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Rotherham riot thug ‘with no racist views’ unmasked after aiming plank of wood at hotel during violence

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August 14, 2024
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Elliott Wragg went to the Holiday Inn in Manvers after reading social media posts

A man who threw pieces of wood at a hotel housing refugees in Rotherham has been put behind bars.

Elliott Wragg, 23, has been jailed for two years and four months for his role in the violent disorder that took place at the Holiday Inn hotel in Manvers on August 4. His case was opened by prosecutor Neil Coxon on Tuesday at Sheffield Crown Court, but Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC jailed him on Wednesday.

In his opening to the court, Mr Coxon said: “This takes place in the context of serious violence disorder which occurred on August 4. Looking through the viewing log, footage shows that there is a large group of people, several of whom are wearing face coverings, but this defendant is not.

“The group was stood on a path just outside the premises that was the Holiday Inn. There is a man in a white T-shirt, and that is the defendant. He can then be seen picking up an item on the ground and throwing it in the direction of officers against the wall of the Holiday Inn.

“The next photograph shows the defendant throwing a piece of wood, and another shows the police stood in front of the Holiday Inn. At this stage, the group continue to throw items, including chairs and other items. In this part of the footage you cannot see the defendant but he is part of the group. There were also fire extinguisher that were discharged. The group are shouting ‘Yorkshire, Yorkshire’.”

Footage of the incident was played to the court. It was said Wragg, of Assembly Way, Barnsley, was arrested and accepted that in one of the clips he was there but exercised his right to remain silent. He had no previous convictions on his record.

Dale Harris, defending, said his client said he had “no racist views” and his actions were “wholly out of character”. He said Wragg went to the hotel after reading on social media about a protest about immigration.

Yorkshire Live

‘Chanting’ Rotherham riot dad ‘off work with spine injury’ jailed after ‘Aldi meat shop’

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August 14, 2024
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Trevor Lloyd was caught on camera becoming involved with disorder outside the Holiday Inn in Manvers but says he was telling people ‘stop’

A Rotherham dad was only supposed to be in Aldi buying meat for his Sunday dinner – but has now ended up behind bars after becoming embroiled in violent disorder.

Trevor Lloyd, 49, was at the forefront of a group that culminated outside the Holiday Inn hotel in Rotherham on August 4 this year. The hotel is used to house refugees and asylum seekers.

Sheffield Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Lloyd, of Oak Avenue, was spotted filming some of the disorder. The group he was stood with was responsible for smashing windows and doors to the hotel, entering it and returning with items including fire extinguishers and chair that were then thrown at officers.

Read more: Live as Rotherham rioters in court – FIVE more men to be sentenced for Holiday Inn disgrace

Prosecutor Louise Gallagher said: “He appears to be filming using a mobile phone…At 5.34pm, windows had been smashed. In a photograph, he can be seen at the front of the group, again recording. He’s standing sideways with his back to a wall. He’s seen again, this time at 7.32pm, and he remains with the group.

“He’s been highlighting as being present amongst the gathering.” It was said Lloyd also entered the hotel, although his barrister Richard Adams said he did so “momentarily”.

Footage was played to the court of the incident and showed Lloyd among the group that could be heard chanting, “Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire.” This clip was uploaded to TikTok by an account with the username Steakbake6969.

Lloyd was arrested after being identified from a still image taken from footage. He was arrested on August 9 and made no comment in interview, but submitted a prepared statement which said he and his partner had become separated and he was telling the group to “stop”.

Ms Gallagher said: “He admitted following the group in [to the hotel] and telling them to come out.” Lloyd’s barrister said he is not maintaining his account and has taken advice and “accepts presence in the melee and for some period of time.”

The court heard he had previous convictions on his record for offences including assaulting a police constable, theft and drug offences.

Mr Adams told the court: “Can I perhaps urge My Lord a little restraint in as much as this. The defendant’s intention that day had been no more than to visit Aldi, which joins the hotel, with his partner, and seeing the demonstration he made the foolish error of deciding to go and have a look.

“What was first a look became a protracted stay. His partner had the good sense to move away, and he of course remained at the scene… It was simply to buy a piece of meat for dinner. That, he accepts, he was caught up in it.”

The court has heard Lloyd used to work, but was injured and sustained a spinal injury and is now registered disabled.

Recorder of Sheffield His Honour Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said: “A man with a spinal injury, registered disabled, participates in this?” Mr Adams said: “His participation we say is his presence.”

