Sutton man, 61, who chanted ‘who the f*** is Allah’ jailed

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August 14, 2024
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A 61-year-old man made threatening gestures at police and chanted “who the f*** is Allah” during large-scale disorder in Whitehall has been jailed for 18 months.

David Spring, of Longfellow Road in Sutton, was part of a group who confronted police officers during a gathering of around 700 people near Downing Street on July 31.

Spring pleaded guilty to violent disorder after footage showed him at the forefront of the crowd while threatening and chanting at officers.

Prosecutor Alexander Agbamu said: “Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo in some circles, organised a demonstration in Whitehall.

“Members of the far-right responded to that call with the seeming intention of replicating scenes seen earlier in the week, precipitated by false information relating to the religion and immigration status of the perpetrator of the Southport murders.”

He said protesters broke out of an enclosed area of Richmond Terrace and towards Whitehall, directing their anger towards police officers.

Spring’s role in the disorder was shown on police body worn camera footage in court where he was seen making threatening and hostile gestures towards police, calling officers “c****” and joining in chants of “you’re not English anymore” and “who the f*** is Allah”.

When Spring was arrested on August 8 he told officers: “I didn’t go up to London to riot. I went to complain about people put up in hotels.”

Defending Spring, Piers Kiss-Wilson said he was a train driver for 42 years, but had recently retired.

He now spends a lot of time for his wife, who has suffered ill-health.

Mr Kiss-Wilson said: “The defendant asked me to put forward his apologies to the court and he says he is embarrassed by his behaviour and he is ashamed by it.”

He said Spring got caught up in the disorder with much younger men.

He added: “He also wants to apologise to his family and friends and his wife who don’t deserve this.”

Judge Benedict Kelleher sentenced Spring to 18 months in prison.

He told Spring: “What you did could and it seems did encourage others to engage in disorder.”

Judge Kelleher said a custodial sentence was appropriate in order to deter others from engaging in similar behaviour.

Local Guardian

Live-streamer and teen who handed out bricks jailed

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August 14, 2024
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A teenager who handed out bricks to rioters and a man who shouted racial slurs at police have been locked up.

Riley Adey, 19, and Reece Greenwood, 31, were both sentenced for violent disorder that was carried out in Sunderland on 2 August.

Adey, of Washington, was filmed standing on top of an overturned car, which had been set alight, while he handed out weapons, and Greenwood, also of Washington, live-streamed himself “actively encouraging violent disorder” and “verbally abusing police”.

During sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Paul Sloan KC said both men had “brought shame upon the city of Sunderland”.

The court heard Adey had thrown a scaffolding pole, a vape and bricks at police officers.

Defence counsel Andrew Findlay said Adey had drunk “six to seven pints” before the riots and had become “emotionally and physiologically swept along” by the events.

He added his client was “remorseful for what happened”.

Adey was sentenced to two years in a young offenders’ institution, having previously pleaded guilty at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

Greenwood was handed a 30-month sentence for his part in the riot.

He had been driven to the protest by his friend Josh Kellet, who was jailed last week for violent disorder.

The court heard how the father-to-be washed and put away his clothes so they could not be recovered by police.

Judge Sloan said Greenwood, who also filmed a mob vandalising a police vehicle and was seen shouting racist and Islamophobic slurs, was “revelling in the mayhem”.

Shaun Routledge, defending, said his client was “completely and utterly ashamed of his behaviour”.

The judge condemned the pair for taking part in “an orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder”.

“Those participating in mass disorder must expect severe sentences intended not only to punish but to deter others in copying their example,” he added.

BBC News

Latest numbers of people charged and sentenced for recent disorder

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August 14, 2024
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The ages of people charged so far range from 12 to 69.

Here are some of the key statistics for people charged and sentenced in connection with the recent disorder in parts of the country, as of August 14:

– Charges

A total of 372 adults have been charged so far, according to information compiled by the PA news agency.

At least 65 people under the age of 18 are also believed to have been charged.

– Ages

Of the 372 adults so far charged, 48 (13%) are aged 18 to 20, with a further 54 (15%) aged 21 to 25 and 47 (13%) aged 26 to 30.

