A man who encouraged violence online during the public disorder has been convicted just a day after he posted on social media.

Tyler Kay, 26, wrote an offensive anti-immigration post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 7 August, calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set alight.

He responded to several comments posted by others following his post, adding that it was “100% the plan”.

Kay also reposted a screenshot of another message inciting action against a named immigration solicitors in Northampton, and other posts attributable to him showed a desire to be involved in organised protests in the town.

Kay was arrested by officers from Northamptonshire Police, and appeared at Northamptonshire Magistrates’ Court today.

He pleaded guilty to publishing material intending to stir up racial hatred, and will be sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, 9 August.

Rosemary Ainslie, Acting Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “It’s important that I make it absolutely clear – online actions have real consequences.

“Kay wrote about setting fire to hotels and amplified posts advocating action against immigrations solicitors – this online behaviour will not be tolerated.

“He was convicted only a day after he made the social media post, which displays just how quickly offenders such as Kay will be brought to justice.

“The CPS will continue to act swiftly and robustly to tackle such behaviour.
Notes to editors

Tyler Kay, [DOB: 17/02/1998], is of Northampton, Northamptonshire.
He pleaded guilty to publishing material intending to stir up racial hatred, contrary to Section 19 of the Public Order Act (1986).
He will be sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, 9 August.

CPS

The crown court will now move onto the case of Gareth Metcalfe, who is represented by Simran Garcha.

He is brought into the dock wearing a grey jumper and sporting short mousey hair.

After speaking to confirm his name, he pleads guilty to the charge of violent disorder.

Metcalfe will be sentenced on Tuesday next week.

Judge Flewitt asks for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Mr Taylor tells the court: “This defendant is linked to the offender Mr O’Malley, who was sentenced earlier this week. When officers were looking for Mr O’Malley, the defendant was at the same property.”

Judge Flewitt: “I am sure you understand it is almost inevitable that there will be a substantial immediate sentence of imprisonment. How long that will be will be determined next week.”

Metcalfe nods and makes a love heart sign with hands to a man and a woman in the public gallery as he is led down to the cells. He also appears to blow a kiss.

The man says: “Love you lad, see you next week.”

The woman tells him “love you son” and adds “that’s a big relief” as she leaves the courtroom.

Liverpool Echo

Two men appeared in court in Leeds today after being charged as part of a continuing investigation into recent disorder in West Yorkshire.

Philip Hoban, 48, of Northcote Crescent in Leeds was convicted at Leeds Magistrates Court on Thursday (August 8), after being charged with causing racially and religiously aggravated harassment as well as alarm and distress through words.

Christopher Clayton, 66, of Station Cottages in Wakefield also appeared before court on Thursday charged with one offence of violent disorder in Rotherham and one offence of violent disorder in Merseyside.

He was also charged with seven offences of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of an article of police uniform.

The 66-year-old was remanded in custody and he, along with Hoban, will appear before Leeds Crown Court for sentencing on August 15.

West Yorkshire Police said it has made a total of 20 arrests since August 3, and that it will use “all the investigative tools available” to bring those involved in recent disorder to justice.

On Wednesday (August 7), five men aged between 16 and 31 were charged with offences including racially aggravated harassment, affray and intent to stir racial hatred.

Four of the men will appear before Leeds Crown court for sentencing on Friday (August 9) – with the 16-year-old male set to appear on September 4.

Yorkshire post

The men were involved in various acts of violence during a night of large-scale disorder that shocked Teesside on Wednesday 31 July.

They all appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday 8 August to be sentenced after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.

p first to receive their sentence by Judge Laird was Steven Mailen.

The 53-year-old, of Arch Court in Hartlepool, admitted to joining in the disorder.

He was struck on the leg by an officer’s baton when he was “constantly” in the face of officers gesticulating and shouting towards police.

Ryan Sheers, of Powlett Street, Hartlpool also admitted to joining in the disorder.

The 28-year-old was bitten on the hip by a police dog when he was shouting and refusing to move away when trying to push through the police cordon.

Kieron Gatenby, of Yeovil Walk in Hartlepool, participated in the disorder for around 30 and 60 minutes.

The 19-year-old was seen on CCTV footage throwing a missile towards police officers.

