury concluded he committed the act of making a threat to kill and the preparation of terrorist acts.

“Our investigation uncovered how Medlock had planned this attack and wanted to intimidate the public, particularly anyone who might be regarded as immigrants”, said Acting Commander Helen Flanagan, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

“He was prevented in carrying out his plan thanks to the extraordinarily brave actions of a receptionist, who managed to disarm him of a large knife.

“By his own admission, at the time of these events, Medlock identified as a Nazi. Our investigation supported this, with officers finding a copy of Mein Kampf at his home address.

“It is clear from what he said in police interviews, Medlock wanted to provide a ‘rallying cry’ to inspire other extreme right-wing terrorists.”

Medlock watched his sentencing hearing over a videolink from a medical facility, with a health care worker sitting alongside him.

He pleaded guilty in 2021 to four other offences related to the same incident: possession of the knife, battery, and two counts of racially aggravated causing harassment, alarm, or distress.

Evening Standard

Man who fuelled hotel fire given joint highest riot-related sentence so far

By
December 12, 2024
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Levi Fishlock was jailed for nine years over his role in the disorder outside the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers, Rotherham.



A rioter who helped fuel a fire outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for nine years – the joint highest sentence passed down so far for the nationwide disorder over the summer.

Levi Fishlock was a prominent figure in the disorder outside the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers, Rotherham, with a judge saying he “played a part in almost every aspect of the racist mob violence on that terrible day in August”.

Sheffield Crown Court heard the 31-year-old was “very identifiable” by his distinctive purple England football shirt with “Bellingham” written on the back.

Fishlock, of Sheffield Road, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said the case was one of the most serious he had dealt with and jailed him for nine years, with an extended five-year licence period.

It is the joint highest sentence given for the summer’s riots, with Thomas Birley, 27, also jailed for nine years in September.

Judge Richardson said the defendant was “involved in almost every arena of racist criminal conduct that day”.

He was part of a group shouting abuse and racial slurs, at one point tapping the England badge on his shirt.

As the violence escalated Fishlock was seen adding planks of wood to a large burning wheelie bin that was pushed up against the hotel, “intending to endanger the lives of many people trapped in the hotel”, the judge said.

Fishlock also helped build barricades that were then set on fire and made threatening gestures with a sharp object towards people who were inside the hotel looking out through the windows.

He was also seen smashing the hotel windows by throwing bricks and paving slabs at them, destroying fencing around the hotel and smashing up an air conditioning unit.

The court heard later in the day he was part of a group who attacked incoming police vehicles with rocks.

At one point he threw a missile towards a police officer’s legs, aiming for the area that was not protected by a riot shield, it was said.

After he was arrested in the days following the riot, Fishlock told officers driving him to the station that he knew why he had been arrested and that it was “for a good cause”.

In mitigation, the court heard Fishlock, who has a young daughter, had protracted difficulties with anxiety and depression, and a “problematic relationship” with drugs.

The defendant became the second person to be sentenced for arson with intent to endanger life following the 12 hours of violence in Manvers on August 4 which left 64 police officers, three horses and a dog injured.

In September painter and decorator Thomas Birley, 27, was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to arson with intent to endanger life, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon for his actions that day.

More than 60 men have so far been jailed for their parts in the disorder outside the hotel.

Sheffield Crown Court has heard how more than 200 asylum seekers were trapped in the upper floors as rioters smashed windows and set light to the bin, which was pushed against a fire door.

Hotel staff have told the court how they barricaded themselves into a panic room during the rioting, fearing they would die as they smelt the smoke.

Judge Richardson said: “It has been my misfortune, as well as my duty, to have sentenced most of the cases arising from the public disorder in Rotherham.

“This is unquestionably one of the worst of the many cases which have come before this court concerning the events in Rotherham.

“You were involved in almost every arena of racist criminal conduct that day.

“Your conduct, and the conduct of that mob, has cast a dark and ugly stain across the reputation of Rotherham and South Yorkshire.”

He went on to say: “You did not start the fire but you added to it and helped fuel the flames. That is as serious as starting it.”

Evening Standard

You can read the sentencing remarks below.

R-v-Fishlock-Arson-with-Intent-Rotherham-12th-December-2024