More hearings in Liverpool as teenager pleads guilty to affray

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August 10, 2024
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Back at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, more people have appeared in the dock over their actions during the riots.

George Clements, 18, of New Brighton, Merseyside, has pleaded guilty to a charge of affray.

The court heard how, on August 3, Clements was in a small group of people wearing face masks “fronting up to members of the public” who were clearly distressed.

In footage of the event, Clements, who the court hears has a suspended sentence for dangerous driving, is seen kicking out and throwing objects at members of the public.

His case has been sent to Liverpool Crown Court, and he will appear for sentencing on 15 August. He has been granted bail in the meantime.

Sky News

Two rioters carrying knife and knuckleduster to appear in Crown Court

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August 10, 2024
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Back to Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, where Paul Daintith has pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a Section 60 area.

The order gives police enhanced stop and search powers to stop individuals and is designed to minimise serious violence.

The court heard how Daintith was arrested after revealing he had a craft knife tucked into the waistband of his trousers.

When asked why he had the knife during a police interview following his arrest, Daintith said he “was a smackhead who picks everything up”.

His case will go to Liverpool Crown Court on 15 August for sentence because the defendant has a previous conviction for a similar offence.

After being denied bail and taken into custody, Daintith, who was wearing a football shirt, shouted: “Wanker”.

Elsewhere, Bristol Magistrates’ Court has heard how 42-year-old Lee James “couldn’t get” a knuckleduster off his hand during riots in Southampton because “he has quite thick knuckles”.

Representing James, Janet Brownlow said her client had attended the protest “out of curiosity” and wanted to stress that he is “not a racist”.

She said James had picked up the knuckle-duster at a property he had previously worked on and left it in his van, from where he had picked it up and put it on before the protest.

District Judge Lynne Matthews remanded James into custody ahead of his sentencing hearing at Southampton Crown Court on 12 August.

Sky News

He went to town to go to Liverpool ONE but was caught red handed at riot

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August 10, 2024
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Curtis Faure was caught on camera at the riots in what he described as a “moment of madness”

A teenager who came into the city centre to go to Gravity MAX was caught on camera throwing a brick at police officers during last weekend’s city centre riots. Curtis Faure, 19 and of Thomas Lane in Broadgreen, appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning (Friday, August 9) where he pleaded guilty to the charge of violent disorder.

Prosecutor Sarah McInerney told the court the teenager was present during the riots on August 3 in the city centre. She said the defendant was pictured throwing a brick while on The Strand.

She added: “In the following days a number of images were circulated in the press. One particular image pictured the defendant throwing a brick and, on August 8, the defendant attended Marsh Lane police station and confirmed it was him.”

Faure’s charge comes in relation to the violent disorder in Liverpool and around the country over the weekend. A planned protest at the Pier Head on Saturday afternoon turned violent, with Merseyside Police forced to use riot gear after people were seen throwing bricks and debris at officers.

Scenes later spilled onto County Road in Walton, with rioters causing major damage in what police described as “serious violent disorder”. Chaos, violence and destruction followed as looters targeted businesses, bins were used to start fires and the Spellow Library & Community Hub was set alight.

In mitigation, Gary Bryan, told the court: “When the image was circulated he immediately presented himself to the police station. He made admissions during his police interview.

“He was at Chavasse Park with a friend to hang out and visit Gravity MAX. He became aware of the disturbance and walked down. And when he was there, in a singular moment of madness, he threw a brick towards the officers.

“He had no intention to harm anyone but accepted he threw it. He said there were no racial elements to his action and his parents are from South Africa. He has no discriminatory beliefs and this was a singular moment of madness. He stated he wished he could turn back time and his parents were ashamed of him.

“He has shown genuine remorse. He has never been arrested before. You can imagine his state of mind as he appears before the court today. He is a team leader at a supermarket. He works full time, often working six days a week for long hours.”

Addressing the defendant, District Judge Healey said: “You pleaded guilty. It’s too serious to be dealt with here. You will be sentenced on August 15. On August 3 you made the conscious decision to engage in the most violent disorder this country has seen in recent years. You were actively engaged on that day.

“It’s a serious offence, there is a real chance of a serious prison sentence. You have no previous convictions and say you are remorseful. You are in full time employment and have family support but you chose to get involved in this.”

The judge remanded the defendant into custody ahead of his sentencing. The defendant’s mum started to cry as her son was led down to the cells.

