They were all put behind bars

A builder, market worker and war veterans were among those who were jailed this year for their roles in the Hanley riots. Trouble erupted on Saturday, August 3 as the city centre was swamped with protesters marching down the streets.

Around 100 police with riot shields and dog units responded to the chaos. Planned protests kicked off at around 11.30am.

Large groups of men were seen turning out around the mosques in opposition to the demonstrators. From around 1.30pm, the groups began to clash, primarily at first around the Darul Falah mosque in Town Road.

Among both the protestors and those who had turned out at the mosques to oppose them, individuals were witnessed to be carrying weapons. Scores of people have been arrested in connection with the riots and the police investigation continues.

Any witnesses to the Hanley riots can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Here’s a round-up of some of those who have been jailed:

Ciaran Lockett and Deana Evans

‘Chanting’ couple Ciaran Lockett and Deana Evans became the first to be jailed for their parts in the Hanley riots. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Lockett chanted songs, took part in a sit-down protest, stopped a police van driving through the city centre, and threw a bottle at police.

The 34-year-old scaffolder, of Fletcher Bank, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 32 months. Partner Evans filmed the incident, shouted and chanted. The 32-year-old warehouse worker, of Poplar Court, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker and was jailed for 20 months.

Ashley Morris

A dad-of-three left needing six stitches after being bashed over the head in a Hanley riots hammer attack was jailed. Ashley Morris also suffered a broken nose as violence erupted on the streets of Hanley.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 31-year-old was bare-chested because he had taken his shirt off to use it as a bandage for an injured woman. But Morris – who has lost his job as a groundworker following the troubles – pleaded guilty to violent disorder after throwing a brick towards St John’s Church which Islamic leaders want to convert into a Mosque. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Andrew Townley

Bungling builder Andrew Townley was easily identified at the Hanley riots – with his work’s phone number on the back of his hi-vis jacket. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 45-year-old had no intention of going to the riots – and was instead trying to get to his mum’s home on the opposite side of the police cordon.

But he was arrested at work more than a month later after trying to break through the police line. He had told police ‘you have got no chance against me, no chance, any of you’ before disappearing back into the crowd.

Townley, of Penarth Grove, Hanley, was jailed for 34 months after admitting violent disorder following the August 3 trouble. He was also handed an eight-month prison sentence for assaulting an emergency worker which will run concurrently.

Lee Whitby

Iraq veteran Lee Whitby was at the ‘forefront’ of the Hanley riots. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 41-year-old was caught on camera near Salahuddin Mosque, on Town Road, as well as at the front of police lines outside Hanley Library and in Shelton during the August 3 troubles.

Whitby – who had 42 previous offences on his record – was jailed for 26 months after admitting violent disorder. Tours of Kosovo and Iraq have left him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the court was told.

Marcus Ramsden

A dad who took part in the Hanley riots will miss his son’s first birthday after being locked up for two years for spitting at police. Marcus Ramsden was invited to the Hanley riots by friends and family.

CCTV footage captured the 22-year-old – from Latebrook Close, in Goldenhill – shouting, swearing and spitting at police officers on Town Road. Ramsden pleaded guilty to violent disorder and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

Ryan Perry

A 23-year-old man who has worked in Hanley Market for 12 years was locked up – after ‘stumbling across’ the city centre riots ‘by chance’. Ryan Perry was on a Saturday off when he dropped his girlfriend off in Hanley and went to the shops and a pub.

But he later joined the Hanley riots, struck police officers’ shields, and made an obscene gesture to a group outside Salahuddin Mosque, on Town Road. Perry, of Mount Street, Hanley, was jailed for 22 months for violent disorder and assaulting two police officers.

Dominic Cartwright

Dad Dominic Cartwright hurled missiles towards a mosque and was up for a fight at the ‘forefront’ of the Hanley riots. The 34-year-old says he had only gone to Hanley after finishing his night shift to have a drink in Wetherspoons and watch Stoke City.

But he instead endured the ‘worst day of his life’ after becoming caught up in the August 3 riots. Cartwright, of Shawport Avenue, Bradwell, was jailed for 28 months after admitting violent disorder.

Joseph Pointon

A first-time buyer who went to Hanley to arrange a mortgage for a house became involved in ugly scenes of violent disorder. Joseph Pointon, aged 23, allowed his curiosity to get the better of him when he saw a group being aggressive towards police in Hanley on Saturday, August 3.

He ripped off a plastic drainpipe and launched it at police. He dismantled parts of a roundabout at Town Road and threw a brick which connected with an officer’s riot shield.

Pointon was jailed for 28 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Prosecutor Dylan Wagg said Pointon was seen in Cannon Place with others being stopped by the police cordon.

Lee Grocott

A 48-year-old man attended the Hanley riots to ‘protest about illegal immigration’ – and ended up being jailed for 32 months. Lee Grocott, of no fixed address, launched missiles in Town Road, shouted anti-Islamic remarks, shouted ‘paedos’, and targeted peaceful protesters outside Hanley Town Hall.

The defendant was identified on CCTV, admitted violent disorder, and was jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Jordan Jones

A rioter who hurled a brick at police trying to quell trouble in Hanley was jailed for more than two years. Jordan Jones was caught on CCTV launching the missile and shouting abuse as mass disorder erupted in the city centre.

The 27-year-old, of Meir, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to two-years-and-two-months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of a controlled drug of class B – cannabis.

James Watkins

Dad-of-four James Watkins ‘lost everything again’ having fought back from losing his job in Covid, becoming addicted to monkey dust and ending up on the streets. The 35-year-old has been drug-free for more than a year.

But he is now behind bars after being a ‘continuous presence’ at the August 3 Hanley riots. He was verbally abusive, gesturing, and wielded a bottle after being struck by a police shield.

Watkins, of Sherwin Road, Stanfield, was jailed for three years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after admitting a charge of violent disorder.

Jarrod Hollinshead

Homeless Jarrod Hollinshead was jailed for his part in the Hanley riots – after joining what he thought was a ‘music parade with free beer’. The 26-year-old had gone to City Central Library, in Hanley, to email family just an hour after appearing at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

But the library was shut and he joined what he initially thought was a music parade with the offer of free beer. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Hollinshead later threw a brick and shouted ‘f**k all of you’ before being taken to the ground.

The brick had been hauled towards St John’s Church, on Town Road, which Islamic leaders want to turn into the Darul Falah Mosque.


Stoke Sentinel