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Tag Archives: jailed

Labourer who went inside hotel during Rotherham rioting jailed for three years

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September 3, 2024
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A judge said Craden McKenzie, 26, was a ‘central participant’ in the disorder outside the Holiday Inn Express which left 64 police officers injured.

An unemployed labourer who was one of the first to enter a hotel housing more than 200 asylum seekers during rioting in Rotherham has been jailed for three years.

Video was shown at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday of Craden McKenzie, 26, climbing into the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, on August 4, and walking around the deserted lobby area, as staff took refuge in the kitchen.

The court heard this was after a mob had smashed in windows and a fire door but before attempts were made to set fire to the building with a burning bin.

Footage was also shown of McKenzie in a crowd which was attacking a group of outnumbered riot police with fire extinguishers and other weapons outside the building amid shouts of “burn it down”.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, was also shown body-worn camera footage from officers trying to push back the rioters with McKenzie at the front, hitting their shields.

Judge Richardson said unemployed labourer McKenzie was a “central participant in the most serious aspects” of the disorder, which left 64 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured.

The judge heard how, after handing himself in, McKenzie told police he went into the hotel to see for himself the conditions in which the residents were living.

Stephanie Hollis, prosecuting, said McKenzie told the officers he went to the hotel to protest peacefully and the disorder broke out due to “miscommunication between police and the protesters”.

Although CCTV footage showed the defendant walking around an empty lobby, the judge heard how 22 staff members had taken refuge in the kitchen, terrified that, if they left, they would be attacked and, if they stayed, the hotel could be set on fire.

Judge Richardson said that for these staff and the 200 plus residents on the upper floors: “This was a truly terrifying episode”.

He said: “They had no idea how things would eventuate”.

Richard Adams, defending, said his client has no previous convictions and had effectively got involved due to peer pressure.

McKenzie, of Doncaster Road, Darfield, Barnsley, appeared by videolink from prison.

He admitted violent disorder at a previous hearing.
Evening Standard

Man jailed after climbing into hotel and hitting police shields

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September 3, 2024
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One of the first people to enter a hotel housing asylum seekers during riots in Rotherham has been jailed for three years.

Craden McKenzie, 26, was seen on video climbing into a Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on 4 August after the windows had been smashed in.

Sheffield Crown Court also saw footage showing the criminal in a crowd that was attacking a group of police outside the building.

McKenzie could be seen at the front of the crowd, hitting police shields.

Judge Richardson KC said McKenzie, from Barnsley, was a “central participant in the most serious aspects” of the disorder, which left 64 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured.

He handed himself in and told police he went into the hotel to see the conditions that the asylum seekers were living in.

BBC News

‘Dangerous’ man ‘faked self-harm’ to sexually abuse young girls

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September 3, 2024
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A court heard how his victims often felt like they had no choice but to engage in sexual activity with him

A ‘dangerous’ man pretended to harm himself in order to manipulate and sexually abuse young girls, according to police.

Thomas Junior Medler, now 19, has been locked up after he was convicted of sexual activity with one girl aged under 16 and sexually assaulting another.

He had previously admitted sexual activity with two other girls who were also both aged under 16 at the time.

The exploitation of one of his four victims came after a sustained period of grooming, Avon and Somerset Constabulary said.

Medler was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and issued with a ten year sexual harm prevention order at Bristol Crown Court today (Thursday, April 11).

He will also remain on the sex offender’s register indefinitely.

‘You knew where the line was’

Judge Euan Ambrose said the offences involving at least two of Medler’s victims were “characterised by pressure and manipulation” and despite some of them seemingly being content with the relationships “the laws [he broke] are intended to protect young girls whatever their wishes might be.”

The judge told Medler: “You knew in absolutely no uncertain terms where the line was, so your actions showed a flagrant disregard for the warnings you had been given.”

Medler, from Bristol, was apprehended following an Operation Topaz investigation.

Operation Topaz is a police-led approach to tackling child sexual exploitation which sees agencies share intelligence to investigate reports, catch offenders and support victims.

‘Dangerous individual’

Investigating officer DC Kim O’Donnell said: “While still young himself, Medler is a dangerous individual who seeks to manipulate and control young girls.

“He pretended to harm himself in order that his victims would come to his house – exploiting their belief he cared for them – before sexually abusing them.

