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Weybridge man jailed after threatening to chop man’s head off with meat cleaver

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February 13, 2017
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Kevin Gaffin, 41, stormed round to the victim’s home in a fit of rage suspecting he was to blame for him being banned from pubs in Weybridge

A feud between two members of a working men’s club ended with one of them threatening to chop the other man’s head off with a meat cleaver.

The simmering tension came to the boil after Kevin Gaffin, 41, suspected Scott Rowlatt was to blame for him being banned from pubs in the Weybridge area, a court heard on Thursday.

The defendant, who was carrying a meat cleaver, stormed round to Mr Rowlatt’s home in Weybridge and caused £1,000 worth of damage to his van and vowed to decapitate him, Guildford Crown Court was told.

Gaffin, of St Mary’s Road in Weybridge, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to making a threat to kill, criminal damage and unlawfully having a bladed article in a public place.

The court was told there was bad feeling between the two men, who were both members of Oatlands Park Working Mens Club, Weybridge.

Nick Hall, prosecuting, said the defendant went to the house where Mr Rowlatt was living on September 16 last year.

“The defendant was intoxicated and was carrying a meat cleaver,” he said.

Mr Hall said Gaffin banged on the door which was answered by another man who tried to calm him down.

He said that the defendant shouted: “I’m going to chop his f*****g head off.”

Mr Hall said during the disturbance, Gaffin struck Mr Rowlatt’s van repeatedly causing an estimated £1,000 worth of damage.

“He blamed Mr Rowlatt for getting him banned from bars in Weybridge,” he said.

Police were called and the defendant was arrested.

The court heard Gaffin had previous convictions for threatening behaviour and being drunk and disorderly.

Keith Goodhand, defending, said his client had been drinking when the offences were committed.

“He’s under no illusions that it’s going to be custodial sentence this afternoon,” he said.

Mr Goodhand stressed Gaffin had only carried the meat cleaver and had never actually brandished it in any way.

“He had a burning sense of grievance at the time,” he said.

Passing sentence, Judge Jonathan Black advised Gaffin to take steps to control his drinking and his behaviour to avoid coming back to court in future.

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Forest Town man launched ‘brutal and sustained attack’ on ex before strangling her

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February 10, 2017
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A Forest Town man has been jailed for 14 years after police arrived at a house to find him strangling his ex-partner.

Joe Liffen was seen by an officer with his hands around the throat of the victim, who had lost consciousness, following a brutal and sustained attack, during which time he also punched the victim repeatedly.

Liffen, 26, of Cardle Close, jumped out of the bedroom window and fled after Nottinghamshire Police arrived at the scene at the victim’s home in Mansfield Woodhouse, in the early hours of November 15 2016.

Liffen admitted causing grievous bodily harm, breaching a restraining order and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice at a previous hearing. At Nottingham Crown Court today (Thursday 9 February) he was sentenced to 11 years for GBH, three years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, to run consecutively and one year for breaching a restraining order, to run concurrently.

His aunt, Samantha Bailey, 48, of Chapel Fields, Ravenshead, was also sentenced to 15 months in prison after admitting conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The court was told Liffen had previously received an 18-week jail sentence for assaulting the victim in March 2015 and a two-year restraining order, effective from his release, banning him from making contact with her. Despite the order he repeatedly made contact with her and tried to rekindle their relationship.

Liffen had a drink and drugs problem and was a “jealous” man, the court was told.

On the day of the latest assault, Liffen told the victim he was going to visit his ex-wife in Manchester. She then went for a night out with friends in Mansfield and was given a lift home by a male friend, who came into the house to use her downstairs toilet. When she went upstairs Liffen was waiting for her and put his hand over her mouth and told her not to speak, before throwing her on to the bed and repeatedly punching her in the face and head.

The 16st Liffen then sat on top of the 8st victim and started to strangle her.

Her friend heard the ordeal from downstairs and phoned the police, who arrived quickly and entered the house while the attack was still ongoing, before Liffen escaped.

