“I’m very sorry for my actions and I’m very sorry for everything.”
Two more troublemakers involved in “mindless violence” and looting in Hull city centre have been jailed for their part in the frightening scenes of large-scale public disorder.
They were the latest offenders to be locked up at Hull Crown Court after serious disturbances broke out, involving hundreds of people.
Stuart Randall , 55, of Jervis Road, off Holderness Road, east Hull, admitted violent disorder, burglary at the O2 and Lush stores, two offences of causing racially aggravated criminal damage and another of causing criminal damage at Specsavers and Holland and Barrett on August 3.
Randall also admitted possessing cannabis on August 12, the day that he was arrested. He was jailed for three years and he was given a five-year criminal behaviour order.
Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that there was “mindless violence” during the disturbances and Randall was “front and central” throughout in the violence and public disorder. He waved a police shield and behaved erratically in Ferensway and he pushed a burning bin towards police in Jameson Street.
At a garage in the Milky Way area, he used a sledgehammer to smash vehicles. The owner and his family barricaded themselves inside the garage until managing to escape to a nearby garden.
In Jameson Street, Randall used a bar stool 10 times to damage a window at Specsavers, causing it to shatter, and he used a fire extinguisher to smash glass at Holland and Barrett. Randall was prominent in the looting of O2 and Lush.
Hannah Turner, mitigating, said that father-of-three Randall had said: “I am ashamed and disgusted in my behaviour on that day.” He admitted that his behaviour was “abhorrent” and that he was “playing the idiot” after drinking alcohol. He drank alcohol most days and he was alcohol-dependent
“He can’t really grasp that it was him in that footage,” said Miss Turner. “This is behaviour that is so out of character for him.”
Randall had convictions for two unrelated non-violent offences from 2012. He had grandchildren that were of Polish and Indian heritage and he “doted” on them. He denied being racist.
Judge John Thackray KC said that Randall showed hostility to others motivated by race and he was involved in inciting others and throwing missiles.
“It’s clear that you were being directed by others,” said Judge Thackray. “However, you were a willing participant.”
William Riley , 64, of St Aidan’s Way, off Preston Road, east Hull, admitted violent disorder and assaulting a police officer as an emergency worker on August 3. He was jailed for 18 months .
Riley was part of a crowd acting aggressively and he threw eggs as well as handing them out to others, who were also being aggressive. He shouted abuse to police.
Riley punched another man in the face area and, when he was detained at a multistorey car park in George Street, he moved towards a police officer, and shouted “What do you want?”
Riley rushed at him “in a fighting stance” before punching him in the jaw, causing no injury. He was “brought under control” shortly afterwards. He later claimed that he was acting in self-defence.
Riley had convictions for 11 previous offences, including being drunk and disorderly, causing criminal damage and public disorder. His most recent conviction was in 1982.
Michael Forrest, mitigating, said that Riley was certainly at the front line of the trouble but there were people around him causing far more aggressive violence than him towards police. Riley was shouting, pointing and gesticulating but there was at least one metre between him and police on the front line. “He was simply shouting,” said Mr Forrest.
“This behaviour is monstrously out of character for him.” Riley was a grandfather, an “honourable individual” and a “valuable member of the community”. He ran a scaffolding company and employed one person. There were references for him.
Riley’s company helped with repairs at a church and he helped with veterans’ charities, including recently raising £2,500 to organise travel for veterans from Hull to go to Armistice Day. He laid a wreath every year.
Riley had said: “I’m very sorry for my actions and I’m very sorry for everything.”
Judge Thackray told Riley: “This is a massive fall from grace for you. You have an excellent work record.” But he added: “Ultimately, only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.”
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