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Bolton rioter wielded ‘tripod’ and made cutthroat signs

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December 17, 2024
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A rioter wielded what looked like a “tripod” and made threating “cutthroat” gestures as disorder gripped the town centre last summer.

Joseph Bigland, 43, had been living in Bolton town centre while homeless as violence whipped across the country after the tragic killings of three children in Southport last July.

Bolton Crown Court heard how two rival groups of protesters and counter-protesters had faced off against each other as police kept them apart on Sunday August 4.

Judge Jon Close said: “Many of the protests were at best misguided and utterly unjustifiable.”

Addressing Bigland, he added: “Unusually you had not travelled to the scene of the protest because you at the time were street homeless living in the area the protest took place.”

But he said that Bigland was caught on CCTV making threats of violence and “comments of a racial nature” toward the counter-protesters.

Judge Close said: “While shouting that racial abuse you were in possession of what appeared to be a tripod and were making a cutthroat gesture towards the counter protesters.”

A previous court hearing had been shown videos by prosecutor Philip Hall which caught Bigland holding “two pieces of wood”, making threating comments and making the cut-throat gesture.

Bigland, who has 36 previous convictions for 47 offences, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being arrested.

He looked on via videolink from prison as the court heard about the wider impact the disorder had had on the country.

Staff and shoppers at town centre businesses had been scared while bystanders had often been trapped inside premises as the violent scenes unfolded.

Judge Close said that this was “disorder and division that pulls at the very threads of our civilised society.”

He added: “Fortunately Bolton was not as battle scarred as other areas in the North West.”

At a previous hearing Anthony Horsefall, defending, had argued Bigland, of Bradford Street, had played a “peripheral” role in the disorder.

Taking up the defence at the final sentencing hearing Mark Friend reminded the court that Bigland had not sought out the disorder but had simply been living in the town at the time.

He said that the 43-year-old had “struggled with a variety of issues and vulnerabilities” and had lived a “difficult and at times isolated existence.”

Judge Close jailed Bigland for two years.

Bolton News

Bolton man abused police and made ‘cutthroat’ action during riot

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December 3, 2024
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A Bolton man made a “cutthroat” action and shouted abuse at counter-rioters.

Joseph Bigland, 43, was present on the day of the Bolton riots on August 4.

The event saw two groups of rioters face off against each other on Victoria Square and on Bradshawgate, with police deployed to keep them apart.

The riots were seen all around the country following the stabbings of 13 people at a dance class in Southport, which caused the deaths of three children.

Bigland, who is homeless, was seen on the side of the “anti-immigration” rioters on Victoria Square.

He behaved aggressively to police officers, telling one he would “kick his balls” and shouted abuse at counter-rioters.

He appeared at Bolton Crown Court on Monday, December 2 for the offence.

Prosecuting, Philip Hall showed three videos to the hearing which demonstrated Bigland’s actions.

He said: “At 1.50pm the defendant was captured on CCTV on the side of the anti-immigration protestors.”

CCTV footage from 2.17pm was then shown, which caught Bigland holding “two pieces of wood”.

Police body-worn camera footage from 2.31pm shows that he was no longer holding the wood.

However, in it, officers instruct him to move away, to which he becomes aggressive.

He said “I will kick your balls” and “I will wrap this tripod around your head”, referencing a tripod he was holding.

Bigland also antagonised the counter-rioters, and made a series of aggressive and racist comments.

A video was also shown of him making a “cutthroat” motion with the tripod.

When he was arrested by officers on October 19, Bigland said it was “not even him”.

He has 36 previous convictions for 47 offences.

He pleaded guilty on an earlier occasion to violent disorder.

Defending, Anthony Horsfall said: “It seems it is quite apparent that the defendant took a more peripheral role.

“There was more widespread violence that day, not by him.”

Judge Jon Close said: “The reality is he participated in what involved widespread violence on people and property.

“When you are sentenced for violent disorder, it is not just for your role, but your role in assisting those who did participate.”

Mr Horsfall added: “I accept the point that he is being sentenced as part of the group responsible, but there are different roles within that.”

Judge Close then highlighted concern about a mental health assessment into Bigland which had not been done.

He said how he had been homeless for 11 years and that he had been “addicted to heavy drugs” at points.

