Archive

Tag Archives: jailed

Jobless Tommy Robinson fan hurled missile at mosque as anarchy rained down on Hanley

By
February 17, 2025
Uncategorized

Matthew Hodgekinson made offensive chants during the city centre riot

Jobless Matthew Hodgekinson was caught on CCTV throwing missiles at a mosque as Hanley descended into anarchy. The 33-year-old has been jailed for more than two years for his part in the city centre riot.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he shouted abuse at counter-protestors in Town Road on August 3, telling them to “pack your bags and f*** off home”. And Hodgekinson – who has a skull and cross bones tattoo on his face – was also heard chanting in support of Tommy Robinson.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said: “On CCTV footage the defendant is seen by the mosque in Town Road picking up an item. It’s not sure whether that item was thrown, but he then picks up two more items and throws them towards the mosque.

“The defendant goes to the counter protest shouting ‘F***ing cowards’, ‘Pack your bags and f*** off home’. He walks quickly towards a police officer and is pushed back.

“He was arrested on September 4. During interviewing, the defendant admitted throwing the two items and admitted to throwing more. He also said he was shouting ‘Stop the boats’ and chanting Tommy Robinson’s name.”

Hodgekinson, of High Street, Halmerend, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, told the court how his family know a different side to Hodgekinson’s character, and said although he’s unemployed he helps people in the community with gardening.

He added: “Mr Hodgekinson didn’t know there was a mosque there, and he said he threw the items towards the counter-protest because they were attacking him.”

Jailing him for 27 months, Judge Graeme Smith said: “On July 29 last year a horrific attack took place at a dance studio in Southport. Tragically three young girls were stabbed to death and others were injured. A young man was sentenced recently for 52 years.

“Regrettably, false information circulated online in particular about this man’s immigration status and ethnicity. A number of protests took place in the days following the incident, one of which took place on August 3 in Hanley,.

“[People] are allowed to protest through public demonstration, but that does not include violence. Town Road in the centre of Hanley is close to a cinema, restaurants and shops, and members of the public were out shopping, eating and enjoying their leisure time which was impacted by the disorder which lasted for several hours.

“Police officers were deployed to prevent violent disorder. Although some people conducted protests peacefully, many did not. Missiles were thrown – including you – weapons were brandished, and police officers and members of the public were injured. There were widespread acts of violence which resulted in serious fear, distress and disorder, as well as costs to the community.

“You were first seen outside Hanley Town Hall shouting and chanting – that did not amount to violent disorder, you were entitled to hold those views and shout those things, however when you reached Town Road the disorder spread. You are seen on CCTV throwing missiles – a very dangerous act. A number of people were hit, not necessarily by you. I have no idea if your missiles hit or not, but members of the public and police officers were injured.

“There was hostility towards religious groups, mainly Muslims, and you say you didn’t know the mosque was there and you didn’t shout anything about Muslims, your problems seem to be with immigration.”

Stoke Sentinel

Jailed Hanley rioter’s grovelling apology: ‘I never thought I’d end up in prison’

By
February 17, 2025
Uncategorized

Aaron Dring is now said to have ‘turned his life around’ whilst in prison

Protester Aaron Dring sat in the middle of the road as he threatened police and shouted abuse during the Hanley riot. The 26-year-old parked himself in the middle of the road and refused to budge as trouble erupted in the wake of the Southport murders.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Yodel worker Dring called police officers ‘nonces’ and challenged one officer to a fight on August 3 last year. He was also heard to shout ‘We want our country back’ and told one officer he would ‘f*** him up’ after being struck by a baton.

The defendant wrote a grovelling apology for his actions on the day which was read out in court before he was jailed for two years.

Fiona Cortese, prosecuting, told the court Dring had played an active role on the day. She said: “The defendant was one of the protesters who were sat in the middle of the road stopping police vehicles from entering whilst shouting ‘We want our country back’.

“At Town Road where the main disorder took place, the defendant called police officers who were performing their duties ‘nonces’, and he shouted verbal abuse at them. He pushed at a police shield, and at one point the defendant was in front of a sergeant and missiles were being thrown – but not by him.

“When the officer asked the defendant to move back he refused. This ended up in punches and the officer hit another individual with his baton before striking the defendant. He told the officer he would ‘F*** him up’ if he came after him. The defendant made a jabbing motion, and said ‘Take your kit off and come around the corner for a fight’.”

Dring, of Westbourne Drive, Tunstall, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe, mitigating, said: “Mr Dring has written a letter stating ‘I never thought I would end up in jail, but my actions have led me here. My behaviour and how I acted is unacceptable. I would like to apologise to the police and to my family for how I behaved.