Liverpool Echo

Balaclava-clad rioter Charlie Bullock who launched rocks at police ‘hadn’t taken his ADHD meds’

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August 10, 2024
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A police officer was surrounded and repeatedly assaulted as he tried to arrest Charlie Bullock

A balaclava-clad rioter who resisted arrest told a court he hadn’t taken his ADHD medication on the day of the Middlesbrough riot.

Charlie Bullock, 21, threw rocks at a line of police who were standing in the midst of the crowd, to prevent people from moving into a residential street. Bullock was part of a huge crowd who gathered near the cenotaph on Linthorpe Road on August 4. Bullock was not caught on camera, but a police officer saw him wearing a black balaclava, as he attacked cops who held up shields to protect themselves.

Teesside Crown Court heard the demonstration began peacefully, but chants of “take our country back” began, as some of the crowd broke away and tried to push past the police line, to get into Clarendon Road.

Nicola Masters, prosecuting, told the court: “The protest became violent. Missiles were thrown. Vehicles were set on fire. Windows were smashed.”

As PC Lake tried to arrest Bullock, Bullock “kicked out” at him. The officer took Bullock to the ground to handcuff him, but people began to surround PC Lake. The officer was assaulted a number of times, before police back-up arrived and Bullock was taken into custody.

Bullock, of Donington Green, in the Netherfields area of Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He had never been in trouble with the police before.

In mitigation, Gary Wood told the court that his client “didn’t take his ADHD medication before the offending and as a consequence, found himself involved in the activity”.

He added: “A report by the probation service has found that when Bullock is not on his medication he has ‘poor impulse control and can be angry and irritated’.”

Mr Wood said that this is Bullock’s first time in court and he is “extremely frightened and anxious about his future” and “denies holding any racist views”.

Judge Francis Laird KC said that the “large scale public disorder in Middlesbrough caused damage to dwellings, to business premises, the local university and public buildings. Police officers were attacked with bricks, concrete and rocks. They had to protect themselves with riot shields.”

The judge said that the “cost to the community has been considerable. Residents have expressed fear of going out of their own homes into the street. The impact on people and their community will take a long time to repair.”

Bullock was jailed for 18 months.

Gazette Live

What happened in court today as eight more men appear in the dock following disorder

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August 9, 2024
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A teenager who threw a brick at police officers after trying to go to Gravity MAX and a masked man who brandished a knife near a vigil were among eight people to appear before the courts today. Seven of the eight men were charged with violent disorder in relation to various disturbances seen across Merseyside last week, while Jordan Davies admitted possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Violent riots were held last week in Southport, Liverpool city centre and on County Road in Walton as well as across a number of towns and cities across the UK. The riots followed the deaths of three girls in a mass stabbing in Southport on July 29, when people spread false information about the alleged attacker’s supposed ethnicity, nationality and religion.

During a court sentencing yesterday morning, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC said the riots were “used as a pretext for widespread violence, intimidation and damage”. Four of the men appeared for their first appearances at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Following a delay caused by the defendants, who had been remanded after their arrests, not arriving to court on time, proceedings started with the case of Gerard Cooch. Wearing a grey t-shirt and sporting a shaved head, he pleaded guilty to the charge of violent disorder.

Sarah McInerney, who prosecuted all four of the cases heard in magistrates’ court, said the defendant “shouted abuse in a vulgar fashion and threw the contents of a pint glass towards police officers” during the riots in the city centre. The court heard he kicked the police’s riots shields and was PAVA sprayed.

His defence, Tony Murphy, said the 39-year-old defendant, of Merton Road in Bootle, had acted alone and was not part of a far-right group. Following him was 19-year-old Curtis Faure. Dressed in a grey tracksuit, the teenager also pleaded guilty to the charge put before him.

The court heard the teenager had gone into the city centre during the riots, with the intention of meeting a friend and going to Gravity MAX. However, his defence Gary Bryan said his client picked up a brick and threw it towards the police “in a moment of madness”. He added the young defendant, of Thomas Lane in Broadgreen, accepted he threw the brick and went and handed himself in after his picture was circulated in the media.

District Judge Paul Healey, who presided over all four of the hearings in magistrates’ court, said the teenager “made the conscious decision to engage in the most violent disorder this country has seen in recent years.” Swiftly after Faure left the dock, after he too was remanded, Tony Hazlett, 46 and of Bank Road in Bootle, pleaded guilty to violent disorder in relation to the riots in Southport.

The court heard that the defendant was witnessed throwing bricks towards police officers during the riots after being invited to the north Sefton town by friends. Paul Kilty, defending, said his client had consumed alcohol on the day in question and had planned to go to the peaceful vigil.