This means 149 of the adults charged (40%) are between 18 and 30.

Some 59 of adults charged are aged 31-35 (16%), 54 are aged 36-40 (15%), 46 are aged 41-45 (12%) and 23 (6%) are aged 46-50.

The numbers are lower among older age groups, with 20 of the adults charged being aged 51-55 (5% of the total), nine aged 56-60 (2%) and 12 over 60 (3%).

The oldest person to be charged so far is William Morgan, 69, of Walton in Liverpool.

He was charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon and subsequently jailed at Liverpool Crown Court for two years and eight months.

The next oldest person is Anthony Levitt, 67, of Leeds, who has been charged with being drunk and disorderly in a public place and is due to appear at Leeds’ Magistrates Court on August 19.

Of those charged who are under the age of 18, the youngest to date are two 12-year-old boys, both of whom have pleaded guilty to the charge of violent disorder.

One 12-year-old has been remanded to local authority accommodation, ahead of sentencing in Manchester next month.

– Gender

Of the 372 adults charged so far, information on gender is known for 349 of them.

Some 334 of the 349 (96%) are male, while 15 (4%) are female.

– Police force

Of the 372 adults charged so far, information on the police force that brought the charge is known for 335 of them.

The forces that account for the highest number of people within this total are the Metropolitan Police (40 people, or 12% ), Cleveland (39 or 12%), Greater Manchester (38 or 11%), Merseyside (31 or 9%) and South Yorkshire (25 or 7%).

– Sentences

A total of 69 adults have so far been sentenced, 64 of whom have been sent to jail.

The longest jail sentence so far is three years and four months, handed to Gareth Metcalfe, 44, of Southport, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced by Liverpool Crown Court.

A jail term of 38 months was given to Tyler Kay, 26, of Northampton, who was sentenced by Northampton Crown Court for publishing written material to stir up racial hatred.

The shortest jail sentences so far are two months, handed to Lee Dunn, 51, for sending offensive messages; and James Nelson, 18, of Horwich in Bolton, for criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.

Evening Standard

18-year-old sentenced after arriving at rumoured protest site with knife

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August 14, 2024
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An 18-year-old has been sentenced to 26 weeks in a young offender institution after turning up to a rumoured protest site with a knife in his possession.

Thomas Connelly, 18, of Regency Square, Warrington, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates’ Court to a charge of possession of a bladed article in a public place.

He was arrested after being searched by officers in Orford Lane, Warrington, where there had been rumours – which turned out to be false – that a protest related to the wider national disorder was planned, prompting police to exercise their stop and search powers.

Cheshire Police said Connelly told the officers searching him that he had a folding lock knife in his pocket.

A spokesperson for the force said Connelly “had clearly made his way to Orford Lane after hearing this speculation”.

BBC News

Two sentenced for roles in Sunderland riot

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August 14, 2024
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Two men have been sentenced for their role in a riot in Sunderland on 2 August.

Riley Adey, 19, was filmed repeatedly throwing objects at officers, including a brick and a scaffolding pole, and was also seen standing and waving on top of an overturned vehicle after it had been set alight, and looting two fire extinguishers from a damaged building, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Adey, of Heworth Crescent, Washington, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and has been detained for two years in a youth offenders institution.

Meanwhile, father-to-be Reece Greenwood, 31, of The Gardens, Washington, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for violent disorder after he live-streamed himself shouting racial slurs, encouraging rioters and verbally abusing officers during the unrest in Sunderland.

Sentencing the pair at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Paul Sloan KC, Recorder of Newcastle said “the two of you together, with others, brought shame upon the city of Sunderland”.

BBC News

Man jailed after claiming he thought disorder was football celebration

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August 14, 2024
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A 40-year-old man is jailed for 25 months after admitting violent disorder in Bristol on 3 August.

Mark Bowen, 40, of no fixed address said he had consumed up to 10 pints of cider and claimed in a police interview that he believed he was joining in with a “football celebration”.

Defending, Giles Nelson said his client was homeless, did not have social media, is not racist and was “mortified” to hear of the comments he had made to police.

