Archive

Tag Archives: jailed

First woman jailed over ‘horrifying’ Hull riot

By
August 23, 2024
Uncategorized

A grandmother who shouted at police using “truly disgraceful” racist slurs has become the first woman to be jailed in connection with violent unrest in Hull.

Jackie Miller, 57, of South Garth, Little Weighton, East Yorkshire, was heard shouting repeatedly at a line of police officers while ranting at them during the disorder on 3 August.

Hull Crown Court heard the grandmother, who was handed an eight-month jail term after pleading guilty to racially aggravated public disorder, had unleashed the “diatribe” in front of her 15-year-old daughter.

Five other men were jailed for violent disorder at the hearing on Friday.

Michael Campbell, 56, Daniel Mennell, 36, Jarrod Farrah, 32, Ben Chapman, 20, and Joshua Hobman, 33, all pleaded guilty to the charge.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans said Miller had been “clearly demonstrating racial hostility referring to the asylum seekers the police were present to protect”.

Hull Crown Court heard a hotel on Ferensway housing migrants was targeted as officers formed a protective line to guard it, while shops were looted on Jameson Street, after the killing of three girls in Southport last month.

Footage was played in court showing the 57-year-old cleaner approaching a line of officers holding riot shields and repeatedly shouting racially-abusive comments at them.

Judge John Thackray KC told Miller she had used “truly disgraceful words” and the footage was “truly shocking to watch”.

Her defence barrister, Rachel Scott, told the court the 57-year-old, who has three children and two grandchildren, was “disgusted and ashamed of herself”.

The court heard one of Miller’s daughters was “so disgusted” by her mother’s behaviour that she “doesn’t want to have a relationship with her after this”.

Mr Evans said that earlier that day Campbell had positioned a bicycle horizontally in front of him “providing a makeshift cordon to fend off officers and a police dog”, which had subsequently bitten him during the incident.

Footage showed Campbell, of Icelandic Close, Hull, being tackled to the ground by a police dog at the front of a line of police officers, who were guarding the hotel on Ferensway.

Defending Campbell, his barrister Michael Forrest said the father-of-six was a family man who was “utterly disgusted with his actions”.

He said the 56-year-old “doesn’t know why he involved himself” in the violence having gone into the city to buy a suit.

Sentencing him to 20 months in prison, Judge Thackray told him his offending was “motivated by hostility based upon race”.

‘Idiotic’ behaviour

Daniel Mennell, 36, was jailed for 27 months.

The court heard the drunk labourer, who was prominent at the front of the unrest, threw tiles at police.

In mitigation, his defence barrister, Charlotte Baines, described his behaviour as “idiotic” and said he was “ashamed” having set himself back into his “old offending ways”.

Jarrod Farrah, 32, was jailed for two years after he behaved aggressively towards police by “lunging” at them.

His barrister said the father-of-two was “thoroughly ashamed of his actions, having let himself and his family down”.

Sentencing all three at the same time, Judge Thackray told them: “I watched all the videos concerning each of you and they are depressing and horrifying to watch”.

The judge heard Ben Chapman, 20, of Stockleigh Close, Hull, and Joshua Hobman, 33, of Wenlock Street, Hull, also threw missiles at police.

Chapman, who was serving a community order for assaulting an emergency worker at the time of the unrest, repeatedly kicked a bin that was fixed to the ground in an attempt to remove it in a bid to use it as “a missile” but was “unsuccessful”.

The 20-year-old was sentenced to 28 months detention in a young offenders institution for violent disorder, in addition to serving the remaining four months of his previous offence. In total, he was jailed for 32 months.

Hobman, who aimed a punch at an officer’s shield and threw a drinks can at police, was jailed for two years.

But the judge said his sentence would be reduced because he was the sole custodian of his nine-year-old son.

BBC News

Police dog bit Rotherham rioter ‘in area of particular tenderness’ during course of disorder, court hears

By
August 23, 2024
Uncategorized

A self-employed gas fitter who watched hours of rioting outside a Rotherham hotel while filming the violence on Snapchat turned on officers when he was bitten by a police dog “in an area of particular tenderness”, his barrister told Sheffield Crown Court.

Christopher Rodgers, aged 38, of Millmoor Road, Barnsley, was jailed for two years (Friday, August 23, 2024) by a judge who heard how he did nothing but film for most of the events of August 4 outside the Holiday Inn Express, which was housing more than 200 asylum seekers.

