Convictions following mass violent disorder in South Yorkshire

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September 18, 2024
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Ashley Williams, 21, of Lowfield Walk, Denaby Main, has pleaded guilty violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 17 September. He will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on 25 September.

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Image of Williams

Scott Greenwood, 34, of Tingle Bridge Lane, Hemingfield, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life at Sheffield Crown Court on 16 September. He will appear for sentencing on 16 October.

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Image of Greenwood

A 14-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reason, has pleaded guilty to arson and violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 9 September. He will be sentenced at the same court on 2 October.

Stephen Roughley, 44, of Barnsley Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates; Court on 5 September. He will appear for sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on 19 September.

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Pictured is Roughley

A 16-year-old boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 4 September. He will be sentenced at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on 15 October.

Joshua Lane, 27, of Park Road, Brierley, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 31 August. He will appear for sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 18 September.

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Photo of Lane

Ricky Cotton, 32, of Broadwater, Bolton-upon-Dearne, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 31 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 18 September.

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Image of Cotton

Daniel Dicks, 33, of Probert Avenue, Goldthorpe, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 31 August. He will appear for sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on 17 September.

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Image of Daniel Dicks

Daniel Kendall, 21, of Sandymount Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 30 August. He will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on 23 September.

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Image of Kendall

A 15-year-old boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 30 August. He will be sentenced at the same court on 2 October.

Gareth Lunn, 40, of Billingley View, Bolton-upon-Dearne, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on 28 August. He is due to appear for sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on 11 September. 

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Image of Lunn

Christian Hemus, 33, of Clarney Place, Barnsley has pleaded guilty to violent disorder and having a dog dangerously out of control. He will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on 3 October for sentencing.

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Image is Hemus.

A 13-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the South Yorkshire Youth Court on 26 August. He will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 4 September.

Scott Kendall, 24, of Sandymount Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 24 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 11 September.

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Image of Kendall

Ryan Deering, 34, Potts Crescent, Great Houghton, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 20 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 18 September. 

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Image of Deering

Sonny Ackerman, 29, of Birkdale Drive, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 22 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 10 September. 

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Photo of Ackerman

Lee Marshall, 39, of Princess Street, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 22 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 10 September. 

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Image of Marshall

Mason Reddy, 24, of Victoria Street, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 23 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 10 September.

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Photo of Reddy

Michael Woods, 64, of Ainsdale Avenue, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 19 August. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on 11 September for sentencing.

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Photo of Woods

Christian Ivermee, 31, of Chapel Street, Mexborough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 17 August. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on 13 September for sentencing.

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Photo of Ivermee

Michael Shaw, 26, of Pagnell Avenue, Thurnscoe, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 14 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on 4 October for sentencing. 

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Photograph of Shaw

South Yorks Police

Man who threw bricks at police jailed for role in ‘shocking’ disorder

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September 18, 2024
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Mark Barrow took part in the violent scenes that broke out in his hometown

A man who hurled bricks at police officers in his hometown in “shocking” disorder that saw more than 50 police officers injured has been jailed. Mark Barrow appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday morning after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

The 28-year-old of Manchester Road in Southport was handed a two-year-and-four-month prison sentence for his role in the riots, making him the 51st person to be brought before the courts following the horrific scenes that plagued Merseyside this summer.

Detective Sergeant Duncan Sloan said: “Barrow played an active part in the shocking scenes of violent disorder we all witnessed in Southport on 30 July. He was seen throwing a number of bricks towards officers. So far we have made 106 arrests, charged 68, and brought 51 people before the courts – bringing a total of 107 years sentencing.

“Our investigation into the incidents in Merseyside is ongoing with more arrests, charges and sentences to come. 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.”

Tuesday, September 18, saw the youngest person involved in the violent disorder be sentenced when a 12-year-old boy appeared at Liverpool Youth Court in his school shoes after he handed himself into police. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, joined the mob of around 1,000 people gathered on both St Luke’s Road and Sussex Road in Southport who repeatedly targeted a local mosque and police officers with missiles over a number of hours.

Angela Conlan, prosecuting, told Liverpool Youth Court this afternoon, “the defendant is here following the violent disorder on July 30 following on from the tragic stabbing of the three young girls on July 29”. Ms Conlan told the court that the boy was with a friend on the night of the disorder and threw two stones towards a line of police officers at around 8.45pm.