Judge Close also highlighted a five-month stay in a psychiatric hospital that Bigland had last year, but that there was no information about any formal mental health diagnosis.

Sentencing was adjourned to Friday, December 5, for his medical records to be checked.

Bolton News

Bolton man said he would ‘attack every single Muslim’

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December 3, 2024
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A Bolton man posted videos online saying he would become a “Christian radical extremist” and “attack every single Muslim”.

Pedro Cordeiro, 46, posted videos online where he made “racially hostile” remarks against Muslim people in Guinea Bissau.

Cordeiro, of Gisburn Avenue in Johnson Fold, made the videos in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

He described the Fula Muslim population of the country as “deceitful” and “traitors” as they “sided with the Portuguese during the civil war”.

Cordeiro also said he was “available to become a Christian radical extremist” and “if needs be” he would “attack every single Muslim”.

He was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on Monday, December 2 for the offences.

Prosecuting, Marianne Alton told the court how a Muslim man reported the videos to the police on March 22, 2019, saying how he “felt threatened” by the content in them.

She said: “He also understood him to be well connected to a high-ranking member of the military in his family.”

Transcripts of his videos were read out, in which he said: “Fula are the evilest (sic) people we have had in the history of Guinea Bissau.”

He added that the people of Guinea Bissau “are afraid Fula will stab them” but that he would “kill them”.

He also said: “If necessary I will order all mosques in Guinea Bissau to be set on fire.”

Cordeiro had no previous convictions.

Defending, Tom Farr said: “The defendant has a prospect of rehabilitation.

“Mr Cordeiro is of previous good character and he also was gainfully employed, but can’t work anymore due to an injury he suffered at work.

“He has not engaged in criminality previously at all. The pre-sentence report reflects positively on Mr Cordeiro.

“He is aware the comments he made overstepped the line. The court process has been a sobering experience for him.”

Cordeiro previously pleaded guilty to malicious communications.

Concluding, Judge Jon Close said: “By virtue of the crown accepting that plea, they also accept that there was no underlying attempt to stir up racial hatred. Were you to have been sentenced for that, the outcome would have been very different.

“Whilst there was clearly racial hostility associated with your posts, by virtue of your plea and the acceptance of lesser offences, what was absent was the intention to stir up racial hatred.

“Between 2017 and 2019 you engaged in a series of posts, the intention of which was to cause distress and anxiety. It is self evident they did precisely that.

“The incendiary nature of such posts was likely to cause considerable stress and anxiety to those who felt targeted by them and the wider populace.”

He recognised, however, that the behaviour was out of character for Cordeiro and that his references spoke about him in “glowing terms”.

Judge Close sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

He also ordered Cordeiro to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay a £500 fine.

Bolton News

Bolton rioter threw rocks at officers and stomped on police car

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November 12, 2024
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A teenager has been locked up after throwing rocks, stomping on a police car and insulting an officer.

Bradley Wilkinson, 18, played a “prominent” part in the riots in Bolton on August 4 this year, where widespread public disorder took place in the town centre.

Wilkinson, of Half Acre Lane, Blackrod, appeared at Bolton Crown Court to be sentenced.

Prosecuting, John Barrett told the court about the circumstances of the day, with rival groups facing off in the town centre separated by police officers, before it escalated to “disorder and violence”.

Wilkinson was caught on body worn camera footage and CCTV, being seen between the times of 1.45pm and 4.55pm.

He was seen at first “not wearing” a face covering in one of the protest groups but was afterwards seen with one on. He was also said to be “seeking confrontation with Asian males” on Bradshawgate.

CCTV footage of Wilkinson’s offending in the riots was shown in court.

At 2.06pm he threw “rocks and stones” at police and other protestors, then shortly afterwards at 2.12pm he was shown pushing an industrial bin towards officers.

Later on, at around 3.15pm, he was shown on Victoria Square with his face covered and holding two wine glasses, one of which was broken.

At 4.20pm, Wilkinson swore at a police officer in a supermarket car park before picking up a bottle and “launching it” at him.

Finally, an untimed incident took place where he climbed onto a police car and “stomped” on its roof.

Mr Barrett described the role he played in the disorder as “prominent”, to which Judge Nicholas Clarke KC replied: “He wasn’t out shopping that afternoon, was he?”

