Suspects named as three more men charged with violent disorder

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

They will appear in court this morning

Three more men have been charged with violent disorder. Lee Powell, 45, of Benton Close, Vauxhall; Adam Latty, 24, of Radnor Drive, Southport and Christopher Beard, 33, of Gidlow Lane, Wigan were all charged with violent disorder following scenes of unrest in Liverpool and Southport.

They were all remanded into custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning, Wednesday, August 28. It brings the number of people charged to 53.

The latest people to be jailed for their part in the violent disorder were Mark Blanchard, 37, of Saints Close in Old Swan, who was sentenced to two years and six months; Carlos McStravock, 33 and of Middle Way in Croxteth, who was jailed for two years and four months; and Max Higson, 22 and of no fixed abode, who was handed a two year jail term.

Thirty-three people have now been sentenced for their roles in the disorder. The courts previously heard that a violent mob, of around 1,000 people, targeted a mosque chanting “who the f*** is Allah” just an hour after a peaceful vigil was held in memory of three young girls killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party the previous day.

Police officers were targeted with bricks, a vehicle was set alight and the mosque’s windows and walls were damaged. Dozens of officers were injured during the disorder, which later spilled out into rioting in Liverpool city centre and County Road in Walton the following weekend.

Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Paul White said: “These men were part of a group who brought violence to the streets of Southport, causing harm and fear in a community that was already in shock following the murders of Alice, Elsie and Bebe the previous day.

“Those involved in the appalling scenes continue to be dealt with in court and there have now been 33 people sentenced for their role in the disorder in Merseyside. Our officers have been working incredibly long hours to investigate the vast array of footage available from both incidents we’ve experienced in Southport and Liverpool and this will continue, with more arrests and charges to come.

“I’d also like to recognise the vital role that the public have played in this conviction, too. We’re continuing to receive information from members of the local community and please continue to come forward. With your support, we can continue to take robust action against those who are responsible for the senseless violence witnessed in Merseyside.”

Liverpool Echo

Distinctive tattoos helped police identify Leeds thug who performed racist gestures – landing him in jail

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

Distinctive tattoos helped police to identify a thug who performed racist gestures in Leeds city centre, which have landed him in jail.

Nicholas Hemingway was seen rubbing his lips and making monkey noises in the direction of a pro-Palestinian demonstration on August 3, before getting down on his knees and “mocking the way in which Muslim people pray”.

The 34-year-old, of Walford Road, Leeds, was involved in a protest on The Headrow outside Leeds Art Gallery, which was attended by far-right supporters, as well as anti-fascist groups.

He admitted two racially and religiously aggravated offences causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress, and was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court this afternoon (August 27).

Footage played to the court showed Hemingway performing the racist gestures, which included putting his T-shirt over his head in a manner thought to be “imitating traditional dress”, prosecutor Carmel Pearson said.

She said: “He was described by police as having distinctive tattoos, which helped to identify him as the man seen in that video.”

Describing the impact on one of the counter-protestors, Ms Pearson said: “She was terrified and had to walk to the bus stop with others because she was so afraid.”

Defending, Dan Lee said: “He says he is ashamed of his actions and knows that there is no excuse for what the videos showed him doing.”

The protest in Leeds came as violence erupted in dozens of towns and cities including Rotherham, Tamworth, Plymouth, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Hull.

Hotels where asylum seekers were known to be staying were targeted and set on fire, shops were looted, police cars were attacked and bricks were hurled at officers.

The Recorder of Leeds Guy Kearl said: “You joined with a pro-EDL group that was chanting and gesticulating in the direction of counter protestors.

“You were caught on CCTV climbing onto a barrier, rubbing your lips with your fingers and making monkey noises, while standing alongside a group making similarly racist and insulting comments and actions.

“You then got down from the barrier and started to mimic the manner in which Muslim people pray, in order to mock their religion.”

The court heard that Hemingway already had 18 convictions for 24 previous offences. He had also recently been handed a suspended sentence, which he breached as a result of his recent offending.

The judge sentenced him to 12 months in prison and made him the subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order, which means that he cannot congregate in a group of two or more causing harassment or distress.

Yorkshire Evening Post

Jailed, the ‘cowardly’ rioter who kicked and punched a lone black man in Piccadilly Gardens

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

Mark Bridgeford, 50, a grandfather, joined a mob attack in Piccadilly Gardens on August 3

A grandfather has been jailed for joining a mob attack on a lone black male – the latest rioter to face justice for the sickening violence that erupted in Piccadilly Gardens on August 3.