The judge sentenced the boy to a 12-month referral order. This means the boy must agree to a contract of rehabilitative and restorative elements with the court, as well as doing extra work in the community with various agencies.

Liverpool Echo

‘Community hero’ jailed for hurling bricks in riots

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September 18, 2024
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A former community award winner who hurled bricks at a police van during a riot in Southport has been jailed.

Joshua Cropper, 31, of Pitt Street, Southport, who was previously given a Pride of Sefton Award, was caught on video launching rocks, bricks and a concrete slab at the van while officers were inside, Merseyside Police said.

He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for violent disorder in the town on 30 July.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy from Knowsley, who cannot be named, has been convicted of assaulting a police officer during violent disorder in Liverpool on 3 August.

‘Truly shocking’

Cropper was given a courage award in the 2023 Pride of Sefton Awards for rescuing a number of dogs from a burning house.

Awards organisers Stand Up For Southport reported at the time that he was “overwhelmed” to get the award.

Speaking to the Stand Up For Southport, external community website at the time, the dad-of-three said: “I believe in karma. It’s good to do things to help other people.”

Det Ch Insp Tony Roberts said: “Cropper played a central role in the awful scenes he and others brought to the town that day.”

He said Cropper had repeatedly smashed the side window of a police van with a rock while officers were inside and picked up a concrete slab which he then used to strike the bonnet a number of times.

“While Cropper was topless throughout, he made some attempt to cover his face with a top tied around his neck and he wore a cap,” he added, .

Sitting on Tuesday, Liverpool Crown Court also heard that the 16-year-old assaulted a police officer by kicking him in the back after he had already been pushed off his motorbike on The Strand.

Mobile phone footage of the incident was shared widely on social media.

The teenager was convicted of violent disorder, criminal damage, assault by beating of an emergency worker and two counts of burglary other than in a dwelling.

He was also identified on footage as being at the forefront of a large mob who threw bricks at officers as well as damaging and burgling stores in Clayton Square.

A pre-sentence report was ordered and the boy, who also tried to conceal his identity with a face mask, will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 1 October.

DCI Roberts said the footage of the police officer being assaulted on The Strand was “truly shocking”.

“A lot of people would have viewed it and been appalled after it was widely shared on social media in the immediate aftermath of the disorder in Liverpool,” he said.

“Thankfully the officer didn’t sustain serious injuries during this particular incident, but the aggression and violence on display serves as a snapshot of what all of our officers had to deal with during the incidents in Liverpool and Southport.”

The force continued to identify suspects with more charges expected, he added.

BBC News

Two more jailed over violent protest in Bristol

By
September 17, 2024
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Two more men have been jailed for their role in a city centre protest which turned violent.

James Maine, 44, and Shane Dennis, 30, were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court earlier in connection with the disorder in Bristol on Saturday 3 August.

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

Avon and Somerset Police have arrested 51 people in connection with the disorder, with 37 being charged so far.

Maine, of Kingswood, received a 28-month jail sentence after throwing missiles at police and punching a member of the public, which was captured on CCTV.

Judge Peter Blair said Maine’s involvement was “persistent”, and described him as “one of the central individuals” carrying our the violent disorder.

Dennis, of Knowle, was jailed for four weeks after pleading guilty to a racially-aggravated public order offence after shouting racist remarks in Castle Park that same day.

Judge Blair accepted Dennis was not directly involved in the violence, but said his actions were “provocative” and helped fuel the disorder.

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

False claims were spread online that the person responsible was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.

“There was no excuse for violence that day,” said Det Ch Insp Tom Herbert.

“The scenes played out in Bristol on 3 August were criminal and disgraceful, and now more than 20 people have been sentenced for what they did on that day.

“Detectives are continuing to investigate, and work with the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts to ensure all those responsible for such reprehensible scenes are brought to justice.”

Avon and Somerset Police said it was still keen to identify a number of people, external that officers want to speak to as part of their investigation.

Earlier, a 25-year-old man from the Shirehampton area of Bristol was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and is currently in police custody.
BBC News

Carer among eight people remanded over Tamworth disorder

By
September 17, 2024
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Cameron Bell admitted a charge of violent disorder at Stafford Crown Court and now faces an ‘inevitable’ custodial sentence.

