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.
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