He was then arrested by police while on his way to another protest in Wigan on August 7.

Wilkinson has no previous convictions, the court heard.

He had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage.

Defending, Michael James said: “I can’t explain for the life of me why he was there, and he can’t either.

“He says he is not racist, one of his best teachers at school was a Mr Patel, and he would never display any racist attitudes.

“This is a young man who has suffered a troubled upbringing.”

He stressed that although Wilkinson was involved in the riots, he has not displayed “any racist or discriminatory behaviour”.

He added: “He has had difficulties in education and emotionally, those led to him doing what we would say is acting in an impulsive and irrational manner.

“He can’t explain why he behaved in this way.”

Mr James highlighted Wilkinson’s educational and behavioural issues in school and his immaturity, having been only 18 when the offence was committed.

He added that the defendant has shown “genuine remorse” and is sorry for what he did.

Judge Clarke said: “You were not there innocently or accidentally, you were there to cause very serious public disorder.”

He added: “It impacted on the harmonious living of diverse groups who normally visit the town centre.

“Members of the public had to run away or take refuge in shops, some had to close early. There was a financial loss in the centre that lingers.”

He described Wilkinson as an “active and persistent participant” in the riots and said that despite his prospect of rehabilitation, he had a “public duty” that those involved in the disorder should be punished appropriately.

He sentenced him to 16 months in custody.

Bolton News

Teenager in pink balaclava jailed for his part in shameful disorder in Bolton – and handed massive compo bill

By
September 25, 2024
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James Nelson was jailed for two months

A teenager who donned a pink balaclava in a bid to ‘evade identification’ has been jailed after damaging two police cars during the shameful disorder in Bolton town centre.

James Nelson, 18, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage during the disorder in Bolton on Sunday (August 4).

At Manchester Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor John Potter said that two police cars, a Ford Focus and a Peugeot, were parked in the Morrison car park on Black Horse Street.

“On the first vehicle, there was significant damage to the windscreen, the side windows were smashed and the driver’s side wing mirror was also damaged. On the second vehicle, the back window was smashed and the near side window was smashed, with significant damage to the front window,” he said.

He was said to have no previous convictions.

Mitigating, Gabriella Black said her client suffers from ADHD and issues with anger for which he was prescribed medication that he had ‘not been taking’.

“This was in the context of being involved in a situation with a group of people,” she said. Nelson lives with his grandparents and was said to have acted ‘completely out of character’.

The court heard that he was wearing a pink balaclava at the time.

“Why did he attend wearing a pink balaclava?,” District Judge Hirst asked. “I’m not sure,” Miss Black said.

“He was trying to evade identification, should he be involved in violence?,” District Judge Hirst said.

“He accepts he was involved in this violence,” Ms Black said. “He brought a pink balaclava, though he was clearly identified by witnesses. He was not thinking properly, he was immature and naive to the gravity of the consequences of the offences he committed.”

Jailing him for two months, DJ Hirst said: “You attended that violence with the intent of causing trouble. You were involved in the appalling and shameful violent disorder that impacted not just the national community, but in particular the Bolton community.

“I accept you may have difficulties but I understand that everyone involved in that violence has difficulties.”

She added that an immediate custodial sentence would ‘deter others from damaging police vehicles’.

Nelson, of Victoria Road, was also ordered to pay £4,999 compensation.

Manchester Evening News

Bolton dad ‘turned on heels and ran’ after throwing lighter at police

By
September 23, 2024
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A dad threw a lighter at police before “turning on his heel and running away” on a day when violence broke out in Bolton town centre.

Bolton was among dozens of towns and cities saw violence erupt following the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday, July 29.

Six days later, on Sunday, August 4, protests took place in the town centre.

Officers formed a “human barrier” to separate two rival groups, each containing around 250 people, who were facing off in Bolton town centre.

CCTV from the day captured Kieran Liddell, 27, on camera and Bolton Crown Court was told that he threw a lighter at a police line before “turning on his heel and running away”.

He was shown taking part in disorder on Victoria Square, Oxford Street and Bradshawgate, where the object was thrown.

The court heard how the disorder had significantly impacted the community with one female officer who wears a hijab, left “too scared to go to work” as a result of the unrest.