Six men and two women, including a care worker who broadcast a violent protest on social media, were remanded in custody after appearing in connection with disorder in Tamworth, Staffordshire, on August 4.

Stafford Crown Court was told Cameron Bell, who has no previous convictions, accepted her guilt on a charge of violent disorder “on the understanding that she was present and live-streamed the matter to her TikTok account”.

Bell, 24, from Tamworth, admitted a single count of violent disorder on Tuesday and was remanded in custody for sentencing in the week commencing October 28 after being told a jail sentence was inevitable.

She appeared in the dock alongside her partner Kyle Barber, also from Tamworth, whose case was adjourned until October 8.

Barber, 24, was not asked to enter a plea to a charge of violent disorder and was remanded in custody.

Mitchell Cleaver, 25, of Burton-on-Trent, appeared jointly via videolink from HMP Dovegate along with Martin McCluskey, 60, from Tamworth.

Cleaver, wearing a vest, admitted a charge of riot relating to events in Tamworth on August 4, where a hotel containing housing asylum seekers was set on fire, and will be sentenced on October 30.

McCluskey admitted violent disorder and pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

Judge John Edwards ordered a psychological assessment to be carried out on Cleaver, who has serious learning difficulties and was caught on police drone footage, before sentencing on November 11.

The judge ordered McCluskey to remain in custody until sentencing on October 30.

Tommy McQuaker, 29, of Amington in Tamworth, made a separate videolink appearance from HMP Dovegate.

He admitted violent disorder and pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a police dog, with prosecutors accepting the latter charge should not be proceeded with.

Adjourning McQuaker’s case to November 8, Judge Edwards told him: “I will accede to your barrister’s request for a pre-sentence report but please don’t take it from that that your sentence will be anything other than one of prison.”

Simon Orr, 38, from Tamworth, is accused of riot and assaulting a female police officer.

He admitted assault but pleaded not guilty to riot on the grounds he does not accept having a common purpose with others present at the scene.

His case was adjourned for trial in the week commencing January 20.

No pleas were taken from Darren Woodley, 55, also from Tamworth and also charged with violent disorder. He was remanded in custody until next Monday.

Last to appear before the same judge was Aimie Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

The 37-year-old, from Rugeley, was said to have had “somewhat limited” involvement in the disorder and will reappear for sentence in custody in the week beginning November 4.

Evening Standard

Southport boy ‘chose to be part of an angry mob’

By
September 17, 2024
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To recap, Liverpool Youth Court heard the 12-year-old boy threw two stones at police officers in Southport on 30 July.

The boy – who cannot be named because of his age – was said to have gone to the scene outside the town’s mosque because he was “curious” after seeing a fire.

But, his defence said he was not involved in racist chanting and had no previous convictions.

He pleaded guilty last month – which the court heard meant he avoided a prison sentence.

District Judge Wendy Lloyd told the boy “it was an angry mob and you chose to be a part of it”.

“It was a really horrible situation and you made it all the more horrible by joining in and throwing stones,” she added.

The district judge has just sentenced the 12-year-old to a 12-month referral order – and the boy will also be subject to a curfew between 21:00 and 07:00 each night.

A referral order is a sentence available to the courts when dealing with young people below the age of 18 who have admitted an offence. It requires them to take part in a rehabilitation programme aimed at preventing them from offending in the future.

“You’ll work with the young offending team – to make sure you don’t offend again and to protect other people from your offending,” the district judge tells him.

BBC News

Six people have pleaded guilty to charges related to the disorder in Tamworth last month.

By
September 17, 2024
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Six men and two women appeared at Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday accused of committing offences during the disturbance at the town’s Holiday Inn Express on 4 August.

Cameron Bell, 23, Martin McClusky, 60, and Tommy McQuaker, 29, all from Tamworth, admitted violent disorder.

McClusky also pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer.

Aimee Hodgkinson, 37, from Rugeley, Staffordshire, admitted violent disorder, while Mitchell Cleaver, 25, from Tamworth, pleaded guilty to a charge of riot.

Simon Orr, 38, from Tamworth, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer but not guilty to riot. His trial for the latter charge has been scheduled for 20 January.

Kyle Barber, 24, and Darren Woodley, 55, both from Tamworth, did not enter pleas to charges of violent disorder and their cases have been adjourned.

Those who pleaded guilty are due to be sentenced at later dates.