“‘I understand the officers were just doing their job and my actions prevented them from doing so. While I’ve been in jail, Priest Roger has made me think about life in a new way and how every action has a reaction, and mine is jail. He has also been teaching me that I should treat people how I want to be treated’.”

Ms Devans-Tamakloe added: “This offence was clearly a stupid offence to have committed – a serious one – and it could have ended up worse for members of the public than it did. Mr Dring has held his hands up for his actions and he hasn’t tried to make excuses or shy away.

“He was elected an equalities representative in prison and he has maintained an enhanced status. He is demonstrating progress and discipline. He was a parcel sorter at Yodel before he went to prison and he lived with his parents. He has shown remorse, and there is a realistic prospect for rehab within the community.”

Judge Graeme Smith said: “Police officers were deployed to prevent violent disorder. Although some people conducted protests peacefully, many did not. Missiles were thrown, weapons were brandished, and police officers and members of the public were injured. There were widespread acts of violence which resulted in serious fear, distress and disorder, as well as costs to the community.

“You did not at any stage seek to leave, you were part of a group of people who sat down and stopped police vehicles from getting past – that wasn’t violent disorder. You were shouting things, again, not violent disorder. You then moved up to Town Road near The Potteries Centre where people were shopping when the violence broke out.

“The police were there to keep order because of that violence and there were a number of protesters and police officers injured. The police officers were simply performing their duty of keeping the peace.

“You were at the front line for some considerable time. You were engaging with police officers, abusing and threatening them, and you were threatening to be violent. You could have left at any time.

“I have to consider whether you acted on religious or racial hostility, in your case I see none of this hostility.”

Stoke Sentinel

Man sentenced to five years in prison for rioting

By
February 14, 2025
Uncategorized

A man has been jailed for five years and seven months for encouraging people to set fire to a hotel during rioting in Staffordshire.

Mitchell Cleaver, 25, from Burton-upon-Trent sent messages to a number of people prior to the unrest, urging them to “burn the place down” and “make it the maddest night in Tamworth history”, according to Staffordshire Police.

Cleaver pleaded guilty to riot in September at Stafford Crown Court.

At the time, it was the first conviction for the offence in the West Midlands after last summer’s disorder.

A police spokesperson said footage on his phone showed the moment the Holiday Inn’s window was smashed before a fire was ignited inside.

Prosecuting, Ms Raj Punia said Cleaver was seen throwing missiles at the police line.

He had possession of a fire extinguisher, she said, and used it against officers, spraying them in an effort to force them back.

In police interviews, Cleaver denied being at the riot and said he was at a gym.

He also told authorities he could not have attended the riot because he had a severe leg injury.

The prosecution maintained he was clearly present, and the court was shown footage of his involvement.

BBC News

Mosque blast bid man jailed over summer riots

By
February 12, 2025
Uncategorized

A man who was previously jailed for trying to blow up a mosque has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for involvement in last summer’s riots.

Ex-soldier Simon Beech, 36, of Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty in November to violent disorder after being captured on CCTV throwing a missile at police officers.

He was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to two years and three months in prison for his part in the riots, sparked after the killing of three girls in Southport, for which Axel Rudakubana was jailed last month for a minimum of 52 years.

In 2011 Beech, of Chell Heath, attempted to blow up a mosque in Stoke, for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

He was arrested last August after disturbances broke out in in Hanley.

In 2011, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Beech and another man – Garreth Foster – ran a pipe into the mosque from a nearby gas meter in a bid to spark an explosion.

The building sustained damage put at £50,000 as a result of a fire that broke out.

Beech told the court during his 2011 trial he had been a member of the English Defence League and the British National Party, but said he was not racist and did not believe his views to be extreme.

Commenting on his guilty plea after the riots, chairman of City Central Mosque Amjid Wazir said Beech did not seem to have learned any lessons.

Disorder spread across England last summer partly due to false claims online about Rudakubana.

Mr Wazir praised the actions by police and the legal system to bring those responsible to justice.

“When the riots were happening in Stoke, and elsewhere in the country, people were so scared of going out,” he said.

“They were worried, they were nervous.”

BBC News

Criminal who threw stones at police in riot jailed

By
February 3, 2025
Uncategorized

A heavily-convicted criminal who threw rocks at police and tried to set a bin on fire during anti-immigration riots has been jailed for more than two years.

Lucas Taylor was part of a 400-strong mob that confronted police after peaceful protests turned violent in Middlesbrough on 4 August 2024, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The disorder was one of a number of such violent outbreaks in towns and cities across England in the wake of the murder of three girls in Southport.