An impact statement read out by prosecutor David Lees said: “Over 440 officers were deployed across Greater Manchester at the time of the unrest.

“This had a specifically profound impact on the Black and Muslim officers, who were concerned for their safety.

“The Muslim community described feeling ‘under siege’ as a result of the attacks and many innocent bystanders were left trapped in premises during the unrest.”

Liddell, of Deansgate, Bolton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on September 14.

The court heard he had 10 previous convictions for 14 offences, including drugs, failure to comply with court orders and violence, dating back to when he was aged 14.

Defending, Julien Goode said Liddell, who has a baby with his partner, claimed he was “unaware” of the unrest and had “got caught up in the emotion” after going out shopping with his partner in the area.

He said he is the primary carer for his mother, who is suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with concerns that she will “lose her battle” while he is incarcerated.

Sentencing, Judge Jon Close, who acknowledged Liddell’s guilty plea, said: “It is clear that you felt a degree of entertainment from his participation in the unrest in Bolton.

“However, unlike a number of those involved, Liddell had no suggestion of facial coverings during the unrest and there is no suggestion that anything was defaced as a result his actions. He wasn’t pre-armed.

“Yet you exposed officers to risk of injury at your hands. There is no doubt that you regret that which you did.

“I do not find racial motivation, otherwise the sentencing would have been a lot more harsh.”

Liddell was sentenced to a year and 10 months.

Bolton News

Men threw missiles at police during disorder in town centre

By
August 28, 2024
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A pair who threw missiles at police are to spend a significant stint in prison for their involvement in disorder in Bolton Town Centre.

Niall Charnock and Nigel Simpson were sentenced to 26 months and to 28 months respectively this week at Bolton Crown Court.

Charnock, from Bolton, and Simpson, from Chorley, were in attendance in the town centre on August 4 when there were clashes between protesters and counter-protesters after the killing of three children in Southport.

There were clashes between protesters and counter-protesters in towns across the country at around the same time.

The two men threw missiles at police in two individual incidents.

Charnock, of Fairclough Street, admitted violent disorder at the magistrates court on August 12. Judge Nicholas Clarke sentenced him to 26 months.

The prosecution asked for a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from the town centre but the order was not agreed to by the judge.

Judge Clarke said: “Your attendance was not accidental and by your actions it is clear you attended to engage in violence. Bolton Town Centre was not as battle-scarred as other areas but it is because of the police no member of the public or member of the police was injured.”

Simpson, of Deerfold, admitted violent disorder at the magistrates court on August 20. Judge Martin Walsh sentenced him to 28 months.

The prosecution asked for a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from the town centre but the order is to be addressed at a later date.

Judge Walsh said: “Greater Manchester Police had a challenge to protect the public and a dispersal order was put in place after 2pm. Subsequently there were a number of protesters and counter-protesters in the town centre. Many attended to engage in peaceful protest but others attended to engage in violence. At some stage you attended for this purpose.”

As of August 22, according to the Ministry of Justice, 576 people have been brought before the courts in relation to the disorder in the UK.

Almost all those to be sentenced have been sentenced to time in prison with a range of two months to six years and an average of two years.

Bolton News

Rioter draped in England flag barged into ‘neutral zone’ and ‘launched plastic bottle’ at police in Bolton

By
August 27, 2024
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Niall Charnock admitted violent disorder following protests in Bolton

A rioter barged through a police barrier into a ‘neutral zone’ before launching a ‘plastic bottle’ at police officers during large-scale violent disorder in Bolton.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Niall Charnock, 31, was captured on video footage shared online ‘throwing a missile’ at officers and breaking down the barrier during protests in the Greater Manchester town on August 4.

Demonstrators and counter-protesters clashed outside Bolton town hall earlier this month as missiles were thrown at police. Chief Constable Stephen Watson previously said the ‘orchestrated criminality’ had nothing to do with lawful protest.

Prosecuting, Duncan Wilcock told the court that two ‘rival groups of protesters’ gathered in Bolton Town Centre and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers were deployed to keep the groups apart.

Mr Wilcock said around 250 people attended the gathering and that Charnock, of Edward Street, Farnworth, Bolton, was among them wearing a dark baseball cap and draped in a St George’s flag.

