Archive

Tag Archives: jailed

Sentenced so far for the Rotherham Riots

By
August 21, 2024
Uncategorized

Niven Matthewman, aged 19, of Albert Street, Swinton, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to violent disorder on Wednesday, August 14 at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court. On August 19 he was sentenced to two years and eight months in a young offenders’ institution and handed a Criminal Behaviour Order for ten years.

Nathan Palmer, aged 29 of New Street, Hemingfield, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on August 19.

Dylan White, aged 48, of The Farmstead, Bolton-Upon-Dearne pleaded guilty to violent disorder on Tuesday (13 August) at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court. On August 15 he was sentenced to two years in prison.

Billy Pemberton, aged 31 of Rosehill Road, Rawmarsh pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place when he appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 12 August. He was sentenced to two years and four months in jail and a five-year CBO on August 15.

Michael Whitehead, aged 27, of no fixed address appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on August 15, when he was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder on August 14.

Glyn Guest, aged 60, pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder on August 12. at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison during a Sheffield Crown Court hearing held on August 14.

Trevor Lloyd, aged 49, of Oak Avenue, Wath-Upon-Dearne, Rotherham, was sentenced to three years and handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for ten years, during a Sheffield Crown Court hearing held on August 14, after admitting to one count of violent disorder at an earlier hearing.

Stuart Bolton, aged 38, of Manchester Square, New Holland, North Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and use of a motor vehicle on a public road without third party insurance during a hearing held at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 12. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison during a hearing held on August 14.

Elliot Wragg, aged 23, of Assembly Way, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to the offence of violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 12. He was sentenced to two years and four months in custody during a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court on August 14.

Kaine Hicks, aged 22, of Wombwell Road, Platts Common, Barnsley appeared before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 10 and pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was sentenced to two years, eight months in prison, and received a 10-year criminal behaviour order, during a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court on August 13.

Drew Jarvis, aged 19, of no fixed address appeared before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 10 and pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was sentenced before Sheffield Crown Court on August 13, when he was jailed for three years and received a 10-year criminal behaviour order.

Ricky Hardman, aged 41, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley appeared before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 9, and pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on August 12, when he was jailed for two years, eight months and made the subject of a 10-year criminal behaviour order.

Kenzie Roughley, aged 18, of Barnsley Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract has pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on August 9, when he was sent to begin a sentence of two years, four months in youth detention.

Sheffield Star

Rioter who skipped court to holiday in Dubai is jailed

By
August 21, 2024
Uncategorized

Judge attacks scaffolder Perrie Fisher’s ‘cavalier attitude to justice’ as he imposes prison sentence

A rioter who skipped court to go on a week-long birthday holiday to Dubai has been jailed.

Perrie Fisher, 29, was criticised by a judge for his “cavalier attitude” to justice as he sentenced him to two years and five months for his violent conduct outside an asylum seeker hotel.

Winchester Crown Court was told Fisher wore an England flag as he threw a scooter and bicycle wheels and kicked footballs at the windows of the building, shouting abuse at migrants.

Fisher, a father of one, did not react as he was sentenced after admitting charges of violent disorder and failing to surrender himself at court.

He had flown to Dubai despite being charged for his role in the violence that took place outside Potters International Hotel, Aldershot, Hants, on July 31, two days after the Southport killings.

200 protesters descended on hotel

Fisher, who was detained by police when he touched down at Gatwick on Sunday, was condemned by the judge for his “intimidating and threatening” behaviour and for delaying justice by going abroad.

Tim Devlin, prosecuting, told the court that Fisher, from nearby Farnham, was involved in a protest outside the hotel, which houses immigrants awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications.

“This matter related to a violent disorder that took place on July 31 outside a hotel which is currently being used by the Home Office for asylum seekers,” he said.

The court heard around 200 protesters arrived at the hotel and tried to enter the building after “misinformation” about the identity of the suspect for the Southport stabbings was shared online.