He added his client had been filmed throwing two items in the direction of the police cordon, before leaving and getting the train home alone. Hazlett, who has 15 previous convictions for dozens of offences, including for affray and possession of an offensive weapon, was arrested at his home. He was remanded in custody after bail was refused.

The last man to appear in magistrates’ court was Tom Neblett, 20 and of High Park Road in Southport. Ms McInerney told the court that the defendant played “a leading role” in the Southport disorder. He was seen climbing on top of a white van and throwing bricks at police officers and vehicles.

Heather Toohey, defending Neblett, who has previous convictions both as an adult and as a youth, said her client refuted that he played a leading role. Instead, she said, he got “caught up in something on the streets of Southport”. He also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and all four of the men will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on August 15.

While the four defendants appeared at magistrates’ court, three more men appeared at the higher court to enter pleas relating to the same charge. Lloyd Killner, 35 and of Burton Road in Lincoln, and Jimmy Bailey, 45 and of Station Road in Ellesmere Port, both entered not guilty pleas to the violent disorder charge after having denied their involvement at magistrates’ court earlier in the week.

Both men’s cases were adjourned to September 13. However, Gareth Metcalfe, 44 and of Cambridge Gardens, Southport, pleaded guilty after choosing to not indicate a plea at the lower court. Metcalfe is believed to have “used or threatened unlawful violence” on St Luke’s Road and Sussex Road on July 30.

Judge Neil Flewitt KC told Metcalfe he can expect an immediate sentence of imprisonment when he returns next week to learn his fate. As he was led back to the docks he made a love heart sign with his hands to a man and woman in the public gallery.

After a break for lunch, Jordan Davies appeared at crown court to be sentenced for possession of a knife. Davies was spotted carrying a flick knife just minutes away from a vigil for Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice DaSilva Aguiar, who had all died after the fatal stabbing the day before.

Davies tried to claim he had found the weapon after urinating near a Tesco Express store – and after he was arrested, said his daughter had been stabbed and he had been assaulted. However, when his case got to court he pleaded guilty to the offence. Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, told the court members of the public “ran and screamed” after a woman was heard to shout “he’s got a knife”.

One witness, Michael Hayes, had been laying flowers at the scene with his partner, kids and friends and was forced to “push them into the nearby Baltic Supermarket for safety”. Davies, who has an extensive criminal record and was serving a suspended prison sentence at the time of the offence, was jailed for two years for the offence. His suspended sentence was also activated for a further 16 weeks.

Sentencing the mindless thug, Judge Denis Watson KC said Davies was on his way to join the mob who rioted close to a mosque on St Luke’s Road. The judge told him: “You claimed you had no knife, then that you had just found the knife and were going to hand it in.

“You claimed your daughter had just been stabbed. All of this was untrue. You were on your way to join the mob violence. Carrying knives at any time is a concern. Carrying a knife in this situation is particularly grave.”

The men who appeared in court today are the latest to appear in relation to the disorder. Seven men have already been convicted and handed immediate periods of imprisonment. Liam Riley, Declan Geiran and Derek Drummond were jailed on Wednesday. Adam and Ellis Wharton, William Nelson Morgan and John O’Malley followed them to prison the following day.

Twenty-two people have now been charged following 52 arrests. Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy has vowed to anyone involved in rioting “we are identifying you and we are coming for you”.

Judge Menary, Liverpool’s most senior judge, told his court yesterday: “It has long been recognised that there is an obligation on sentencing courts to do what they can to ensure the protection of the public, whether in their homes or in their businesses or in the streets, and to protect the places where they live and work.

“In seeking to achieve this aim, the courts will typically impose severe sentences for offences involving or connected to large scale and violent public disorder, intended to provide both punishment and deterrence. Quite simply, those who deliberately participate in such disorder, causing injury, damage and fear to communities will inevitably be punished with sentences designed to deter others from similar activity.”

Masked knifeman terrified families attending vigil for Southport stabbing victims

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August 9, 2024
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Jordan Davies claimed he’d found the knife close to a Tesco Express and had intended to hand it in to police



A balaclava clad man who brandished a knife close to the scene of a vigil for the victims of the Southport knife attacks claimed his daughter had been “stabbed up”.

Just over 24 hours on from the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, children and families fled in terror after Jordan Davies was spotted carrying a flick knife just minutes away from the scene.

One terrified dad even asked for his family to be locked inside a shop as the incident unfolded. Following his arrest, the mindless thug maintained he had found the weapon while urinating near to a Tesco Express store after downing cans of cider and said he was intending to hand the item in to the police.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Friday, that the “Southport community came together for a vigil” at 6pm on Tuesday, July 30, following the “tragedy” the previous day. Davies, of Portland Street in the town, was then seen in possession of the weapon a “short distance” away on Eastbank Street, near to the Wellington pub and a branch of KFC, at around 6.45pm.

Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, described how members of the public “ran and screamed” after a woman was heard to shout “he’s got a knife”. One witness, Michael Hayes, had been laying flowers at the scene with his partner, kids and friends and was forced to “push them into the nearby Baltic Supermarket for safety”.

Another, Claire Oldham, meanwhile saw Davies “approaching other males with the blade out”. The 32-year-old was also said to have pulled down a balaclava over his face during the altercation. Police officers subsequently found him “hiding behind a pillar” near to a snooker hall on Princes Street. While he initially “denied having anything on him”, the knife was then discovered inside a bag which he had been wearing around his neck.

Davies then claimed he had “simply picked the bag up” and was in the area “for a peaceful protest”. He added that “his daughter had been stabbed up and he had been assaulted”.

Footage taken from a PC’s body worn camera was played to the court and captured him saying: “I’ve got the bag off the floor, that’s it. I’ve got nothing on me.” When told why he was being detained, Davies replied: “Cos of yesterday and I look a bit foreign? Are you kidding me? I understand what’s gone on, my daughter’s been stabbed. That’s not my bag. I’ve just picked the bag up.

“How’ve I got a lock knife on my f***ing person? I’ve just picked the bag up. My daughter’s been stabbed up. How’ve I got a knife on me? I just picked the bag up off the floor.”

Under interview following his arrest, Davies stated he had earlier consumed “three to four ciders” at home and “picked up the pouch” while urinating near to a Tesco Express store “with the intention of placing it in an amnesty or taking it to a police station”. He added that he was only “seeking to do a good act”.

Mr Taylor told the court: “The town centre was full of families attending the vigil. There were many young children. The offence was committed in circumstances where there was a risk of serious disorder. This incident itself could have been a trigger event.”

Davies’ criminal record shows 15 previous convictions for 25 offences including assault, drink driving and public order matters. He was also handed a 16-week suspended prison sentence on June 19 this year for racially-aggravated harassment, battery and failing to surrender to custody.

His counsel Paul Becker outlined his client’s mental health issues and “serious eye condition” and, citing a letter penned by the defendant, said: “He does say he is neither right wing nor a Muslim and that he lived very close to where he was arrested. He takes this route on a daily basis to travel into the town centre. He is very much against the riots and was with his girlfriend at time. He is extremely sorry for the pain and suffering he has caused by the offences.

“He is a family man. He does have two young children. He is very upset about the horrendous events last Monday in Southport. I understand there has been negative publicity about him on social media and threats made as well. Of course, nobody was threatened with the blade. He understands that, 24 hours after the horrendous events, what was being said, that there was a knife, would have caused alarm to the public.”

Davies admitted possession of a bladed article in a public place and breaching a suspended sentence order. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit and wearing short dark hair, he nodded as he was jailed for two years. His 16-week suspended sentence was also activated in full and ordered to run consecutively to this term, leading to a total sentence of two years and 16 weeks. Davies was meanwhile handed a serious violence reduction order, which will commence upon his release and last for two years thereafter, with forfeiture and destruction of the knife being ordered.

Liverpool Echo

First three Hull rioters jailed for ‘ugly violence’

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August 9, 2024
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The first three people convicted for their part in a violent protest in Hull have been jailed.

Hull Crown Court heard police officers were attacked when missiles were thrown at them, shops were looted and a hotel housing asylum seekers was targeted during the violence in the Ferensway, Jameson Street and Spring Bank areas on Saturday.

Andrew Stewart, 37, of Anlaby, Hull, and Brandon Kirkwood, 20, of Downing Grove, Hull, have each been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Christopher Douglas, 35, of Avenues Court, Hull, was jailed for two years and eight months.

Sentencing them, Judge Mark Bury said all three were involved in a “malevolent nature of violence”.

He said the “ugly violence” in Hull and other parts of the UK occurred following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport, and the killings were “used as an excuse for mindless acts of violence”.

All three had pleaded guilty to violent disorder at previous Hull Magistrates Court hearings.

The court heard racial chants were heard during the mass disorder, which started in the afternoon and carried on into the evening.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans said projectiles had been thrown at police, and smoke bombs and pyrotechnics had been set off.

One police officer needed four stiches to his face and was “scarred for life” but “remarkably” came back on duty later in the evening, Mr Evans said.

