A 22-year-old who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window and made an offensive statement to a police officer has been sentenced to 26 months in prison.
Thomas Rogers pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon after he was seen throwing bricks at police in Middlesbrough on 4 August.
In mitigation, the court heard Rogers was a “complex and vulnerable young man”.
A haulage business owner has been jailed for two years and eight months after he was pictured in a national newspaper brandishing a piece of wood during rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.
Ricky Hardman was arrested after a photo of him near the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on Sunday, August 4, 2024 was published by the Daily Telegraph, a judge was told on Monday.
Video was also played to Sheffield Crown Court showing that the 41-year-old defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the hotel.
Hardman could be seen kicking out at the police van, which was being prevented from moving by people lying in front of it.
He could then be seen as part of a group of about six men who violently rocked the vehicle before it managed to drive away.
The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told Hardman the “major civil disorder” was “perpetrated by an ignorant mob of which you were a part”.
He went on: “The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.
“There’s no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.”
The judge said he could not be sure that Hardman threw the piece of wood he was brandishing at the police but thought he “almost certainly” did.
He said he was at the front of a mob attacking and threatening police, who were “shamefully waving the Union flag”.
The judge said the police officers who protected the hotel against the rioters are “deserving of the highest praise”.
He said: “It must be made clear that those participating in this form of violent disorder will be punished severely by the courts.
“It is the duty of the court to do what it can to protect the public.”
Judge Richardson said the maximum sentence for violent disorder is five years in prison and he had to bear in mind, when setting Hardman’s sentence, that he will be dealing with defendants with even more serious involvement in the Rotherham disorder in coming weeks.
He said it is a matter for Parliament whether this maximum needs to be revisited in light of recent events.
The judge was told about a series of defendants due to appear before him in relation to the Rotherham disorder in coming days and how the efficiency with which these cases is being dealt is leading to knock-on inefficiencies in relation to other prosecutions.
He agreed, but said: “Major civil disorder of this kind has to be prioritised.”
Richard Davies, defending, told the judge his client is “ashamed of himself and the impact that it’s going to have on his family”.
He said Hardman did not go to the hotel to get involved with violence but got “carried away”.
Mr Davies said his client agrees that he has “only got himself to blame”.
Hardman, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder last week.
He sat in the dock with one security guard, wearing a black T-shirt and green trousers, and with his family watching from the public gallery.
Cole Stewart threw multiple objects at officers who had been deployed to violent disorder in Darlington on Monday, August 5.
A teenager who was caught on CCTV throwing bricks at police officers has been jailed for 18 months.
Cole Stewart threw multiple objects at officers who had been deployed to violent disorder in Darlington on Monday, August 5. The 18-year-old was then seen “celebrating” after throwing the bricks and other objects near North Lodge Park, with one of them hitting an officer.
He was arrested at the scene and charged with violent disorder, and today, he admitted the offence and was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders’ institute at Teesside Crown Court. Enquiries into the disorder remain ongoing, and officers expect to make further arrests in the coming days and weeks.
Durham Constabulary’s Chief Constable, Rachel Bacon, said: “The level of hatred displayed by those threatening violence to both the local community and my officers was of an unprecedented level. Many of our officers are very young in service and while carrying out their duties of protecting the public, were ferociously attacked with missiles, including bricks, rubble, and glass bottles.
“Some missiles made contact with our officers. However, fortunately no long-term injuries were sustained. We are yet to understand the longer-term psychological effects of this traumatic experience upon officers’ health and wellbeing.
“Neighbourhood officers report that the local community is still traumatised by the events of Monday night, with businesses concerned about potential damage to their premises as well as the safety of their families. As we have previously said, we will not tolerate criminality and violent disorder in our communities.
“I reiterate to anybody who commits these types of acts, we will tirelessly look for you and deal with you robustly. Our investigation into Monday’s disorder remains ongoing, and we will strive for justice on behalf of our communities – they do not deserve to be intimidated by this behaviour.”
If anyone has further information that could assist police enquiries, contact Durham Constabulary on 101, or use the live chat function on the website. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the Crimestoppers website.
Harvey Gabbott admitted violent disorder in connection with the rioting in Southport on July 30
A man who admitted his role in the Southport riots told a court: “I have no hatred towards police or any other race.” Harvey Gabbott, 21 and of Hillside in Tarleton, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning, Monday, August 12 charged with violent disorder as part of a widespread police operation into recent riots across Merseyside.