He told the court that footage taken at the riot just after 2pm captured Charnock breaking through a barrier set up by the police to separate the two groups before picking up a ‘missile’ and throwing it at the officers in front of him.

Mr Wilcox confirmed to Judge Nicholas Clarke KC that Charnock had ‘barged’ his way through the barrier into the ‘neutral zone’ in a bid to get to the opposing group.

udge Clarke said the footage, played to the court, showed what was clearly a ‘fast moving and dangerous situation’ for the dozens of police officers, including mounted officers, and members of the public in the area. He said the officers should be ‘applauded for the remarkable job’ they did handling the disorder in the face of ‘extreme provocation’.

Following the disorder a full investigation was launched by GMP to identify those involved. Charnock was identified and police attended his address on August 9 and seized various items of clothing that matched those seen in the footage of the riot.

The court heard that Charnock was arrested and gave a prepared statement when interviewed by police. He told officers he had made a ‘stupid mistake’ and acknowledged he should not have got involved but that the situation had ‘escalated quickly’.

Mitigating for Charnock, Darren Finnegan said Charnock had no relevant previous convictions and has ‘lived a quiet life’ with his partner of 12 years and their three children who are all aged under five.

The court heard Charnock has one previous conviction for burglary in 2015 for which he received a community order.

Mr Finnegan said Charnock had attended Bolton Town Centre on August 4 after seeing on social media that there was to be a ‘peaceful protest’ to ‘save the children’ following the fatal stabbings in Southport on July 29.

He said that at the protest ‘things got out of hand’ and Charnock threw a plastic water bottle at police officers but did not have a leading role in the disorder. The court heard that the bottle thrown by Charnock, described as a ‘missile’, was never recovered.

Mr Finnegan said the throwing of the missile came after Charnock was ‘pushed’ out of the neutral zone between the two rival groups by an officer, but that no fighting took place between Charnock and the officer.

He added that Charnock regrets what he did and is ‘profoundly remorseful’.

Charnock was jailed for 26 months. He was not granted a criminal behaviour order, with Judge Nicholas Clarke KC adding that the sentence ‘should serve as punishment enough’.

He will serve half of his term in prison before being released on licence.

Manchester Evening News

Pair launched wheelie bin at police during Bolton disorder

By
August 25, 2024
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Two men from a “mob intent on disorder” launched an “industrial sized wheelie bin” at riot police as violence gripped Bolton town centre.

Marcus Foster, 24, and Stephen Barrow, 54, had both been on Nelson Square on Bradshawgate on August 4 amid “grotesque, racist, far-right” inspired disturbances across the country.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Foster had been seen with a group of men around the square in front of a group of police in riot gear.

Prosecutor Duncan Wilcock said: “He had an object in his hand, and he threw that object towards the line of police officers attempting to disperse the protesters.”

Mr Wilcock said this “narrowly” missed the head of a mounted officer.

Both Foster and Barrow, who appeared before the court via video-link from prison, were then seen to push a “large wheelie bin full of rubbish” towards the line of officers.

Mr Wilcock said an officer tried to stop the bin with his foot before more came forward to help him.

Both Foster and Barrow had been “wearing disguises” on that day in Bolton

In the days after the outbreak of violence police began to trawl through CCTV footage to find the identity of the people involved.

Foster was arrested on Wednesday, August 7 after video footage caught him throwing a “missile” at police while Barrow was arrested at his home in St Helens on Saturday August 10.

Mr Wilcock said: “The officer commented at that stage that he didn’t seem surprised by the officer’s attendance.”

Having been identified, both were brought before the courts and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Foster, who has 16 previous convictions for 33 offences including dangerous driving, assault, possession of a knife and attempted wounding with intent, confessed to violent disorder.

Barrow, who has 21 previous convictions for 25 offences including affray and football related public order offences, admitted to the same crime.

Mr Wilcock read out a community impact statement from Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry of Greater Manchester Police.

He said that the protests had apparently been sparked by the horrific recent stabbings in Southport and were promoted by “groups identified as far-right in regards to their ideology.”

The statement said that Muslim, Jewish and other communities across Greater Manchester had been deeply alarmed by the disturbances, with many people fearing to go to town centres.

Muslim officers had been fearful about going out to work while police staff of all backgrounds had been put under huge stress, while firefighters had had to work overtime.