The court heard the group shouted “we want our country back”, “this is what community looks like” and “get them in, get them gone”.

After the group broke into a bike shed, Fisher picked up a bike and threw it into a skip. He was then seen throwing bicycle wheels at the hotel.

“Flares had been set off, and the perimeter wall to the hotel was damaged,” Mr Devlin added.

Police massively outnumbered

The prosecutor said police officers who first attended were not in riot gear and were “massively outnumbered” in a situation that was “rapidly getting out of hand”.

He added: “Security staff and people in the hotel were in great fear about what was going to happen to them.”

The court was shown body-worn camera footage of Fisher throwing the bike in the skip, as well as “lobbing” a children’s scooter towards the hotel and telling a police officer to “f— off”.

He was also seen riding a children’s bicycle and throwing it in the building’s direction.

After reinforcements arrived, the crowd was eventually dispersed.

In mitigation, Alexandra Scott said that Fisher had given police the flight number of his “not inexpensive” holiday so that they could arrest him on his arrival back in the UK.

“He took what steps he could to try and see if he could adjourn it. But ultimately he made a decision to prioritise his commitment to his partner and their holiday,” she said.

Ms Scott added that Fisher accepted his conduct was “entirely unacceptable” having “considered what it must have been like for those inside”.

‘Foul, abusive, racist’ chants

Addressing him about his bail offence, Judge Nigel Lickley KC said: “That demonstrates a cavalier attitude to the courts and the offence you committed. You delayed justice.”

The judge added that Fisher’s actions were accompanied by “foul, abusive, racist chants”.

“The sole purpose of that group of which you were one was to intimidate, frighten, and terrify the occupants of the migrant hotel,” the judge said.

“They were your target – there was no legitimate aim, it was totally unjustified and unlawful. It is troubling to think such activity took place with no justification.

“The mob you were part of was very intimidating and threatening. It has had wide-ranging consequences. People have been made to feel unsafe and fearful.

”[Your offences] are so serious only immediate custody is justified.”

Fisher was jailed for two years and four months for violent disorder as well as one month for failing to surrender.

Former soldier confronted police in Rotherham

Others rioters sentenced on Wednesday included a former soldier who undertook tours of duty in Kosovo, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, who was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Peter Beard, a 43-year-old father of three from Rotherham, admitted pushing aggressively at a line of police with riot shields as they tried to protect a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Another man, Morgan Hardy, alleged to have been involved in the same riot, had his bail revoked after being accused of throwing chairs, fencing and a fire extinguisher at police.

He pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, a man who tried but failed to set fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards riot police during disorder in Middlesbrough was jailed for 26 months.

Michael Stevenson, 34, was recognised by a police officer who watched YouTube footage of the widespread trouble in the town on August 4.

Daily Telegraph

Former drug dealer, 28, jailed after ‘vile and disgraceful’ racist abuse during far-right protest

By
August 21, 2024
Uncategorized

Bradley Halton joined Islamophobic chanting and was heard saying ‘f**king P**i c**ts’

A convicted drug dealer who shouted ‘vile and disgraceful’ racist abuse during a violent protest has been jailed.

Bradley Halton attended the ‘Enough is Enough’ rally in Whitehall on July 31, organised by far-right leader Danny Tommo, real name Daniel Thomas, after the spread of misinformation about the identity of a knifeman accused of stabbing three schoolgirls in Southport on July 29.

The 28-year-old, of Augustus Close in Brentford, showed no emotion as he was jailed for 16 months at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday, August 20. The judge said Halton’s racist language was ‘profoundly painful’ for those who heard it, and ‘an affront to the values of decency and affects everyone in our society’ as she chose not to suspend his sentence.

