&mdash; Far-Right Criminals

Boy seen with ‘firework in hand’

Mr Sanderson-Kirk says that the teenager was seen outside B&M on Clayton Square after the store had been “looted” in a ”group of around 8 to 12”.

He adds: “Three of the males lit fireworks and set them off in the direction of members of the public. “They exploded underneath a police carrier

“Police officers gave chase. [The boy] was arrested. On being spoken to he said I’m sorry, I wasn’t firing them at you though. Five fireworks were found on him, along with a lighter.”

Footage played to the court shows the youth with a firework in hand, lighting it and firing towards a police carrier.

His solicitor Mr Kang says: “It’s not disputed.” Mr Sanderson-Kirk says that “no injury was caused” as a result.

Judge Boswell says the case should be adjourned in order for a pre-sentence report to be obtained.

Mr Kang: “The court will naturally be concerned about a 14-year-old finding himself in these circumstances.

“He has no prior convictions whatsoever. He has never been in trouble with the police before. It is completely out of character for him.

“How did this come about? He tells me he headed into the city centre with the intention of catching a bus home. He was on his own. It seems perhaps through inexperience and lack of maturity he became involved with people he did not know who were offering out fireworks. He says he doesn’t know why he became involved but didn’t think things through. Through his lack of maturity and age, there was an excitement on his part. He did not head into the city centre with the intention of causing any kind of disturbance. Without thinking things through, he became involved in something much more serious than he intended. He accepts he was involved in that disorder and shouldn’t have been involved.

“He was perhaps confused what their intentions were other than being part of a trouble making group. He’s had plenty of time to think about his actions. He has spent two nights in custody. He understands how foolish and silly he has been and wishes he could turn the clock back.

“It is completely out of the blue. One could positively say if he hadn’t been heading into the city centre to catch a bus, we wouldn’t be convened here like this.”

The judge orders the preparation of the pre-sentence report.

The boy is released on bail until August 27 under the condition that he does not enter the L1. L2 or L3 postcode areas.

Man who pelted officers was floored by police dog during Sunderland disorder, court told

Yobs involved in Friday’s night’s rioting in Sunderland have appeared in court to admit their guilt.

Andrew Smith, 41, Josh Major, 29, and Leanne Hodgson, 43, were remanded into custody due to fears they would engage in further violence.

Smith, of Swan Lodge, High Street East, tossed an object at police as they dealt with shocking mob violence in city centre Keel Square.

His antics led to him being subdued by a police dog, prosecutor John Garside told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Garside added: “The police state the defendant has been identified due to throwing an object at officers. A police dog took him to the ground.”

Balaclava-clad Major, also known as Kellett, 29, of Southcroft, Fatfield, Washington, was caught on camera throwing a stone in the city centre.

Despite trying to hide his identity, Major, who has 20 previous convictions, was identified by his distinctive tattoos, Mr Garside said.

He added: “The defendant can clearly be seen on footage where he is acting as part of a large group and throwing a stone.

“He was wearing a Balaclava but visible were tattoos which allowed him to be identified.”

Alcoholic Hodgson, of Holborn Road, Ford Estate, claimed she involved herself in violence only after she left a pub which closed early due to disorder outside.

But Mr Garside said of Hodgson, who has six previous convictions: “The evidence shows that the defendant was identified from footage which shows her repeatedly pushing a large, wheeled bin towards police.

“There was a large crowd cheering her on and joining in. The defendant was subsequently arrested at her home address.”

All three defendants pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder and were remanded into custody by District Judge Zoe Passfield.

The judge told them they had willingly engaged in violence.

She ordered pre-sentence reports, and the defendants will appear next at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, September 2.

Paul McAlindon, defending Smith, said: “He does absolutely regret the decision he made to be involved in it.

“He hasn’t been in trouble for 14 years. He is alcohol dependent. Alcohol played a part on Friday.”

Sandra Fife, defending Major, did not make representation to the court and did not apply for bail.

Annalisa Moscardini, defending Hodgson, said: “She had been in a pub drinking. The pub was being closed and she has gone out into the street.

“There are long running alcohol problems, and there is mental health. This is not a woman who has gone out intent on violence.”

Three other defendants have appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in connection with Friday’s disorder in Sunderland.

Shaun Doran, 48, of Villette Road, Hendon, pleaded not guilty to a charge of violent disorder in city centre Holmside.

Clinton Morrison, 31, of St Barnabas Way, Hendon, entered no plea to a charge of committing violent disorder in Market Square.

Brian Gilby, 27, of Hendon Burn Avenue, Hendon, pleaded guilty to burglary in relation to entering a city centre vape store, ransacked as part of the rioting, and stealing stock.

Gilby pleaded not guilty to a charge of committing violent disorder.

All three were remanded into custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on September 2.
Sunderland Echo

Man in court in Liverpool after becoming ‘violent’ and ‘punching officer in face’

Derek Drummond, 58, of Pool Street, Southport, indicated guilty pleas to violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

Joshua Sanderson-Kirk, prosecuting, said PC Thomas Ball was deployed to the mosque on St Luke’s Road, Southport, on July 30, where a group of around 300 people arrived shouting “this is our f****** country” and “scumbag b*stards”.

The court heard officers had to withdraw for fear of being overwhelmed.

PC Ball stood to protect colleagues as they tried to put on riot gear when Drummond became violent, shouting “sh*thouses” and moved towards him, punching him in the face, Mr Sanderson-Kirk said.

Bricks were later thrown after a garden wall was broken down, the court was told.

Short clips of footage from a body-worn camera and the police helicopter were shown to the court.

No application for bail was made and District Judge Timothy Boswell remanded Drummond in custody for sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on August 29.

