Rioter caught after attending court to see brother

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October 4, 2024
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A man who hurled bricks at police officers during disorder in Southport was identified when he was recognised at his brother’s court hearing.

Jake Joseph went to Liverpool Crown Court in September to watch his younger sibling, Cory Joseph, being sentenced for his own role in the summer rioting.

However, a Merseyside Police detective spotted him in the public gallery and recognised him from footage of the 30 July violence, which broke out the day after three children were stabbed in the town.

Joseph, 25, admitted violent disorder and was himself jailed for 34 months at the same court.

Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, told the court how the disorder flared on St Luke’s Road following a vigil for the victims of the knife attacks.

About 1,000 people gathered close to a mosque on the street from 19:00 BST, with large sections of the crowd engaging in anti-Muslim chants.

‘Mindless violence’

Police were attacked as they formed a protective cordon around the mosque, and by about 21:30 BST 50 officers had been injured and damage costing £100,000 had been caused when a police vehicle was set alight.

Joseph was recorded throwing bricks towards officers before climbing on to the roof of the vehicle and ripping off the emergency lighting.

Footage of the disorder, involving a crown of about 1,000, was played in court showing Joseph throwing a concrete slab at a police van as well as setting fire to a wheelie bin.

Ms Smith said: “Mr Joseph did not make the job of identification an easy one in this case.

“Despite his keen, enthusiastic participation he clearly did not want anyone to be able to identify or recognise him taking part in what can only be described as dangerous, mindless violence.”

The court heard Joseph had appeared on the footage with his face partially covered next to his younger brother, who was sentenced to three years in prison on 27 September.

Ms Smith said Joseph threw missiles with “complete disregard for where they would land and who or what they would meet”.

Joseph, from St Thomas More Drive in Birkdale, told police after his arrest that he was a not a racist and was not involved in any right wing or political organisation.

Jack Sweeney, defending, said Joseph had admitted he had “made a big mistake” and was “not in a good headspace” when he joined the crowd.

The court heard Joseph had no previous convictions and this would be his first time in prison.

During the same hearing, two other men were also jailed for their roles after admitting violent disorder.

Nicholas Mooney, 29, was seen ripping the windscreen wipers from a police van and throwing bricks towards officers.

Sarah Griffith, defending, said a number of good character references for her client had been submitted and described him as ordinarily a “hard-working and decent” man.

Mooney, of Jackson Close in Downholland, was jailed for 30 months.

The court also dealt with Kevin Underwood, 61, who lived close to the scene of the riot on Poulton Road.

The court heard he had been involved in a large crowd chanting racist and anti-Muslim slurs and had been filming the riots, although he was not recorded attacking the police – apart from throwing a black binbag.

Charles Lander, defending, said Underwood had mental health difficulties which resulted in him living in supported accommodation.

Judge Richard Pratt KC jailed Underwood for 24 months.

He told the three defendants: “It became very clear in the days that followed that the mob did not speak for Southport, it did not speak for Merseyside and it certainly did not speak for country.

“On the contrary you caused wholesale revulsion and the courts were quick to respond.”

Merseyside Police said it had arrested 121 people connected to the disorder, charged 84 and put 64 before the courts to be sentenced – resulting in combined prison time of 137 years.

BBC News

Teen admits attacking car with Romanian men inside

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October 4, 2024
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A 17-year-old boy has admitted damaging a BMW car, which had three Romanian men inside, during rioting in Hull.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder after trouble flared in the city centre on 3 August.

He was due to stand trial at Beverley Magistrates’ Court on Friday after initially denying the charge of racially/religiously aggravated criminal damage.

The boy is scheduled to be sentenced before a youth court in Kent on 18 October.

Footage of the unrest played in court showed the teenager, who was among a crowd of rioters, kicking the car as the driver reversed on Milky Way in an attempt to flee.

He was also filmed pushing a large red commercial wheelie bin towards police on Jameson Street, which was later seen on fire, and later on Spring Bank throwing missiles at advancing officers who were wearing protective riot gear

In his first broadcast interview last month, the driver of the BMW spoke of his “traumatic” experience and how he believed he and his cousins “could’ve died there”.

BBC News

Disgusting Bristol woman attacked police horse during riot

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October 4, 2024
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She also spat at police officers

A woman has been jailed for her role in the far-right riot in Bristol. Elly-Jayne Cox, 33, assaulted a police horse and spat at officers during the evening of violence on Saturday, August 3.

She pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 26 months at Bristol Crown Court. The court heard how she used “vile language” throughout the riot.