Gabbott, wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit and sporting blonde hair, admitted his role in the rioting on St Luke’s Road in Southport on July 30. The rioting, which saw officers pelted with bricks, vehicles set on fire and a mosque damaged, came after a peaceful vigil in Southport in memory of three young girls who died the previous day following a mass stabbing.
After Gabbott, a dad-of-one, admitted his role he asked the sitting judge if he could say two things. After District Judge Healey confirmed he could, Gabbott said: “Can I just say I have no hatred towards police or any other races. I’m nothing like that.”
Jessica Pridding, prosecuting, told the court the defendant was identified as part of Merseyside Police’s Operation Pepper Berry – the force’s probe into the recent acts of disorder in Southport, Liverpool city centre and Walton. She said: “There is a series of footage from the widespread disorder in Southport.
The defendant is seen wearing a long sleeve top and a bodywarmer. He is seen throwing a pint of beer-coloured liquid in the direction of police officers. He handed himself in and accepted he threw a plastic cup towards officers. He said he was nosey and didn’t expect it to get out of hand.”
In mitigation, Ibrahim Nadim, defending, said: “The defendant accepts it was beer in the glass. He had no intention of going but saw what was happening on social media. He said it was a stupid thing to do. He is a roofer who has been in full time employment for five years.
“He has no previous convictions. He has a child of six months. He bitterly regrets doing it, he doesn’t know why he did it. It was a spur of the moment decision.” Judge Healey refused the defendant bail and remanded him into custody to appear for sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, August 16.
Gabbott is among 30 people who have been charged in relation with the disorder across Merseyside. Eight men have been convicted for their roles with a number of others to appear for sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court later this week.
Violent clashes between police and protesters occurred on Tuesday July 30 in Southport and Saturday August 3 in Liverpool following the deaths of Elsie Dot Stancome, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine during a mass stabbing in Southport.
Merseyside Police have so far charged 30 people in connection with the recent disorder in Southport and Liverpool. The latest number of people arrested stands at 52 and eight people have, as of August 12, been jailed.
Previously Detective Chief Inspector Tony Roberts said the violence that had been caused by the riots was “despicable”. He added: “Each and every person who took part can expect to face the consequences of their actions. We are still working through hours of footage and reams of images as it comes in and we’ll continue to arrest, charge and put before the courts anyone identified.
“The courts have acted swiftly to jail those people who being violence, racism and hatred into our communities and that will continue into next week. To anyone intent on bringing violence and disorder to Merseyside in the future: don’t. You will join the ever growing list of people convicted and jailed for bringing violent disorder to our streets. If you recognise any of the people pictured, contact us @MerpolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, with reference 24000663787.”
A man who made social media posts encouraging violent protests in the city has been put behind bars.
Joseph Clark, 45, called for riots on the streets of Brighton during the planned anti-immigration protests this week.
But instead, he received a knock on the door from specialist police officers trawling the internet for information on the demonstration – and is now spending the next 14 weeks in prison.
Sussex Police’s assistant chief constable Paul Court said people who send threatening messages on the internet “cannot hide behind their keyboards” and will face the full force of the law.
Officers were first made aware of his post – the contents of which have not been revealed – on Tuesday around 24 hours before protesters were set to descend on an immigration lawyer’s office in Queen’s Road.
They arrested two men, Clark and another man aged 42, who was later released.
Clark was charged with sending an offensive message on a public communication network.
He was found guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court today and sentenced to 14 weeks in prison, ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Court added: “This custodial sentence should send a clear message to anyone involved in disorder – either online or on the streets – that they will swiftly face the full force of the law.
“The recent unrest seen across the country has been fuelled by threatening, abusive online messages. Those messages have real world consequences, and those who send them cannot hide behind their keyboards.
“Our preparations are ongoing into reports of planned events across Sussex and we will continue to engage with our communities and provide a visible, reassuring presence.
“Please report any concerns to Sussex Police online or via 101, quoting Operation Skylark.”
Gareth Waite shared ‘ethnic cleansing operations’ documents and ‘CIA explosives for sabotage’ manual
A neo-nazi from Wales who bragged that his hometown was “97% white” has been jailed. Gareth Waite from Cardigan was sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison following a three-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court.