The victim regained consciousness but started having seizures. She suffered bruising to her face and head, neck and throat and had a one-inch cut to the top of her left thigh.

Officers tracked down Liffen later that day and arrested him.

The court was told that while Liffen was remanded in custody in connection with the offence he sent numerous texts to the victim, trying to encourage her not to turn up to court to give evidence against him.

He also colluded with Bailey in an attempt to make her miss the court appearance.

The court was told Bailey paid for a hotel and beauty treatments in Nottingham for the victim on the day of the court appearance before sending a text saying “I’m making someone disappear.”

Speaking after the case, Temporary Detective Inspector Nikki Smith, of Nottinghamshire Police, who led the investigation, said: “This was a vicious, sustained attack on a vulnerable woman who had no chance of defending herself.

“She is lucky to be alive after the attack and, as the judge said, if it hadn’t been for the fast response of our officers this could have had an even more serious ending.

“Both Liffen and Bailey also put pressure on this vulnerable woman to miss her court date in an attempt to avoid justice being done.

“Domestic violence will not be tolerated in any form in Nottinghamshire and we would urge anyone who is a victim or a witness to domestic abuse to call us and we will do everything in our power to bring the perpetrators before the court.”

Mansfield Chad

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David Ashman, aged 66, the latest jailed for Dover riots on January 30 2016

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February 10, 2017
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One of the oldest known thugs in the Dover riots has been jailed.

David Ashman, 66, was given an eight-month sentence on Wednesday last week after being seen throwing two missiles.

Ashman had travelled all the way form his home of Wolverhampton Street in Walsall to the scene of two rival demonstrations in Dover on January 30 last year.

He was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court having pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder.

The court heard that while Ashman was in Dover CCTV captured him near a petrol station in Effingham Street, where a disturbance was taking place.

He was then seen in Folkestone Road throwing two missiles at a rival group and aggressively gesturing towards them.

Detective Inspector Bill Thornton, from Kent Police, said: “The disruption caused by protesters such as Ashman was significant and caused a huge amount of people to fear for their safety while they were trying to go about their daily business.

‘While we respect everybody’s rights to participate in peaceful protest, we cannot accept people using pre-planned demonstrations to cause violent disorder.

‘Our investigation to locate offenders responsible for the disturbances has been thorough and many wrongdoers, including Ashman, have found that they have been unable to evade justice – despite living outside of Kent Police’s area.”

A far right march had taken place in Dover that day, which was countered by anti-fascist protesters.

It led to full-scale rioting with bricks and other missiles being thrown from either end of Effingham Street.

Ashman is the latest in a long line of violent yobs that police have caught up with since.

Kent Online

MP death threat troll John Nimmo is jailed

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February 10, 2017
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An internet troll who made anti-Semitic death threats to a Labour MP and threatened to blow up a mosque has been jailed for 27 months.

John Nimmo, from South Shields, sent two emails to Luciana Berger, in which he said she would “get it like Jo Cox” and “watch your back Jewish scum”.

Emails to an anti-hate crime group also including threats to blow up a mosque.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 28-year-old had earlier admitted three charges relating to online threats.

One of Nimmo’s messages to Liverpool Labour MP Ms Berger included a picture of a large knife and came just three weeks after MP Jo Cox was killed, the court heard.

Nimmo was jailed in 2014 for eight weeks for sending abusive messages on Twitter to feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez and MP Stella Creasy.

Ms Criado-Perez had led a campaign using social media for a female figure to appear on a Bank of England note.

BBC News

Kayleigh Haywood: Man who tried to groom tragic teen days before her murder jailed.

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February 9, 2017
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A 20-year-old man who groomed tragic schoolgirl Kayleigh Haywood, a few days before she was raped and murdered by someone else, has been given a three year and seven month detention sentence.

Bruce Cordwell, 20, was aware Kayleigh was 15 years old when he sent her a series of sexual text messages, and two indecent pictures of himself, when trying to meet her via Facebook and WhatsApp.