“His victims often felt like they had no choice but to engage in sexual activity with him so that he didn’t take his own life.

“Such was the spell he cast over one of his victims that she hid in a bathroom cupboard for three-and-a-half hours while police were at his house just because he told her to.

“Two of his other victims waited more than two years before disclosing what had happened to them to police out of concern for the consequences their actions might have for him.”

Child sex offenders can be of any age

DC O’Donnell added: “This case serves as a stark reminder that child sex offenders can be any age.

“More than half of all suspects investigated by Operation Topaz are aged 24 or younger and people should not assume that people relatively close to each other in age are not able to be exploiting or exploited.

“By working together and sharing information we can help inform, educate and prevent child sexual abuse from happening.

“But we and our partners can only do so much and we still need the public’s help.

“If you suspect a child or young person may be at risk, or have any information relating to CSE, please contact us.”

Officers would prefer to speak to people with information on the phone, by calling 101, or in person.

If you don’t want to speak to the police, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.

If you know or suspect a child or young person is in immediate danger, you should dial 999 straight away.

Somerset Live

Was found guilty of Violent Disorder in Sept 2004

https://far-rightcriminals.com/2024/09/03/business-owner-jailed-for-far-right-violence-in-bristol/

Business owner jailed for far-right violence in Bristol

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September 3, 2024
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Marc Donavon, 40, of Wells in Somerset, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday.

A man with his own removal business has been jailed for two years for his role in a far-right protest that turned violent in Bristol.

Marc Donavon, 40, of Wells in Somerset, joined an anti-immigration march on August 3, which saw beer kegs thrown at police vehicles and clashes in Castle Park in the city.

Appearing before Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Michael Cullum said there were “clear images” of Donavon taking part in the protest.

While he described Donavon’s involvement in the events as “relatively slight” he said he had surrounded himself with people throwing beer kegs at police vehicles, which he had given “encouragement by filming”.

Donavon had also “kicked out” at people, thrown objects at police officers and poured liquid over a passing cyclist.

Alec Small, defending, said the defendant had handed himself in to the police and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Passing his sentence, the judge said: “You’ve been out of trouble for about a decade, your more serious convictions approaching 15 years (old).

“You have worked hard, and I accept you have rehabilitated yourself. You are a hardworking man with a removals business, and you have a family.

“You are before the court for one offence, which is out of character to what has happened for the last decade or more.”

The judge said Donavon’s actions must be taken in the context of those he was with, which would have led people to fear for their personal safety.

“It may not have been your intention initially to attend but you chose to attend,” he said.

Daniel Lock was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court (Avon and Somerset Police)

“The febrile atmosphere must have made it clear right from the word go that this was going to be, and was, teetering on the point of disorder.

“You could have gone home and been the responsible family man that you had otherwise previously been.

“This was a deliberately violent protest, and you aligned yourself to it.”

Donavon did not take part in the violent protest at the Mercure Hotel, which houses asylum seekers.

Judge Cullum handed him a two-year prison sentence, reduced from three years due to his early guilty plea.

Daniel Lock, 31, from Kingswood, a self-employed electrician, was also sentenced to two years in prison.

The court heard that Lock had “got into a fight” outside the Mercure Hotel after someone spat at him.

Tabitha Macfarlane, defending, said Lock had been of previously good character and had never been inside a police station before.

Thomas Medler, 24, of Lockleaze, was given a 34-month sentence for violent disorder

She read out a statement submitted on behalf of Lock’s football manager who described him as “one of the most kind-hearted and reliable people that I know”, who regularly “goes out of his way to help others”.

Ms Macfarlane said it was in his words “completely stupid behaviour” and he accepted his part in the events.

Judge Cullum said: “You assisted and led in what became a violent situation, quite clearly you were intent in leading from the front row.

“That was entirely out of character, I don’t know what it was about that situation that led you to behave to those people in a way that’s very different to how you have previously acted to other people.”

A third defendant, Thomas Medler, 24, of Lockleaze, was handed a 34-month prison sentence for violent disorder and a further eight for breaching a sexual harm prevention order, giving him a 42-month sentence in total.
Evening Standard

Fact check: Woman was jailed after admitting violent disorder and common assault

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September 3, 2024
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Deana Evans, 32, was ‘launching missiles and trying to push through police lines’, police said.