Taylor, 44, had initially denied a violent disorder charge but changed his plea to guilty on the opening day of his trial. He was jailed for 25 months.

About 1,000 people were estimated to have joined a protest march in the town, with the procession down Linthorpe Road initially peaceful, prosecutor Rachel Masters said.

But violence broke out when an item was thrown at the march from the direction of Claremont Road, a residential street which was quickly blocked off by police, the court heard.
‘Heat of the moment’

About 400 people, including Taylor, challenged a line of officers at the junction of Linthorpe Road and Ayresome Street at about 16:00 BST with the intention of drawing the police into violence, Ms Masters said.

Taylor, of Worcester Street in Middlesbrough, was caught on camera and seen by police throwing rocks towards officers and attempting to set a wheelie bin on fire, the court heard.

He was arrested several days after the riot after attacking a security guard at Aldi, the court heard.

The court heard Taylor had 141 convictions for 320 offences on his criminal record, including for theft, pubic disorder, drugs and assaults.

In mitigation, Richard Bennett said Taylor was not an instigator of the violence but had been “extremely foolish” and “got caught up in the heat of the moment”.

BBC News

Man sentenced following disorder in Southport

By
January 31, 2025
Uncategorized

A man has been sentenced today, Friday 31 January, for his role in violent disorder in Southport last summer.

John Rasburn, of Gibson Street, Wigan, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty at a previous hearing for violent disorder in Southport on Tuesday 30 July.

Rasburn was captured on CCTV at the forefront of the disorder on St Luke’s Road. He was seen throwing a traffic cone at officers who were trying to protect the community. He then went onto confront officers before spitting at them.

The 47-year-old man was seen throwing an item at officers before then running up to an officer and kicking them.

The court heard that on 11 August, Merseyside Police circulated Rasburn as wanted for his role in the disorder. However, on 16 January he handed himself in to a police station in Greater Manchester.

The next day, Merseyside Police detectives arrested and charged Rasburn with Violent Disorder and two counts of assault emergency worker.

Today, Rasburn was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Duncan Sloan said: “Rasburn went on to the run but ultimately knew he couldn’t hide forever and would need to answer for his actions and the role he played that day to a community that was in mourning.

“He eventually handed himself in, albeit five months later. I hope Rasburn takes the time while in prison to reflect on his shocking actions that day.”

Detective Sergeant Sloan added: “We are relentless in bringing those who helped cause such violence and disruption to our communities to justice and continue to be committed to ensure those responsible are held to account.

“We are identifying more people who displayed such abhorrent behaviour which damaged our communities, and would encourage anyone with information to contact us.”

The total number of people arrested for disorder in Merseyside now stands at 171, with 129 charged and 106 sentenced to a combined 208 years in prison.

We would encourage anyone with information to contact us by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Current galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website: Latest CCTV appeal in relation to summer disorder in Merseyside | Merseyside Police.

Merseyside Police

Two more locked up for their roles in Hull riot

By
January 27, 2025
Uncategorized

They admitted violent disorder following the horrific scenes in the city centre last August

Two more troublemakers have been locked up after serious scenes of violence, disorder and looting broke out in Hull city centre in August.

They were the latest to appear at Hull Crown Court after a frightening outbreak of serious disturbances, including outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway, where asylum seekers were being housed at the time.

Ethan Armstrong, 26, of Raven Walk, off Marfleet Lane, east Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for two years and 10 months.

Morgan Williams, 20, of Wenlock Terrace, off Rustenburg Street, east Hull, admitted violent disorder and burglary at the O2 and Greggs stores on the same day. He was sent to a young offenders’ institution for two years.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that a large-scale demonstration took place in Hull city centre which led to an outbreak of violent disorder nearby.

There were fights in King Edward Street and police were called to Ferensway outside the Royal Hotel. The disorder spilled onto the cenotaph area, opposite the hotel.
Ethan Armstrong – jailed for two years and 10 months

Mr Evans told the court that Armstrong was identified after police inquiries and his actions were seen on CCTV. “The defendant was present in various areas of the city centre throughout the day,” said Mr Evans.

“His aggressive and violent behaviour was caught on either CCTV or body-worn footage. At 1.02pm, he can be seen throwing a powdered projectile of some sort outside Barclays Bank, away from the crowd and down towards King Edward Street.

“At 1.28pm, he can be seen as part of the wider crowd outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway, behind the railings in the cycle lane.” Armstrong threw a missile in the direction of the police outside the hotel and he could be seen, shortly afterwards, appearing to celebrate when the man next to him threw an object that managed to reach the police line.