But, as officers were trying to clear pockets of those involved, Rodgers was in group of people who threw missiles at the police in a nearby housing estate.

The court heard how he was also aggressive towards officers as they were arresting him.

Adrian Strong, defending, told Judge Jeremy Richardson KC his client had seen the afternoon as something of a “social occasion”, adding: “There was chatting, there was talking, there was high spirits and alcohol started flowing.”

Mr Strong said his client’s attitude changed when he was bitten three times by police dogs, one “in an area of particular tenderness”.

The court heard how, after he was bitten by the dog, Rodgers shouted: “Why are you refusing to take an Englishman to hospital?”

The barrister said: “He can’t apologise enough for his behaviour on that day and to the police officers in particular.”
Sheffield Star

Racist Scarborough woman hurled abuse at victims before launching plant pots and shelf unit at police

By
August 23, 2024
Uncategorized

Sadie Lauren Metcalf pleaded guilty to affray and causing racially aggravated alarm, harassment or distress

A racist woman hurled abuse at people in the street before launching a shelf unit and plant pots at police.

Sadie Lauren Metcalf, 30, of Beulah Terrace, Scarborough, appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 12 and pleaded guilty to affray and two counts of causing racially aggravated alarm, harassment or distress. Magistrates heard she shouted racially abusive obscenities at people in the street and when officers went to arrest her, she threw furniture and plant pots at them from a balcony.

The incident took place on the afternoon of Saturday, August 10, when Metcalf targeted people walking in the area of Roscoe Street, Scarborough.

Following reports from disgusted members of the public, officers attended an address in the town to arrest Metcalf. They were met with abuse, foul language and objects thrown from the balcony including a wooden shelf unit.

Metcalf was arrested and taken into custody where she was charged and remained in custody until she was jailed on Monday. She was sentenced to a total of six months in prison including 26 weeks for affray and eight weeks each for the racially aggravated offences, all to run concurrent.

She was also sentenced to six weeks in jail for a separate offence of theft after she admitted stealing from Sainsbury’s on July 6. This will also run concurrent with the other sentences.

Gazette Live

Rioter who wheeled lit Biffa bin at line of police handed himself in after seeing footage

By
August 23, 2024
Uncategorized

The court heard that Louis McGrother went out to join a peaceful protest but ‘the mob mentality took hold and he got carried away’

A Middlesbrough rioter who wheeled a lit waste container at a line of police, has been jailed.

Louis McGrother, 22, was captured shouting and kicking out at the police, before he got hold of the plastic bin. Along with other rioters, McGrother lit the the plastic Biffa waste container and pushed it at the police corden on Linthorpe Road.

He was captured on bodycam footage as officers held up their shields to protect themselves, after the riot turned violent and missiles were thrown at the police, on the evening of August 4. The police corden was formed to try and stop rioters breaking away onto Clarendon Road.

Days later, on August 12, McGrother walked into a police station and handed himself in. He had seen himself on the video that police released to the media; it showed McGrother, clearly visible in green shorts and a blue jumper, pushing the bin alongside other rioters. McGrother took the clothes he was wearing in the footage into Middlesbrough police station.

He refused to answer police questions but later pleaded guilty violent disorder. He has one previous conviction for four driving offences, after he crashed into a Ford Focus on the M11 in June 2022. McGrother was banned from the roads at the time and he failed to stop after the crash or report the accident.

A warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to turn up to court in Essex, and he was handed a community order. On Friday afternoon, McGrother’s partner and his mother watched from the public gallery as Teesside Crown Court heard that he was taken into prison on remand after appearing at Teesside Magistrates on August 13.

In mitigation, Joel Wootton said that McGrother had gone to the pre-arranged meeting point at the Cenotaph to take part “…in a peaceful protest. “The mob mentality took hold” Mr Wootton said, “he got carried away.”

McGrother’s barrister said that his client felt a “great deal of regret” after seeing himself in the footage “acting the way he was. He knows he has let everyone in the town down. He has a great amount of affection for Middlesbrough.”

The court heard that McGrother’s employer wrote a character reference for him – although he has now lost his job. His mother and his partner also submitted references to the court, which said that he is a “well-balanced man who takes his family responsibilities seriously; and that he has a good work ethic.” McGrother helps to care for his partner’s child.