A popular social media post – which has been liked and shared tens of thousands of times – claimed that a woman was sentenced to 20 months in prison for shouting during recent disorder and filming a riot.

The post read: “A woman that filmed the anti-open border riots in Britain and shouted ‘we want our country back’ has been sentenced to 20 months prison. What’s going on in Soviet Britain?”

The post was also boosted by a major account on social media site X.

Evaluation

Deana Evans, 32, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on August 30, to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to violent disorder and common assault of an emergency worker.
The facts

Staffordshire Police said Evans was seen on CCTV and officers’ body-worn video footage “launching missiles and trying to push through police lines” in Stoke-on-Trent.

She was also “verbally abusive to the officers,” a spokesman for the force said.

When police went to her home to arrest her, “Evans lashed out at an officer when her phone was seized, hitting him in the chest with her elbow.”

According to a news report she did shout “we want our country back” during the protests.

The person who originally posted the claim on social media included a link to this news report, but their first message on X, formerly Twitter, did not include details of all the offences for which Evans was sentenced.

Evening Standard

Man seen with ‘maniacal grin’ during Southport disorder is jailed

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September 3, 2024
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Charles Lander, defending, said Chistopher Beard has a 12-week-old daughter and is about to become a grandfather as his older child is expecting.

A father who was seen at the front of a crowd with a “maniacal grin” during disorder in Southport has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Christopher Beard was shown on footage “shouting”, “gesticulating” and throwing objects towards police officers at the front of a crowd which gathered outside a mosque in the Merseyside town on July 30, the day after three girls died in a knife attack, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said Beard, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was seen as police vehicles tried to move but were hit by the crowd.

She said: “The defendant is turning and laughing, with what can only be described as a maniacal grin, towards the crowd.”

He was seen piling wheelie bins on top of each other and throwing missiles towards the police, including a large piece of wood, the court heard.

Ms McCloskey said: “The defendant remains in the midst of the crowd, seemingly enjoying the chaos.”

Charles Lander, defending, said the 33-year-old has a 12-week-old daughter and is about to become a grandfather as his older child, aged 19, is expecting a baby in December.

He said Beard, of Stewart Road in Wigan, had been working in the area and had gone to “show some respect”.

He has since lost his job, the court heard.

Sentencing, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: “It is no mitigation at all to say you, or some of you, went simply to pay your respects. That lies ill in the mouth of any of you, given your subsequent behaviour.”

He added: “There’s footage of you literally building a bonfire in the middle of the road, pulling wheelie bins on top of each other.”

Beard was sentenced alongside Lee Powell, 46, who claimed he was not politically motivated but was in the area to lay flowers and became “trapped” on the wrong side of the police line as he tried to get back to his car.

Judge Menary said he “utterly” rejected that account.

He said: “Your role was not some benign one. You abused officers at close quarters and on two occasions, for sure, you threw an item or items at officers.

“You were, in the classical sense, a member of the mob, giving out encouragement to the group.”

Powell, of Fountains Road, Liverpool, was jailed for two years and four months for violent disorder.

Adam Latty, 24, from Southport, who has been sentenced to 20 months for violent disorder in the town (Merseyside Police/PA)

The court heard Adam Latty, 24, of Radnor Drive, Southport, was identified by a distinctive tattoo on his arm, after he took his top off and tied it around the lower part of his face.

Ms McCloskey said he was seen throwing missiles, including a glass bottle, toward police.

Charles Lander, defending, said he was of previous good character and worked as a contractor in the water industry but had now lost his job.

Judge Menary said: “It is a great shame someone of your past character should find yourself in the dock of a crown court facing such a serious and utterly pointless criminal offence.”

Latty was jailed for 20 months after admitting violent disorder at an earlier hearing.

Evening Standard

Jail for man who chanted racist insults at police during Whitehall disorder

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September 3, 2024
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Jordan Rawlings was among more than 700 people who gathered for the protest opposite Downing Street on July 31

A man who chanted “Who the f*** is Allah” at a line of police officers during disorder in Whitehall has been jailed for 24 weeks for racially aggravated harassment.

Jordan Rawlings, 25, from Ritson Avenue, Bearpark, Durham, was among more than 700 people who gathered for a protest opposite Downing Street at around 6.30pm on July 31, following a similar demonstration in Southport, a court heard.