BBC News

Boy, 14, sentenced after throwing bricks at police vans in Manchester

By
September 17, 2024
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Let’s head to Manchester Magistrates’ Court where a 14-year-old boy has just been sentenced for “cowardly and shameful” violent disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in the city.

The boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was celebrating his 14th birthday when he joined a group of adults and youths who threw missiles at police and the Holiday Inn, Newton Heath, on 31 July.

Magistrates were shown CCTV footage of the teenager throwing bricks at police vans and kicking a bus.

The bus driver was later assaulted, although the boy was not involved in that attack, the court heard.

The court was told the boy was also part of a group goading police officers and trying to knock their helmets off. The boy, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder at an earlier hearing, said he was “ashamed” and “very sorry” for what he had done.

District Judge Margaret McCormack gave the boy a 12-month referral order and described his behaviour as “wicked” but accepted he had made a “stupid mistake” and was sorry for what he had done.

The boy’s mother, who was in court, was ordered to pay £150 compensation to the bus driver.

BBC News

Boy arrested on 13th birthday sentenced for throwing egg at police

By
September 17, 2024
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A bit more now from Manchester Magistrates’ Court where a teenager who was arrested on his 13th birthday, for his part in violent disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in the city, has just been sentenced.

The teenager, who was 12 at the time of the incident in July, was given a 12-month referral order by District Judge Margaret McCormack.

The hearing was told he threw objects at police, including an egg, and also goaded police officers.

District Judge McCormack told the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, that the group of adults and youths outside the Holiday Inn were “terrorising people trying to go about their daily lives”.

“You may have been 12 but you knew what you were doing was wrong”, she told him.

In defence, the court was told the boy was “not a racist” and was “ashamed by his actions” .

His mother, who was in court, was ordered to pay £150 compensation to a bus driver, who was assaulted by others during the violence.

BBC News

Neo-Nazi found with home ‘armoury’ guilty of terrorism offences

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September 17, 2024
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A neo-Nazi who amassed an “armoury” at his home in Stirlingshire has been found guilty of crimes including plans to commit an act of terrorism.

Alan Edward, who had nearly 28,000 followers on social media, had discussed an attack on a LBGT group in Falkirk, the High Court in Stirling heard.

The 54-year-old was arrested after armed police surrounded his end-terrace house in Redding, Falkirk, in September 2022 and broke down his front door.

He denied all the offences, but a jury found him guilty of charges under the Terrorism Act, racism, anti-Semitism, holocaust denial and breach of the peace.

The trial heard that Edward wrote the “the quickest way to someone’s heart is with a high power 7.62mm round”.

Police found weapons and equipment including a crossbow, 14 knives – some with Nazi and SS insignia, machetes, a tomahawk, a samurai sword, knuckledusters, a catapult, an extendable baton and a stun gun.

They also found an air pistol, an SS-style skull mask, goggles and a respirator, fighting gloves with hardened knuckles, pellets, ball bearings, and hunting tips for crossbow arrows.

Prosecutors said it amounted to “an armoury” of weapons.

Edward also had an indoor cannabis plantation that he was growing to sell.

The court heard he possessed and expressed “a set of ideals with a neo-Nazi outlook, incorporating notions of white supremacy, the notion of racial purity of whites, racism, anti-semitism, and hatred of homosexuals and transgender people”.

Sinister exchanges

A document found on his computer referred to Norweigian neo-Nazi mass murderer Anders Breivik as “Saint Anders”.

Checks on his WhatsApp account found he had been messaging an associate in nearby Grangemouth about the proposed attack on an LBGT group.

In a series of exchanges described by the prosecution as “incredibly sinister”, he said: “They have been pushing their luck for years, now they will pay in blood.”

He added: “We should get masked up and go do a few of them in at their little gay club.”

Other messages targeted communists and Jews.

The court also heard that Edward had two accounts on Gab, a free speech social media platform popular with the far right.

He came to the attention of counter-terrorism investigators after posting a video of a National Action rally held in 2016 – shortly before it became the first far-right group to be proscribed in the UK under the Terrorism Act.

Prosecutor Paul Kearney KC said Edward was “a man who with clear neo-Nazi ideals – preparing for an act of terrorism which would include an ideologically-driven incident of serious violence”.

Judge Fiona Tait deferred sentence until 21 October at the High Court in Edinburgh.

BBC News