During his trial the Mirror reported how 47-year-old Waite uploaded several “strategy” documents relating to a proscribed far-right terrorist organisation National Action. The terrorist publications included The Anarchist Handbook, How to Start and Train a Militia Unit, CIA explosives for sabotage manual, and 100 deadly skills.
Officers began investigating Waite after he boasted about the number of white people in his hometown of Cardigan. He had also uploaded an ethnic cleansing operation document, as well as two National Action strategy documents and Adolf Hitler’s autobiography Mein Kampf.
When he appeared in court earlier this year, the Mirror reported that prosecutor Maryam Syed KC said: “In August 2019 somebody with the username 8bit uploaded to the world future mx website the following documents. National Action is a far right neo-Nazi organisation and is based in the UK.
“It was founded in 2013 and the group is secretive and has rules to prevent members from talking about it openly. It has been a proscribed banned organisation in the UK since the terrorism act of 2000 made it so on December 16 2016.
“Enquiries were then carried out to identify who this individual was… He was also identified because he used a Pepe the Frog meme with a pink bra over the eyes as a profile picture on several of his anonymous online accounts. 8bit also had accounts on something called Keybase and world truth mx social. World truth mx media – it’s a social media site and it’s a free speech site and it is populated predominantly with right wing content. These are social media platforms. When the police checked the accounts the username ‘8bitkek’ stated in its biography: National Socialist Wales.”
Following an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing Wales, Waite was found guilty by jury of four offences of disseminating a terrorist publication, and two offences of possession of material of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. He had also previously pleaded guilty to one offence of support of a proscribed organisation, namely National Action.
Detective chief inspector Leanne Williams, head of investigations at Counter Terrorism Policing Wales (CTP Wales), said: “We welcome the sentence handed down by the court today. This concludes what was a detailed, thorough, and complex investigation over many months by officers from CTP Wales, assisted by colleagues in Dyfed Powys Police.”
A man who yelled homophobic abuse at police during a protest has become the first person in Kent to be jailed following a spate of protests and disorder, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
Daniel Baldock, 37, of Ordnance Street, Chatham, was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress, following a protest in the town.
He pleaded guilty at Margate Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison.
Chief Crown Prosecutor Kris Venkatasami from CPS South East said: “The substantial sentence handed out today shows how seriously the criminal justice system is taking all crimes related to disorder.”
The CPS said at Wednesday’s rally Baldock was asked by police to disperse, but he resisted those requests before yelling homophobic abuse at officers on “several” occasions.
The defence claimed he was not aware there would be protests in the area.
However, the court said he knew “damn well” they were happening, and even if he did not plan on being part of them, he still attended.
Mr Venkatasami said: “Anyone involved in such activity needs to understand that there are consequences to their behaviour.
“The CPS will continue to work with the police and courts to bring those involved to justice.”
Separately, a man arrested in Chatham on suspicion of shouting racial abuse and another arrested in Dover on suspicion of assault and criminal damage have both been released on bail pending further enquiries, Kent Police said.
Guy Sullivan was already jailed this week for burglary of Tesco Metro store during disorder
A man who has already been jailed for burgling a Tesco store in plympton Plymouth city centre under the cover of the violent disorder on Monday evening has now admitted taking part in that disorder.
Guy Sullivan, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to the burglary which Judge Robert Linford said was “an offence committed in the context of public disorder”.
He was handed a 16 month jail sentence but had already been recalled prison as he had been released on licence having been jailed in September 2023 for “multiple offences”. His expected released date was June 2025.
Sullivan, of New George Street, used a brick taken from nearby to smash his way in through the door, then kicked a hole big enough to climb through. CCTV footage from several angles captured the entire incident, including Sullivan grabbing a basket and filling it with 12 bottles of alcohol – two at a time – with a value of £281.
On Thursday prosecutor Lewis Aldous told the court that 43-year-old Sullivan had had 35 convictions for 107 offences – 60 of which were for theft and similar offences such as burglary and shoplifting.
Judge Linford told Sullivan, who admitted the burglary at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court: “It was an offence committed in the context of public disorder.
“It doesn’t mean you were engaged in public disorder – it means it happened in that context.”