Prosecuting, Robert Yates told how Bowen was heard shouting at police: “I hope it’s your [expletive] kids next mate”.

Judge Moira Macmillan, said the language was “despicable” and said officers had been in “genuine fear for their personal safety” as a consequence of Bowen’s actions.

Bodycam footage played to the court showed officers being pelted by objects as protesters screamed “we want our country back” during the disorder.

BBC News

Man jailed for kicking black man during protest

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August 14, 2024
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A man is jailed for two years and eight months after he was seen kicking a black man.

Bristol Crown Court heard Daniel Russell had been attending an anti-immigration protest when he attacked a black man, who may have been part of an anti-racism protest and broke through police lines separating the two groups in Castle Park.

Russell, 47, from Bristol, was then captured on footage posted on social media kicking out at counter-protesters who were stood in front of a hotel used to house asylum seekers.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

BBC news

Man, 34, jailed after video footage showed him throwing items at police

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August 14, 2024
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A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to 34 months for violent disorder.

Dominic Capaldi, from Bristol, had been charged in relation to clashes between protesters and police in Bristol city centre on 3 August. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.

The court was told that video footage had shown Capaldi throwing items at police officers during the disorder.

Judge Martin Picton said Capaldi attended an extremist anti-immigration protest that ended up in front of the Mercure Hotel “because it houses asylum seekers”.

The judge gave Capaldi credit for his early guilty plea and said he would serve half of his 34-month sentence in custody, and remain on licence and liable for recall for the remainder.

Defending, John Stokes said Capaldi’s child was turning seven on the day of his sentencing, with the consequences of his client’s offending having a “significant” impact on his family.

BBC News

Man, 60, jailed for violent disorder outside hotel housing asylum seekers

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August 14, 2024
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A 60-year-old man has been jailed for two years and eight months after causing an officer to fall to the floor as police clashed with demonstrators outside a hotel housing asylum seekers near Rotherham on 4 August.

Glyn Guest, of Pearson Crescent, Wombwell, admitted violent disorder last week and was sentenced today at Sheffield Crown Court.

Body-worn camera footage showed Guest repeatedly being pushed back by a riot shield as he approached a line of police six times outside of a Holiday Inn Express, before grabbing another shield, causing an officer to fall to the floor to cheering from the crowd.

The female officer whose body-worn camera footage was played said in an impact statement how she was “terrified for my safety” during the disorder, which saw more than 50 police injured and attempts to storm and set fire to the building.

The officer said “it was a horrific incident of mindless thuggery” and that she had encountered “nothing like it before” in her five-and-a-half years of service.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said the conduct of the “mob” was “vile”, told Guest: “You were part of a violent mob and you were playing your part to the full.”

BBC News

Judge says ‘keyboard warriors’ must take responsibility after disorder

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August 14, 2024
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Julie Sweeney, 53, from Church Lawton, admitted a charge of sending a communication threatening death or serious harm when she appeared at Chester Crown Court this afternoon.

The court heard that Sweeney was responding to a Facebook post which showed people helping to repair the Southport mosque after it was damaged in violent disorder after the stabbings.

She wrote: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. Don’t protect the mosque. Blow the mosque up with the adults in it.”

Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, said the Facebook group usually carried items about local events and lost and found items. It has just over 5000 members.

She accepted that Sweeney’s post was made out of anger, not because of racism, and was reckless rather than genuinely intended to put people in fear.

John Keane, defending Sweeney, said she’d lived a “quiet, sheltered life in Cheshire.” She’d never been in trouble before and was genuinely remorseful.

He said Sweeney was the primary carer for her husband who has health problems.

Judge Stephen Everett told Sweeney: “You should have looked at the news with horror like right minded people. Instead you chose to take part in stirring up hatred. It was a truly terrible threat.”

The judge said no one was suggesting that Sweeney would have taken part in any violence but “so called keyboard warriors like her have to learn to take responsibility for their inflammatory and disgusting language.”

Sweeney wiped away tears as Judge Everett jailed her for 15 months and said “Thank you, your honour” at the end of the hearing.

BBC News