A man has been sentenced for affray committed during a violent disorder in Bristol city centre.

Jacob Dolphin, 24, of Weston-super-Mare, admitted the offence and was given an 18-month community order and a fine at Bristol Crown Court on 23 October.

He was seen kicking out at officers on five occasions and threw an object outside Bridewell Police Station during the incident on 3 August 2024.

Judge Peter Blair described the violence during the riot as some of the worst seen in the city’s history. Dolphin was fined £900 in addition to a £95 surcharge, and was told to complete 170 hours of unpaid work.

BBC News

A bathroom fitter has been jailed after he smashed his way in through the window of a bank during a city centre riot.

Dane Peace and another man were caught on CCTV using a scaffolding pole to break through the glass front of the NatWest branch in Sunderland, while disorder swept across the city on August 2 last year (2024).

Footage shows the pair repeatedly ram the window before it eventually breaks and Peace kicks at it before he climbs in.

He is then shown roaming around inside the bank, where he stole two pin pads that had no use to him.

During the trouble that day Peace also threw missiles at police and looted a vape shop.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Peace, who runs his own bathroom fitting business, now considers his own drunken behaviour that day to be “pathetic”.

Peace, 30, of Tadcaster Road, Sunderland, admitted violent disorder and two charges of burglary and earlier this week was jailed for two years and four months.

Judge Robert Adams said Peace’s behaviour was “despicable” and added: “You were seen initially confronting police outside Aldi then seen to throw missiles a the police during an altercation outside The Yard building.”

The judge said Peace kicked windows and threw beer kegs outside The Yard office building before he went to the Vape Local shop, which was being looted.

Judge Adams said Peace then smashed his way into the NatWest bank, which he entered on two occasions, and stole two pin pads.

The judge added: “They had no value to you at all but you get them and made off with them. Your finger prints were found on the bank window.”

Mathew Hopkins, defending, said Peace feels “shame and embarrassment” and can offer no good explanation for getting involved.

Mr Hopkins said Peace was grieving his grandfather and had had to move home due to a relationship break down and added: “He started sofa surfing, drinking to excess and a friend invited him to come out to the town.

“He accepts he was extremely drunk when he was there and just started joining in with what other people were doing.”

Mr Hopkins said Peace has never been in trouble before, is “not a political person” and did not join in to target any particular group of people.

The court heard the vape shop raid cost the company £83,000 in stolen stock, damage and lost business.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said during the widespread trouble that day police officers, dogs and horses were pelted with missiles as areas became unsafe for ordinary members of the public.

Mr Pallister said: “Officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence. Officers were attacked with missiles and verbally abused.

“Four officers required hospital treatment and some are not fit enough to return to frontline duties.

“Police vehicles were targeted and damaged. Several patrol cars needed repairs.”

The court heard the city’s police hub was set on fire, business premises were smashed and shops were looted.

Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said in an impact statement police vehicles as well as community buildings and businesses came under attack that day.

Ms Jardine said the violence was met with a £1.517m policing operation and the full psychological cost to officers involved is yet to be known.

Sunderland Echo

A bathroom fitter who burgled a bank and a vape shop when he joined in a city centre riot has been put behind bars.

Dane Peace threw missiles at police and targeted two businesses which were looted during mass disorder in Sunderland on August 2 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Peace, who runs his own bathroom fitting business, now considers his own drunken behaviour that day to be “pathetic”.

Peace, 30, of Tadcaster Road, Sunderland, admitted violent disorder and two charges of burglary and has been jailed for two years and four months.

Judge Robert Adams said Peace’s behaviour was “despicable” and added: “You were seen initially confronting police outside Aldi then seen to throw missiles a the police during an altercation outside The Yard building.”

The judge said Peace kicked windows and threw beer kegs outside The Yard office building before he went to the Vape Local shop, which was being looted.

Judge Adams said Peace then smashed his way into the NatWest bank, which he entered on two occasions, and stole two pin pads.

The judge added: “They had no value to you at all but you get them and made off with them.”Your finger prints were found on the bank window.”

Mathew Hopkins, defending, said Peace feels “shame and embarrassment” and can offer no good explanation for getting involved.

Mr Hopkins said Peace was grieving his grandfather and had had to move home due to a relationship break down and added: “He started sofa surfing, drinking to excess and a friend invited him to come out to the town.

“He accepts he was extremely drunk when he was there and just started joining in with what other people were doing.”

Mr Hopkins said Peace has never been in trouble before, is “not a political person” and did not join in to target any particular group of people.

The court heard the vape shop raid cost the company £83,000 in stolen stock, damage and lost business.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said during the widespread trouble that day police officers, dogs and horses were pelted with missiles as areas became unsafe for ordinary members of the public.

Mr Pallister said: “Officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence. Officers were attacked with missiles and verbally abused.