The protest breached the area that had been agreed with the Metropolitan Police and, as it moved towards Parliament Square, the defendant was filmed shouting at a line of officers in riot gear.

By this time, one person had tried to climb the gates into Downing Street and officers had come under attack from missiles.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that the group had moved towards the Sir Winston Churchill statue, when Rawlings and others chanted “Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah?”

He was also seen to be making gestures towards the police.

Video played in court showed a group of men also shouting “You’re not English any more” and calling the officers “scum”.

Rawlings was initially arrested at the scene, de-arrested when the situation was under control, then re-arrested at Darlington railway station when he was trying to travel to London on August 8, following further analysis of CCTV by police.

At his first appearance before magistrates, Rawlings, who has no previous convictions, admitted causing harassment, alarm or distress that was racially aggravated.

Gary Wood, defending, said: “He has clearly been swept away with the behaviour that was going on and it is behaviour he very much regrets.”

Mr Wood said his client did not throw missiles, fight police, cover his face or threaten violence.

Judge Francis Laird KC told Rawlings his behaviour was set against a backdrop of “acts of civil disobedience that were developing nationwide”.

The judge said: “You chose to be part of an organised and largescale act of civil unrest.

“In the course of that you were part of a group that was aggressive towards police officers and chanting racist insults.”

The judge said a suspended sentence was inappropriate and jailed him for 24 weeks.

Evening Standard

Two Hartlepool rioters have been jailed for violent disorder

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September 3, 2024
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A rioter who was bitten on the stomach by a police dog when he repeatedly threw objects at officers as he refused to move back has been jailed.

John Barton was amongst a violent group of alleged protesters who had violent clashes with officers as they battled to regain control of the streets of Hartlepool.

The 33-year-old had been drinking in town with friends before becoming embroiled in the violence which left communities in the town struggling to come to terms with what happened that night.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said Barton was seen hurling a brick at police officers and refusing to move back. One officer, who had a police dog, “stood his ground” before the dog bit the defendant in the stomach area.

Barton, of Duke Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the events on July 31.

Erin Kitson-Parker, mitigating, said her client had shown genuine remorse for his behaviour and it was going to be the ‘biggest regret of his life’.

She said: “His time in custody has been a sobering experience, perhaps it should be for people involved in such horrendous violence.”

Judge Francis Laird KC sentenced the father-of-one to 27 months in prison for his role in the violent disorder.

He said: “You were observed on Murray Street, you were part of a group throwing missiles at officers and who refused to retreat when ordered to do so.

“You were observed to throw bricks at police officers and when refusing to leave, you were bitten by a police dog and arrested.”

Another Hartlepool rioter to have been jailed at Teesside Crown Court was Natalie Wood who was caught throwing a plastic bottle at police during the violent disorder.

Miss Masters said the 39-year-old was also heard shouting – ‘come on then’ towards the police on footage which was found on social media and the defendant was recognised by her probation officer.

Wood, of Richmond Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Kate Barnes, mitigating, said: “She had no knowledge or interest in the political aspects of events on July 31 and wasn’t part of the organised gathering.

“She joined those gathering and for a long time did nothing but be present then she did throw that bottle towards the police line.

“She accepts that she has done wrong.”

Judge Laird also sentenced Wood to 27 months in prison.

He said: “You were captured on film in the Murray Street area, picking something off the ground and throwing it in the direction of police officers before shouting – ‘come on then’.”

Northern Echo

Racial hatred post did not break X rules

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September 3, 2024
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The wife of a Conservative councillor who was convicted for stirring up racial hatred on social media did not violate X’s rules with the post.

Lucy Connolly, a childminder from Northampton, has pleaded guilty to publishing a social media post intending to stir up racial hatred after calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set alight.

A few days after her post, X rejected a complaint from a user who flagged the message to it.

The social media giant did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The 41-year-old, whose husband Raymond Connolly is a West Northamptonshire councillor, had posted on 29 July calling for hotels housing migrants to be set on fire and for “mass deportation now”.

“If that makes me racist, so be it,” she added.

It came as disorder broke out at a number of locations across the country, with hotels containing asylum seekers attacked.

An X user, who did not want to be identified, described how they had alerted the platform to the now deleted post but had been rebuffed in an automated response.