At 3.12pm, he appeared in the cenotaph area and was aggressive, pushing and shouting at police and, at one point, lunging forward and kicking an officer’s riot shield, sending the officer tumbling backwards.

“The defendant had been evading the police for some time and was arrested close to Marfleet Lane at 8.50am on December 24 after he climbed out and fled the address on Raven Walk,” said Mr Evans.

During police interview, Armstrong accepted that he was present that day but he claimed that he could not recall any of his behaviour that was shown to him on CCTV. He claimed that he was hit on the head with a cosh by a police officer and must have “lost it”.

He claimed that he still had a scar and a lump on his head from where he was hit and that, since the incident, he had suffered from nightmares and night terrors.

Armstrong had convictions for 17 previous offences, starting from when he was aged 11. They included using threatening words or behaviour in October 2022, involving dragging a female by her hair and shoving her. He raised his fist and headbutted her, causing a bloody nose.

He also had convictions for wounding and affray in March 2021, a road rage incident in which he punched another driver in the face, knocking him to the ground, where he banged his head, needing stitches to his mouth and the back of his head.

Armstrong also had a conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm in December 2019, involving repeatedly punching an ex-girlfriend in her face, causing two black eyes, lumps to the forehead, a split lip and bruising to her legs.

He had another conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm in June 2017, involving punching a man, causing a large cut to his upper lip and damage to his teeth.

He also had a conviction for wounding and affray in May 2016, involving punching a man to the side of his head, and one for assault in April 2017, involving punching a man in the face, causing a cut above his eye.
Morgan Williams – locked up for two years

Mr Evans said that Williams was present throughout the disorder at various locations, including outside the Royal Hotel and in Jameson Street.

He was shown on CCTV in Ferensway at about 1.45pm as part of a large crowd that had gathered outside the Royal Hotel. A still image from social media footage was widely published and it showed the moment that Williams threw a bottle towards the police cordon outside the hotel.

He was identified from his clothes. “He was present at the time when large crowds had gathered on Ferensway outside the hotel and large-scale aggression and violence was prevalent,” said Mr Evans.

Williams was later shown on CCTV entering the O2 store in Jameson Street and leaving with items in his hands. He held them up once he had left the store and was shown smiling.

He later entered Greggs and stole what was believed to be bottled drinks. He was shown in other CCTV pictures putting something down his jacket.

“Following a press and media release by Humberside Police, where still images of suspects were released in order to identify further suspects, the defendant voluntarily attended Clough Road police station on September 15,” said Mr Evans.

During police interview, he made no comment to all questions, including when shown CCTV pictures. He had no previous convictions and, unusually for those arrested after these offences, he had been on bail.

Hull Daily Mail

Man posted ‘abhorrent and vile’ racist abuse on YouTube videos

By
January 26, 2025
Uncategorized

They were described as ’emotive and full of hate’ and came during a ‘sensitive social climate’ just days after the Southport tragedy

A racist online agitator who posted “abhorrent and vile” abuse against migrants and Muslims – and called for them to be killed as part of a “civil war” – has been jailed for four years.

Angry internet troublemaker Sam Hawkins repeatedly called for mosques to be burned to the ground and he urged people to “get hold of machine guns, flame throwers and hand grenades”.

His nasty and menacing online comments under YouTube videos were “emotive and full of hate” and they came during a “sensitive social climate” just two days after the tragic Southport murders of three young girls.

Police found a “deadly” stash of weapons at his home and he launched a doomed bid to claim asylum in the Netherlands after his toxic campaign to whip up racial hate was discovered, Hull Crown Court heard.

Hawkins, 56, of Wansford Road, Driffield, but recently in custody on remand, admitted displaying and publishing threatening, abusive or insulting written material on YouTube to stir up racial hatred between April 10 and July 31. He also admitted possessing offensive weapons, including a machete, a commando knife and an extendable baton, in a private place on August 27.

Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said that, in August, Humberside Police received information from Interpol about racist and violent content on a YouTube channel. Cross-checks were made of email address users and the channel was linked to Hawkins.

He had posted comments in response to a number of videos posted by others on YouTube. They included reposts and excerpts of news programmes and bulletins from GB News, including violence following the “tragic murders” of three girls in Southport.

There was also video coverage of violent disorder in Leeds and violence involving Iranians in London. There was an interview with Tommy Robinson, founder of the English Defence League.

The videos had all been deleted by Google and could no longer be viewed by members of the public. Google provided copies of the comments made by Hawkins.

