He played a central role in scenes of disorder across the city centre in August
An aggressive troublemaker who was at the centre of serious disorder in Hull city centre later angrily claimed to police that he had been “radicalised” by activist Tommy Robinson – and that there was “two-tier justice” in this country.
Heavy-drinking Declan Wild yelled during a rant – that was filmed when he was arrested – that Robinson was “right” about what he had said. He also shouted comments about the “English Defence League” during an assault on a policeman.
During the earlier public disorder scenes, Wild chased a terrified Romanian man, who had been inside a BMW car, along with two others, when they were confronted. He had to be pulled back by another man. He also twice raided the Lush store during looting, Hull Crown Court heard.
Wild, 26, admitted violent disorder, racially aggravated assault and burglary on August 3 as well as two later offences of assaulting police as emergency workers on August 28 and 29.
Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that Wild was present during large-scale disorder in the Jameson Street and Paragon Street areas of Hull. He was among a group who aggressively confronted police in Paragon Street and he threw missiles outside the Masters Bar pub.
He was present in the Milky Way area, off Spring Bank, and seemed to be filming the disorder. He helped with building a barricade of tyres, some of which were set alight, and was on the scene during trouble at a garage.
He took a leading role in an incident in which a BMW car, containing three Romanian men, was surrounded. One of the terrified men was dragged out. Wild chased him as he fled and hit him on the back of his head before another man pulled him back. He damaged a car, including kicking a wing mirror off.
Wild was involved in twice raiding the Lush store, including coming back and filling a bag up with items before leaving with them.
Wild was identified and traced to an address in Rochdale on August 28. He was arrested and he kicked out at a police officer while shouting: “This is two-tier policing. Tommy Robinson has radicalised me and he was right.” He made comments about the “English Defence League” and “EDL”.
Wild recklessly headbutted a police sergeant the next day, hitting him near his eye and causing a wound. He did not directly headbutt the sergeant but there was a “clashing of heads” during aggressive behaviour by Wild. He had convictions for 13 previous offences, most of them when he was a youth, and including assaults and public disorder.
Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Wild pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He had proved that he could stay out of trouble for periods of time. “The majority of his offending was when he was a youth,” said Miss Thompson.
Wild had travelled to Hull from the Grimsby area, where he had been living with his girlfriend. He was originally from the Manchester area.
“He had no plan to be involved in the activities but one thing led to another and he got caught up in it,” said Miss Thompson. Wild accepted his behaviour and the motivation for it. He immediately apologised to the police for the assaults.
“No sentence of imprisonment will rectify the damage and hurt that he has caused,” said Miss Thompson. Wild used to be a heavy drinker and he had suffered from mental health problems.
Judge John Thackray KC told Wild: “Your offending formed part of 12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence.” During the violence, 11 police officers were hurt and “immeasurable harm” was caused, as well there being a “huge financial cost”. Wild’s behaviour when he was arrested was “appalling”.
He was jailed for four years.
Hull Daily Mail
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