Despite conditions being imposed by police, the crowd broke out of an agreed enclosure on Richmond Terrace, becoming ‘noisier and angrier’ when a man climbed a barrier and a smoke flare was thrown at Downing Street. While some protesters were moved back to the enclosure, others stayed in Parliament Square in breach of the conditions, amassing near the statue of Winston Churchill.

Police then decided to identify and arrest those still in breach of conditions, with missiles, including glass bottles and cans, being thrown at them, forcing them to put on riot gear and helmets. The protest came during widespread lawlessness around the UK, when tensions were running high with fears about further violent disorder breaking out.

Mr McKinley said there was ‘organised chanting’, including ‘Who the f**k is Allah’ and ‘You’re not English anymore’, with spitting, swearing, and abuse directed towards police officers. Halton was part of this crowd, shouting ‘Who the f**k is Allah?’, and, as seen on police bodycam footage, saying ‘Where were you lot when the f**king P**i c**ts were doing this? You were nowhere. Nowhere’.

Footage played to the court showed Halton in a blue surgical mask, with a green t-shirt wrapped over his head, and bare chest, joining chants and shouting at police. Audio of his comment about ‘f**king P**i c**ts’ was difficult to hear, but not disputed by Halton or his barrister.

Halton was arrested on Sunday, August 11, and initially disputed his identification, telling police ‘Are you trying to wind me up?’ when he was confronted with the footage. He later admitted violent disorder in the magistrates court.

Margate crack dealer

Halton was previously convicted and jailed for 30 months for Class A drugs supply offences at Canterbury Crown Court in 2017, after being caught with heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine. Halton was homeless when he was stopped by police in Margate, with wraps of drugs in his mouth and £400 in cash, reports Kent Online.

Barrister Stephen Cooke said Halton had ‘completely changed his life’ since then, with a partner and stable accommodation, and job as a tree surgeon with the council. Around 18 months ago, Halton also discovered he had become a father, but sadly the mother of his child had since died.

“These incidents were obviously shameful and a disgrace, but perhaps there’s a distinction that this offence in London did not reach the levels elsewhere,” said Mr Cooke, adding: “While the words are vile, he did not use physical violence, did not throw a missile at anyone. While the words were disgraceful, he did not call police officers out for immediate violence.”

Calling for a suspended sentence, Mr Cooke asked Judge Vanessa Baraitser ‘for mercy’, and requested she not to double count the use of racist language. “It’s the defence application he not be sentenced twice on that narrow aspect,” said the barrister. Halton previously admitted one count of racially aggravated harassment at Westminster Magistrates Court and was fined £400.

Footage ‘clearly’ showed Halton joining the Islamophobic chant

Judge Baraitser said the footage clearly showed Halton joining the Islamophobic chant and making the racist comment to police. “[This was] contributing to what had become a volatile situation for the police,” she said, adding: “Perhaps you thought being part of a large crowd with sheer weight of numbers with a t-shirt wrapped around your head and blue mask on your face might protect you and shield you from prosecution.”

Jailing him for 16 months in immediate custody, the judge said Halton’s actions ‘provided comfort and encouragement’ to those around him to do the same, and severe sentences were needed to ‘punish and deter others’.

My London

Mum says ‘love you, it’s ok’ as son with ‘promising future’ jailed for ‘night of madness’

By
August 21, 2024
Uncategorized

The landscape gardener hurled missiles at police officers during violent scenes in Southport

A “well behaved and hard working” man ruined his life during one night of madness.

Jake Lowther had never found himself in trouble with the police before he hurled missiles at officers as violent scenes unfolded in Southport following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar last month.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Wednesday, that around 50 police officers were injured as a 1,000-strong crowd descended on St Luke’s Road in the town on the evening of July 30. Rioters thereafter hurled missiles, “damaged and looted” properties and chanted “this is our f***ing country”, “s***houses”, “scumbag b*******s” and “Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah?” as the nearby mosque on Sussex Road became the “focus” of the violence.

Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, described how Lowther, of Abrams Fold in Banks, was captured on video throwing “two pieces of rock or concrete” towards PCs and was “seen to be part of the mob as it moved towards officers”. The 20-year-old then “appeared to meet up with another male and a female” and left the scene with them.

He was subsequently circulated as wanted by Merseyside Police and handed himself in at Copy Lane Police Station on August 11. Under interview following his arrest, Lowther told detectives he “threw a block of concrete” then “went back and threw stones” but had “no intention to hit anyone”.

The landscape gardener added that he “got caught up in the moment”, having travelled to Southport with friends by car to “drive past the vigil”. He said they then “got wind of what was happening and got involved”.

Lowther has no previous convictions. Stuart Mills, defending, told the court his client suffers from ADHD and added: “Mr Lowther believes the impulsivity that condition creates is a significant feature in his involvement in these matters. He tells me he had heard that something was going on.

“He attended out of curiosity and to see what was going on. He tells me that he came from the other end of an alleyway and found himself right at the front of what was going on. He had no idea he was going to be coming out at the frontline. Then, he says, he was swept up in what was going on. He cannot explain it.

“Looking at his background, one cannot see any other reason for him to do what he did. He is not that kind of young man. Something made him behave in the way that he did. I asked him, do you think it was a herd mentality? His words were ‘it was me being caught in the moment’. He recognises it is disgraceful.

“His parents are utterly distraught with what he has got involved in. His involvement in this had absolutely nothing to do with racial hatred or a political motivation of any kind. His antecedent history would confirm that it is out of character for him. He is somebody in employment. He is a young man with prospects.

“He has worked diligently since coming out of school. He is presently working as a landscaper. His employers speak very highly of him, to the extent that he says he will keep his employment open to him.

“He is, in many respects, a very lucky young man. He has so many people to rally round him in an extremely traumatic situation. He has a stable lifestyle and a loving family. He is someone who has very much learned his lesson arising out of this incident and is unlikely to get himself in a situation which will bring him back before the courts.”

Lowther admitted violent disorder and was handed 18 months in a young offenders’ institute. He nodded when his mum told him “love you, it’s ok” as he was led to the cells, while she added “thank you, thank you” to the judge as she left the courtroom.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “Following the tragic events which took place in Southport on the 29th of July this year, serious disorder in the form of vandalism, intimidation and violence – much of which was motivated by religious and racial hatred – spread across Merseyside and into other cities across the UK. That disorder brought fear and destruction to local communities.

“There is an overwhelming obligation on the courts to do what they can to ensure the protection of the public. Consequently, those who choose to participate in disturbances of the magnitude that have occurred recently – causing injury, damage and fear to law abiding members of the community and to police officers doing there best to protect them – must expect to receive severe sentences, intended both to punish them and deter others. This particular incident is made all the more serious by the fact that it took place soon after and nearby to the events of the previous day, undoubtedly adding to the distress already felt by the local community.

“I accept that you later regretted what you had done and handed yourself in to the police, and that you are genuinely remorseful. I have read references from people who know you well.

“There is clearly another side to your character, but that will provide little comfort to those who have been affected by your actions. It is clear that you are ordinarily a well behaved and hard working man, and on this occasion your actions were out of character.”

Liverpool Echo

Three jailed for ‘utterly deplorable’ violence

By
August 21, 2024
Uncategorized

A man who charged at police officers with a long metal bench is among three men who have been jailed for their part in violent unrest in Hull.

The violence in the city centre on 3 August, which erupted after three girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, was “utterly deplorable”, Judge John Thackray told Hull Crown Court.

Jordan Murray, 26, of Grasby Road, Hull, had admitted violent disorder and looting two shops at Hull Magistrates’ Court on 12 August. He was handed a two-year jail term on Wednesday.

David Buckle, 39, and Jermaine Glover, 23, were sentenced to three years and two years respectively for their roles.

Buckle, of Southgate Way, Hull, admitted violent disorder at Hull Magistrate’s Court on 14 August.