Footage played in a court showed ‘cowardly’ Mark Bridgeford, 50, from Salford, was part of a mob of white men who attacked a lone black male in the square as a protest and counter protest erupted in violence.

The grandfather-of-five admitted he shouted at riot cops who moved in to protect the man ‘sort your own f***ing country out’ after he had punched and kicked his victim.

Disorder hit towns and cities across the country, including in Greater Manchester, followed the fatal stabbings of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance club in Southport last month. Incorrect rumours – that the suspect in the stabbings was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a small boat – spread on social media and appears to have fuelled the trouble.

Prosecutor Duncan Wilcock told Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday: “On the 3rd August this year there were large-scale protests in Piccadilly Gardens here in the city centre resulting from the tragic events in Southport where three young girls were killed and several others were injured. Rumours circulated online as to who was responsible for that and as a result of that we know far-right protests were arranged around the country in Bristol, Rotherham, Liverpool and here in Manchester.”

The protest in Manchester was alongside a ‘rival protest’ in Piccadilly Gardens, said Mr Wilcock.

Bridgeford was seen on footage later gathered by the police in the area for at least two hours, the court was told. A lone black male came into the area where the far-right protest was taking place and a ‘fight broke out’ which resulted in the black male on the ground, said Mr Wilcock.

“This defendant was one of those people who were throwing punches towards the male with clenched fists and the male goes to the floor,” said the prosecutor. The male was then ‘surrounded’ by members of the mob who kicked him to his legs while he was on the ground, said Mr Wilcock.

Bridgeford was captured on the footage listening to ‘heated discussions’ which were taking place and ‘makes no attempt what-so-ever to leave the scene’, the court heard. “He appears to be there willingly,” said Mr Wilcock.

Bridgeford was then captured running out of the Gardens towards Mosley Street before grabbing a rucksack being worn by an Asian male and ‘dragging him backwards’, the court heard.

Footage was played in court which showed riot police moving in to protect the black male from the baying mob after he was attacked.

Bridgeford was identified as one of the rioters by the subsequent police investigation and when he was eventually interviewed on August 16 he told officers he had gone into Manchester on August 3 to visit Metro Bank and to buy flowers for the grave of his late daughter for the first anniversary of her death.

The court heard Bridgeford had not been in trouble with the law for nine years although he had 12 previous convictions to his name, including for battery, harassment and taking a vehicle without consent.

Emily Calman, defending, pointed out her client had admitted his crime ‘at the first opportunity’ and added he had only gone into Manchester that afternoon for flowers for his daughter’s grave. She said her client was ‘swept up’ in the trouble as there had been talk at the protest of ‘saving daughters and saving children’.

“It brought about a considerable amount of emotion on Mr Bridgeford’s part,” said Ms Calman, who went on that at some points the footage showed the defendant ‘trying to help people away from the violence’.

The lawyer said Bridgeford ‘will live to regret’ his part in the disorder on a day when he had planned to ‘remember his daughter’. Her client had made no attempt to disguise himself at the scene nor to deny his involvement during his police interview, the court was told.

Ms Calman pointed out there had been a ‘considerable gap’ since her client, who has five grandchildren, had last been in trouble with the law. Since then he had ‘beaten alcoholism’ and had been ‘working on himself’ to address mental health problems, she said.

Judge Patrick Field KC said ‘one suspects it may well have been’ a racially aggravated attack but he said he would not sentence the case as such as the burden of proof had not been met to the ‘criminal standard’.

The judge told the defendant: “You became involved in ugly and mindless violence and behaviour for which one trusts you are properly ashamed. You became part of of an assault on another man in Piccadilly Gardens. It was all part of a mass gathering that’s been described as a protest although the purpose and the nature of the protest remains unclear to me.

“A group of men surrounded and attacked another man kicking and punching him and it was all accompanied by shouts of encouragement from others. You specifically became willingly involved in what’s going on, punching the black man to his back and when he fell to the ground you kicked him. Those were cowardly punches and indeed cowardly kicks.”

Bridgeford, of Canon Street in Salford, nodded to the judge as he was jailed for one year and eight months after pleading guilty to one offence of violent disorder. No friends or family members were present in the public gallery when he was sentenced.

