Man who vowed to kill migrants jailed for two years

By
September 23, 2024
Uncategorized

A man who vowed to murder immigrants and “smash up” mosques has been jailed for taking part in a violent protest at a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Cameron Bowling, 41, of Farnborough, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Potters International Hotel in Aldershot on 31 July.

He banged on a window, swore at people inside and made violent threats, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Rufus Taylor said Bowling’s actions were motivated by racist hostility.

More than 200 protesters gathered at the hotel, as part of the rioting that swept across England in the days after the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport, the court heard.

Judge Taylor said a small group entered the car park, kicked footballs against windows, damaged blinds and a perimeter wall, set off flares and threw bicycles into a skip.

He said they shouted slogans including “we want our country back” and “get ’em gone”, the court heard.

The judge said Bowling played a significant role in the disturbance, which left hotel residents “petrified”.

In videos played in court, the defendant told police officers on the scene he would like to “murder” immigrants and “smash up mosques”, adding: “There’s not enough of you to stop that.”

Asked by an officer what he thought he was achieving by banging on the window, Bowling replied: “I’m letting them know they’re not [expletive] welcome.”

The defendant opened a gate which let protesters into the hotel car park, the court heard.

Neil Fitzgibbon, defending, said Bowling had a successful flooring business and had a “huge amount to lose” from an extended prison term.

Friends described him as “compassionate” and “hard-working” in letters of support, the court heard.

Four other people, including a 13-year-old girl, have pleaded guilty to charges over the incident and will be sentenced at a later date.

Another defendant is due to stand trial in April 2025.

BBC News

Business owner went to the pub to celebrate – then took his balaclava off

By
September 23, 2024
Uncategorized

A balaclava-wearing thug who carried a box of beers to a large-scale disturbance outside a hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers has been jailed.

Ryan Leckey, 24, joined a mass demonstration outside the hotel on Oldham Road, in Newton Heath, on July 31 this year. He was seen to throw a missile towards the hotel whilst others hurled abuse at the occupants and the police.

Afterwards, he went to celebrate in a pub nearby before he was caught on CCTV taking his balaclava off, Manchester Crown Court heard.

At the same incident, 42-year-old Darren Butler threatened one officer that he would ‘kick your f***ing head’ in before shouting: “They are protecting nonce’s.”

Both were jailed today, September 18, after admitting violent disorder. Disorder spread across the country last month after misinformation spouted online about the killing of three children in Southport.

Prosecuting, Kate Gaskell said police were deployed to the hotel after reporting of a large crowd forming. Racist abuse was hurled as missiles, including eggs, bottles and bricks, were thrown, she said.

Leckey, of Newton Heath, was caught on bodycam walking down the road carrying a large box of beer over his shoulder.

“He was seen picking something up and throwing it, directing it towards the hotel,” Ms Gaskell said. “He was then seen to move off to a local pub and celebrated his actions before taking off his balaclava.”

Mitigating for Leckey, who had no previous convictions, Rebecca Filletti said her client was ‘extremely sorry’.

“He is sorry to the people there, sorry to the victims of this, sorry to the police and sorry to his family,” she said. “He has asked me to tell the court he is ashamed of his behaviour that day and said his family have worked too hard to see him in this situation.”

The court heard that Leckey’s parents were on holiday at the time but had previously expressed concern about his peers. The business owner, who runs his own shoe cobbling company, said he joined a group of friends during the incident.

Butler, of Oldham, was captured on the footage approaching officers who were trying to move the crowd away, with a number of others.

“He could be heard to shout: “I will kick your f***ing head in”. He also shouted: “They are protecting nonce’s”, the prosecutor added.

After the footage of the incident was played to the court, Butler, who appeared over videolink from HMP Dovegate, said: “I am disgusted with myself.” When he was arrested he told officers that he was an ‘idiot’ for going to the riot.

Joshua Bowker, representing Butler, said his client was there for a short period of time and did not take any weapons or throw any missiles. “His involvement is the words said and his demeanour,” the barrister added.

“He suggests he attended out of intrigue and is very regretful.” He said that Butler, who has 25 previous convictions for 52 offences, was last before the courts in 2018.

Sentencing them, Judge Alan Conrad KC said that following the disorder against innocent people: “The courts must make clear, and will keep making clear, that for this sort of behaviour in a civil society, only serious punishment will follow. Deterrent sentences are necessary.”