As he jailed him for three years, Judge Richardson told Lloyd: “You are a man with a family. You have a partner. You live in Rotherham. You have two older daughters. You also have a daughter aged nine.

“What a dreadful example you have set your daughter. Your conduct was shameful and you unquestionably encouraged serious violence by what you did. On Sunday 4th August 2024, there was major civil disorder in the Manvers area of Rotherham. The incident was part of wider, national civil unrest, fostered by a form of malignancy of society… It was perpetrated by an ignorant mob, of which you were part.”

The judge said the occupants of the hotel “must have been terrified.” He added: “You were involved in this incidemt. You were watching, encouraging and filming on your mobile telephone what was going on. I repeat, you were well to the fore while others were breaking in. You went in yourself and came out smiling.

“I have seen the footage of what occurred. It was frightening and alarming even to watch it in the courtroom. It must have been utterly terrifying for those present, including the police officers.”

The court heard that during a second incident, Lloyd gestured towards police officers, shouted at them and was “endeavouring to push the police officers.” Judge Richardson said Lloyd has “brought shame” on Rotherham. He also made him the subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Yorkshire Live

Snivelling rioter changes his tune as he is jailed for brandishing stick at protesters

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August 13, 2024
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Curtis Coulson cried during his first court appearance

A snivelling rioter who cried during his first court appearance had no tears as he was jailed for brandishing a stick taken from an anti-racism sign.

Curtis Coulson has been put behind bars for four-and-a-half months for affray on August 4 in Sheffield. Coulson, 30, wiped away tears as he appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court last week and was remanded into custody.

However, Coulson, of Sheffield, appeared different when he appeared over a video link at Sheffield Crown Court from HMP Lincoln on Tuesday and listened to Neil Coxon’s prosecution opening.

Mr Coxon said: “In essence a group of pro-asylum protesters held a peaceful demonstration on the steps of the Town Hall.” The court heard Coulson claimed he had seen a message about a Pro-UK march the day before and he got the bus into the city centre and walked in the direction of the Town Hall where he was to meet a group to attend the march.

He said he was approached by a woman holding a placard as he walked past the City Hall and said she called him a “far-right fascist” and raised the sign “in what appeared to be a strike.”

Mr Coxon said Coulson claimed he raised his arm and caused the placard to come from a stick, which he took away. He said he agreed he had used the stick in a threatening manner.

Coulson’s barrister, Gordon Stables, said the case did not involve “actual violence” and that the tarmacer is “very embarrassed.”

Judge Richardson told Coulson as he jailed him: “It is always important in cases of this kind to keep a sense of proportion, not withstanding that observation, your conduct was disgraceful.

“You unquestionably threatened on several occasions, violence, whilst holding a stick…There was some form of protest outside the City Hall by individuals who asserted they are anti-racism and anti-fascist. It was a group of approximately 70 plus individuals, who appeared to be participating in a peaceful protest.

“But you were adjacent to a nearby public house, called Yates, with a group much smaller in number than they were. There had been some form of incident – the truth of which I cannot judge – whereby you managed to secure the pole that had held a placard. You utilised that pole to threaten and provoke the larger group of individuals.”

The judge said: “It is right to observe, no one was in fact injured, and it is also right to observe that the anti-racist group advanced towards you, albeit no one of them actually attacked you at all, or your group. You were waving your stick provocatively on a number of occasions and were moving in a hostile way and were threatening towards them…

“It is clear at the same time, several miles away in Rotherham, police were having to handle a very difficult situation where there was mass public disorder.”

Coulson was also made the subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order for five years.

Yorkshire Live

Smirking Valentino-clad rioter joins racist mob attacking Rotherham hotel because he was ‘nosy’

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August 13, 2024
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Kaine Hicks is now behind bars after abusing police in the Rotherham riots

A smirking Valentino-clad thug subjected hard-working officers to vile verbal abuse while they tried to calm riots in Rotherham.

Kaine Hicks, 22, was bedecked in designer garments when he went to the Holiday Inn in Manvers on August 4. The hotel is used to house asylum seekers and refugees and was the location of violent disorder which resulted in a large number of arrests last week.

Hicks, Wombwell Road, Platts Common, Barnsley, claims he went to the hotel to be “nosy” but was captured on police bodycam footage verbally abusing officers.

Prosecutor Neil Coxon told Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday: “Effectively, he is captured by PC Goodman on bodycam footage. The defendant’s described as wearing a Valentino sweatshirt jumper. It is very distinctive and he can be seen walking along the line where the police officer is stationed. He acted in an aggressive manner towards the officer, is verbally abusive and is heard saying a number of things including, ‘You f****** dirty b*******, the f****** lot of you, dirty c**** All of yous, go on, go on.’