Manchester Evening News

Rioter who joined mob attack on lone black man in Piccadilly Gardens sobs as he’s spared jail

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

Carl Ryan, 55, had been drinking in a Wetherspoons pub when he joined the trouble on August 3

A man who took part in attack on a lone black man when rioting erupted in Piccadilly Gardens sobbed in court when a judge spared him a jail sentence.

Carl Ryan, 55, a father-of-three from Gorton, tried to trip the man as he fled a baying mob when a protest and counter-protest erupted in violence in Manchester city centre on August 3.

Disorder hit towns and cities across the country, including in Greater Manchester, followed the fatal stabbings of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance club in Southport last month. Incorrect rumours – that the suspect in the stabbings was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a small boat – spread on social media and appears to have fuelled the trouble.

Prosecutor Duncan Wilcock told Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday: “Following the tragedy on July 29 in Southport in which three young girls were killed and others were injured, false rumours began online as to the identity of the person involved and as a result of this false information a variety of demonstrations and protests were planned around the country, some in Middlesbrough in the north east and further afield in Bristol and also in Liverpool and here in Manchester.”

Disorder erupted in Piccadilly Gardens on August 3 and Ryan was part of a ‘significant group’ who had gathered, according to the prosecutor, who went on that footage gathered by the subsequent police investigation showed an ‘altercation’ between members of the mob and a lone black male who was punched and kicked on the floor.

Ryan tried to kick the male ‘but was unsuccessful’, said Mr Wilcock. The defendant then ‘remained in the area’ as police moved in to save the man from further violence, the court was told.

The defendant was also captured kicking at an Asian male but again ‘was unsuccessful’, said Mr Wilcock.

The disorder prompted a huge police investigation in which the man who had aimed the two kicks was initially identified only as ‘male 9’. Following a police appeal for information, Ryan handed himself into a police station on August 19 and identified himself as male 9.

Ryan, who had no previous convictions, was interviewed, accepted his part in the attack and apologised, the court was told.

David Bentley, defending, said Ryan had travelled into Manchester with his wife, from whom he is separated, on August 3 to drink in a Wetherspoons pub near Piccadilly Gardens.

Combined with medication he is also taking, the alcohol ‘had an adverse effect on him’, said Mr Bentley. The couple had intended to head to another pub but he ‘inexplicably’ became involved in the trouble, the court was told.

Mr Bentley said his client ‘did not assault’ the black male and had only attempted to trip him, adding that his client denies being racist and was ‘in no way affiliated to any organisation from the far right’. One of Ryan’s grandchildren was mixed race, said Mr Bentley.

“The defendant rejects any suggestion his actions that day were based on hostility towards any race or religion,” said the barrister, who added his client ‘deeply regrets’ his actions.

Ryan had identified himself as ‘male 9’ to the police before they knew his identity, said Mr Bentley, who went on to describe a series of character testimonials including from a Muslim friend.

The court heard Ryan had battled cancer previously, and now suffered associated health problems, and his youngest son is also now being treated for cancer.

Judge Patrick Field KC told the defendant: “You became involved in an ugly incident of disorder. Having listened to all that’s been said today, it’s still unclear to me how that happened. I’m sure that’s something that will trouble you for some time to come.

“However, became involved you did and that involvement included indirect involvement in what was an assault by others on a black male. They attacked him mercilessly. He attempted to run away, or at least run after the man who had punched him, and as he passed you tried unsuccessfully to trip him up which on any view was a rather malicious thing for you to try to do. You then remained part of the angry crowd that was shouting and gesticulating. Whilst there, you were seen on some of the footage to grab and try to kick another man, of south Asian appearance.”

Ryan, appearing in court via videolink from prison, mouthed ‘thank you’ to the judge and made a prayer sign with his hands, and then sobbed uncontrollably, after Judge Field decided to suspend a jail sentence.

Judge Field said the incident had been ‘shameful’ but the defendant’s role was ‘rather limited’. “In view of your personal mitigation particularly and in view of the fact I believe there are reasonable prospects of rehabilitation, I propose to take an exception course in your case,” said Judge Field.

Ryan, of Collin Avenue in Gorton, was handed a 14-month prison sentence suspended for two years after he had early admitted a single charge of violent disorder.

Manchester Evening News

Men threw missiles at police during disorder in town centre

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

A pair who threw missiles at police are to spend a significant stint in prison for their involvement in disorder in Bolton Town Centre.

Niall Charnock and Nigel Simpson were sentenced to 26 months and to 28 months respectively this week at Bolton Crown Court.

