The sentencing of a man who stopped motorists to check if they were “white” during anti-immigration disorder has been delayed so a court can determine if his actions were racist.
Jake Wray, 23, was seen asking drivers if they were “white” or “English” during violent protests in Middlesbrough on 4 August, Teesside Crown Court heard.
He has admitted violent disorder but claimed he was trying to warn drivers they could be attacked if they continued down the road, the court heard.
Judge Francis Laird KC said Wray would get a longer term if he was deemed to have acted on racial or ideological grounds.
More than 1,000 people attended a protest march which began at the cenotaph on Linthorpe Road shortly before 14:00 BST, prosecutor Rachel Masters said.
Shouts of “take our country back” were heard as the initially peaceful march made its way towards the town centre, the court heard.
But violence erupted after an object was thrown at the marchers from Clarendon Road, which prompted cars and buildings to be attacked and missiles to be thrown at police.
‘Racist group’
Wray, who had a St George’s Flag draped around his neck which he used at times to obscure his face, was seen at several incidents, Ms Masters said.
He was first spotted leaning into a car three minutes before it was set on fire, the court heard.
Footage was then recorded of him trying to stop vehicles and asking drivers if they were “white” or “English”.
Later he was part of a group seen thrusting a burning bin towards officers, Ms Masters said.
The prosecutor said Wray, of Seaton Street, was at the “forefront” of the disorder and was “part of a racist group”.
She said it caused “serious fear and distress throughout the community” as well as having “substantial financial costs”.
‘Swept up’
Wray told police and probation officers he had been trying to help drivers by warning them of possible attacks.
Judge Laird said he had already jailed a number of people involved in the disorder on the basis they were “foolish” and got “swept up in the events” but who were “not directly there for any ideological or racist motive”.
He said the motivation of defendants was a “matter of some significance” and people who took part in disorder because of racial beliefs would get longer jail terms.
A date for the two-hour hearing to establish motive, called a Newton hearing, is due to be fixed in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile Wray remains on remand at HMP Nottingham.
His partner and her mother have also been jailed for their involvement in the disorder.
A 13-year-old girl has been sentenced for her part in a violent protest at a hotel housing asylum seekers.
The girl, who cannot be named because of her age, was filmed punching and kicking a glass door at Potters International Hotel in Aldershot, Hampshire, on 31 July.
The teenager had previously admitted using or threatening violent behaviour which would cause people to be fearful for their safety.
District Judge Tim Pattinson, sitting in a youth court at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court, imposed a 12-month referral order.
This means the girl will have to engage with the Hampshire Youth Justice Service in a programme of rehabilitation, reparation and education.
The court heard the girl’s parents had been at the protest but left, leaving her with a friend’s parents, who then joined the smaller violent gathering.
Mr Pattinson asked the girl to consider how those inside the hotel would have felt.
“Probably quite scared,” she said.
The judge said: “What you and the other people did must have caused them to be absolutely terrified. Therefore, it is a serious and very nasty offence.
“I want you to think carefully about how the people inside the hotel must have felt, being surrounded and threatened by a mob of violent and aggressive people, which included you.”
Mr Pattinson said a number of adults in the group had been handed custodial sentences, and if the girl had been 18 she would have been jailed too.
He also imposed a surcharge of £26 and costs of £85 which her mother will have to pay, but he told the girl: “I want you to repay your mother as soon as you can.”
The judge said he was satisfied the girl was sorry and said his focus was on her rehabilitation.
There were outbreaks of violence in a number of towns and cities across England and in Northern Ireland, including Plymouth, Sunderland, Belfast, Rotherham, Manchester and London.
It followed the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport – with unrest fuelled by misinformation online.
A man from Southport who threw bricks at officers, climbed on top of a police carrier and took a riot shield from the vehicle has been jailed for three years.
Joseph Corey, 20, of St Thomas More Drive, in Birkdale, pleaded guilty to violent disorder in relation to the shocking scenes on Tuesday 30 July and he was sentenced today, Friday 27 September.
Officers analysed various footage and were able to identify Corey at the forefront of a large group of people who threw missiles at officers in Southport.