“He was part of a group who are putting their hands up and pushing against the officer’s shields.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said: “The officers were obviously doing their level best to protect the hotel, which was on the left, and this is when this incident occurred.”

It was said Hicks had previous convictions for offences including possession of cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy and possession with intent to supply cannabis. Mitigating, Dale Harris said: “His guilty plea effectively reflects his involvement in it, which is limited.”

The court heard Hicks is a self-employed construction worker who has “never been involved in any protest before” but had seen it “advertised on social media before”. Mr Harris said: “He had gone because in his words – he was nosy and wanted to see what was happening and crossed the line. He will pay a heavy price in losing his liberty, because his earning will be affected.

“In spite of the context of this incident occurs, he holds no strong political opinions and rejects any suggestion he is part of any far-right group – he doesn’t share those views and wouldn’t regard himself as having any negative opinions. He is, well I suspect, tarred with the same brush, given the nature of the criminality that unfolded.

Judge Richardson jailed Hicks for two years and eight months and told him: “On 4th August there was major civil disorder in the Manvers area, that was part of national civil unrest. The disorder was unquestionably racist of character and extremely frightening for anyone there.

“It was perpetrated by an ignorant mob. You were a part of that mob. I have absolutely no doubt that many decent people in Rotherham were badly affected by what occurred. There was violence and very threatening conduct in the context of this case to police officers in particular by you. I have said it on several occasions and make no apology for repeating this: The police officers who were present doing their duty are deserving of high praise for the way in which they resisted provocation and handled an immensely challenging situation with precision and skill.

“You – I repeat – were part of this mob of ignorant and violent individuals. It must be made clear those participating in this violent disorder will be punished severely by these courts…You were targeting the police, as were others. There was disruption and severe detrimental impact to the community. This was unquestionably a racist incident.”

The judge also made Hicks the subject of a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order.

Yorkshire Live

Man jailed for racially abusing bus driver

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August 13, 2024
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A man has been jailed for 10 months after he racially abused a bus driver in London and violently attacked a betting shop.

Michael Mongan, 39, of Castle Road, Ealing, west London, attacked a Ladbrokes branch in Northolt on 27 July.

While released on bail, he racially abused a bus driver on 7 August – an incident that was widely shared on social media.

At Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, Judge Ian Comfort described the bus incident as an “appalling racial and religious abuse over a sustained period of time”.

He added: “Your behaviour (occurred) when there was violent disorder in other parts of the country against Muslims and other groups.”
Islamophobic abuse

On 27 July, Mongan repeatedly hit windows with a large stick and racially abused staff while under the influence of alcohol, the court heard.

A member of the public had to restrain him before he was arrested by police.

While in custody, Mongan racially abused a police officer who was driving a van.

In relation to this incident, Mongan pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated behaviour, one charge of criminal damage and one count of causing damage to a police vehicle.

The second incident occurred on 7 August, while he was on bail for the previous offences, after a bus driver refused to let him board as he did not have the money to pay for his journey.

Mongan spat at the bus driver’s cab a number of times while shouting Islamophobic abuse and other threats, the court was told.

His lawyer, Giovanna Fiorentino, said Mongan had claimed a member of the public had offered to pay for his fare but the bus driver refused to let him board.

After the video was posted on social media, Mongan was identified and arrested on Friday.

He was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence and criminal damage.
‘Won’t see a pound’

Mongan was sentenced to:

Six months in custody for racially abusing the bus driver

Four months in custody for each of the two charges of racially aggravated behaviour

Two months for criminal damage to Ladbrokes

One month for criminal damage to a police vehicle and

One month for damaging the cab door of the bus

All charges will run concurrently.

He was also told to pay £500 to the bus driver, £200 to the police officer he racially abused and £200 to a staff member at Ladbrokes.

Mongan bowed his head as the sentence was read out in court and told the judge afterwards: “They won’t see a pound of it from me.”

BBC News

Man asks judge ‘how long did I get?’ after being jailed

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August 13, 2024
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Philip Prescott, Gareth Metcalfe and David Hill have been locked up over scenes of violence in Southport and Liverpool city centre

Thugs who kicked down the wall of a house, threw bricks at police officers and kicked the windscreen of a van while being livestreamed on TikTok have been jailed. Violent scenes flared up in Southport, Liverpool city centre and Walton following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.