Judge Bury said Douglas, a military veteran who completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan, was at the “front and centre” of the disorder while Stewart “clearly targeted individuals of the hotel”.

He said Kirkwood, who had pushed a large bin at a line of officers, had “to some extent been swept up” by the unrest.

“This was violent disorder of the very worst kind,” said the judge.

BBC News

Men in court over roles in violent disorder

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August 9, 2024
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Two men have appeared in court for their roles in recent violent disorder.

Philip Hoban, 48, was convicted at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after being charged with causing racially, religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress through words at disorder at Victoria Square in Leeds on 3 August.

Hoban, of Northcote Crescent, Leeds, will be sentenced at the city’s crown court on 15 August.

Meanwhile, Christopher Clayton, 66, also appeared before magistrates charged with two counts of violent disorder in Rotherham and Merseyside.

Mr Clayton, of Station Cottages, Wakefield, was also charged with seven offences of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of an article of police uniform.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Leeds Crown Court on 15 August.

West Yorkshire Police said it had made a total 20 arrests related to the disorder since 3 August.

The force said it would “use the investigative tools available to us to bring those involved in the recent disorder to justice”.

BBC News

Stacey Vint jailed for pushing bin at police in Middlesbrough

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August 9, 2024
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This is the moment a woman jailed for violent disorder falls flat on her face after trying to push a burning wheelie bin at cops.

Stacey Vint, 34, was captured on video trying to shove the bin towards police with riot shields before falling flat on her face.

Appearing at Teesside Crown Court on Friday Vint, she was jailed for one year and eight months.

Vint, of Normanby Road, watched on from the public gallery as the clip was played twice to the court.

She was quickly arrested by police after her position on the ground.

The contents of the bin were on fire and left smouldering in the street.

Prosecutor Miss Rachel Masters said Vint, who has one previous conviction for theft and received a police caution in July for battery, was found with a small amount of cannabis in her possession.

Vint, of Normanby Road, Middlesbrough pleaded guilty earlier this week to a charge of violent disorder and possession of the class B drug.

Mitigating, her counsel Mr Turton said she holds no racist views and is not “anti-police”. He said she had long-running alcohol and drug problems.

He said: “One of the gentlemen, had he lit the wheelie bin or not, asked her to give him a hand and she did.”

She had been living homeless having left an abusive relationship and had moved to a hotel, Mr Turton added.

Sentencing her, Judge Francis Laird KC, said: “You chose to take part in a large scale and violent act of public disorder.”

In a community impact statement read to the court Geoff Field from Middlesbrough Council said: “Days after the event there is worry and concern across the affected communities. We still have residents saying they are afraid to leave their houses.

“One house had small children in the living room when windows were smashed.

“Riots that took place had and continue to have a significant impact on both Middlesbrough the town, and its residents. The residents and many shopkeepers are extremely frightened by the scenes on Sunday (August 4). Some residents were physically injured, and there is also psychological trauma to those living in the affected wards.”

Northern Echo

Maryport man jailed over racist online post

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August 9, 2024
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A man who wrote a Facebook post which included emojis of a person of ethnic minority and a gun has been jailed.

Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard that Billy Thompson, 31, posted online in response to Cumbria Police announcing a dispersal order over potential planned disorder on Wednesday.

The court was told Thompson, of Maryport, did not know it was an offence to make the comments.

He admitted sending a message that was grossly offensive, or of indecent, obscene or menacing character by means of a public electronic communications network and was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail.

The court heard the father-of-one had nine previous convictions for 13 offences.

Kate Hunter, defending, said Thompson apologised and “certainly says he won’t be repeating this mistake again”.

Of the criminal post and emojis, Ms Hunter said: “His version is that that comment relates to police, not to anything else.”

‘Racial element’

But district judge John Temperley said he did not accept the comments and emojis were directed at the police.

“This offence, I’m afraid, has to be viewed in the context of the current civil unrest up and down this country. And I’ve no doubt at all that your post is connected to that wider picture,” Mr Temperley said.

“I’ve read in the case summary of the comments you made on arrest which clearly demonstrate to me that there was a racial element to the messaging and the posting of these emojis.”

It comes as another man is set to stand trial at the end of the month charged with posting offensive Facebook comments, allegedly encouraging violence against police ahead of planned disorder.

Giving a brief outline of the charges, prosecutor George Shelley said they related to two separate posts on Facebook, in the context of ongoing national disturbances throughout the country.

The 41-year-old defendant from Carlisle pleaded not guilty.

He was granted bail on condition he does not post anything on social media between now and his trial on 29 August at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.

BBC News