Leckey, of Lightbowne Road, Newton Heath, was jailed for 16 months. Butler, of Cattlin Way, Oldham, was jailed for 17 months. Both will serve half of their terms in prison before being released on licence.

Yahoo News

Mother and daughter jailed for riot violence

By
September 23, 2024
Uncategorized

A mother and daughter have been jailed for taking part in a riot while out walking the family dog.

Amanda Walton, 52, and Megan Davison, 24, admitted violent disorder during disturbances in Middlesbrough on 4 August.

Video played to Teesside Crown Court showed Davison jumping on the roof of a red car while Walton was seen throwing a missile, damaging a car’s wing mirror and rummaging through a bin.

Judge Francis Laird KC jailed Walton for 22 months and her daughter Davison for 20 months.

Davison, of Seaton Street, Middlesbrough, was said to have been high on a “cocktail of drugs” and became swept up in the violence.

The mother-of-two was also seen sticking a finger up at a police officer and walking away from a shop while “concealing items”, said Rachel Masters, prosecuting.

The court heard Walton, of Ashling Way, Middlesbrough, brought her chow chow to the march and a video showed both women holding the pet’s lead at times as a mob made its way up Parliament Street.

Walton handed herself in after police circulated images of the trouble, while Davison was arrested at her home.

Jon Harley, defending Davison, said she had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs the night before following a break-up and was still intoxicated during the march.

Since being in prison she has managed to stay drug-free, he said.

Gary Wood, for Walton, said she was at the protest out of concern for her daughter.

“She hadn’t planned to be involved, in fact she is present in the street with her dog,” he said.

Judge Laird said the seriousness of the disorder, set against other outbreaks of trouble elsewhere in the country, meant neither sentence could be suspended, but he gave both credit for pleading guilty which reduced their jail terms.

BBC News

‘What on earth were you thinking?’ – Judge slams young mother who took baby to Manchester riot in a pram

By
September 23, 2024
Uncategorized

Nevey Smith’s defence lawyer told a court that she did not know what an asylum seeker was

A young mother who took her toddler to a riot at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester has been criticised by a judge, but spared an immediate jail sentence.

Nevey Smith, 21, admitted throwing water over police during the trouble on 31 July while her 20-month-old child was with her in a pram, claiming that she “lost her temper” while on a day out with the baby’s grandmother.

She had joined the mob that had been throwing bottles, bricks and eggs at the Holiday Inn amid nationwide unrest after three girls were stabbed at a holiday club in Southport two days previously.

Describing her as “misguided, naive and immature” at her sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, Judge Patrick Field KC said: “You chose to join (the disorder) notwithstanding that you had your 20-month-old child in a pushchair.

“What on earth were you thinking? I doubt you had his safety in mind.”

Smith was handed a community order and made to attend reviews at a women’s problem-solving court, and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

The judge also told Smith that she had a “lot to learn” and “quite a lot of growing up to do”.

He said that her role was “minimal and peripheral” as she had not been involved in throwing bricks or encouraging others to do so.

Daniel Calder, defending, told the court that Smith had not set out to attend the protest on the day, and had been passing the riot when she “foolishly” got involved.

He said that Smith had not expressed discriminatory views and did not know what an asylum seeker is.

Smith was handed a community order and made to attend reviews at a women’s problem-solving court, and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Her mother, Vanessa Smith, 42, was also at the protest and admitted violent disorder. She will be sentenced on Thursday.

The Independent

Yob who travelled to Manchester to ‘join in’ with riots moaned jail was ‘frightening’

By
September 20, 2024
Uncategorized

Liam Ryan, 28, claimed that he wanted to ‘support the families of the Southport attack’

A yob who travelled from West Yorkshire to Manchester to ‘join in’ with the riots has been jailed.

Liam Ryan, 28, was one of a large group of men who attacked a lone black male in Piccadilly Gardens on July 31. The incident was filmed and posted on social media.

In the footage Ryan was wearing a bright yellow coat with his hood up to conceal his identity. He was seen to punch the man twice as others shouted: “Kill him… fill him in… stamp on his f***ing face.”

The attack, which prosecutors claimed was ‘clearly racially motivated’, took place against the background of disorder across the country after the attack in Southport which saw three children killed and others seriously injured.

Ryan, of Bradford, admitted an offence of violent disorder and was jailed for 28 months.

Rob Hall, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was seen to throw a right handed punch at the black male but missed him. He then threw a left hand and hit him, then threw another right handed punch that hit him again.”

He said he moved off after others got involved but kept his hood over his head. Mr Hall also confirmed that the black male had initially thrown a missile into the crowd that had congregated before he was attacked.