Charnock, from Bolton, and Simpson, from Chorley, were in attendance in the town centre on August 4 when there were clashes between protesters and counter-protesters after the killing of three children in Southport.

There were clashes between protesters and counter-protesters in towns across the country at around the same time.

The two men threw missiles at police in two individual incidents.

Charnock, of Fairclough Street, admitted violent disorder at the magistrates court on August 12. Judge Nicholas Clarke sentenced him to 26 months.

The prosecution asked for a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from the town centre but the order was not agreed to by the judge.

Judge Clarke said: “Your attendance was not accidental and by your actions it is clear you attended to engage in violence. Bolton Town Centre was not as battle-scarred as other areas but it is because of the police no member of the public or member of the police was injured.”

Simpson, of Deerfold, admitted violent disorder at the magistrates court on August 20. Judge Martin Walsh sentenced him to 28 months.

The prosecution asked for a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from the town centre but the order is to be addressed at a later date.

Judge Walsh said: “Greater Manchester Police had a challenge to protect the public and a dispersal order was put in place after 2pm. Subsequently there were a number of protesters and counter-protesters in the town centre. Many attended to engage in peaceful protest but others attended to engage in violence. At some stage you attended for this purpose.”

As of August 22, according to the Ministry of Justice, 576 people have been brought before the courts in relation to the disorder in the UK.

Almost all those to be sentenced have been sentenced to time in prison with a range of two months to six years and an average of two years.

Bolton News

Man admits role in violent disorder as 22 charged

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

A 30-year-old man has pleaded guilty to violent disorder after unrest in Bristol.

John Matthews, of Knowle, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court earlier. He is due to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.

During a policing operation on Tuesday, Avon and Somerset Police arrested three further people on suspicion of violent disorder after unrest in the city centre on 3 August. They are aged 26, 33 and 43 years old.

Det Insp Peter Walker say they remain “relentless” in ensuring those responsible are “brought to justice”.

Police have now arrested a total of 38 people, 22 have been charged, with nine people handed prison sentences.

Hundreds of far-right protesters and a counter-protest group had gathered for two demonstrations near Castle Park when the widespread disorder broke out.

The protests were sparked following the killings of three young girls in a knife attack at a children’s dance workshop in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

Demonstrations became volatile after false claims were spread online about the person responsible.

After analysing more than 300 hours of CCTV footage from across the city, police have managed to identify nearly 40 people who displayed “racist and abusive” behaviour.

However, Mr Walker says there is still plenty more to be done.

“It’s very important to provide that public reassurance, to make sure we deal robustly with the disorder which has happened on our streets.

“We’ve consistently said we will identify people responsible for this unnecessary disorder and we will bring them to justice and put them before the courts,” he said.

BBC News

Men sentenced over ‘hostility escalation’ at protest

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

Two men who played their part in an “escalation of hostility” towards an Asian man at a city centre protest have been sentenced.

Hundreds of people gathered near Nottingham’s Brian Clough Statue in King Street as part of demonstrations organised by rival groups on 3 August.

Tony Campion, 29, and David Witney, 39, pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke violence at two separate hearings at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

Another man – 35-year-old Paul Dixon – had previously been jailed in relation to the same incident, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 15 August, Dixon pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke violence, and possession of cannabis.

After watching the footage in court, district judge Sunil Khanna concluded Dixon had thrown “the first punch” and sentenced him to four months in prison.

Campion, of Whitcombe Gardens, Nottingham, was the second man to be sentenced in relation to the incident, the CPS said.

He was jailed for four months after pleading guilty to the same charge on 16 August.

A third man charged with the same offence – Witney – of Tennyson Avenue, Gedling, was handed a suspended sentence on Friday.

He was given a three-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

‘Clear consequences’

Nine people have so far appeared in court following their part in the unrest in the Nottingham city centre.

They were among 20 people arrested for their conduct during the demonstrations where rival groups were separated by officers.

The events in the city however were described by police as “largely peaceful” at the time.

Janine McKinney, from the CPS, said: “The arrests, charges, convictions and sentences we have seen over the last weeks make clear the consequences for those criminals on our streets and on social media. These individuals have paid the penalty that awaits anyone caught wreaking such havoc.

“We will continue to work at pace, alongside partners in the criminal justice system, to put anyone whose conduct has crossed the line into criminal behaviour before the courts to face the full consequences of their actions.”

BBC News

Community order for man who kicked hotel riot PC

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

A man who kicked out at a police officer after rioting broke out in Rotherham said he had “nothing better to do” when he decided to drive to the town.