Two women sat at the back of the court for the hearing, one was in tears and the other blew Drummond a kiss as he left.

MEN

Ellis Wharton brought to court

The 22-year-old is charged with burglary with intent to steal at Spellow Library and assaulting an emergency services worker, namely PC Thomas Nielsen.

He is brought into the dock wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit with a black eye and short mousey hair. Wharton speaks to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He pleads guilty to burglary and not guilty to the assault. Mr Sanderson-Kirk says that the defendant was found inside the library carrying the computer screen by PC Nielson, who told him: “You’re getting locked up.”

Judge Boswell sends the case to the crown court on August 29.

Wharton, who has no previous convictions, is remanded into custody until this date.

Woman pleads guilty to violent disorder in Sunderland

A woman has pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being seen on footage pushing a large bin towards a police line during unrest in Sunderland.

Leanne Hodgson, 43, of Holborn Road, Sunderland, denies being involved in the original march but says she had been out drinking and became involved in the disorder when the pub closed, a court heard.

South Tyneside Magistrates Court was told she “came out into the street, was very drunk and angry, and behaved as described”.

John Garside, prosecuting, said “there was a large crowd cheering and joining in” as Hodgson pushed the bin at officers. She was later arrested at her home address.

The defendant, who has a “long-running alcohol problem,” was remanded in custody to be sentenced on September 2.

District Judge Zoe Passfield told her:

“This was large-scale mob violence which resulted in fear to the public and damage to local businesses.

“There is absolutely no justification for it. You chose to involve yourself in it.”

Manchester Evening News

Man admits taking vapes from shop in Sunderland that was damaged during disorder

A man has admitted taking vapes from a shop in Sunderland that was damaged during the disorder, but denied being part of the protests.

Brian Gilby, 27, of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder when he appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on Monday.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary. The court heard he was seen on footage going into a damaged shop and taking boxes of vapes.

Heather Bolton, defending, said Gilby denied being part of the protests or of any violent disorder, but was out “socialising with friends” in the city centre when he saw a shop “that had already been damaged” and went inside.

Gilby was remanded in custody and will make his first appearance at a crown court on September 2.

Manchester Evening News

Drummond ‘punches officer in the face’

Drummond, who is represented by Jack Sweeney, is brought into the dock wearing a grey jumper and sporting short greying hair.

One of his supporters is in tears in the public gallery. He speaks to confirm his name, address and date of birth before pleading guilty to both charges.

Mr Sanderson-Kirk says: “PC Ball had been deployed to Southport after the attacks on Hart Street. At about 6pm he was deployed in uniform to the mosque on St Luke’s Road. He sighted a group of around 300 marching towards the mosque. The crowd were shouting this is our f***ing country and scumbag b******s. Numbers grew rapidly and officers had to withdraw. The crowd were shouting England till I die and let’s get them.”

Mr Sanderson-Kirk says of the officer: “He had to draw his baton and was shouting get back. The crowd were shouting who the f*** is Allah.”

Drummond was then said to have shouted “s*** houses” before punching the officer in the face.

Another PC then “affected a baton strike” on the defendant, who went on to throw bricks and “breaking down a garden wall”.

PC Ball was left with injuries including cuts and bruises to his arms. Footage taken from a helicopter at the scene is played to the court.

Mr Sweeney says it is not accepted that Drummond is shown throwing bricks on the clip. There is no application for bail.

Judge Boswell sends the case to the crown court to be sentenced on August 29 and says: “This court’s sentencing powers are insufficient. You will be remanded into custody.

“If there is to be a basis of plea, that should be provided by August 15.”

A pre-sentence report is also ordered.

Drummond turns to his supporters in the public gallery and says “love you” as he is led down to the cells.

Burglar who targeted Spellow Library during riots says ‘nice one lad’ as he’s led to cells

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard convicted burglar Adam Wharton was “attacked in the cells” before his case was called on

A man who burgled Spellow Library wearing a balaclava during the weekend’s riots said “nice one lad” as he was led to the cells. Adam Wharton, 28 and of Selwyn Street in Walton, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning, Monday, August 5 after he was charged with burglary in relation to serious disorder on Saturday night.

Wharton, who was brought into the dock wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit, pleaded guilty to the charge put before him. His case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court for sentence on August 29.

Before the proceedings started, the court heard from Wharton’s solicitor Isaac Mirza who said the defendant had been “attacked in the cells” prior to appearing. Mr Mirza said the defendant had “a bloodied nose and an injury to his eye”.

Wharton’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.

Prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk told the court: “Officers were dealing with large scale violent disorder. Officers dealt with arson, throwing bricks and glass. A police helicopter observed a male entering Spellow Hub Library, which had previously been burnt out and looted.”

The prosecutor said one man was found inside the library carrying a computer monitor. He added: “Outside, the police found this defendant. He was wearing a balaclava and appeared to be profusely sweating. The crown says this defendant was acting as a lookout.”

Mr Sanderson-Kirk told the court the offence carries a starting point of one year with a range of a community order to two years in prison. The court hears that Wharton has 16 previous convictions for 26 offences, including robbery and burglary.

His solicitor Mr Mirza said there would be no application for bail. The defendant put his hands up and said: “Am I allowed to speak?” District Judge Timothy Boswell told Mr Mirza to speak to his client, before addressing the defendant.

He said: “Mr Wharton, I am committing your case for sentence to the crown court. It will be up to the crown court to decide what the right sentence is.” Following a query regarding the preparation of a pre-sentence report, the defendant said “nice one lad” as he was led to the cells.
Liverpool Echo

Gareth Rigby fined after becoming ‘aggressive’ to police in ‘shameful mass disorder’ in Bolton