He then kicked a police carrier several times, climbed on top of the vehicle and continued to throw missiles. After jumping down from the vehicle, he then opened the side door and took a riot shield.
He made a concerted effort to cover his face during his actions, but footage later shows him fleeing the area and removing his face covering and hood which clearly identified him.
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Roberts said: “Corey’s appalling actions were one of the worst examples of violent disorder that we have witnessed in Southport.
“Not only did he throw bricks at officers, but he also took it upon himself to climb on top of a police carrier and then took a riot shield from the vehicle.
“Corey clearly tried to hide his identity throughout all of this, but let his guard slip when fleeing the area and we were able to identify him.
“We continue to locate more people who took part in the disorder in Merseyside and we will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.”
We would encourage anyone with information to contact us via Public Portal Public Portal (mipp.police.uk) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
John Lefevre recorded his vile rant outside a church
A man who livestreamed himself as he engaged in a vile rant outside a church has been jailed.
On Monday August 5, John Lefevre posted a Facebook Live video of himself confronting a group of men and women stood outside Trinity Methodist Church on Peel House Lane in Widnes as it was hosting its weekly support session for refugees and asylum seekers.
In the footage, seen by the ECHO, he was shown pointing his mobile phone’s camera in the face of one man while demanding: “Why are you over here lad? Why are you over here lad?” Lefevre then turns to a man carrying a pink suitcase and asks: “What you got? Guns and bombs in that?”
He thereafter continues: “See that you dirty, greasy c***. I’ve got a picture of you. Didn’t the police let you off with something yesterday? You’re a dirty little b****rd
Lefevre is then captured saying to one older woman: “Why are you protecting these? Give me one clear answer. Why do you not look after our homeless that’s begging on our streets?”
He subsequently tells one man “don’t you dare smile at me you dirty, greasy b****rd”, before shouting to another: “You, you one armed c***. What have you done?”
Lefevre was also filmed saying: “Widnes is looking for you. F***ing dirty b****rd. Take all the pictures you want of me. Don’t look after any of our own. Widnes is looking for you lad, f***ing screaming in kids’ faces, banging on little kids’ windows, you f***ing horrible b****rd. Every f***ing one of yous. Why are they here?”
The 35-year-old, of Albert Road, Widnes was subsequently found and arrested nearby. He was identified from footage of the incident and was ultimately charged with racially aggravated intentional harassment. Lefevre also filmed the event himself, leaving him with no choice but to plead guilty, Cheshire Police said.
He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, September 24 where he was jailed for six months for racially aggravated intentional harassment. Following the sentencing, Chief Inspector Daniel Haddock, of Cheshire Police said: “When the disorder started in August in other areas of the UK, we were clear that we would not tolerate that kind of behaviour in Cheshire.
“Lefevre’s actions were powered by the national disorder, and he chose to target innocent people going about their daily lives outside a place of worship. The sentence imposed upon him should serve as a strong reminder of how serious these crimes are regarded, and robust action will be taken against anyone who chooses to behave in this manner.”
A man who scratched racist symbols into frost on Morecambe’s promenade has been hauled before court.
Lancashire Police says Dean Downes was seen scratching symbols linked to extreme right-wing groups and groups linked to the British National Party into frost on a wall back on January 7.
Officers arrested the 48-year-old on suspicion of a public order offence. He was later charged with racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress by words or writing.
Downes, of Moneyclose Grove, Heysham, appeared in court this week. He was ordered to pay a total of £1,696 – made up of a £990 fine, £400 costs and a £396 victim surcharge.
Sergeant Richard Tredennick, of Morecambe Local Policing Team, said: “We will not tolerate hate in any form in Lancashire. Downes’ actions were unacceptable, and whilst no amount of money fined will rectify that, I welcome the punishment he has received.
“We take all reports of hate crime seriously. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate crime, please report it to us. We will investigate, and do all we can to find the people responsible and bring them to justice.”
A man who fractured his ankle after leaving a shop with “as many vapes as he could carry” has been locked up.
Anthony Hobkirk, 34, filmed the widespread disorder that broke out in Sunderland on August 2 and recorded himself saying “I love **** like this” and “get rid of the black ***** from this country, too many of them”.