Judge Francis Laird KC told him: “You were acting aggressively towards a line of police officers – kicking out at them. Then you, along with others, set light to a wheelie bin and pushed it towards the police corden.

“I accept that losing your liberty and your job will not only hit hard on you, but also on those you care about. You chose to take part in an organised and large scale disorder. Eight police officers were injured; police cars were damaged; there was large scale damage to houses and to public buildings.”

McGrother, of South View Terrace, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 20-months.

Gazette Live

Hull riot: Grandmother locked up after ‘truly shocking’ footage showed her hurling racist abuse at police and provoking violence

By
August 23, 2024
Uncategorized

Mum-of-three and grandma-of-two Jackie Miller is the first woman to be jailed in Hull after August 3 disturbance


A grandmother who hurled racist abuse towards police during a “truly shocking” and “extremely hostile” confrontation with the police in Hull city centre has been jailed for eight months.

Mother-of-three Jackie Miller became the first woman to be locked up at Hull Crown Court after the serious disturbances in the city centre. She shouted repeated racist comments about “P***s” because she was angry that her car window had been broken. She got “carried away” because she was annoyed that police were seemingly doing nothing about the damage to the car, the court heard.

Miller, 57, of South Garth, Little Weighton, near Skidby, admitted using racially aggravated threatening words or behaviour on August 3. Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that Miller used a “diatribe” of racial insults towards the police. She shouted: “You should be round there sorting all these P***s out. They are throwing bricks at people’s cars.”

Miller made reference to the death of three girls in Southport and she said that the police’s actions in Hull were “unbelievable”. She clapped towards the crowd and said: “This is your police force, everybody.” She asked the police why they did not go and “pepper spray a P***”.

She told them: “You are just as bad as the P***s. You don’t look after your own.” She told the crowd: “They don’t look after their own.”

Miller had convictions for 22 previous offences, including assault and public disorder. Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Miller had three children and two grandchildren. She was hard-working and she had recently been working as a cleaner, although she feared that she would, while in custody on remand, have lost that job.

Miller and her daughter were driving through Hull when the window of their car was broken with a brick at the passenger side. She got out and remonstrated with the police that they were doing nothing about the window.

Her daughter rang 101 when the window was put through. Miller made some “very unpleasant” comments to police. She got “carried away” because of the window being broken.

Miller knew that what she had done was wrong and was disgusting and she acknowledged that she had not set a good example as a parent. She had shown immediate regret and remorse.

“She is finding prison particularly difficult,” said Miss Scott. “She is just so disgusted and ashamed of her actions.” Miller had been out of trouble since 2020.

Judge John Thackray KC said that Miller was present throughout the large-scale disorder and she was being “extremely hostile” to the police. She showed “racial hostility” to asylum seekers and immigrants in her comments to the police.

The footage of her behaviour was “truly shocking” to watch because Miller used not just racist words but she was provoking violence by others. “You have a significant record,” said Judge Thackray. “There is a high level of racial aggravation here.

“Your risk cannot be managed in the community. You have previous convictions. You can’t be rehabilitated in the community. Only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.”

Miller sobbed as the sentence was passed and she looked at the public gallery as she was led out of the secure dock to be taken down to the cells.

Hull Daily Mail

Former EDL member hurled abuse outside Sunderland mosque on his way to a night out

By
August 23, 2024
Uncategorized

A former EDL member who hurled vile abuse towards a mosque during disorder in Sunderland has been jailed.

David Hann shouted “dirty Muslim ****ing *******s” and “murdering *******s” outside the place of worship when violence broke out across Sunderland on August 2.

The unemployed 58-year-old said he had been on his way to a social club when he stumbled across the violent demonstration and decided to join in.

Prosecutor Omar Ahmad told Newcastle Crown Court police officers, dogs and horses were pelted with missiles as disorder spread throughout the city that Friday afternoon and the area was unsafe for ordinary members of the public.

Mr Ahmad said: “Officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence. Officers were attacked with missiles and verbally abused.

“Four officers required hospital treatment and some are not fit enough to return to frontline duties.
Police vehicles were targeted and damaged. Several patrol cars needed repairs.
“At times lone police on vehicle patrol found themselves targeted by offenders in the middle of the protest.