“Four officers required hospital treatment and some are not fit enough to return to frontline duties.

“Police vehicles were targeted and damaged. Several patrol cars needed repairs.”

The court heard the city’s police hub was set on fire, business premises were smashed and shops were looted.

Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said in an impact statement police vehicles as well as community buildings and businesses came under attack that day.

Ms Jardine said the violence was met with a £1.517m policing operation and the full psychological cost to officers involved is yet to be known.

Sunderland Echo

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Two men who joined in a city centre riot then brandished a gun and knife during a racist confrontation with pub doormen have been put behind bars.

Lewis Stubbs and Tony Hall pelted missiles at police and burgled a vape shop that was trashed during the mass disorder in Sunderland last August.

In February this year the pair were drinking at the Old Skool bar in the city when bouncers asked them to leave and they reacted with racist abuse then produced weapons during a terrifying stand-off.

At Newcastle Crown Court today Stubbs was jailed for 40 months and Hall got locked up for 56 months.

Prosecutor Neil Pallsiter said during the riot on August 2 Stubbs threw a can at a cop’s head, joined the crowd outside a police hub that was vandalised and threw a plastic chair towards officers.

Mr Pallister said Hall was more heavily involved in the trouble and threw a glass bottle, bins and a parasol towards police lines.

Hall also joined the crowd outside the police hub and both men looted the vape shop.

Mr Pallister said on February 10 this year the men had been asked to leave the Old Skool pub and became aggressive with two doormen.

Stubbs then grabbed a hat from one of the bouncers and put it down his trousers.

Both then shouted racist abuse at the workers and Hall smashed a bottle on the ground while Stubbs knocked off the other bouncer’s glasses.

Mr Pallister said: “Hall said ‘go ahead and stab him’ and they saw Stubbs move his hand towards his jacket and took out a knife.”

One of the doormen heard people shouting ‘gun, gun, gun’ and saw Hall pointing a gun towards him.

The court heard the police were called and arrested Stubbs and Hall nearby. A gas powered BB gun was found in some bushes.

One of the doormen said in an impact statement he was “angry because of the racist language” and added: “I have never seen a gun before, that was the first time I have ever seen one and it made me feel a bit strange.”

The other doorman said he left the city for a week after the confrontation and added in his statement: “I felt like I had to be careful when going out and about.”

He said he worked less shifts after the incident and added: “I spent a lot of time at home, scared to be outside. The males’ friends came after and said we were snitches.”

Stubbs, 25, of Front Road, Ford Estate, Sunderland, admitted two charges of racially aggravated harassment, two of racially aggravated assault by beating, having a bladed article, violent disorder and burglary.

Jason Smith, defending, said Smith had a traumatic childhood, spent time in care and used drink and drugs to cope.

Hall, 31, of Pensher Street, Sunderland, admitted racially aggravated harassment, possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possessing cannabis, riot and burglary.

Nicholas Lane, defending, said it was “drunken, loutish behaviour” while Hall was getting over a relationship break-up and added: “If he had been sober he wouldn’t have done it.”

Sunderland Echo

Shay Henson, of Sunderland, threw missiles at police and burgled a vape store during shameful scenes last August

A “mindless and stupid” teenager who took part in a mass riot and burglary has been locked up. Shay Henson was just 18 when he took part in violent scenes which brought shame on Sunderland last August.

He was caught on camera wearing a balaclava and throwing missiles at police, including a plant. He was also one of the those who stole vapes from a vape shop after entry had been gained by force.

Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: “He was in the city centre during the disorder, wearing a red jacket and a face covering. He is seen repeatedly throwing missiles towards the police during various points of the disorder.”

Mr Ahmad said a vape store was burgled during the riot and Henson was one of those who gained access and stole vapes. The store was said to have lost more than £83,000 as a result of the break-in.

Henson, 19, of Padgate Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to riot and burglary and was sent to a young offenders institution for 32 months. Judge Edward Bindloss said what happened in Sunderland that day mirrored what had happened in other cities and towns in the preceding days.

He told Henson: “You and others brought shame upon the city of Sunderland. Each individual act, whatever might be its character on its own, inflames and encourages others to act in a similar fashion. You saw others and that encouraged you and your behaviour encouraged others.

“Those who participate in mass disorder must expect long sentences of custody, intended not just to punish but to deter others from copying their examples. I accept you were caught up in the moment and, lacking maturity, were unable to walk away.”

Robin Turton, defending, said: “He recognises what he did was mindless, stupid and wrong. He presented well to the probation officer, as polite and thoughtful.” Mr Turton said Henson had been out with friends and got “wrapped up in the adrenaline of the incident” and “herd mentality”. He added that Henson was concerned for the impact on his mother of the situation he had placed himself in.

The Chronicle