Police vans were set alight and officers were attacked during protesting on St Luke’s Road in the seaside town on the evening of July 30. A planned protest at the Pier Head the following weekend then descended into violence, with Merseyside Police forced to use riot gear after bricks and debris were thrown towards PCs.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Tuesday, that both Philip Prescott and Gareth Metcalfe were involved in the disturbance in Southport on the evening of July 30. Nardeen Nemat, appearing for the prosecution in relation to the former, told the court: “Following the killing of three young girls in Southport on the 29th of July, there was widespread disorder across the country. The first incident was on the 30th of July on St Luke’s Road in Southport.

“The focus of the violence was aimed at a mosque. There were chants including ‘who the f*** is Allah’. Items were thrown towards the mosque. Items were thrown at police officers including house bricks, wheelie bins and slabs of concrete. The incident lasted several hours. More than 60 police officers were injured. The mosque was damaged and a police vehicle was set alight.”

Prescott, of Sefton Street in Southport, was seen on CCTV and video footage captured by a police helicopter taking items out of a bin and hurling them towards police officers before “others followed suit”. The 38-year-old then “dragged another wheelie bin” towards a cordon formed by PCs before removing further objects and throwing them.

He subsequently kicked the wall of a residential property and climbed into the garden before running towards officers in possession of a brick, which he “launched towards” them. Prescott thereafter returned to the damaged wall once more and threw further bricks, including at the window of a police van.

Following his arrest on Lord Street in the town on August 5, he gave a prepared statement under interview in which he “said he had been drinking and was very upset by the death of the three children”. He then “heard there was something happening near to St Luke’s and went to see what was happening” and, although he could not recall his actions due to being under the influence of alcohol, stated that he was “ashamed by what he did and was sorry”.

Metcalfe, of Cambridge Gardens in Southport, was meanwhile said to have “remonstrated” and “pointed and shouted at officers”, being described as being “at the front of the action”. Christopher Taylor, prosecuting the 44-year-old, detailed how he was arrested at his home address later the same evening and gave a no comment interview.

David Hill meanwhile appeared before the court in relation to disorder in Liverpool city centre the following Saturday. The 38-year-old, of Bianca Street in Bootle, was caught on a livestreamed TikTok video kicking the windscreen of a police van near to St George’s Hall before another thug attempted to set the vehicle on fire.

Prescott has no previous convictions, His counsel Sinead Fearon said: “The defendant appears to be acting by himself. He does not appear to be with any particular group or pushing any cause.

“Whilst he did not necessarily instruct others to follow in his footsteps and he was not the first to throw a missile, it is very difficult to step away from the fact that his actions caused a very real ripple effect on others who were present. Once he begins throwing the first missile, it appears others view what he has done and follow without instruction.

“He has worked on and off for the last 12 years as a painter. He has managed to live up until this point without troubling the court system. He appears to come from a close family. They are appalled by his behaviour, but support him nonetheless.

“His dad is terminally ill. His very real fear is that he will not be there to look after his dad, which is what he should have been doing rather than behaving in the way he did on the 30th of July. It is his intention to learn from his folly.”

Metcalfe’s criminal record shows 21 previous convictions for 31 offences between 1995 and 2021 – including for “religiously aggravated assault”, sexual assault in 2016, a racially-aggravated public order offence in 2019 and harassment and breach of a non-molestation order during 2019 and 2020. The court heard of one arrest in January 2019 “against a background of domestic abuse” which saw him “start to struggle” when officers attempted to detain him before calling them “Muslim protectors and Muslim sh**gers”.

When a Probation Service worker subsequently attempted to call him in order to prepare a pre-sentence report in relation to his subsequent conviction, they received a voicemail recording of Metcalfe saying: “F*** Islam. Leave a message.”

Simran Garcha said on his behalf: “Those entrenched views which Mr Metcalfe made known were back in 2019, and some time has passed since then. Mr Metcalfe’s involvement is markedly different to those who threw missiles towards officers and those who caused damage to property.

“He accepts that, at some stages, he was at the front of a large crowd and was very much involved in the unrest that followed. He is extremely embarrassed by his behaviour and wishes to apologise to the court and the police.

“He concedes that his anger and frustration consumed him. He was swept up in the brutal murder that occurred close to home. He accepts that his behaviour was a shameful and disrespectful response, and accepts that his behaviour was deplorable.