Ryan was arrested and interviewed and said he had travelled from Bradford to ‘join in with the protests’.

“He claimed he was not affiliated to the far right group,” Mr Hall continued. “He stated he had several drinks and said he did not know why he became involved in the violence.

“He confirmed he had no reason to assault the male and nobody had encouraged him to join in with the assault, that he knew what he did was wrong and offered to write a letter of apology to the victim.”

The court heard Ryan has previous convictions for criminal damage, a public order offence and had previously been handed a football banning order.

Mitigating, Damien Zelazowski said Ryan was ‘deeply remorseful’.

“He was aware there was a protest and wanted to show support for the families from Southport,” he said. “His intention was not to become involved in the violence – he simply can not explain why he got involved.”

Mr Zelazowski added that Ryan, who works as a window fitter, found the prospect of custody ‘frightening’.

Jailing Ryan, of Thirkleby Royd, Clayton, Judge Patrick Field KC said: “Once in Manchester you became an enthusiastic participant in hateful and loutish violence along with a group of like minded people.

“It’s concerning that’s probably what you came to Manchester for. Nothing about what occurred in Piccadilly Gardens suggests that you or others were involved in a lawful, legitimate, well-intentioned protest.”

He added that it was ‘totally unacceptable, wanton, drunken violence’ by a group ‘motivated by hatred of other groups of people.

“Your behaviour was disgraceful and shameful,” the judge concluded.

Three people jailed for disorder in Merseyside

By
September 20, 2024
Uncategorized

Three people have been jailed for more than seven years for their roles in violent disorder in Merseyside.

The three offenders appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 20 September, after pleading guilty to violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool.
They are:

• Daniel Frazer, 24 years, of Seafield Road, New Ferry was sentenced to two years in prison for violent disorder in Liverpool

• Lloyd Killner, 35 years, of Burton Road, Lincoln, was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison for violent disorder in Liverpool

• Callum Savage, 24 years, of Haig Avenue, Leyland in Preston was sentenced to two years, four months for violent disorder in Southport

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “To date we have made 109 arrests, charged 68, and brought 54 people before the courts – they have been sentenced to a total of 116 years in prison.

“Our investigation into the incidents in Merseyside continues with more arrests, charges and sentences being progressed.

“We continue to identify more people who attended 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 (mipp.police.uk) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Merseyside Police

Man jailed for violent disorder in city

By
September 20, 2024
Uncategorized

A man has been sentenced to 20 months in jail for his role in a city centre protest which turned violent.

Joseph Bradford, 20, of Bishopsworth, Bristol, pleaded guilty to one offence of violent disorder after a video showed him as part of a group shouting at police and throwing a can at officers in Bristol on 3 August.

He was sentenced to 30 months detention, reduced to 20 months at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

Sentencing Bradford, Judge Hart told him: “It took little to provoke you to express unacceptable attitudes and to translate them into serious public disorder.”

The unrest occurred when protesters and counter protesters gathered near Castle Park in the city centre.

Prosecutors said Bradford took part in a planned protest in Bristol which had been advertised by a far right group.

Police tried to keep the protesters and counter protesters separate, but right wing protesters became violent, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Bradford had been at the protest in Castle Park and on the Bristol Bridge, the court heard.

He can be seen on video footage confronting police and throwing a can at them.

After police searched for him, Bradford handed himself in on 11 August.

Mr Maunder, defending, said: “It’s fair to say, he is embarrassed and ashamed.

“That is genuine and deep felt. He recognises his abject stupidity involving himself in such an ugly incident and sentiment.

“He has no political motivation or even thoughts. His grandparents were immigrants from the Caribbean.”

Judge Hart said the defendant was “”apologetic and remorseful” during police interviews.

“People who support you will be astonished to see you could behave like this. How you came to do what you did is a mystery to those who knew you. It mystifies me,” he said.

“Our law protects right of peaceful protest and won’t criminalise holding of views, it will not tolerate resort to violence and threats and disorder.”

Demonstrations took place across England after three young girls were killed in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

BBC News

Fathers who took sons to asylum hotel riot jailed

By
September 19, 2024
Uncategorized

Two fathers who took their sons to a riot at a hotel housing asylum seekers are the latest to be jailed in connection to the disorder.

Stephen Roughley, 44, took his teenage son Kenzie to the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August, where police officers were attacked and the hotel left extensively damaged.