“Families of a number of officers were at home in fear for their loved ones out on duty, having witnessed the horror of what was unfolding on news and social media.”
The court heard the city’s police hub was damaged, business premises were smashed and shops were looted.

Mr Ahmad said Hann was caught on camera wearing a blue Adidas top and black trousers and added: “He was seen in the area of the mosque.
“During the disorder he was part of the crowd that formed in that location.

“He was seen shouting in the direction of the mosque.”
Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said in an impact statement it remains unclear how much damage was caused by the rioters but the cost of repairs could run to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Police vehicles as well as community buildings and businesses came under attack.
Ms Jardine said the violence was met with a £1million policing operation and the psychological cost to officers involved is yet to be known.
She added: “The North East is a wonderful, vibrant and safe place to live and work.

“The vast majority of our people are law abiding, proud members of the community.”
Hann, 58, of Ryhope Street South, Sunderland admitted religiously aggravated threatening behaviour
Hann told police when questioned he had been on his way to the social club when he saw the police presence and was angry at the time about the tragedy in Southport and about police “tactics” at protests.

Hann told the probation service he was once a member of the EDL.

Nick Murphy, defending Hann, said: “He did not participate directly in any violence but his actions contributed to the atmosphere.

“He is getting too old for this type of offence.”
Mr Murphy said Hann could lose his home as a result of his actions that day.
A second man at the same hearing, Jack Fowler, 24, of Northbourne Street, Elswick, Newcastle, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

The court heard he was caught on camera at different areas of the city where trouble had spread and was filming what went on.
Mr Ahmad said Fowler, who was carrying a St. George cross flag and wearing a mask to cover part of his face, had approached a police line and was “shouting abuse and seen waving and encouraging others to approach the police line.”

Fowler told police when he was questioned he had travelled to and from the protest by Metro but did not throw anything, cause any violence or threaten anyone.
Penny Hall, defending Fowler, said: “It was not his intention to go out and commit violence or be part of any violence that day.”

Miss Hall said Fowler had tried to push people away from the trouble.
Judge Paul Sloan KC jailed Hann for eight months and Fowler for two years.

The judge told the men: “You and others brought shame upon the city of Sunderland.

“For no justifiable reason whatsoever you and many more gathered in the city centre and participated in an orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder.
“The mayhem was widespread.”

Judge Sloan added: “It is an unavoidable feature of mass disorder that each individual part, whatever might be its character taken on its own, inflames and encourages others to act in a similar fashion.”
The judge said people who involve themselves in mass disorder must expect severe sentences.

Both men have previous convictions.

Sunderland Echo

Judge tells smirking dad ‘you shake your head’ as he jails him

By
August 23, 2024
Uncategorized

Rory Allington-Mott winked as he was led down to the cells

A racist thug smirked and shook his head as a judge scorned him for the “repulsive” views that saw him target a mosque with bricks during a riot.

Liverpool Crown Court was told today, Friday, that Rory Allington-Mott played a “leading role” during the violent disorder on both Sussex Road and St Luke’s Road on July 30 this year.

Martyn Walsh, prosecuting, told the court the 34-year-old, of High Street in Southport, was part of a violent mob that targeted a mosque chanting “who the f*** is Allah” just an hour after a peaceful vigil was held in memory of three young girls killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party the previous day.

A compilation of videos taken from both CCTV and body-worn camera footage showed Allington-Mott hurling “at least 20 bricks” towards police officers, police vehicles and the local mosque. He also picked up a wheelie bin and a recycling bin and again hurled them at a line of police officers, who did not have protective clothing on, as other missiles from the thousand-strong crowd rained down on them.

The court heard Allington-Mott, who had travelled around two hours to Southport, also pushed over a wall at the mosque which “provided ammunition” to other rioters. Addressing the racist thug during his sentencing remarks, Judge Denis Watson KC said: “You shake your head, but that underlines your entrenched racist views which are repulsive to right-minded people in this country.”

The court heard Allington-Mott has a litany of previous convictions dating back to 2007. These included convictions for possession of an offensive weapon, harassment, drug driving, possession of cannabis, assaulting a police officer and racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage.

The court heard Allington-Mott attended the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury town centre – which was housing asylum seekers at the time – on April 20 last year. The thug approached staff and asked if they were accommodating asylum seekers before he smashed 21 windows with a hammer before making off from the scene.