He said Sullivan effectively “exploited” the ongoing disorder to burgle the store and questioned his commitment to drink-related rehabilitation by stealing 12 bottles of alcohol.
PlymouthLive has learned that after being taken down to the Crown Court cells police arrested him on suspicion of violent disorder, theft from a person – namely a baton from a police officer – and possession of an offensive weapon – the police baton.
Today [Friday August 9] Sullivan, appeared at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to all three offences.
He was remanded into custody and will appear at Plymouth Crown Court on Monday 12 August to be sentenced.
Justin Crimp – previously convicted of manslaughter – admitted violent disorder and criminal damage after store CCTV and police Body Worn Video footage was shown to him
A man who smashed the glass door of a city centre store – causing between £5,000 and £10,000 damage – following the Plymouth disorder on Monday has been jailed.
Justin Crimp, of Palace Street, Plymouth appeared at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to violent disorder and criminal damage on August 5.
Appearing in custody at Plymouth Crown Court this afternoon Crimp, aged 49, listened in the dock as prosecutor Holly Rust summarised the outbreak of protests across the country following the killing of three girls in Southport. She explained how two groups of protesters were on either side of the Royal Parade, describing them as the “far right group” on one side and “the counter protest” on the other.
She said Crimp was “on the very front line of the far right side just across from the Guildhall” and was seen on footage attempting to cross the police line which separated the two groups.
She said he was seen stepping into traffic and was repeatedly stopped and pushed back to the group on the north side. She said during these incidents he pointed “aggressively”, saying “don’t f***ing touch me” and would square up to them.
She said he was seen to jog on the spot as though attempting to charge the officers and towards the counter-protestors. He was seen cheering when objects – including a flare – were thrown at the counter-protesters and heard shouting “Green Army”.
Ms Rust said Crimp was able to break through police lines “on several occasions” and they had to grab him to push him back to his side.
Police BodyWornVideo (BWV) footage was shown in court highlighting the behaviour of Crimp during the protests. In addition the court was shown CCTV from inside the TK Maxx store on Royal Parade which showed Crimp hurling a brick at the glass front door. It bounced off and he picked it up again, throwing it a second time, whereupon it shattered.
The court was told that store staff recognised Crimp, having dealt with him for shoplifting as recently as August 1 this year. Ms Rust said the estimated cost of replacing the shattered door was “between £5,000 and £10,000”.
Crimp was arrested at his home on August 7 and claimed during a police interview that the reason he was trying to cross the road was because “he left his trainers on the other side of the road and was trying to get back to them”.
He then answered “no comment” to further questions and left the interview room. Police attempted to interview him in his cell at Charles Cross police station, but he ignored them and covered himself with a blanket.
Ms Rust read out a statement from a senior manager at South Western Ambulance Service Trust who explained how a large number of additional resources had to be deployed ahead of the protest and during it, which resulted in significant costs “well into the thousands of pounds”.
The Trust manager explained that it was already at “resources escalation action plan red” which meant it was already under severe pressure – currently the second highest level it could be at – and the protests caused even more pressure upon it, resulting in a “significant impact” on its ability to serve the wider public.
Ms Rust said Crimp had 22 convictions for 53 offences, including public order, affray, violence and in April this year twice breached a Domestic Violence Prevention Order resulting in a prison sentence of 28 days. He was also convicted of possession of a blade in public in 2021.
In mitigation his advocate Michael Green said his client had suffered from PTSD from the 1990s and has since been diagnosed with COPD and long standing epilepsy.
He said Crimp had a “long standing” problem with alcohol. He said Crimp had been drinking in the city centre and became involved the protest afterwards. He accepted he was on the frontline on that day. He also noted that he had been out of prison for “many years” save for the 28 day sentence and had not been in custody since 2019.
Sentencing Crimp, Judge Robert Linford said there was widespread public disorder with some coming to Plymouth to engage in peaceful protests and counter-protest, adding “you were not one of those”.
He said the police acted “with considerable and commendable restraint” in dealing with those intent on causing trouble. He said the shops, pubs, clubs and theatre in Plymouth all closed and the transport system was disrupted. He added that impact statements from the bus company highlighted the effect the disorder had on it and police reported general anxiety amongst the public even before the protest began.