Mason Reddy, 24, was seen pushing a pram and carrying a boy aged around two years old in his arms while he shouted a racial slur, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Both admitted violent disorder, with Roughley jailed for two years and eight months and Reddy jailed for three years.

Roughley, of South Elmsall, Wakefield, was filmed throwing items at a police van and starting chants alongside his son, who was the first person to be jailed following the disorder.

In August, Kenzie Roughley was jailed for two years and four months after he abused officers and rocked a police van.

During Kenzie’s sentencing, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said the teenager had had a “deplorable upbringing”, with his father absent from the public gallery.

“I expect if the father attended [court] he’d be arrested,” Judge Richardson remarked at the time.

Body-worn video showed Roughley, who admitted violent disorder at a previous hearing, pushing past his son to verbally abuse officers.

His barrister said his client was “thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed” of his behaviour.

Reddy, who was dressed in “distinctive clothing” and wearing odd shoes, also took his son to the hotel disorder, the court heard.

He went on to throw bricks and rocks at the hotel and cheered when rioters lit a fire, the sentencing heard.

In mitigation, the court heard Reddy, of Victoria Street, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, had taken his son with him as he had intended to protest peacefully.

Also sentenced at the court was Daniel Dicks, who was pictured on the day wearing a camouflage coat and mask.

The hearing heard he told officers they were “protecting” those inside the hotel, adding, “we want them”, the court heard.

A shopping trolley was kicked towards a police van by Dicks, 33, who was then hit by the baton of a police officer.

He wrote a letter to the judge expressing remorse and pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Dicks, of Probert Avenue, Goldthorpe, was jailed for two years and eight months.

Regan Urruty Dever, 22, of Ouse Terrace, Doncaster, had “limited involvement” and attended the hotel for about 20 minutes, the court heard.

He was said to have grabbed the riot shields of officers and later expressed remorse for his actions.

Dever pleaded guilty to violent disorder at an earlier magistrates’ court hearing and was jailed for two years.

BBC News

Baby faced thug told police he ‘ruined his whole life’

By
September 19, 2024
Uncategorized

Jackson Hegarty was part of a mob that surrounded a police officer who was knocked off his motorbike and assaulted

A baby-faced thug told police he had “ruined his whole life because of one day” after he participated in a city centre riot.

Teenager Jackson Hegarty, identified by his distinctive yellow JD bag, went into the city centre to meet friends but ended up joining a violent mob that engaged in serious disorder by damaging vehicles and local businesses and attacking police officers.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Thursday, September 19 that the violent disorder followed the deaths of three young girls – Bebe King, Alice Da Silva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe – who died following a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift dance party on July 29. Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, told the court: “What followed was widespread violent disorder fuelled by misinformation and racial hatred”.

She said between July 30 and August 3 between 225 and 275 officers were deployed each day to three major incidents of violent disorder in Merseyside. The offending of Hegarty, 18, relates to the violent rioting seen in Liverpool’s city centre on August 3 that started at around 3pm and lasted several hours.

The court heard on the day in question the teenager had got the train into the city centre to meet friends between noon and 2pm. However, at the same time a large crowd had gathered for a march that was billed as “save our kids”. However, the protests soon turned violent with rioters clashing with police officers and ransacking businesses.

Ms Nemat told the court that Mohammed Omair, who owns the I Fix Phones Repair Centre on Church Street in the city centre, made the decision to close his shop shortly after 3pm due to concerns about the disorder. Mr Omair, who has been in the UK for 10 years, said he feared for both his and his staff’s safety after hearing chants of “you bloody Muslims”, “you f***ing p****” and “go back to your country”.

The court heard as he was closing his shop a group of around 40 people, many of them with their faces covered, grabbed the shutters and forced them open. Ms Nemat said some used metal poles to keep them open while another brandished a knife at the terrified owner.

Ms Nemat said: “The defendant is captured on CCTV approaching the shutter and kicking it before beckoning towards people. He then holds open the shutter enabling others to exit the store.” Mr Omair, his staff and three members of the public sheltered at the back of the store while the mob stole around £100,000 of his stock.

Shortly after, Hegarty engaged in further disorder on the Strand. CCTV footage played in court showed the teenager gesturing towards a line of police officers. He is said to have squirted a liquid towards the officers and thrown a number of empty drink cans. CCTV also showed him “high five” another person after they let off a smoke bomb in the direction of police.