Bobby Shirbon, Cornwall Street in Hartlepool, was captured hurling missiles such as wood and bottles at officers.

The 18-year-old was also seen smashing windows and causing damage. On arrest he told officers “It’s ok everyone else is doing it.”

The final man – who will be sentenced on Friday 9 August – is Carl Holliday, of Tankerville Street in Hartlepool.

The 30-year-old hurled large pieces of metal shelving at police officers holding shields to provide a protective cordon on Murray Street.

Holliday was captured on a seven-minute video throwing the item four times.

On one occasion the footage showed him carrying the large item which he then threw directly towards the police line. He then threw another extremely large piece of metal shelving in the direction of officers.

The details of those sentenced on Thursday 8 August at Teesside Crown Court are:

Steven Mailen jailed for 26 months
Ryan Sheers jailed for 26 months
Kieron Gatenby jailed for 16 months
Bobby Shirbon jailed for 30 months
Carl Holliday will be jailed on Friday 9 August

Assistant Chief Constable David Felton: “Over the last week officers have been faced with extremely challenging situations involving individuals who had nothing else in mind but the intent to cause violence.

“Within seven days of the Hartlepool disorder those set on committing serious violence have been arrested, charged and now sentenced by the court. This sends a very firm message to anyone continuing to think of committing sheer violence.

“Our investigation remains on going and I want to encourage members of the public to keep reporting information – no matter how small you think it might be.”

Christopher Atkinson, Senior District Crown Prosecutor at CPS North East, said: “The tough sentences handed out today should serve as a lesson for anyone considering taking part in this type of disorder across the North East.

“This show of violence on the streets of Hartlepool instilled fear in local residents and caused damage to local businesses.

“I would like to praise the excellent work of Cleveland Police in dealing with this disorder. In addition to their brave response to a particularly difficult situation they have also secured key evidence against multiple offenders, which has assisted us greatly in building such robust cases against those involved.

“We will continue to work closely with our police partners, responding swiftly and robustly to any activity which threatens the safety of the communities we serve.

“Our message is clear: we stand ready to secure convictions and push for the strongest possible sentences against anyone involved in violent unrest.

“Those foolish enough to take part in such activity will likely find themselves facing a prison sentence and a permanent criminal record for their efforts.”

Cleveland Police

A Hartlepool man has been sentenced to 16 months’ detention after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Kieron Gatenby, 19, of Yeovil Walk, Hartlepool, was part of a group throwing bottles and bricks at police and smashing windows of houses, cars and shops while chanting racial slurs.

The teen, who has no previous convictions, was not motivated by far-right ideology and “got carried along” by the crowd, his lawyer Calum McNicholas told Teesside Crown Court earlier today.

He was arrested the day after the disorder as he rode his bike in town after police recognised him from bodycam footage where he was seen throwing an egg.

Gatenby, who will serve his sentence in a young offenders’ institution, denied having any racist beliefs but admitted his behaviour was unacceptable.

BBC News

Judge Laird sentenced the teenager to 20 months detention in a Young Offender Institution. The Judge added he will serve up to half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.

The defendant’s time on remand will count towards his sentence. The Judge did not make a criminal behaviour order in the case.

The teen is taken down to the cells.

Gazette Live

A Wakefield teenager has admitted being part of a group who violently rocked a police van during rioting in Rotherham, leaving a police community support officer (PCSO) fearing for his life.

18-year-old Kenzie Roughley, of Barnsley Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was filmed punching and kicking a South Yorkshire Police CCTV van as hundreds of people battled with officers outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, a district judge was told.

Footage of the van being rocked from side, with its rooftop mast swinging alarmingly, was one of many dramatic images of violence on Sunday, August 4, 2024.

Prosecutor Simon Walton told Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday that the PCSO inside the vehicle “described fearing for his life”.

The officer got into the driver’s seat and managed to drive it away, Mr Walton said.

Wearing a light blue hoodie, blond-haired Roughley yawned in the glass-fronted dock as he confirmed his details and pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday.

Sheffield Star

(Top left: Adam Wharton. Top right: Ellis Wharton. Bottom left: John O’Malley. Bottom right: William Morgan)

Four men have been jailed for a combined eight years and three months following violent disorder in Liverpool and Southport.

