Two women plead guilty

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August 12, 2024
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Two women have pleaded guilty to violent disorder during a disturbance outside a hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers.

Michelle Jibson, 45, of Kingsbridge Road, Manchester, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. She is alleged to have attended outside the hotel on Oldham Road on July 31.

Both her and Tracy Pearson, 53, were described as ‘agitators’. Jibson was said to be wearing a yellow shirt with an England flag wrapped around her waist.

“She is seen to strike out at a police officer during a verbal provocation,” prosecutor Tess Kenyon said. “She doesn’t remove herself despite requests by the police to move on.”

Jibson was said to have ‘genuine remorse’. Pearson, also of Kingsbridge Road, was said to have attended outside the hotel, and was also wearing an England flag wrapped around her waist.

She was said to be verbally provocative to the police, shouting: “F*** off – I can’t believe you lot at sticking up for that s**t in there. They can get away with everything in this country, they stabbed a soldier last week.

“Mental health – we ain’t f***ing stupid. They rape our kids and murder them.” Ms Shaw, representing both, said of Pearson: “She is very sorry. She wished she didn’t attend at the time.”

Both women were remanded into custody and will be sentenced on August 19.

MEN

Boy, 16, pleads guilty to role in Bolton disorder

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August 12, 2024
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A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to violent disorder following disorder in Bolton town centre on August 4.

During a ‘flare up’ at around 2pm, the boy was caught on CCTV throwing an object towards mounted officers, who were trying to disperse the protesters, the court heard.

“CCTV also caught him walking with the protesters whilst carrying a weapon,” prosecutor Tess Kenyon said.

He was also caught on CCTV pulling up the shutters of a store whilst others were going inside to loot it. Damage was also caused to the front of the store.

In a statement, the shop owner said he believed the shop was targeted ‘due to racism’.

Mitigating, Ms Dyson said he had been ‘easily led’ and he had ‘simply joined in’.

“He is extremely frightened at the prospect of remand,” she said.

The boy’s mum, who was wiping tears from her cheek throughout, was asked by the judge: “What has gone wrong?”

She explained that there had been some difficulties at home and with her health.

“He is a lovely boy,” she wept. District Judge Joanne Hirst replied: “They all are until they hurt somebody or loot something.”

Addressing the 16-year-old, who looked visibly upset, she said: “This is a very serious situation – there is a high risk you will serve a period of custody.

“You should be thoroughly ashamed. A lot of you people go through a lot more and don’t go out committing offences.”

The boy was remanded into local authority accommodation and will be sentenced on September 2 at Manchester Youth Court.

MEN

Boy, 12, pleads guilty after appearing at TWO riots

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August 12, 2024
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A 12-year-old boy, thought to be one of the youngest rioters in the country, has pleaded guilty to two offences of violent disorder after being caught at TWO different riots.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was one of those who took part in a large-scale protest outside a hotel in Newton Heath on July 31 and in Manchester city centre on August 3, the court heard.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said that on July 31 a large group of people attended outside a hotel where it was believed that asylum seekers were being housed. She said footage showed a number of people standing off against the police and throwing missiles.

The boy was seen to hand a rock to another youth during the disorder.

She said there was also a group attacking a bus, which those attending the disorder believed was taking asylum seekers to the hotel.

“There were passengers on the bus and the driver on the bus was assaulted, and the windscreen was smashed” Ms Kenyon said.

“The boy was seen standing in front of the bus attempting to stop the bus and kicking the bus at the side as it drove past him.”

On August 3, a large group had congregated in Piccadilly Gardens. In footage obtained by the police, a large group were seen to attack shop fronts. The boy was seen by the police kicking the front window of a vape shop along with others, the court heard.

“A large group of people were then seen to storm a Sainsburys shop, knocking over shelves and looting. The boy was wearing a balaclava and was also seen to throw a missile at the police,” the prosecutor added.

Natasha McGarr, mitigating for the boy, said he accepted ‘full responsibility’ and he was ‘very sorry’ for what happened. She said he became involved with the disorder with his friends from school.

“He says he is absolutely ashamed. He says in hindsight he should have never been involved,” she said. “He is really upset for his mother that he’s had to put her through this.”