He was handed a suspended sentence for the racist attack, but the court heard his strong opinions regarding race made his unpaid workplace a “toxic” place. A note from his workplace supervisor read out in court drew attention to comments Allington-Mott made about people of other races, including: “They come raping my country and my women” before he added: “I have to blow the f****** up.”

The court heard he triggered his suspended sentence in January of this year when he failed to provide a specimen to police. He was released from prison on April 8 this year and his licence expired on July 8.

Allington-Mott was arrested on August 16 after he was identified by officers and interviewed the next day. He provided a no comment response to every question asked of him.

Allington-Mott originally appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court earlier this week but did not enter a plea. However, he entered a guilty plea during the plea and trial preparation hearing today at the higher court and the judge moved ahead and sentenced him straight away.

In mitigation, Zahra Baqri, defending, told the court: “I do not seek to minimise the seriousness of the incident. There is little I can say in mitigation. The strongest point is his entry of a guilty plea. He wanted to plead guilty at the lower court but was advised to wait for footage.”

Ms Baqri told the court her client “clearly requires rehabilitation and education” in respect of his strong racist views. She added: “He tells me he understands that his behaviour will be regarded as disgusting and disgraceful by normal people. That shows a slight glint of progress.”

She added her client suffered with delusional thoughts and paranoia but had never sought medical advice. Instead, she said, he had self-medicated with recreational drugs. She added he also suffered from anxiety and depression.

The court heard Allington-Mott is a trained brick-layer and had two children, aged seven and eight, with his former partner. Sentencing, Judge Watson told the defendant he was part of a “mob engaged in a violent confrontation that lasted for several hours”. He added: “This spouted other incidents in Liverpool and across the country.”

Judge Watson told the defendant, who wore a grey t-shirt and sported short, fair hair, that an individual’s actions during violent disorder are capable of encouraging others to act in a similar way. However, the judge told him: “You weren’t sucked in because it was your purpose to be there to engage in the violence.”

The judge sentenced Allington-Mott to three years and three months in prison. As Allington-Mott was led down to the cells, he winked towards the press bench.

Liverpool Echo

Hull riot: Three more troublemakers jailed after ‘miasma of madness’ in city centre

By
August 23, 2024
Uncategorized

Another trio of offenders involved in the violent disorder on August 3 have been locked up

More troublemakers have been jailed after serious disorder broke out in Hull city centre during frightening scenes that have been branded a “miasma of madness”.

They were the latest to be locked up at Hull Crown Court for their part in the hours of violent disorder that day.

Daniel Mennell , 36, of Belmont Street, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for two years and three months.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that Mennell played a prominent role in the disturbance outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway and he picked up rocks and stones from shrubbery opposite the hotel before throwing them towards police. He joined a line of other people and took a selfie picture of the hotel.

Mennell had convictions for 54 previous offences, including 34 for dishonesty, two for public disorder and others for arson in 2004 and burglary. He had previously been given an antisocial behaviour order in 2004 when he was 15.

Charlotte Baines, mitigating, said that Mennell was sorry for his actions. “He had been drinking heavily,” said Miss Baines. Mennell had gone into the city to see what was going on.

“He very stupidly involved himself in the disorder,” said Miss Baines. “His behaviour was idiotic. At the time, he was under the influence.” Mennell was involved in trouble in only one place. He had tried to turn his life around since 2022 and he had regularly worked as a labourer.

Jarrod Farrah, 32, of Portobello Street, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for two years and he was given a six-year criminal behaviour order.

Farrah was outside the Royal Hotel and he lunged towards police in an aggressive way in Queen Victoria Square. He was with others who threw missiles but he did not do so himself and he was at the front of the group. He gestured and shouted and moved towards the police and lunged towards them. He had convictions for 16 previous offences, including two of assault and others of drugs and criminal damage.

Nigel Clive, mitigating, said: “He is thoroughly ashamed of himself and his behaviour. He knows that he has let Hull down.”

Farrah was involved in shouting and finger-pointing towards police and he was at the forefront on a number of occasions. He did not throw or pick up any objects during the “highly emotionally charged” incident.

When he was shown footage a the disorder, he looked at the floor in disgust. He apologised for his actions.

Father-of-three Farrah had let his family down at a time when it was facing having to attend a funeral. He had twin boys aged five and another son aged 14.