“These comments were made at a time of increased community tensions,” said Miss Gatland. This was just two days after the violence that followed the Southport murders.

“The comments had thousands of views, sometimes hundreds of thousands of views,” said Miss Gatland. “The comments were taken down by Google.

“It was a particularly sensitive social climate.” The large number of weapons at his home could be “deadly” and they were of “significant concern given the nature of the posts that he made”.

The police made arrangements for Hawkins to go voluntarily to Driffield police station but he failed to attend. Police went to his home and found a large number of weapons, including crossbows, machetes, knives, air weapons and an extendable baton.

He was circulated by police as wanted and it was discovered that he and his parents had boarded a ferry to Amsterdam. Police were told by the Dutch authorities that he was seeking asylum there.

He boarded another ferry and police were told that it was due to arrive at North Shields on September 15. “The defendant and his parents had all been refused entry to the Netherlands,” said Miss Gatland. “All three of them were stopped.” Hawkins made no comment to questions during police interview.

He later said that most of the weapons had been there for years and had never left the house or garden and that he had no intention of causing injury. He was unaware if it was unlawful to possess them in private. He had no previous convictions.

Andrew Petterson, mitigating, said that Hawkins expressed “abhorrent and vile views” in the comments that he posted online. “There were 22 posts over a four-month period,” said Mr Petterson.

“We know that these comments were removed by Google. Some of the videos were viewed multiple times. There is nothing to suggest that the comments made by the defendant were viewed multiple times.

“Just because a video is watched doesn’t necessarily mean that the comments have been read. Since being remanded in custody, he has been subjected to a violent attack by a fellow inmate.

“The defendant has not found the custodial setting and the custodial experience to be an easy one. He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

“He has expressed remorse and regret for what he had done and acknowledged the error of his ways and expressed a desire to make amends. This offending is abhorrent and merits a custodial term.

“He was not setting out to organise disorder and violence on the streets. His views expressed in those comments are emotive and full of hate but they are not intended to instigate specific incidents of violence and he doesn’t suggest meeting in a particular location.

“At the time, it was a particularly sensitive time, given the tragedy of what happened in Southport.” Mr Petterson said that, during the mitigation for the offences, Hawkins could be seen in a video link from Hull Prison to be “hanging his head in shame and covering his face”.

Judge Tahir Khan KC told Hawkins: “Your intention was to incite serious violence, coming just two days after the Southport attack. The posts were disseminated far and wide. Some of the videos to which posts were made have had thousands of views, some of them hundreds of thousands of views.

“It was a particularly sensitive social climate. There was also a large number of weapons at your home address, which, while they may not have been illegal, could still be deadly and represent a real concern.

“Immediate custody is required to discourage others from behaving in this abhorrent way.”

Hull Daily Mail

Man jailed for violent disorder in Hull riots

By
January 24, 2025
Uncategorized

A man has been sent to prison for his role in the Hull riots.

Ethan Armstrong, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder at Hull Crown Court.

Armstrong, of Raven Walk in Hull, was jailed for 34 months.

A number of people have been given prison sentences after violence broke out following a demonstration involving anti-immigration protesters in Hull city centre on 3 August 2024.

BBC News

Man from Wigan becomes 100th person to be sentenced for violent disorder in Merseyside

By
January 22, 2025
Uncategorized

The 100th person has been sentenced in court in connection with violent disorder in Merseyside last summer.

Peter Fairhurst, 33, of Scot Lane, in Wigan, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Tuesday 21 January, for his role in the appalling scenes in Southport on Tuesday 30 July 2024.

He admitted the offence of violent disorder and was jailed for two years and two months.

Fairhurst was at the forefront of the violence and could be seen on CCTV footage throwing bricks at officers and police vehicles.

He becomes the 100th person to be sentenced following the disorder in Southport and Liverpool, with these individuals sentenced to a combined total of 200 years and six months in prison.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “The 100th person to be sentenced is a significant milestone to reach, but does not mark the end of the road for our enquiries.

“You will continue to see arrests, charges and sentencings going through the courts on a weekly basis. We make no apologies for this, and we know the vast majority of people in our communities support the robust action that is being taken against these criminals who are convicted, locally and nationally.

“The scenes in Southport, Walton and Liverpool city centre were utterly disgraceful, and every single person involved brought shame upon themselves. More importantly, their actions caused further trauma and suffering to communities that were in shock.

“We will not rest until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts. To that end, I’d continue to encourage anyone with information to get in touch anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Our latest gallery of people who may have information to assist can be found here: Latest CCTV appeal in relation to summer disorder in Merseyside | Merseyside Police

Merseyside Police