Cox, of Bishopsworth, also launched objects into crowds of people at Castle Park. Her offending was captured in footage taken during the disorder.

Judge Hart said she “will never understand” why she behaved as she did. She added that Cox showed “extreme violent behaviour” towards police officers and members of the public.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Herbert said: “The behaviour and actions of Cox on that day were truly disgusting and completely intolerable.

“She was front and centre of the disgraceful violence and disorder throughout the evening and has rightly been handed a lengthy prison sentence as a result.

“She is the 28th person to be sentenced for their involvement in the shameful scenes we saw that day and most of those have received custodial sentences.”

Bristol Post

Sunderland boy, 15, charged with ‘riot’ offence to go on trial in December

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October 4, 2024
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The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had admitted a charge of violent disorder and burglary

A 15-year-old boy, who was the first in the country to be charged with ‘riot’ following recent national disorder, is set to face trial in December.

The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is facing the charge after widespread trouble broke out in Sunderland on August 2.

The teenager, from Sunderland, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday, October 4, where Judge Tim Gittins pencilled in December 2 for the trial, expected to last two days.

The teenager, who attended court with his mum, did not enter a plea to the riot charge.

He was remanded into local authority accommodation until the next hearing on November 8.

Chronicle Live

Footage shows man launching objects at people during Bristol riot

By
October 4, 2024
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A total of 27 people have now been sentenced for their involvement in the riot

This footage released by police shows a man launching objects towards members of the public during the far-right riot in Bristol. Joshua Sarkozi, 25 and of Shirehampton, was handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence at Bristol Crown Court today (Thursday, October 3) after admitting violent disorder.

Damien Williams, 39 and of Knowle, was also sentenced for his involvement in the violence in Castle Park on Saturday, August 3. He pleaded guilty to a Section 4 public order offence after he verbally abused police officers and received a 16-week suspended sentence at Bristol Magistrates’ Court.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Herbert said: “Our work to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the disgraceful scenes in Bristol on that day continues. We have made it clear that we will not tolerate the sort of criminality we saw and more people will be sentenced over the coming weeks.”

A total of 27 people have now been sentenced for their involvement in the riot. Meanwhile, 52 people have been arrested and 43 have been charged.

Bristol Post

Ex-soldier used dog as weapon in asylum hotel riot

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October 4, 2024
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An ex-serviceman “weaponised” his dog during major unrest outside a Rotherham hotel, a court has heard.

Christian Hemus took his “ordinarily docile” pet to the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on 4 August and used it to intimidate police officers.

The 35-year-old, who previously served in the Army, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and production of cannabis at an earlier hearing.

Hemus, of Clarney Place, Barnsley, was jailed for three years at Sheffield Crown Court and made the subject of a criminal behaviour order for 10 years.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told the defendant his decision to bring his pet to the riot had been “an act of animal cruelty”.

“You not only terrified police officers and others you must have terrified the animal too,” he said.

“You used that innocent creature as a tool of violence and threatening behaviour.”

Three other men were also sentenced by Judge Sarah Wright at the same court on Thursday for their roles in the disorder.

Joshua Lane was filmed throwing masonry, wood and rocks at police officers guarding the hotel, which was temporarily home to about 200 asylum seekers.

The 27-year-old was also recorded picking up a metal barrier with others and pushing it against the police line.

The court heard the defendant had been in breach of a 15-month suspended sentence for stalking, battery and criminal damage at the time.

Lane, of Park Road, Brierley, was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail for violent disorder and given a consecutive sentence of 10 months for breaching his suspended sentence.

Michael Shaw, 26, was jailed for two years and six months.

Shaw, of Pagnell Avenue, Thurnscoe was filmed being pushed to the ground by officers after being obstructive, and kicked out at them in retaliation.

The defendant, who previously served in the armed forces, was later seen next to a bin that had been on fire.

Passing sentence, Judge Wright told him it was the actions of the mob overall that had made the offending so serious.

Ricky Cotton, of Broadwater, Bolton-upon-Dearne, “stupidly” got drawn into a period of violence, Judge Wright told the court.

The 32-year-old threw two items, believed to be a vape and an empty beer can, towards a line of police as a “violent mob” challenged them.

His defence barrister claimed he did not throw the items with “any force, any venom”.

Cotton, who was a carer, was concerned his terminally-ill grandfather would die while he was in prison.

Sentencing him to two years and four months, Judge Wright told him: “Your grandfather will suffer because of your actions.”