They told the BBC: “I’m shocked and appalled. If they can ignore this clear-cut breach of their alleged rules of conduct and go against UK law, there is clearly a grave problem with their supposed moderation process.”

Analysis

By Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

This summer has brought into sharp focus the real-world consequences of what spreads on social media – and the disconnect, at times, between what breaks the law, and what breaks some social media sites’ rules.

X, formerly known as Twitter, has been under fire – because it was the place where disinformation and hate that fanned the flames of the riots spread rapidly. And there were accusations it allowed – and incentivised – these kinds of posts, something I investigated at the time.

Decisions made by X’s new owner Elon Musk, including about what kind of posts are allowed on the site, introducing paid-for blue ticks that offer users’ posts greater prominence and reinstating some accounts that had previously been banned, have all been scrutinised.

He has repeatedly reiterated his commitment to freedom of expression. He also has decided to directly wade into UK politics – and has continued to comment on the sentencing of some Brits for their posts online related to the riots.

This case is another example of where what’s allowed in the world of X is at odds with what’s allowed in the eyes of the law. It raises tricky questions for politicians and the UK’s regulator, Ofcom, looking to enforce a new Online Safety Act.

X hasn’t responded to the BBC’s previous requests for comment – and says online it protects and defends the users’ voice.

X’s rules, external explicitly prohibit “threats to inflict physical harm on others, which includes threatening to kill, torture, sexually assault or otherwise hurt someone”.

In response to the complaint, X emailed: “After reviewing the available information, we want to let you know our automated systems found that [Connolly’s X account] hasn’t broken our rules against posting violent threats. We know this isn’t the answer you’re looking for.”

The X user said they had previously flagged up concerning messages on the platform and had received similar responses.

“I’ve largely given up reporting now as I always get the ‘no violation’ response, despite clear breaches,” they added.

Last month, policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said tech firms “have an obligation now” to tackle material that incites violence.

It followed an open letter, external from media regulator Ofcom to social media platforms that said they should take action against such posts and not wait until Ofcom gets enhanced powers under the Online Safety Act.

The new rules, which will come into force in 2025, will compel companies to take “robust action” against illegal content and activity.

Under the act, tech firms could be fined up to £18m or 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue, and senior managers could face criminal action.

The user who complained to X about Connolly’s post comes from the West Midlands but did not want to be identified because they feared trolling online.

“I have watched with dismay how racist rhetoric has flourished on the internet, across social media sites, spreading disinformation to deliberately stoke up division,” they said.

“I don’t think sites like X bear sole responsibility, but they play a significant role in the spread of disinformation and should, as a bare minimum, follow their own code of conduct.”

The owner of X, Elon Musk, took to the platform to comment on the previous conviction of a Northampton man who was jailed for copying Connolly’s message.

Tyler James Kay was sent to prison for 38 months after he admitted publishing the inflammatory posts calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set alight.

The billionaire described Mr Kay’s conviction as “messed up” to his 196 million followers.

Connolly will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 17 October.

BBC News

Hartlepool teenager smashed restaurant window in Middlesbrough disorder

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September 3, 2024
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A Hartlepool teenager who smashed a restaurant’s window during large scale disorder in Middlesbrough has been locked up.

Dylan Willis, 18, joined a mob of over 1,000 people that rampaged through Middlesbrough town centre on August 4.

He was caught on video carrying a brick on Parliament Road and throwing it at the window of the Red Lantern restaurant.

In a sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, Judge Francis Laird: “The first time the large window didn’t break.

“You tried a further two times before achieving your goal of smashing the window pane.”

Willis, of Masefield Road, Hartlepool, handed himself in to police after footage of the disorder was shared by the force to trace those responsible.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

The court heard how homes, businesses and public buildings, including Teesside University and court buildings, were targeted by rioters during the disorder.

It followed a far right protest advertised on social media as protesters marched through the town.

Many chanted things such as “take back our country” and police had to use riot shields to protect them from bricks and concrete blocks.

Gary Wood, mitigating, stressed Willis’s actions were directed at property rather than people.

A pre-sentence report also described Willis as “vulnerable” due to his low IQ and lack of maturity.

Mr Wood added his client had no connection to any right wing views or groups and argued his was an “exceptional” case.

Judge Laird agreed to make a substantial reduction in the sentence but said the least he could pass was 14 months in a young offenders’ institution.

Hartlepool Mail