Asking his mum, who sat in the well of the court, if there were any issues regarding her son’s behaviour, she said that he had been to live with his nan for seven months as she struggled to control his behaviour.

“He came back as she couldn’t handle him,” she said.

“I’ve always had problems with him, trying to control his behaviour from a young age. He has an ADHD diagnosis. Other than me reporting him missing to the police, he’s not been in trouble before.

“When he lived with his nana in another area, he made new friends, and now he thinks he can just go there, he doesn’t listen to what I say.”

She said she was ‘very worried’ about her son, and said he sometimes didn’t come home when she had asked him to.

MEN

Niall Charnock: Case will go to the Crown court

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August 12, 2024
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A man has pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the protests in Bolton on August 4.

Niall Charnock, 31, of Edward Street, Farnworth, Bolton, was identified as being part of the disorder in Bolton town centre from footage shared on social media.

“The footage shows the defendant broke through a barrier set up by the police and had to be removed,” prosecutor Tess Kenyon said.

“He was also captured throwing a missile at a police officer.”

The court heard he had one previous conviction for burglary dating back to 2015.

Gabrielle Black, mitigating, made no application for bail on behalf of Charnock.

Remanding him into custody, District Judge Joanna Hirst said: “You have admitted being part of this shameful disorder in Bolton town centre which we know impacted the national and local community.

“We say ‘demonstration’ loosely, it is actually mass public disorder.”

Charnock will next appear at Bolton Crown Court on August 19.

MEN

Man admits to ‘barrelling into police officer’ at demo

By
August 11, 2024
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A man who “barrelled into” a police officer during a night of protests has pleaded guilty to assault.

Ryan Wheatley, 40, was one of two men arrested in Southampton on Wednesday as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted “racists go home”.

Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, admitted at Southampton Magistrates’ Court to a charge of assault by beating.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.

Leah Dillon, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had attended the protest wearing a mask and a hooded top with an England flag draped over his shoulders.

She described how he had been spotted by Sgt Rob Perry attempting to run at the counter-demonstrators who had no police protection at the time.

“He went towards them, he was running towards them, this was perceived as an attempt to engage them in violence,” she said.

Ms Dillon said “he ran straight into” Sgt Perry who used an incapacitant spray before arresting him.

Wheatley accepted in an interview that he had “barrelled into the officer”, the court was told.

The prosecutor read a statement from Sgt Perry in which he said: “I was very concerned about his intention should he be given the chance to interact with the group.”

Sgt Perry described the defendant as a “very large male” and recalled that he sprayed him “because of the sheer size of him – I felt it was the safest way to control him”.

Barry Keel, defending, said Wheatley had expressed remorse for his actions and accepted he had “let his family down”.

He added the defendant had a history of drug problems.

Mr Keel told the court Wheatley read about the protest on Reddit, and his concern was “about illegal immigration rather than immigration per se”.

He said the defendant had been given the England flag by another protester and had left the other demonstration because “he was concerned and upset about being called a racist or a Nazi”.

The demonstration in Southampton on Wednesday followed a week of disturbances in parts of England and Northern Ireland after the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport – with unrest fuelled by misinformation online.

Police have said the majority who attended the protest in Southampton were “peaceful and respectful”.

A second man, aged 18 from Eastleigh, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to cause criminal damage at Southampton and has since been released on bail pending further police inquiries.

A 17-year-old arrested on suspicion of wilfully obstructing the highway at a protest in Portsmouth on Wednesday has also been released on bail

BBC News

South Yorkshire rioters unmasked after their parts in violent scenes

By
August 11, 2024
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The six men are all now set to be sentenced

Six men have pleaded guilty after days of rioting and trouble across South Yorkshire.

The men, aged between 41 and 16 are all now set to be sentenced after pleading guilty to offences related to the rioting and violence which has taken place across South Yorkshire and the rest of the country over the past few days. The men come from all across South Yorkshire and beyond.

Now, their names have been released.

Kaine Hicks, aged 22 and of Wombwell Road, Platts Common, Barnsley, appeared before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 10, pleading guilty to violent disorder. He has now been remanded in custody and will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 13.

Drew Jarvis

Drew Jarvis

Another man, Drew Jarvis, 19 and of no fixed address, has appeared before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court today and pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He has also been remanded into custody and will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 13 for sentencing.