Glover, of Cranswick Grove, Hull, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson at the same court the following day.

The court heard police officers were hit by a “barrage of missiles” as they guarded a hotel housing asylum seekers on Ferensway, while shops in the city were looted and a family including two children locked themselves in a garage as a mob set fire to tyres and smashed cars nearby.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans said the family, including a 12-year-old girl with autism and a 16-year-old boy, and their friends were “in fear for their lives” having barricaded themselves in after the mob descended at the garage on Milky Way.

He said Murray ran at a line of police officers on Jameson Street with the long metal bench before throwing it towards them.

Judge Thackray was told all three, who were “prominent” at the front of a large group, had previous convictions – with Murray having committed 37 offences, including 12 of criminal damage and 11 of theft.

Footage was played in court of all three defendants participating in the rioting.

Buckle was captured on CCTV wearing a black T-shirt and draped in an England flag, throwing missiles at officers. At times he was seen wearing a camouflage balaclava.

The court heard Glover threw missiles at officers and set alight tyres and pallets at the Milky Way garage.

Judge Thackray told him his violent disorder was racially aggravated and that Buckle’s offending was “motivated by hostility based upon race”.

“I’ve watched all of the video footage. It’s depressing and it’s horrifying to watch,” he said.

“From beginning to end, it shows utterly deplorable public disorder involving huge numbers of people, repeated racist chanting, and at some points threats to kill innocent members of the public, including children.”

The court heard Murray had “a difficult start in life” and was diagnosed with ADHD and autism.

Defending him, his barrister Hannah Turner said Murray regretted his actions and was “disgusted in himself and he feels he’s let himself and his family down”.

She said the time he spent in custody had been “a huge wake up call for him”.

Buckle’s defence barrister, Michael Forrest, said his client suffered from “PTSD-like symptoms” was “ashamed of his actions”.

Humberside Police said there had been a total of 74 arrests so far, of which 42 people had been charged.

BBC News

Pair who took part in ‘disgraceful’ disorder jailed

By
August 21, 2024
Uncategorized

Two men who took part in “disgraceful” disorder in Blackpool that saw a shopping centre security guard attacked and objects hurled at police have been jailed.

A group of nearly 1,000 people were involved in unrest in the seaside town on 3 August, Lancashire Police said.

Bottles and chairs were thrown and there were reports of widespread looting in Houndshill Shopping Centre.

Daniel Stewart, 28, of Ashton Road, Blackpool, and Andrew Hook, 32, of Coronation Street, Blackpool, were each sentenced to 27 months in prison at Preston Crown Court.

Police said Stewart was seen covering his face and wrapping an England flag around his shoulders before shouting and swearing at police officers and horses, and throwing a can towards them.

He also assaulted a security guard in Hounds Hill.

‘Disgraceful’

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault by beating.

Hook also participated in the disorder, kicking and punching a security guard in the head, police said.

He also admitted violent disorder.

Widespread disturbances broke out in towns and cities across England following the Southport knife attack that killed three young girls.

Assistant Chief Constable Karen Edwards said: “Disorder is not and will never be acceptable in any part of our county. Hook and Stewart chose to have a detrimental impact on the law-abiding citizens of our Lancashire communities.

“They were violent towards my officers, and members of the public.”

She added: “Their behaviour was disgraceful and will absolutely not be tolerated in Lancashire.”

BBC News

Apprentice jailed for targeting police during riot

By
August 21, 2024
Uncategorized

A former apprentice electrician has been jailed following a riot in Hartlepool.

Declan Dixon, 22, from the Wigan area, was filmed hurling a missile at police lines on Wednesday 31 July.

He was in the North East due to his apprenticeship – a job he has subsequently lost.

Dixon was given an 18-month sentence at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine when he was arrested on 11 August in Stockton.