A police officer riding a motorbike was attacked during the riot. The officer, who has been named as PC Cumberlidge in previous court appearances, was kicked from his bike and attacked by the mob. Ms Nemat said: “The crowd charged towards the police officer who was pushed off his bike by another member of the group. A metal pole was thrown towards the police officer.

“While the police officer is being attacked the defendant gestures towards him and approaches him. Another member of the public stands between the defendant and the officer and gestures to him to stop or go away.”

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Omair said he sustained small glass cuts to his hands when his shop was looted. However, he said his mental health is suffering and he has to go and check any noise for fear of further attack. He said: “I feel like this was a personal attack. I am terrified to take my daughter to nursery because I am worried about her safety.”

He added: “I have lived here for 10 years and this is the first time I have experienced anything like this. I can’t believe these people are from Liverpool. I am so shocked by their act. I believe there was a racial undertone. I came to this country legally. Illegal immigration has nothing to do with me.”

The court heard Hegarty handed himself in to police after his picture was circulated. In a police interview he admitted that he threw missiles and swore at police. He accepted “he ruined his whole life because of one day”. He was charged with violent disorder and burglary and admitted the two offences at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.

Daniel Travers, mitigating, told the court that his client was “appalled by his actions”. Mr Travers said: “He was carried away in the group mentality and followed the crowd wanting to be part of something.” He told the court his client wasn’t racially motivated but was instead “looking to belong to something”.

Mr Travers said: “Although his behaviour is appalling and unacceptable, it’s behaviour he won’t be repeating. He is realistic and understands there is a public interest in punishing those responsible. Mr Travers added in his client’s pre-sentence report the teenager “was impressed by the way police and prison staff treated him with care and kindness”.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “Although your conduct encouraged others, you didn’t play a leading role. Although some involved were racially motivated, I can’t be sure you share their motivation but I am sure that you must have been aware of a general atmosphere of racial hostility. You have no criminal convictions and I accept you didn’t go to take part in the violent disorder and you didn’t personally steal anything.”

But Judge Flewitt told Hegarty his actions had left a shop owner “feeling traumatised” and a number of officers had been seriously injured. The judge sentenced Hegarty, formerly of Ryefield Lane in Litherland but most recently of HMP Altcourse, to 20 months’ imprisonment in a young persons institute.

The teenager blew a kiss to a dozen members of his family in the public dock as he was led to the cells.
Liverpool Echo

Man admits rioting over asylum seeker hotel attack

By
September 19, 2024
Uncategorized

A man who assaulted a police officer during unrest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has become only the third person in England to admit a charge of rioting.

The Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth was attacked and set on fire during disorder on 4 August, in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

Simon Orr, 38, from Tamworth, previously pleaded guilty to assaulting the female officer but denied riot charges.

He appeared at Stoke Crown Court via video link from prison to change his plea on Thursday.

Judge John Edwards told him it was a “sensible” decision and that he would be sentenced on 11 October.

The attack on the Holiday Inn Express came amid the disorder that swept the UK last month.

The riots and protests were in part fuelled by false claims on social media that the suspect in the Southport attack was an immigrant who had arrived on a small boat.

The court heard Orr was also in breach of a suspended sentence order, having been handed a 17-week term in January for theft, assault and driving while disqualified.

Judge Edwards said: “The fact that you have pleaded guilty today is something that the [sentencing] judge can take into consideration.

“You have not left it to the day of trial [to plead guilty] which is very sensible if I may say so.”

The charge against Orr was upgraded from violent disorder to the more serious charge of riot after a review of the evidence by prosecutors.

No details of Orr’s involvement in the rioting were given to the court, but CCTV evidence will be played at a future hearing.

Defence barrister Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe told the court that Orr had mental health issues, which may need to be explored before his sentencing.

Emily Lenham of the Crown Prosecution Service said he was an active participant who was directly attacking police, especially after officers tried to control the situation.

“When the disorder escalated, rather than leaving, Orr continued to play an active role; encouraging others to set fire to the hotel with people trapped inside – recklessly endangering lives,” she said.

“Despite his clear involvement he attempted to minimise his conduct, claiming he had attended for a lawful protest.

“However, the strength of evidence against him left him no choice but to plead guilty.”

n a separate hearing at the same court, Matthew Hodgekinson also pleaded guilty to having taking part in violent disorder.

The 33-year-old, of Halmerend, Newcastle-under-Lyme, admitted one charge relating to unrest in Stoke-on-Trent on 3 August.

Judge Sally Hancox said it was “almost inevitable” Hodgekinson would be facing a custodial sentence.
BBC News