Ricky Hardman, 41 and of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, also appeared before Sheffield Magistrate’s Court yesterday, on August 9. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Hardman will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on August 12.

Kenzie Roughley

Kenzie Roughley

Kenzie Roughley, 18 and of Barnsley Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Sheffield Crown Court.

Joshua Simpson

Meanwhile, Joshua Simpson, 26 and of no fixed abode, has pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 27.

Another 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on October 2, 2024.

Yorkshire Live

Worthing man arrested for Brighton riot social media posts

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August 11, 2024
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A man who made social media posts encouraging violent protests in the city has been put behind bars.

Joseph Clark, 45, called for riots on the streets of Brighton during the planned anti-immigration protests this week.

But instead, he received a knock on the door from specialist police officers trawling the internet for information on the demonstration – and is now spending the next 14 weeks in prison.

Sussex Police’s assistant chief constable Paul Court said people who send threatening messages on the internet “cannot hide behind their keyboards” and will face the full force of the law.

Officers were first made aware of his post – the contents of which have not been revealed – on Tuesday around 24 hours before protesters were set to descend on an immigration lawyer’s office in Queen’s Road.

They arrested two men, Clark and another man aged 42, who was later released.

Clark was charged with sending an offensive message on a public communication network.

He was found guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court today and sentenced to 14 weeks in prison, ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Court added: “This custodial sentence should send a clear message to anyone involved in disorder – either online or on the streets – that they will swiftly face the full force of the law.

“The recent unrest seen across the country has been fuelled by threatening, abusive online messages. Those messages have real world consequences, and those who send them cannot hide behind their keyboards.

“Our preparations are ongoing into reports of planned events across Sussex and we will continue to engage with our communities and provide a visible, reassuring presence.

“Please report any concerns to Sussex Police online or via 101, quoting Operation Skylark.”

Brighton Argus

Boy, 15, guilty of violent disorder and burglary of vape shop in Sunderland

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August 11, 2024
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A 15-year-old boy has become the first child in the North East to be convicted over the recent eruptions of disorder after his shameful actions in Sunderland

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Friday, August 9, as part of another round of early morning raids across Sunderland by Northumbria Police.

The 15-year-old appeared at South Tyneside Youth Court on Saturday, August 10, where he admitted one charge of violent disorder and the burglary of a business – after stealing from a vape shop.

He will next appear at South Tyneside Youth Court on Thursday, August 15.

Another male also admitted guilt in court on Saturday morning.

Philip Cawthorne, 38, of Southend Road, Sunderland, was arrested by the Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team (MIT), which the force says has been persistently investigating since the disorder occurred last week.

Cawthorne was charged with one count of violent disorder and appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning, where he pleaded guilty to his role in the disorder.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on August 20 to be sentenced.

It brings the total number of those convicted in the first week to 11.

Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Barr, of Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team (MIT), said: “Now, just over a week on, we know all too well the effects those appalling scenes have had on our communities across the North East.

“A thorough investigation has been well underway as we look to identify those responsible and ensure they are met with the full strength of the law.

“We will not tolerate the behaviour we saw in Sunderland city centre on Friday, August 2.”

Sunderland Echo

‘It was wrong of me,’ 15-year-old Hull rioter tells court

By
August 10, 2024
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As hundreds across the UK face their day of reckoning following the recent rioting and disorder, one boy seen hurling missiles at police officers has faced a judge while sitting shame-faced between his parents and holding his mother’s hand.

The 15-year-old was the youngest of four defendants making their first appearances in court in Hull on Thursday after trouble flared in the city centre.

Police officers were attacked, shops were looted and fires were started as a demonstration descended into violence in the Ferensway, Jameson Street and Spring Bank areas on Saturday.

So far there have been about 500 arrests and nearly 150 people have been charged following the UK-wide disturbances triggered by the fatal stabbings of three young girls in Southport last week.

Dressed smartly in a blue suit and flanked by his mother and father in Courtroom 1 at Hull Magistrates Court on Thursday, the 15-year-old was one of two men and two youths who admitted taking part in the disorder.

Acting as a youth court, it heard that the boy – who cannot be identified because of his age – had travelled from his home in North Lincolnshire to meet friends in the city.