“It is noteworthy that there was a large gap of offending between 2005 and 2015, demonstrating that Mr Metcalfe is capable of being a productive member of society. There is clearly another side to this man. His last conviction dates back to 2021, demonstrating a lengthy period of stability in his life.

“He has three children and a step son. He is mortified that his children may learn about his involvement and is heartbroken over any impact that will have on them.

“Mr Metcalfe is in poor physical health. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer six years ago, which impacted on his ability to work. He is in remission but still attends regular hospital appointments to keep that matter under review. Mr Metcalfe has previous battled depression and suicidal ideation.

“He had a business in the window cleaning industry, however, when diagnosed with bowel cancer, was unable to work for a number of years. However, prior to his arrest, he had been working again.

“His family know there is another side to the defendant who is kind, caring and compassionate when free from alcohol use and who needs help. He is ashamed that he has let his parents down.”

Hill has a total of 71 previous convictions for 120 offences including affray, actual bodily harm, burglary and escaping from lawful custody. He was handed a 12-month conditional discharge for theft on July 18 this year after entering a Shell garage on Longmoor Lane in Fazakerley and placing £83.10 of food items into his jacket before leaving without paying.

John Weate, defending, told the court: “From a young age, this is a defendant who has been ravaged by the misuse of class A substances. That is obvious when one looks at his previous convictions.

“He is the father of two young children. He is a defendant who, prior to his arrest, was homeless. He has been homeless for a period in excess of 12 months, since he was released from his last custodial sentence.

“He does have some good qualities. He has a sister who worked for the National Deaf Children’s Society. The defendant taught himself sign language. He assisted young children with learning sign language. That is something he hopes to continue with, as far as the future is concerned.

“Staff at the prison know him well. He has been trusted in the past to hold down jobs within the prison. He has already secured a job as a cleaner and has been put in touch with a drug related agency. Whatever the sentence is today, he is hoping to use this period of time constructively with the hope that, when he is released on licence, assistance can be given for him to get secure accommodation, remain drug free and build up something that will provide for himself and his children so far as his later life is concerned.

“The fact that he was homeless has some bearing. He did not have a full knowledge of everything that was going on at the time. When these incidents did break out, his involvement was something which he effectively was swept along with. He has asked me to tell the court that he is appalled that he involved himself in this activity at a time when the people of Southport were mourning the loss of the three children.”

All three defendants admitted violent disorder. Prescott gave a thumbs up to the public gallery as he was led down to the cells after receiving 28 months in prison.

Metcalfe nodded as he was handed 40 months, then muttered an inaudible comment to his co-defendant. His dad told him “see you Gareth, love you” as he was escorted out of the courtroom, while his mum added: “It’s over.”

Hill was locked up for two years. He then asked “how long did I get?” before adding “thank you” after being informed by a security guard.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “On Monday the 29th of July, the peace in Southport was shattered when three young girls were stabbed and killed at a dance class. In the same incident, several other children and adults were seriously injured.

“In the aftermath of those terrible events, the local community came together to grieve and show their support for all of those affected by that tragedy. The respectful vigil that took place the following evening demonstrated all that is good about the vast majority of the inhabitants of Merseyside.

“At the same time, a small minority from Merseyside and beyond – fuelled by misinformation and racial or religious hatred – were intent on causing mayhem. In participating in the events that followed, they were not exercising their right to freedom of speech or to lawful non-violent protest.

“Rather, they were exploiting the anguish of others either to further their own warped ideology or simply as an excuse for vandalism, intimidation and violence. They are criminals, and they do not represent all the decent people who were appalled by their behaviour and left to clean up their mess.

“The disorder that began in Southport spread over the following days to other parts of Merseyside and to other cities in the UK. As a result, many communities throughout the country were forced to live in fear of further outbreaks of violent unrest.

“None of what has happened recently can properly be described as mindless behaviour. Everyone involved acted deliberately and knew exactly what they were doing, and so must accept responsibility for the impact of their conduct – not only on their own community, but also across the nation.”

The judge described Metcalfe as being “at the forefront of the disorder” in Southport, having “adopted a fighting stance”, adding: “This was clearly racially or religiously motivated disorder, targeting primarily the Muslim community but also the police officers. who were doing their best to protect them and their property This particular incident was made all the more serious because it took place soon after and in the same area as the tragic events of the previous day. I have no doubt that your actions added to the distress already felt by the local community.

“You have an appalling criminal record. You have demonstrated an established pattern of racially motivated behaviour and an entrenched racist attitude towards Muslims. Although you say you would never act on those views, that is exactly what you did.