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard Joshua Simpson travelled from Worksop to the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, where major public disorder had broken out on 4 August.

When he arrived at around 20:00 BST, he was aggressive towards officers guarding the hotel, pushed against the police line and kicked a riot shield, which in turn hit an officer’s leg.

Simpson, 26, a self-employed joiner of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and was handed a 12-month community order on Tuesday.
‘Nowhere else to go’

The court was told Simpson arrived at the scene “in the aftermath of the violent disorder”, was verbally abusive and tried to push through the police cordon still in place.

When he was told he could not pass through the cordon, he kicked out at one of the riot shields which connected with the officer’s lower leg.

The court heard Simpson later apologised to the officer, who had not suffered any pain or injuries.

During his interview, Simpson told police he had travelled to Rotherham as he had “nowhere else to go and nothing better to do”.

District Judge Marcus Waite said Simpson was not being sentenced for his intentions that day and highlighted that he had not been charged with violent disorder.

He noted Simpson, who is homeless, had no previous convictions and had already “effectively spent three weeks in prison” following his arrest.

He told the defendant: “You’ve not been in trouble before and I therefore accept that your actions were out of character.”

Judge Waite sentenced him to a 12-month community order, 20 rehabilitation activities and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Dozens of people have so far been convicted in relation to the Rotherham riot, which has been described by a judge as “racist in nature”.

Among those imprisoned are former Army peacekeeper Peter Beard, who was filmed attacking officers and Drew Jarvis, 19, who threw wooden planks, bricks and lit arrows at officers and the hotel.

The case of Joseph Iggo, 20, of Hartley Brook Road, Sheffield, previously reported by the BBC, was discontinued at Sheffield Crown Court on 19 August.

BBC News

Sixteen in court charged over riot

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

Sixteen people have appeared in court charged in connection with a riot earlier this month.

Middlesbrough saw a night of unrest on Sunday 4 August in a wave of disorder that swept across the country following anti-immigration fuelled social media misinformation about the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport.

All those appearing at Teesside Crown Court were charged with violent disorder, with some also accused of possessing an offensive weapon.

Of those seen on Tuesday, 14 men pleaded not guilty.

A metal bar, knife and scaffolding pole are among the weapons defendants have been accused of carrying.

One of those admitting offences was a 16-year-old boy who pleaded guilty to violent disorder

He denied a further charge of being in possession of a bladed article and was remanded into the care of the local authority.

Meanwhile, Jamie Govan, 27, of Hartington Road in Stockton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and will be sentenced on 7 October.

Two further defendants had their hearings adjourned until Wednesday, while another case was dismissed.

BBC News

These men were part of a mob that brought violence to our streets

By
August 28, 2024
Uncategorized

Mark Blanchard, Carlos McStravock and Max Higson all admitted their roles in the riots and were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court

Three more men who engaged in the violent riots in Southport the day after a mass stabbing have been jailed. The men appeared before Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Tuesday, August 27 to be sentenced after they pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Mark Blanchard, 37, of Saints Close in Old Swan, was sentenced to two years and six months; Carlos McStravock, 33 and of Middle Way in Croxteth, was jailed for two years and four months; and Max Higson, 22 and of no fixed abode, was handed a two year jail term.

Thirty-three people have now been sentenced for their roles in the disorder. The courts previously heard that a violent mob, of around 1,000 people, targeted a mosque chanting “who the f*** is Allah” just an hour after a peaceful vigil was held in memory of three young girls killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party the previous day.

Police officers were targeted with bricks, a vehicle was set alight and the mosque’s windows and walls were damaged. Dozens of officers were injured during the disorder, which later spilled out into rioting in Liverpool city centre and County Road in Walton the following weekend.

Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Paul White said: “These men were part of a group who brought violence to the streets of Southport, causing harm and fear in a community that was already in shock following the murders of Alice, Elsie and Bebe the previous day.”Those involved in the appalling scenes continue to be dealt with in court and there have now been 33 people sentenced for their role in the disorder in Merseyside.

Our officers have been working incredibly long hours to investigate the vast array of footage available from both incidents we’ve experienced in Southport and Liverpool and this will continue, with more arrests and charges to come.”I’d also like to recognise the vital role that the public have played in this conviction, too. We’re continuing to receive information from members of the local community and please continue to come forward. With your support, we can continue to take robust action against those who are responsible for the senseless violence witnessed in Merseyside.”

Liverpool Echo