District Judge Mark Daley was told the youngster was caught on CCTV throwing missiles at officers on multiple occasions – firstly on Ferensway in front of a hotel and then later on Spring Bank.

In between the missile-throwing, he moved to Jameson Street, where he encouraged someone else to smash the window of a Greggs store. He then went in and stole food before heading down to Lush to steal bath products, prosecutor Emily Robinson said.

The boy’s solicitor, Joe Painter, argued he was “ignorant” to the protests taking place earlier in the day, and he was encouraged to throw items at police after he “decided to involve himself”.

“There was no mask,” said Mr Painter.

“It’s not something he planned to do. He got carried away with it all.

“He’s now ruined his previous good character.”

When the judge asked him to stand up, he let go of his mother’s hand – she was on the brink of tears – and addressed him.

“It was wrong of me to do that,” said the boy, looking solemn.

The youngster is due to be sentenced on 2 September after he admitted violent disorder and two counts of burglary.
Police officers in protective gear standing in a line in front of the Royal Hotel on Ferensway

Earlier, Brandon Kirkwood, of Downing Grove, Hull, stood in the dock wearing grey sweatpants and top.

He was also looking sombre as Ms Robinson outlined to the court how the 20-year-old was “rioting in the city centre for several hours”.

“He was captured on CCTV pushing a large missile at officers,” she said.

The prosecutor described how he shouted abuse at the police and threw things at them.

Mr Kirkwood’s solicitor told the court he “had no intention of being involved” in the unrest and there was “deep regret” by him.

“He went into the city centre with friends to get food and found himself in the middle of the violent disorder.”

The 20-year-old, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Hull Crown Court on Friday.

A 16-year-old boy from Hull then entered the dock to admit the same charge.

Ms Robinson said he was part of a large group of people who had pushed a commercial-size wheelie bin towards police officers outside the Royal Hotel on Ferensway.

His offending, which included throwing missiles and shouting abuse at officers, lasted several hours, the court heard.

Adjourning his case until 27 August, Judge Daley told him: “This is a very serious matter that you got yourself involved in… causing damage to the local community.”

The last defendant to appear in court during the session was Christopher Douglas, 35, of Avenues Court, Hull.

“He was at the forefront of violent disorder, shouting abuse at officers and throwing missiles at them,” said Ms Robinson.

“At one stage he was seen in possession of a police shield holding it above his head.”

The military veteran, who had been diagnosed with PTSD, was “very remorseful and very apologetic”, according to his solicitor Emma Bradley.

“He has some mental health difficulties,” she added.

Douglas was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to violent disorder and is also due to be sentenced at Hull Crown Court on Friday.

BBC News

Far-right extremist convicted of terrorism offences

By
August 10, 2024
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A far-right extremist has been convicted of terrorism offences after he shared videos online related to the making of explosives.

Police seized books, masks and memorabilia of an extreme right-wing nature, as well as a 3D-printed firearm, from Gabriel Budasz’s accommodation in August 2023.

The 24-year-old, of Drove Road in Weston-Super-Mare, was found guilty of various terror offences at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday.

Police said content shared by Budasz online was “incredibly dangerous to those vulnerable to radicalisation”.

After a search warrant was executed at Budasz’s house, he was asked to turn off his computer with his leg while he was handcuffed, but he refused.

Prosecutors seized Budasz’s mobile and computer devices and found he used a number of social media sites under different usernames to post extreme right-wing material.

‘A warning’

Det Ch Supt Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), said: “The material contained his extreme right-wing views encouraging violence to further the hateful ideology which he espoused.

“Making this kind of content available online spreads and encourages terrorist ideology and is incredibly dangerous to those vulnerable to radicalisation.

“Unfortunately, the harm that can be caused by those who seek to provoke violence online to further their cause has been only too evident across the country in recent weeks.”

He added that the case should “serve as a warning” that police would “take robust action against those who commit these serious and harmful offences”.

Budasz was found guilty of one count of dissemination of a terrorist publication, four counts of encouraging terrorism and one count of sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

He had previously pleaded guilty to six counts of possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism at a previous hearing at the Old Bailey on 22 December 2023.

Budasz will be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on 25 October.

BBC News