Unrest swept the country after false information spread about the man who fatally stabbed three young girls in Southport last month.

Judge Francis Laird KC told Dixon his behaviour on the night was “disgraceful”.

More jailed

Meanwhile, Michael Stevenson, 34, from Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder in the town on Sunday 4 August.

He was filmed attempting to set fire to rubbish in a large wheelie bin, which was then pushed towards a line of police officers.

Stevenson was given a 26-month prison sentence by Judge Laird at Teesside Crown Court.

He will serve up to half of the sentence in custody before being released on licence.

BBC News

Father-of-three jailed for Southport police van attack

By
August 21, 2024
Uncategorized

A father-of-three who left a police officer fearing for their life as he tried to smash a van window has been jailed for three years.

Luke Moran, from Birkdale, was one of five people sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday for their part in violent disorder in Southport.

Describing the 38-year-old’s attack with a lump of concrete, a judge said it was “as bad a case as I have seen so far”.

The latest group of defendants to appear in court over the recent disorder that swept across the country also included men accused or convicted of unrest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, south Yorkshire.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, at least 497 people have so far been charged in relation to the weeks-long unrest that broke out in England and Northern Ireland following a stabbing attack in Southport that left three young girls dead and 10 others injured, including eight children.

Liverpool Crown Court was played police body camera footage showing Moran hitting the vehicle’s window three times with the piece of concrete.

Judge Neil Flewitt said that a police officer in the vehicle “feared for his life, believing he might be pulled from the carrier and attacked”.

A statement from a police officer said the men who attacked his van were “whipped into a frenzy”.

The officer’s body cam footage captured the roofer’s face as he attacked the police van. Its driver is clearly heard saying “we’re going to have to bail” as the footage ends.

The court was told the driver then escaped out of the rear of the van, covered by other officers as he fled.

Nicholas Sinclair, 38, was also sentenced to two years and four months for his involvement in the rioting.

The manager of a scaffolding firm from Birkdale admitted throwing bricks and pleaded guilty to violent disorder as a result.

Two other men were sentenced at the same time.

Daniel Carrigan, 41, of Liverpool, admitted to throwing two items at the window of the police van. He said he was struggling with cocaine addiction and had been on the drug at the time.

He was jailed for two years and eight months.

Thomas Whitehead, 53, of Southport, who worked as a gardener, was given a year and eight months for throwing an object during the violent disorder.

The court was told he “does not know what took hold of him when he threw that one missile from the back of the group”.

All the men were told they would be made to serve at least half of their sentences.

Earlier, a 20-year-old from Banks in Southport, who admitted throwing concrete during the riots, was given a prison sentence of 18 months in a young offenders’ institution.

Jake Lowther was captured on CCTV taking part in the violent disorder and was told by the judge he would spend half of his sentence in prison and half in the community.

It was accepted in sentencing that his actions were out of character and his defence conceded their client “did something extremely foolish”.

Lowther’s parents were in the public gallery and as he was taken away. His mother tried to offer comfort by saying “love you, it’s ok”.

Rotherham

Those in court on Wednesday in relation to the unrest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham included a former soldier.

Peter Beard, 43, of Brampton Bierlow, Rotherham, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting to pushing aggressively on a line of officers.

The father-of-three, who undertook tours of duty in Kosovo, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, was told by Judge Jeremy Richardson KC: “Your conduct was shameful, it was disgraceful and, in many respects, astonishing.”

Passing sentence at Sheffield Crown Court, the judge heard how Beard served in the Royal Green Jackets between 1998 and 2003, and said he was surprised that he had become involved as he had been “on the receiving end” of public order incidents as a peacekeeper.

Hull

A man who charged at police officers with a metal bench is among three men who have been jailed for their part in violent unrest in Hull.

Jordan Murray, 26, of Grasby Road, Hull, admitted violent disorder and looting two shops at Hull Magistrates’ Court on 12 August. He was handed a two-year jail term on Wednesday.