Newcastle Crown Court heard when darkness descended on the city and the trouble continued, fires were started and shops were looted by rioters.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch said Hobkirk was caught on CCTV “sauntering away” from a vape shop that had been raided but he went over on his ankle and fractured it when he struggled with a police officer who caught him in the act.
The court heard Hobkirk, who had downed “about eight pints” that day and said he was on the city for a dog walk, first came to the attention of the police when the vape store was looted.
Mr Bunch said: “He had as many vapes as he could carry in his arms.
“Police arrested the defendant and he was initially compliant but then began to resist and tried to walk away and was taken to the ground.
“During the course of that he turned his ankle and sustained a fracture as a consequence of that.”
The court heard it was when Hobkirk’s phone was examined police found the recordings which showed his presence in the city throughout that day, as well as the vile words he was saying.
Hobkirk, of no fixed address, admitted violent disorder and burglary and has been jailed for a total of 31 months.
Judge Tim Gittins told him: “You, together with many others, brought shame upon the city of Sunderland”
The judge said the language Hobkirk used in his recordings encouraged the violence, although he did not use any himself, and he used “derogatory, abusive, racist and ignorant terms”.
The judge told him: “You received summary justice to an extent by the ankle injury that you sustained, albeit that was entirely your own fault in resisting arrest.”
Judge Gittins added: “You were carrying as many vapes as you could carry and if ever there was a symbol that your behaviour that day, and of others, was not related to any genuine cause or concern, that typifies it.”
Sam Faulks, defending, said Hobkirk’s offending was linked to excessive alcohol use and added: “It’s no mitigation really but he did fracture his ankle so he is already understanding the errors of his ways in a very particular and immediate way.”
Mr Faulks said Hobkirk “staggered” rather than “sauntered” out of the shop with the vapes.
Mr Bunch told the court police officers, dogs and horses were pelted with missiles as disorder spread throughout the city that Friday afternoon and the area was unsafe for ordinary members of the public.
Mr Bunch 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.
“At times lone police on vehicle patrol found themselves targeted by offenders in the middle of the protest.
“Families of a number of officers were at home in fear for their loved ones out on duty, having witnessed the horror of what was unfolding on news and social media.”
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 it remains unclear how much damage was caused by the rioters but the cost of repairs could run to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Police vehicles as well as community buildings and businesses came under attack.
Ms Jardine said the violence was met with a £1 million policing operation and the psychological cost to officers involved is yet to be known.
She added: “The North East is a wonderful, vibrant and safe place to live and work.
“The vast majority of our people are law abiding, proud members of the community.”
The first adult in England to be charged with riot following widespread disorder last month has been jailed for four years and four months.
Kieran Usher, 32, of Sunderland, pleaded guilty after being filmed working with a group of at least 20 people “to rain missiles on to attending police officers” in the city, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
Judge Gittens told Newcastle Crown Court Usher’s actions had brought “shame on the city of Sunderland and shame on the union flag he was wearing”.
Hundreds of people were involved in a night of violence on 2 August, during which police officers were repeatedly attacked, a building was set ablaze and businesses looted.
Video footage played to the court showed a masked Usher holding a phone in one hand with a can of lager in the other.
The court heard he played “a leading role escalating the disorder”, picking up missiles, throwing them at police officers and beckoning others in the crowd towards the police line.
Four officers needed hospital treatment.
Usher’s defence said he did not associate with the far right and wore the flag to fit in with the people who were there.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Gittens said right-thinking members of the community were left “shocked, distressed and in fear” by the violence on display.
The judge took into account that Usher, who has learning difficulties, made full admissions to police and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine has said the cost of policing the riots ran to more than £1m.
Six more men have been jailed for their part in disorder which took place in Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth over the summer, including one offender who wore a pig mask as he targeted a hotel and police officers with missiles.
On Friday, Tyler Marchese, 21, was jailed for two years and one month for violent disorder and assaulting a police officer in the Hanley area of the city on 3 August.
Daniel Bagguley, 31, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, was also sentenced for violent disorder in Hanley as was Joseph Pointon, 23, from Biddulph – they received 26 months and 28 months respectively.