He was in an emotional state. “It’s no excuse at all for his behaviour,” said Mr Clive.

Michael Campbell, 56, of Icelandic Close, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for 20 months.

Campbell was at the front of a group of people confronting police outside the Royal Hotel. He was aggressive towards police and was shouting and gesturing.

He used a bicycle as a “barricade” and to fend off a police dog. He was bitten by the dog on his right lower leg. Campbell had convictions for 11 previous offences.

Michael Forrest, mitigating, said that the bite from the police dog had an impact on Campbell while he was in custody and the pictures of his wound were “graphic”.

Campbell went to Hull Royal Infirmary after being bitten and he was now in a wheelchair because of it as well as using crutches. It was making his time in prison even more difficult.

“He was deeply ashamed when he saw the footage,” said Mr Forrest. “He is utterly disgusted with his actions.” Campbell had six daughters and four grandchildren, who were the “light of his life”. He was in Hull to buy a suit for a funeral at the time of the disorder.

At an earlier hearing, Mr Forrest described the disorder during the day as a “miasma of madness”.

Judge John Thackray KC said that the fact that Campbell was bitten by a police dog did not reduce his culpability but he did suffer a “bad injury”.

The offences of all those involved were part of “12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence” that caused “immeasurable harm”. The video footage was “depressing and horrifying to watch” and it was “utterly deplorable public disorder involving huge numbers of people”.

Hull Daily Mail

Brothers jailed for role in violent disorder

By
August 23, 2024
Uncategorized

Two brothers who were at the forefront of rioting outside a hotel in Rotherham earlier this month have been jailed.

Luke and Paul Sissons were involved a range of violent incidents at the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, on 4 August.

Video played to the court showed an attack on a police dog van and violent confrontations with riot officers, with Luke Sissons telling a one officer: “I hate immigrants.”

They were both jailed for three years at Sheffield Crown Court.

The Holiday Inn Express, which housed more than 200 asylum seekers, was extensively damaged in the violence with windows being smashed.

Paul Sissons, who is a tunnelling team leader on the HS2 project, was filmed over a period of nearly four hours.

He was pictured in a mob shouting at police and chanting “Tommy Robinson”, before rocking a police van with officers and a dog inside.

Sissons, 37, of Two Gates Way, Barnsley, was then filmed throwing missiles at a group of cornered officers.

A final video showed him kicking at a police shield, something the judge described as “vicious”.

Police dog used

His brother Luke Sissons, 34, of The Green View, Shafton, Barnsley, was also part of the mob rocking the van and footage was shown of him at the front of a group goading officers with riot shields who were pinned against the hotel wall.

He had been outside the hotel since at least 11:30 BST and was filmed drinking and speaking with a police officer.

He said he hated police officers, called them “grasses”, and said he hated immigrants.

Watching via video link, he regularly had his head in his hands and “watched on with horror”, his defence barrister said.

The case was “one of the worst examples of violent disorder”, because of the volume and persistency of it, The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said.

The brothers both pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing.

Also appearing was Christopher Rogers, 38, of Millmoor Road, Barnsley.

He had spent the day filming the violence on his phone.

As he went to leave the area at about 19:00 BST, he was seen with a group of people who were masked and throwing missiles at police.

There was a short foot chase with officers where he was bitten by a police dog in the groin.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder, and was jailed for two years.

BBC News

Middlesbrough rioter with police grudge tried but failed to set fire to wheelie bin pushed at cops

By
August 22, 2024
Uncategorized

Michael Stevenson, 34, was caged for 26 months at Teesside Crown Court

A man who tried but failed to set fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards riot police during disorder in Middlesbrough has been jailed.

Michael Stevenson was later recognised by a police officer who watched YouTube footage of the widespread trouble in the town on August 4.

The 34-year-old could be seen trying to set fire to rubbish in a large wheelie bin which he then helped push towards police lines

When he was arrested four days later, Stevenson said he had been visited at his home by police five years earlier and he had “acted in retaliation for that”, said Rachel Masters, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court. He admitted a single count of violent disorder.

Judge Francis Laird KC sentenced him to 26 months, saying: “You chose to take part in an organised and large-scale act of public disorder.” Gary Wood, defending, said Stevenson, of Newport Road, Middlesbrough, was isolated from other people, had mental issues and will find prison very hard.

Gazette Live