“You have indicated that you are embarrassed by your conduct and apologise for it. Given your deeply held racist views, I approach that with some scepticism.”

Judge Flewitt told Prescott: “You claim to have become involved because you were drunk. That is no excuse and it is certainly no comfort to those who were affected by your actions. I take into account your previous good character and the other mitigation advanced, including your remorse and the ill health of your father.”

To Hill, the judge added: “I accept that your involvement was short lived and amounted to a single incident, after which you withdrew. You have an extensive criminal record. I recognise that you have a history of drug addiction and, more recently, homelessness and that you intend to make constructive use of your time in custody.”

Liverpool Echo

Balaclava-clad thug who turned up at Bolton protest armed with hammer made ‘very bad stupid mistake’

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August 13, 2024
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Mathew Edge, 34, has been jailed for a year

A balaclava-clad thug who was armed with a hammer before violence erupted in Bolton said he’d made a ‘very bad stupid mistake’.

Mathew Edge, 34, has been jailed for a year for being in possession of an offensive weapon following large scale disorder in the town, after the death of three girls in Southport. He is the first offender to be sentenced in a Greater Manchester crown court in connection with public disorder following the killings of the children.

Opposing groups goaded each other outside Bolton town hall on Sunday, August 4, with one set of protestors facing off a rival group of counter demonstrators. Bricks and other missiles were launched at police officers trying to keep rival factions apart.

Bolton was one of a number of areas with an ‘increased level of unrest and disorder in reaction to the tragic events in Southport’, Bolton Crown Court heard. At about 1pm that day, police became aware of a man wearing a balaclava who was part of the crowds outside the town hall, prosecutor Kate Gaskell said. An officer approached Edge and searched him.

He was found to be in possession of a ‘small hammer’ and some cannabis. Edge told the officer that he had the hammer because he was ‘scared of people stabbing him and his friends’.

“He repeatedly apologised saying it was his own fault and he had got agitated and scared,” Ms Gaskell said. “He further said he wasn’t a racist, his friend had told him to come down and he had made a very bad stupid mistake.” He had been in the pub earlier there he’d drank a pint of non-alcoholic Guinness, the court was told.

Edge, who has 18 convictions for 32 offences, was interviewed by police and claimed he had been given the hammer by a friend. Ms Gaskell said: “He denied being aware of what was going on in the town centre that day, thinking it was linked to the football.”

Edge, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and possessing cannabis. He was jailed for 12 months by Judge Martin Walsh, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton.

The judge said: “Bolton was one of five areas across Greater Manchester which experienced substantial levels of unrest and disorder which had broken out, in an utterly misguided and totally unjustified reaction to the tragic events that had unfolded in Southport some days before.”

He told Edge: “Your arrest occurred within the context of a significant incident of public disorder. Many individuals will have attended in order to engage in peaceful demonstration, but a significant number were intent upon seeking confrontation, using violence and causing large scale public disorder.

“Your presence within the large group that had congregated in the vicinity of the town hall was not accidental or coincidental. You had arrived in Bolton town centre having armed yourself with an offensive weapon, and having consciously made a decision to mask your identity.

“Although prior to being searched you had not produced the weapon, it is clear that at the very least you anticipated an outbreak of public disorder in which weapons might be used.”

Defending, Alex Beevers said Edge accepted having made a ‘conscious decision to embroil himself in what would inevitably second into hooliganism’. “If an example is to be made of him, so be it, he accepts that,” the barrister added.

MEN

Judge savagely puts Plymouth rioter in his place

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August 13, 2024
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“let’s see what you’ve cost the country”

Two more men who took part in the violent disorder in Plymouth city centre last week have all been jailed with the sentencing Judge rounding on one of them claiming they were in no position to determine “who should or should not be in this country” having cost the public purse over the years.

John Cann, aged 51 of Patna Place, Plymouth and Ryan Bailey, aged 41 of no fixed abode, Plymouth, both pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday and appeared at Plymouth Crown Court this morning where they heard their fate.

Cann and Bailey were first to appear to be sentenced and prosecutor Lewis Aldous noted how Cann had been seen on police video footage on his mobility bike on the north side of Royal Parade, first bending down and picking up an item and throwing it at the counter-protestors. He was then shown later picking up firework and hurling it just before it went off.

He told police during his interview following his arrest that he went into the city with a friend to view the protest, thinking it would “kick off because an immigrant had killed some girls”.

He insisted he held no animosity towards police and that his own nephew was an officer. He confirmed he was on medication, but had also been smoking cannabis. He told police he was not a racist and that he did light the firework with a cigarette he was smoking.