The statement said: “The unprecedented levels of violence my officers have experienced is unacceptable.”

Isabelle Haddad, defending Barrow, of Dilloway Street, St Helens, said that he had earned credit for his guilty plea and was remorseful for his actions.

She said: “He tells me he regrets what he did that day and he assures me he is not part of any far right group.”

Ms Haddad said that Barrow had now lost his job but accepted he had “only himself to blame.”

Niamh McGinty, defending Foster, of Oswald Street, Chorlton, said he also deserved credit for pleading guilty and that he was “realistic” about his fate.

She said: “He essentially maintains he was in the was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Ms McGinty told the court that Foster, a would-be professional boxer, accepted he was involved in “an appalling display of violence towards police who were only trying to de-escalate matters.”

But she said Foster had told her: “it was not racist motivation from his perspective.”

The Honorary Recorder for Bolton Judge Martin Walsh accepted that both had earned credit for their guilty pleas.

But he reminded the court of their “utterly misguided and totally unjustified” actions after protests broke out after the tragic events in Southport.

Addressing the men, Judge Walsh said: “Each of you were part of a mob that was intent on carrying out serious violent disorder.”

He added: “The context within which the incident of violent disorder occurred is also a seriously aggravating feature and cannot be ignored.

“Much of the violence was motivated by those seeking to promote a grotesque, racist, far-right political agenda.”

Judge Walsh jailed Foster for three years and Barrow for 28 months.
Bolton News

Balaclava-clad thug who turned up at Bolton protest armed with hammer made ‘very bad stupid mistake’

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August 13, 2024
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Mathew Edge, 34, has been jailed for a year

A balaclava-clad thug who was armed with a hammer before violence erupted in Bolton said he’d made a ‘very bad stupid mistake’.

Mathew Edge, 34, has been jailed for a year for being in possession of an offensive weapon following large scale disorder in the town, after the death of three girls in Southport. He is the first offender to be sentenced in a Greater Manchester crown court in connection with public disorder following the killings of the children.

Opposing groups goaded each other outside Bolton town hall on Sunday, August 4, with one set of protestors facing off a rival group of counter demonstrators. Bricks and other missiles were launched at police officers trying to keep rival factions apart.

Bolton was one of a number of areas with an ‘increased level of unrest and disorder in reaction to the tragic events in Southport’, Bolton Crown Court heard. At about 1pm that day, police became aware of a man wearing a balaclava who was part of the crowds outside the town hall, prosecutor Kate Gaskell said. An officer approached Edge and searched him.

He was found to be in possession of a ‘small hammer’ and some cannabis. Edge told the officer that he had the hammer because he was ‘scared of people stabbing him and his friends’.

“He repeatedly apologised saying it was his own fault and he had got agitated and scared,” Ms Gaskell said. “He further said he wasn’t a racist, his friend had told him to come down and he had made a very bad stupid mistake.” He had been in the pub earlier there he’d drank a pint of non-alcoholic Guinness, the court was told.

Edge, who has 18 convictions for 32 offences, was interviewed by police and claimed he had been given the hammer by a friend. Ms Gaskell said: “He denied being aware of what was going on in the town centre that day, thinking it was linked to the football.”

Edge, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and possessing cannabis. He was jailed for 12 months by Judge Martin Walsh, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton.

The judge said: “Bolton was one of five areas across Greater Manchester which experienced substantial levels of unrest and disorder which had broken out, in an utterly misguided and totally unjustified reaction to the tragic events that had unfolded in Southport some days before.”

He told Edge: “Your arrest occurred within the context of a significant incident of public disorder. Many individuals will have attended in order to engage in peaceful demonstration, but a significant number were intent upon seeking confrontation, using violence and causing large scale public disorder.

“Your presence within the large group that had congregated in the vicinity of the town hall was not accidental or coincidental. You had arrived in Bolton town centre having armed yourself with an offensive weapon, and having consciously made a decision to mask your identity.

“Although prior to being searched you had not produced the weapon, it is clear that at the very least you anticipated an outbreak of public disorder in which weapons might be used.”

Defending, Alex Beevers said Edge accepted having made a ‘conscious decision to embroil himself in what would inevitably second into hooliganism’. “If an example is to be made of him, so be it, he accepts that,” the barrister added.

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