• John O’Malley, 43, of Cambridge Gardens, in Southport, was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to violent disorder in Southport.

• Adam Wharton, 28, of Selwyn Street, in Kirkdale, was jailed for one year and eight months after pleading guilty to burglary with intent to steal at Spellow Library in Walton.

• Ellis Wharton, 22, of Selwyn Street, in Kirkdale, was jailed for 11 months years after pleading guilty to burglary with intent to steal at Spellow Library in Walton and assaulting an emergency services worker.

• William Nelson Morgan, 69, of Linton Street, Walton, was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon in Walton.

Adam and Ellis Wharton, who are brothers, were arrested in the early hours of the morning on Sunday 4 August following violent scenes on County Road, in Walton, the previous evening.

Ellis was arrested inside the damaged Spellow Hub Library after officers saw him trying to escape with a computer monitor. He also assaulted an officer at the scene. Adam was arrested shortly afterwards when he was spotted by officers acting suspiciously and later identified as being part of a group who entered the library.

Morgan was also involved in the disorder on the same evening, on County Road, when he armed himself with a wooden bat during the violent scenes against officers.

O’Malley was identified as being part of the disorder on St Luke’s Road, in Southport, on Tuesday 30 July, when missiles were thrown at police carriers and officers, causing serious injuries.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul White said: “The latest results from court today means there are now seven men in prison following the violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool.

“This should serve as a stark warning to anyone who chooses to take part in such abhorrent behaviour. You will be swiftly arrested and could end up in a jail cell for a considerable amount of time.

“The investigation to identify anyone who took part in the disorder continues and we have now made 44 arrests in total. This will only rise as a specialist team reviews hundreds of hours of footage taken of the incidents.

“We continue to appeal for anyone with information about the disorder in Southport and Liverpool to come forward.”

If you have any information, you can contact us @MerpolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, with reference 24000663787.

Merseyside Police

You can read the sentencing remarks here

Joseph Ley, 30, of Hollywood Towers, Stockport, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder; and possession of a baton. Mr Lynch said Ley was involved with a large group of white males who surrounded black male on Piccadilly Gardens on August 3.

Ley was heard to say: “You got a problem with us English, bro?”. He then grabbed the man with both hands around his neck and pushing him to the floor. He then punched the man in the face.

“The complainant tried to stand up, this defendant forcefully kicked him to the left side of the face,” Mr Lynch said. Ley kicked the man again, knocking him to the floor. A crowd began to gather around to ‘cheer and clap’ and another man appeared to throw a metal fence towards the man, which thankfully missed him. Ley then kicked the man again before another man punched him.

Others joined in the attack, with comments heard such as: “Kill him… Stamp on his f***ing face.” The man was chased by some members of the group whilst the crowd could be heard chanting: “Save our kids, save our kids.”

Police officers then surrounded the victim completely in order to protect him from further attacks, the prosecutor said. Ley was later arrested, with officers finding a baton at his house in Stockport.

He was said to have previous convictions for violence, the court heard. Applying for bail, defence lawyer Simon Morton said his client handed himself into the police when he was aware they had been to his address. “He was cooperative and fully transparent,” he said.

Remanding him into custody, District Judge Joanne Hirst said: “This was shameful and frightening civil disorder in which a man was attacked by you due to his race.” Ley will next appear at Manchester Crown Court on August 15.

Manchester Evening News

A “thug” who was seen kicking another man during protests in Plymouth has been jailed for 32 months.

Michael Williams, 51, of Sparkwell, Devon, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a charge of violent disorder relating to Monday’s incident.

Judge Robert Linford, sentencing Williams and a second defendant at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday, said that “thugs like you… ran amok”.

He said Williams was “seen to be fighting and kicking another male” and when he was arrested he was found with a stone in his jogging bottoms.

The judge dismissed as “ludicrous” Williams’s claim that it was a “healing stone”.

In video footage played to the court, Williams chanted “Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah” after his arrest, and repeatedly swore at police.

Edward Bailey, for Williams, said that the defendant “didn’t set out on this particular evening with the intention of violence” and “had been drinking earlier that day”.

Manchester Evening News