The court was told he had 26 convictions for 170 offences.

Mr Aldous said Bailey had been caught on camera picking up a can and throwing it with the contents spilling out and was heard shouting along with the chants of “refugees not welcome here”. During police interview he initially denied the offence, but later admitted hurling the can, saying that somebody had thrown it at him first.

The court heard Bailey had 24 convictions for 39 offences, including a public order offence and in 2020 was sentenced for two years for a robbery. He also had previous for drugs offences and being drunk and disorderly in 2018.

In mitigation, Bailey and Cann’s advocate Feleens Grosvenor said Cann had a history of “largely non-violent” offences. He insisted he had no alignment with the far right, did not hide his face and was “disgusted with himself” was sorry and had written a letter to police to apologise. He claimed he was injured while having a “peaceful discussion” with an officer and police helped him up when he fell and hit his head.

She noted that he had diagnoses for PTSD and anxiety, suffered a deprived upbringing, was placed in care since the age of six years old and in 1992 fell 95 feet and severely damaged his leg, resulting in him being in a coma for a short while, and the requirement of a prosthetic leg since 2010. She noted he was also a heroin user but had been clean for three-and-a-half years.

Ms Grosvenor said Bailey had apologised for his actions and was ashamed. She said he claimed to not previously been aware of the protests, did not have a long history of violence and had not offended since 2020. On the night he claimed to have been hit by the can and made a “spontaneous decision” to throw it back. She said Bailey had shown genuine remorse, suffered anxiety and depression and was taking medication for both. In addition he had been homeless for a year and was currently being house in a hostel, but would lose the place there if jailed.

Judge Robert Linford reiterated his statements from previous sentencings for the violent disorder, noting the huge disruption and anxiety it caused the city, resulting in the closure of pubs, clubs, shops, a medical centre and the theatre and the costs to the public transports services, health services and emergency services.

Again he said he emphasised that “the word is going to go out from this court that people who behave in this way are going to go to prison and going to go for some considerable time”.

He told Cann he deliberately lit and threw the firework which was an “extremely dangerous thing to do” and he could have hit anyone which would have meant him facing “far more serious charges than these.”

To Bailey he said he was “in the midst of the disorder, chanting along moronically with the other members of this mob”.

He told Cann that during police interview he “spouted the dangerously inaccurate nonsense that was behind these incidents of disorder countrywide” pointing out that he told police during his interview that the protests were about “an immigrant that had killed girls”.

Judge Linford noted that the judge in Liverpool who dealt with the alleged perpetrator of the attacks “took the unusual step of naming him in an attempt to show people that the person in question was not an immigrant – but they [other rioters] and you didn’t really care about that. It was just an excuse to go out and have a go at people with whose views you disagree.”

Judge Robert Linford then rounded on Cann telling him that according to his police interview he discussed with them “about the better use of taxpayers’ money and why people were having to pay to keep these people in this country after committing such heinous crimes.”

Judge Linford then launched a stinging rebuke to Cann saying: “So let’s look at how the taxpayer have been funding your activities over the last 38 years – let’s see what you’ve cost the country: you’ve got 10 aliases, four fictitious birth dates, you’re 51 years of age, you’ve been convicted of 170 offences, you been convicted of theft, arson, taking cars, handling stolen goods, obtaining by deception, burglary, dangerous driving and possessing bladed articles. In all over the years that you’ve been visiting the criminal justice system you’ve received sentences totalling 357 months in prison, many of them concurrent.

“In other words, nearly 30 years. That Mr Cann is what you’ve been costing this country and you sit there in that interview and saw fit to be critical of others. You have no right whatever to say who should or should not be in this country.”

To Bailey, Judge Linford said he had 29 convictions for 39 offences, including theft, criminal damage, possession of drugs, supply of class A drugs, threatening behaviour, breach of a Domestic Violence Protection Order and robbery “and you were chanting with therest of that rabble about immigration”

“You two were in no position to judge anybody”.

Judge Linford accepted the pair had pleaded guilty at the earlier opportunity and handed Cann a three year jail sentence and Bailey a 30 month jail sentence. He said they would serve half before being released on licence.

Plymouth Herald

‘Steaming drunk’ man caught up in Plymouth violence

By
August 13, 2024
Uncategorized

He has landed himself in jail

A judge questioned the case against a protestor who pleaded guilty to violent disorder after watching a number of videos supplied by the prosecution.