BBC News

Hanley rioter ‘up for a fight’ ends up seriously injured

By
October 2, 2024
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Now he’s behind bars

A man who goaded a group in Hanley city centre and was left seriously injured has been jailed. Daniel Bagguley, aged 31, became involved in the violent disorder which wreaked havoc in the city on Saturday, August 3.

He later tried to break through the police lines and shouted at officers. Now Bagguley has been jailed for 26 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Dylan Wagg said the incident happened on August 3 in the aftermath of the stabbings of three girls in Southport on July 29. Mr Wagg said Bagguley was involved in the disorder.

Mr Wagg said: “He was in a large group shouting things including, ‘We want our country back’, and, ‘You are protecting nonces’. He goaded a group of individuals. A fight took place in the centre of town. He received an injury to his wrist and had his mobile phone stolen.

“Later on he went to Tesco Extra in Hanley to see a first aider. He said to the security guard, ‘It will take more than one P*** to get me mate’ “Bagguley was seen in Cannon Place shouting at officers and attempting to push through the blockade.

“On Potteries Way he shouted in a group with his arms in the air. His involvement continued on Town Road. There was nothing to suggest he was throwing missiles but he had a continued presence right at the front of the police lines.”

Bagguley, of Ashfields New Road, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Jason Holt, mitigating, said: “He saw a significant number of people running towards him with weapons.

“It is said he gets involved in a fight. I have to accept he acts in an inappropriate manner. He had his wrist broken in the attack. He is not proud to be before the court again. He had no weapons and threw no stones.

“It is arguable his demeanour was goading the group that attacked him and fighting back to defend himself. He suffered serious injury as a result.”

Jailing Bagguley, Judge Graeme Smith said: “You did not use any weapons or throw any missiles. It is said you did not intend to protest. But you became involved. You continued that involvement for a lengthy period of time as you moved with the crowd through the centre of Hanley to Town Road.

“At some point you foolishly goaded a group in the middle of the pedestrianised area of Hanley. You were clearly up for a fight. You came off worse. That itself was a violent disorder.”

Stoke Sentinel

Boy threw burning missiles at police during riot

By
October 2, 2024
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A balaclava-clad 14-year-old boy who hurled burning missiles and stones at police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has been sentenced.

The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, threw a wheelie bin onto a fire and shouted racist abuse while outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham on 4 August.

The teenager, who admitted violent disorder and arson at an earlier hearing, was given a year-long intensive referral order at Sheffield Youth Court.

District Judge Marcus Waite told the teenager he was “pretty shocked” by his actions and said he would have been imprisoned had he been older.

Footage played in court showed the boy throwing various missiles at police, including items that had been set alight.

CCTV footage captured him filling up his pockets with stones from nearby residential driveways and later throwing them at officers.

Judge Waite told the defendant: “Other than one case, that’s the worst behaviour that I’ve seen and that to be done by a balaclava-ed up 14-year-old, I have to say is pretty shocking.

“If you were five years older, you’d go to prison for years.”

The boy was one of five teenagers who appeared before Judge Waite on Wednesday in connection with the rioting in Manvers.

The violence outside the hotel, which was housing more than 200 asylum seekers at the time, lasted for hours and left more than 50 police officers injured.

Another boy was filmed destroying a fence and arming himself with a plank of wood which he used to hit out at police officers’ riot shields, the court heard.

The youth, who was 16 at the time, was also part of a group who kicked a police van and tried to tip another over.

The youth, who previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was also given a 12-month referral order.

A third boy, aged 15, became aggrieved when one of his friends was detained for throwing a plank of wood, resulting in him throwing stones at officers and shouting abuse.

The court heard the boy had harboured no political motivations and attended the scene after becoming “intrigued” by a police helicopter circling the area.

He admitted violent disorder and was handed the same sentence as the other youths.
Three police officers and two police dogs can be seen in front of a fire. A group of men is standing on a grass verge next to it.

A fourth boy, aged 15, also threw stones at police and armed himself with a cone after “feeling pressured into it”, Judge Waite was told.

The teenager, who admitted violent disorder, was also handed a year-long referral order.

A 16-year-old girl pleaded guilty to violent disorder on Wednesday and is due to be sentenced at the youth court later in October.

BBC News

First-time buyer went to Hanley to sort a mortgage – now he’s in jail

By
October 1, 2024
Uncategorized

Joseph Pointon launched a drain pipe, threw a brick and dismantled a roundabout during the Hanley riot

A first-time buyer who went to Hanley to arrange a mortgage for a house became involved in ugly scenes of violent disorder. Joseph Pointon, aged 23, allowed his curiosity to get the better of him when he saw a group being aggressive towards police in Hanley on Saturday, August 3.