David Buckle, 39, and Jermaine Glover, 23, were sentenced to three years and two years respectively for their roles.

Buckle, of Southgate Way, Hull, admitted violent disorder at Hull Magistrate’s Court on 14 August.

Glover, of Cranswick Grove, Hull, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson at the same court the following day.

BBC News

Ex-soldier among several jailed over riots in Rotherham and Southport

By
August 21, 2024
Uncategorized

Peter Beard, sentenced for disorder at asylum seeker hotel, is told his conduct was ‘astonishing’ given his army past

A former soldier who served in Kosovo, Bosnia and Northern Ireland has been jailed for two and a half years after admitting confronting police as they tried to protect a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Peter Beard, 43, of Brampton Bierlow, Rotherham, was filmed on police bodyworn cameras at the front of a mob outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on 4 August.

The court heard that Beard’s aggression towards officers came at a critical time in the rioting, after the hotel had been breached, attempts had been made to set fire to the building and outnumbered police were trying to disperse hundreds of people.

Sentencing Beard at Sheffield crown court, the recorder of Sheffield, Judge Richardson KC, said: “Your conduct was shameful, it was disgraceful and in many respects astonishing.

“The reason I say it was astonishing is because for many years you served in the British army and undertook several tours of duty which involved peacekeeping operation. You have been, I’m told, on the receiving end of attacks by those indulging in public disorder in war zones. You know what it is like to be under attack and yet there you were attacking a police officer who was doing his duty.”A former soldier who served in Kosovo, Bosnia and Northern Ireland has been jailed for two and a half years after admitting confronting police as they tried to protect a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Peter Beard, 43, of Brampton Bierlow, Rotherham, was filmed on police bodyworn cameras at the front of a mob outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on 4 August.

The court heard that Beard’s aggression towards officers came at a critical time in the rioting, after the hotel had been breached, attempts had been made to set fire to the building and outnumbered police were trying to disperse hundreds of people.

Sentencing Beard at Sheffield crown court, the recorder of Sheffield, Judge Richardson KC, said: “Your conduct was shameful, it was disgraceful and in many respects astonishing.

“The reason I say it was astonishing is because for many years you served in the British army and undertook several tours of duty which involved peacekeeping operation. You have been, I’m told, on the receiving end of attacks by those indulging in public disorder in war zones. You know what it is like to be under attack and yet there you were attacking a police officer who was doing his duty.”

Also at Sheffield crown court, Thomas Birley, 27, who threw a wood panel on to a fire outside the same hotel, admitted a charge of arson with intent to endanger life.

The court heard that Birley, of Swinton, Rotherham, was involved in several incidents outside the hotel, including stoking a fire in a bin that was pushed against an exit, throwing items at the police and squaring up to officers while brandishing a police baton.

Richardson told Birley that his offending was unquestionably the most serious of all that he had dealt with in the last fortnight in relation to the rioting that followed the killing of three girls in Southport last month. He said: “The sentence must be of some substance. This is a crime which carries a life sentence. I rule nothing in and rule nothing out.”

The judge said Birley would be sentenced on 6 September and remanded him into custody and ordered that a psychiatric report be prepared.

At Liverpool crown court, Jake Lowther, 20, was sentenced to 18 months in a young offender institution. Lowther, of Banks, near Southport, nodded to his parents as his mother called out “love you” from the public gallery.

The court head that Lowther was seen in video footage in a crowd in Southport, gesticulating towards officers while others threw missiles. Judge Flewitt KC said that at one point Lowther picked up two pieces of brick or stone from a broken wall and threw them towards police officers, with one piece hitting a riot shield.

Also at Liverpool crown court, Luke Moran was jailed for three years after he tried to smash a window of a police van in Southport. The court heard that Moran, 38, had lost his job with a roofing firm since his image had been published after the violence.

Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, said Moran was filmed on bodyworn camera with a large piece of concrete in his hands, smashing the driver-side window of a police van three times as an officer sat inside. In the footage, the officer could be heard telling colleagues over his radio: “I’m going to have to bail, my window’s about to go through.”

Flewitt told the court: “This is as bad a case as I have seen so far. Unsurprisingly, at that stage PC Hayes feared for his life, believing he might be pulled from the carrier and attacked.”

Daniel Carrigan, 41, of Liverpool, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting violent disorder and criminal damage in Southport. Footage was played to the court showing him throwing items at a police van and kicking the side of the vehicle.

Charles Lander, defending, said Carrigan had taken cocaine on the day of the incident and said his addiction to the drug was “out of control”. The court heard that Carrigan had previously been convicted of a racially aggravated common assault after telling a traffic warden in 2016 that he should “return back to his own country”.

Thomas Whitehead, 53, who was part of a large group that gathered outside a mosque in Southport, was jailed for one year and eight months for violent disorder after being arrested onboard a plane.

At Liverpool crown court, Smith, prosecuting, said Whitehead’s picture was circulated and he was arrested on 13 August at Manchester airport. Whitehead, a gardener, of Southport, told police he had been to the pub when he noticed a large group gathering and went to see what was happening, and he admitted he had been involved in throwing items.

And a manager at a scaffolding firm was jailed for two years and four months after admitting being part of the violent disorder in Southport. Nicholas Sinclair, 38, of Birkdale, was seen in footage from 30 July shouting at police and throwing bricks.

The Guardian

Man threw 14 bottles at police officers then said it wasn’t him

By
August 20, 2024
Uncategorized

Andrew Jackson became embroiled within violent scenes in Southport following fatal stabbings


A man hurled 14 bottles at police before casually walking away from the scene, but tried to run when officers came knocking at his door two weeks later.

Andrew Jackson became embroiled within violent scenes which unfolded in Southport following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Tuesday, that the incident on the evening of July 30 lasted for several hours, with around 50 police officers being injured and damage caused to vehicles, residents’ property and a mosque on St Luke’s Road which was “the focus of the violence”. The 41-year-old defendant, of Ramford Street in St Helens, was one member of a crowd of around 1,000 who gathered in the area at around 8pm.

Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, described how Jackson was seen on CCTV filming the disorder before taking bottles from a wheelie bin in an alleyway and launching them towards PCs and force vehicles. He was captured on the footage throwing a total of 14 missiles over the course of several minutes before walking away from the scene.

Officers subsequently arrested him at his home address on August 12 after he had “initially tried to run”. A quantity of cannabis “consistent with personal use” was also seized from the property.

Under interview, Jackson “denied being any part of the violent disorder”. He has a total of 26 previous convictions for 51 offences dating back to 1999 and including possession of cannabis with intent to supply, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, theft, motoring matters and breaching court orders.

Julian Nutter, defending, told the court: “Of course, it is wholly reprehensible behaviour. His anger appeared to be directed at the police. The police were not shown to be injured or their equipment damaged by what he did. In real terms, while his character can hardly be described as being good, this sort of reprehensible behaviour is out of character.”

Jackson admitted violent disorder and possession of cannabis. Appearing in the dock with a shaved head and sporting a grey Berghaus t-shirt, he was jailed for 32 months.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “Following the tragic events which took place in Southport on the 29th of July this year, serious disorder in the form of vandalism, intimidation and violence which was motivated by religious and racial hatred spread across Merseyside and the UK. There is an overwhelming obligation on the courts to do what they can to ensure the protection of the public.

“Consequently, those who choose to participate in disturbances of the magnitude that have occurred recently – causing injury, damage and fear to law abiding members of the community – must expect to receive severe sentences, intended both to punish them and deter others. This particular incident is made all the more serious by the fact that it took place soon after and nearby to the events of the previous day, undoubtedly adding to the distress already felt by the local community.”

Liverpool Echo