Judge Linford said a medical centre was unable to provide cover as staff could not get to work and the ambulance service revealed how this “mob” caused them to suffer “thousands of pounds they could ill afford” by having to deploy additional resources.
He noted how people like Crimp descended on the city and “ran amok” with fireworks, missiles and other objects were thrown with the intent of damaging property and harming other people, including the police, “whose views differed from your own.
He said: “As I said yesterday and will say over and over again – the word is going to go out from this Crown court that people who behave in this way in this city are going to prison and going to prison for a long time.
“You played a role in this disorder. You did so willingly as I’ve seen on the CCTV and enthusiastically. The expression I used yesterday [during other sentencings] and repeat is you added oxygen to the fire of disorder.”
He added that Crimp’s role was as involved in the disorder as any he had already sentenced and while he was not a leader he was “heavily involved”.
Judge Linford noted that Crimp had “an enormous list of previous convictions including convictions for manslaughter, robbery, affray, possession of bladed articles, burglary, drugs offences, damaging people’s property, stealing and so forth”.
While noting that he had been out of prison for five years, Judge Linford said Crimp had not been out of trouble in that time. He said Crimp’s being under the influence of alcohol at the time was not a mitigating feature, it was an aggravating feature. The only “impressive” mitigation was his early guilty plea.
He passed a sentence of 32 months for the violent disorder and four months for the criminal damage to run concurrently.
In 2019 Crimp was jailed for 12 months after he used a plank of wood to break into a fudge shop in Southside Street, Barbican. Appearing at Plymouth Crown Court, it was said he had burgled a home hours before and confronted a dad while holding a rock.
The quick-thinking father managed to photograph the intruder on his mobile phone – and he was recognised by police. Crimp told police could barely recall the break-ins because he had taken Valium, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
Victoria Cook, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the South West, said: “Justin Crimp acted disgracefully during the collective disorder in Plymouth on Monday. By involving himself in the unrest and causing destruction to a high street store, he has shown an utter disregard for his community.
“Hundreds of prosecutors have been working around the clock across the Crown Prosecution Service, making rapid charging decisions so that suspects can be brought before the courts without delay.
“The appalling scenes we saw in Plymouth this week will not be tolerated. I hope these convictions send a clear message: those who engage in criminality in our communities will not escape justice.”
A police officer was surrounded and repeatedly assaulted as he tried to arrest Charlie Bullock
A balaclava-clad rioter who resisted arrest told a court he hadn’t taken his ADHD medication on the day of the Middlesbrough riot.
Charlie Bullock, 21, threw rocks at a line of police who were standing in the midst of the crowd, to prevent people from moving into a residential street. Bullock was part of a huge crowd who gathered near the cenotaph on Linthorpe Road on August 4. Bullock was not caught on camera, but a police officer saw him wearing a black balaclava, as he attacked cops who held up shields to protect themselves.
Teesside Crown Court heard the demonstration began peacefully, but chants of “take our country back” began, as some of the crowd broke away and tried to push past the police line, to get into Clarendon Road.
Nicola Masters, prosecuting, told the court: “The protest became violent. Missiles were thrown. Vehicles were set on fire. Windows were smashed.”
As PC Lake tried to arrest Bullock, Bullock “kicked out” at him. The officer took Bullock to the ground to handcuff him, but people began to surround PC Lake. The officer was assaulted a number of times, before police back-up arrived and Bullock was taken into custody.
Bullock, of Donington Green, in the Netherfields area of Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He had never been in trouble with the police before.
In mitigation, Gary Wood told the court that his client “didn’t take his ADHD medication before the offending and as a consequence, found himself involved in the activity”.
He added: “A report by the probation service has found that when Bullock is not on his medication he has ‘poor impulse control and can be angry and irritated’.”
Mr Wood said that this is Bullock’s first time in court and he is “extremely frightened and anxious about his future” and “denies holding any racist views”.
Judge Francis Laird KC said that the “large scale public disorder in Middlesbrough caused damage to dwellings, to business premises, the local university and public buildings. Police officers were attacked with bricks, concrete and rocks. They had to protect themselves with riot shields.”
The judge said that the “cost to the community has been considerable. Residents have expressed fear of going out of their own homes into the street. The impact on people and their community will take a long time to repair.”
Bullock was jailed for 18 months.
Far-Right Criminals 