He ripped off a plastic drainpipe and launched it at police. He dismantled parts of a roundabout at Town Road and threw a brick which connected with an officer’s riot shield.

Now Pointon has been jailed for 28 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Prosecutor Dylan Wagg said Pointon was seen in Cannon Place with others being stopped by the police cordon.

Mr Wagg said: “He was seen to rip a big piece of drainpipe off the side of a house and launch it at the police line. He later dislodged a metal pole from the roundabout at Town Road but it was not thrown. He was involved in dismantling parts of the roundabout.

“He threw a sizeable brick towards a police officer which connected with a riot shield. He picked up a scaffolding pole and attempted to launch it towards the police line.”

Pointon, of Kingsfield Road, Biddulph, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Andrew Turnock, mitigating, said Pointon has no previous convictions and acted out of character. He was in Hanley to visit a mortgage broker with his partner to arrange finance to buy their first home.

Mr Turnock said: “He was looking forward to a bright future. Since his arrest all that has unravelled. He has had to come to terms with the upset and anxiety he has caused to his family. They are all distressed, shocked and upset.

“This was not an intentional involvement. His grave error of judgement was to see the crowds of almost exclusively men being violent in the stand-off with the police. His curiosity was triggered and he went to see what was going on.

“He got very quickly overtaken by the group mentality. It became a stand-off between the crowd and the police. Shortly after the defendant threw the missiles. It was outrageous disorder against the police. He got swept away.

“He ripped off a drainpipe, threw a stone and dismantled a roundabout, behaviour that is utterly out of character. His family have seen the footage. They can’t believe it is the same person. It was a severe lapse of judgement.”

Judge Graeme Smith told Pointon: “Yours is the most difficult to understand. You attended to see a mortgage broker. You have no previous convictions. You have no mental health issues. This appears to be completely out of character.

“It is said that you were overtaken by a group mentality but others were not overtaken by the same mentality. You threw at least three items at the police in two different locations, a plastic drainpipe, a large brick and a metal pole. You helped dismantle the metal parts of a roundabout. The throwing of missiles has the potential to cause very serious injury.”

Stoke Sentinel

Boy, 14, spat at and hit police officer at Bolton riot

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October 1, 2024
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A 14-year-old boy who spat at and hit a police officer during widespread disorder in Bolton has been sentenced to a referral order at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

The boy pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker.

The court heard how the boy, who cannot be named due to his age, was part of a large group of masked teenagers in and around Bolton town centre on Sunday, August 4.

Prosecuting solicitor Khan said the boy had grabbed a police officer, spat on him, and hit him on his face.

In a victim personal statement read out to the court by Mr Khan, the man – who has been a police officer for 21 years – said: “I became a police officer to keep people safe, to come to work and be spat on is disgusting, the most cowardly act imaginable.”

Defence solicitor Okhar said the boy had come to Bolton town centre following the main disorder in the day.

Ms Okhar said: “I think he does understand the stupidity of what he did on this occasion.

“I think it’s been a learning curve for him, a group of lads and he got over himself.”

“The riots themselves have actually finished, he’s decided with a group of friends to see what the aftermath is.

“He accepts that his behaviour has been unacceptable, having thought about it.”

Described as coming from a supportive family, solicitor Okhar added that the boys’ parents had been left disappointed by his behaviour.

District Judge Lucy Hogarth said she had seen the boy speak in ‘a really intelligent way’ about what had happened in a pre-sentence report.

Addressing the judge directly, the boy said: “I regret what I did, but I can’t change the past – I can only learn from it.”

Asked what he was going to do specifically, he said: “I’m going to get back in the gym.”

The boy also said he felt ‘bad’ about how he’d made others feel.

Judge Lucy Hogarth then asked the boy’s mother what else she should know before she made a sentencing decision.

The boy’s mother cried and did not make a verbal response to the question.

Sentencing, Judge Hogarth said: “You have come before the court for really serious offences, bearing in mind the effect on everybody of those riots and what happened in August.”

Judge Hogarth sentenced the boy to a nine-month referral order. Additionally, the boy’s mother will have to pay £100 compensation to the police officer and £85 in costs for the prosecution.
What is a referral order?

A referral order is a type of sentence available for young offenders between the ages of 10 and 17 who plead guilty to an offence.

The young person will be required to attend a youth offender panel, which will agree a contract of interventions with the young person – including activities and rehabilitative and restorative sessions.

After the completion of the order, the conviction is considered ‘spent’.

Bolton News