Gary Harkness, aged 51 of North Road West, Plymouth had previously pleaded guilty at Plymouth Magistrates’ court to the charge of violent disorder on August 5 in Plymouth city centre, accepting his role in the large scale disorder.

He was remanded into custody and appeared along with three other men before Judge Robert Linford who heard from prosecutor Lewis Aldous who said Harkness was prolific throughout the evening and on numerous occasions was captured on CCTV or BodyWornVideo cameras ‘front and centre’ as police attempted to push crowds back. He was abusive towards officers and made a “nuisance of himself”.

He was alleged to have pushed back at a dog handler causing the dog to go towards him.

However, after showing two videos in evidence Mr Aldous was interrupted by Judge Linford who accepted Harkness was clearly present and in the front row but went on to query the charge itself.

He said people were entitled to protests and throw their arms around, “but as long as they’re not using threatening behaviour it’s not an offence, is it?”

Prosecutor Lewis Aldous went on to show a third video showing Harkness near the Minster Church being pushed back by a dog handler and putting his hand up towards the officer.

Judge Linford then called for a halt to proceedings, cleared the court and went into chambers to carry out discussions with the prosecution.

After around half an hour the court returned and a third video was shown whereupon Harkness’s advocate Zoe Kuyken said her client accepted he made the comments “f*** off, come on”, had pushed at a riot shield, and waved his arms about but while he accepted was a threat of unlawful violence but did not accept was that he was physically violent on any occasions and thus this was his basis of plea.

Mr Aldous explained that Harkness had been at work and was walking home and did not know about the protest. He admitted he had been drinking a lot and could not remember much about the incident but had seen the news, claiming he thought it would be a vocal but not violent incident.

The court heard that between him and a friend they had drunk “17 or 18 cans” of alcohol and “three quarters of a bottle of tequila between them”. The court was told Harkness admitted to being a “binge drinker” and was “steaming drunk and absolutely annihilated and didn’t really know what he was doing”.

He claimed he saw the placards, but had no political allegiance himself, was “not a racist”, was ex-military and suffered from PTSD. The court was told he had nine convictions for 14 offences including a 2018 conviction for possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a controlled drug.

Ms Kuyken said Harkness had gone to help a man on the floor when he was pushed by police and pushed back at the shield. He denied taking part in a “violent altercation” but accepted he did make the comments accused of him. He still struggled with drink, suffered PTSD from his time in the army where he particularly worked with dogs and worked helping a friend’s waste management role, which he had now lost due to photographs of him at the disorder appearing in the media. His fiancé was at the back of the court and Ms Kuyken said Harkness regularly helped his elderly mother but this was no longer going to be possible.

Judge Linford said he accepted Harkness’s explanation that he did not align himself with either faction but became involved and the consequence was he pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He said the plea accepted that he threatened unlawful violence. He said he had watched the CCTV and the case was opened as if he was “a prolific” but while he agreed Harkness was “prolifically vocal” he was unable to hear threats and as such he could not be satisfied that he was issuing racist threats.

He said that of the people he had sentenced so far “you are the person that provides me with the most difficulty because it cannot be levelled that you hit anyone, neither have you thrown anything, neither is it said that you spat at anybody”, but Harkness accepted he was party to the disorder and that “anybody party to this disorder has to receive a custodial sentence”.

As such, noting the mitigating and aggravating factors – including his PTSD “as a result for service to this country” and that he was “one of the least involved that I have had to sentence” – Judge Linford handed Harkness a jail sentence of 12 months of which he would serve half before being released.

As he was led away Harkness said: “I apologise for my outburst, sorry again your honour”.

Plymouth Herald

Man who called for hotel attack jailed

By
August 13, 2024
Uncategorized

A man who called for a hotel to be set on fire has been jailed for stirring up racial hatred.

John England’s Facebook posts included one saying a Nottinghamshire hotel should be targeted by what he called “great English men” who had set a hotel in Rotherham alight.

When arrested on Sunday and interviewed by Nottinghamshire Police about his posts over a nine-day period from 30 July to 7 August, England, of Big Barn Lane in Mansfield, told officers he had “a dark sense of humour”.

At Nottingham Magistrates’ Court, the 45-year-old was jailed for one year and eight months after pleading guilty to publishing and distributing written material to stir up racial hatred.

Judge Nirmal Shant KC told England: “Plainly there was an intention to incite severe violence that would threaten or endanger life.

“In the light of what was going on in the country at the time, your post added to the situation. Therefore you must face immediate custody.”

BBC News