Three others were sentenced on Thursday.
They included Jordan Jones, 27, of Meir; and Jordan Winyard, 28, of no fixed address.
Jones was sentenced at the same court to two years and two months after he previously admitted violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent and possession of cannabis.
He was caught on CCTV launching a brick at officers and shouting abuse, according to Staffordshire Police.
Winyard was given a three-year sentence at Stafford Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder in Tamworth on 4 August.
He wore a pig mask as he launched missiles at police officers, police dogs and the Holiday Inn Express hotel, according to Staffordshire Police.
The force recently said it had arrested a total of 114 people and charged 46 following the disorder in Stoke-on-Trent on 3 August and in Tamworth on 4 August.
Riots and anti-immigration protests took place across the UK after three young girls were killed in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.
The unrest was fuelled by false claims on social media that the suspect was an asylum seeker.
On a warm summer evening in July, a Facebook post began circulating north Manchester. It called for action on Oldham Road.
“Let’s get them out,” it declared. “6pm today. Stand up and take note, because if you don’t, no-one will.”
Soon, a mob of up to 70 people had answered the call, gathering outside a Holiday Inn in Newton Heath. Before long, bottles, bricks and eggs filled the sky.
Police were scrambled to defend the hotel and its residents – the majority of whom were asylum seekers. ‘Protestors’ flung abuse and obscenities as officers hurried them inside during shameful scenes of violence.
In the sky above, a helicopter hovered – tracking the crowd’s every move.
Among them on July 31 were Vanessa Smith and her daughter Nevey. The pair were captured on video throwing liquids at police officers and asylum seekers.
Just metres from where a man was being taken to the floor and detained by three policemen, a bird’s eye view showed Nevey, 21, was pushing a pram.
Sat inside was her 20-month-old son. Her mother was seen recording the incident.
Just days after her daughter was hauled before the same judge, Vanessa Smith, 42, was sentenced for her actions today (September 26).
The Smiths were part of a violent crowd which gathered in front of what was supposed to be a place of safety for defenceless people seeking refuge.
One of Manchester’s most senior judges had strong words for Nevey Smith as she faced the consequences of her actions. “What on earth were you thinking?” he questioned the 21-year-old single mother in Manchester Crown Court earlier this week.
He characterised her decision to get involved while her son was present in a pram as an ‘extraordinary and concerning feature’ of the case. “I doubt very much you had his safety and wellbeing in mind,” he added.
During Nevey Smith’s sentencing hearing, it was revealed that when questioned, she admitted she didn’t understand what an asylum seeker was. “That aspect of the case and indeed other aspects of the case show you have quite a lot to learn and quite a lot of growing up to do,” Judge Patrick Field KC told Smith.
Today, the same judge took to court to sentence her mother. During the shocking disorder, a bus was attacked and an asylum seeker being escorted into the hotel was injured by flying glass. The prosecution told how Vanessa Smith was seen as part of the group and threw liquid towards police officers.
Vanessa Smith, a mum-of-three with two other children aged 16 and 11, handed herself in to police and pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Judge Field told the elder Smith that she had been ‘wholly misguided’ in her involvement in the mob and the court heard how she has suffered the loss of her employment at a Failsworth café because of it. Vanessa Smith, of Farnborough Road in Failsworth, was sentenced to an 18 month community order, 100 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation activity days, and instructed to make a payment of £150 to the cost of proceedings.
The judge accepted the defence’s submission that it was an ‘isolated incident and out of character’, with the throwing of water being the height of her contribution to the day’s chaos. But the judge called the behaviour ‘mistaken, ill-advised’, and’ completely unacceptable’.
“You should be duly ashamed, particularly as there were children present – your grandson was present. I’m confident that what we’ve just seen and heard about is not the example you would want to hold up for your children and grandchildren,” added the judge.
Vanessa Smith sighed as she was spared jail, as Judge Field said: “You’ve received a merciful sentence, don’t let me down.”
A Leeds thug who racially abused a woman to such an extent she is scared to go to work said he was supposed to get the bus home from a day of drinking when he became involved in a “demonstration.”
Jordan Plain, 30, of Broadway Horsforth, was captured on camera on August 3 in Leeds city centre making racist gestures towards the woman. The two short clips shown to Leeds Crown Court on Friday, August 9 showed Plain making the gestures surrounded by people swigging from beer cans and chanting “EDL EDL EDL” and “Tommy Robinson”.
Others in the clips were also observed making the Nazi salute.
In a victim personal statement she read to the court, the victim said: “Many of us have been left scared to leave our houses due to this incident. Many have also defended him for what he did to me and said it was right. It was not. I was born in Leeds and lived here my whole life. After this weekend’s events I don’t even feel welcome in my own home. I like to think I’m strong but I would be lying saying this hasn’t impacted my whole life.”
The woman said the incident has “had an impact on her every day life.” She said: “I’ve never experienced racism on this level in my whole life…This situation has had an impact on my every day life…I work in the city centre and I was scared I was going to get racially or religiously harassed…I have decided to go back to work but my mind isn’t at work…I haven’t been able to perform at my best at work.”
Prosecution counsel, Heather Gilmore told the court Plain was arrested on August 5 and he made admissions. He has previous convictions for possession of an imitation firearm, criminal damage, escaping lawful custody, burglary with intent to cause lawful damage as a youth.
Read more: Crying bingo fan shouts four words at police before dog latches on
As an adult he has previous convictions for racial and religiously aggravated criminal damage, taking of a motor-vehicle without consent, theft, driving while disqualified, breaching court orders and robbery.
The court heard from a Probation Service worker who had interviewed Plain in the cells before the sentencing hearing. He said Plain had told him he shared an eight-year-old daughter with an ex-partner who is of mixed-raced heritage. The Probation Service worker said Plain told him that “on the day in question he went out into the city centre, was drinking in a number of establishments and during the course of that morning he described his level of intoxication as a 6 out of 10 and he visited two establishments and thereafter his intentions were to go home.”
He added: “He intended to go to the Headrow to catch the bus home to Horsforth and while on that route saw this demonstration taking place and thereafter he became involved and participated in that demonstration. It led to him becoming involved in the offences committed. He said he didn’t want to make any excuses, he takes full responsibility and he appeared to show genuine remorse. He said, ‘I’m ashamed of what I have done, it should never have happened.'”
The worker said he believes the offences were “very much linked to his alcohol intake on the day.”
Mitigating, Mike Walsh said Plain makes “no effort to justify his actions.” He said Plain has written a letter to the court which shows “genuine remorse.”
Addressing Plain, Judge Kearl said: “The context of your offending is that it arises out of civil unrest and disorder in many parts of the country. The unrest has been generated as a result of the death of three little girls in Southport and the reaction from various parts of our society towards other parts of our society.
“Stemming from that incident, groups of protesters have gathered and on occasion clashed, sometimes using violence towards each other, sometimes towards the police, sometimes towards entirely innocent and unconnected people and their property.
“In a democratic society, such as that which exists in this country people are entitled to protest peacefully. They are also entitled to express their views, whatever their views may be, but each of those freedoms, to protest and to speak, have limits and boundaries.
Read more: New photos of Rotherham riot suspects released after hotel attack
“When a protest moves away from being peaceful, towards violence then it becomes illegal and against the law. When speaking, whether directly to others or indirectly through social media platforms, what is said must not contravene the law.
“The law applies to everyone, no matter what colour, race, religion, or political persuasion they are. There is no distinction. The law is there to protect everyone in our society both in terms of personal safety, businesses and premises, whether people’s homes or commercial properties.”
The judge said Plain joined a “Pro-EDL group” before gesticulating towards counter-protesters “whose number included people of colour.” He added: “You were saying they looked like monkeys and on several occasions rubbed your lips, insinuating rubber lips…
“You then got off a barrier and imitated the manner in which Muslim people pray in order to mock their religion. This was grossly offensive, racially aggravated behaviour.”
Judge Kearl told Plain: “What you have done cannot be viewed in isolation. It must be viewed against a background of unrest and disorder across the country. This was your contribution to that disorder. It took place at a time when the social climate was particularly sensitive.”
Far-Right Criminals 