Kayleigh’s mother, Stephanie Haywood, sat in the public gallery today at Leicester Crown Court to hear the facts of the case outlined by prosecutor, Lynsey Knott.

Cordwell, of no fixed address, admitted at an earlier hearing attempting to arrange a meeting with Kayleigh, with the intention of having sexual intercourse with her, not reasonably believing she was 16 or over, between November 10 and 13, 2015.

Kayleigh never actually met up with Cordwell and was murdered at the hands of another, Stephen Beadman, on November 15, 2015.

Cordwell, who has two bright red lipstick kisses tattooed on the right side of his neck, kept his head bowed low in the dock throughout the proceedings.

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Before sentencing, Judge Robert Brown told Mrs Haywood: “I’m told this case is completely unrelated to the events concerning the murder of your daughter.

“The prosecution have pointed that out from the outset, because there’s no connection between this man and the events leading the death by murder of your daughter and I must deal with the case on that basis.”

The judge told the defendant: “You knew that your victim, Kayleigh, was under 16 because that fact was established in the texts that went between you.

“You groomed her.

“Your intention was to meet her and to have sexual intercourse with her.

“You never actually met her and you hadn’t even agreed a date time or place of rendezvous.

“But this offending is child abuse and it calls for a custodial sentence and it must receive one.”

The judge told Cordwell it was “sad” to see someone of his age with 17 offences recorded against him including for drugs, violence, assaulting a police officer and possessing an offensive weapon – but he had no previous convictions for sexual matters.

He added: “I still take the view it’s a very serious matter.

“When children are abused they suffer all kinds of harm as the mother of this young lady knows only too well.”

Cordwell was placed on an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will have to enlist on a sex offender register for life.

Miss Knott said that Cordwell made several suggestions to meet, including asking to see Kayleigh, of Measham, “before school.”

The pair exchanged about 100 messages on November 10 with the defendant making repeated requests for Kayleigh to go on a webcam, which she refused, and claiming he was “fitter and better” than her boyfriend.

He also asked her if she had had sex before, which she denied.

The court heard that Cordwell, described as “a problematic young man” sent Kayleigh two indecent pictures of himself and a sexually explicit message which Miss Knott said left the court in “no doubt about what he intended.”

Eugine Hickey, mitigating, said: “One suspects this is the type of chat that is happening daily across the country between teenagers.

“In clear terms the back story is the murder of Kayleigh Haywood which has no part of this case.

“During the thorough investigation into her murder the police went through her social media records.

“He was 19 at the time and she was 15; of course there’s criminality and he’s pleaded guilty.

“It’s not the type of grooming that so often comes before the courts.”

He said the last message Cordwell sent was on November 16, when he realised she was missing, saying: “You need to get home now. Your parents are worried sick about you. You’re only 15.”

Mr Hickey said: “That message perhaps says something about his moral compass and that he was concerned about her.

“No time or date was set for their meeting and no actual rendezvous was agreed.”

Bruce Cordwell, 20, was aware Kayleigh was 15 years old when he sent her a series of sexual text messages.

Bruce Cordwell, 20, was aware Kayleigh was 15 years old when he sent her a series of sexual text messages.

Last July, Kayleigh’s killer, landscape gardener Stephen Beadman, who raped and murdered her after holding her prisoner, was given a life sentence to serve a minimum of 35 years.

Kayleigh’s body was found by a lake near Sence Valley Forest Park, Ibstock, on November 18, five days after she went missing from her home in Measham, Leicestershire – after being dropped off outside Ibstock Community College.

Beadman, of George Avenue, Ibstock, admitted murdering Kayleigh.

She was groomed on Facebook by Beadman’s neighbour, Luke Harlow, who lured her to his home.

Beadman, aged 29, and Harlow, 28, were both convicted by a jury of falsely imprisoning Kayleigh in the hours before she was killed on farmland in the early hours of November 15.

Harlow, who was jailed for 12 years, pleaded guilty to grooming Kayleigh and engaging in sexual activity with her.

An NSPCC spokesman said afterwards: “Kayleigh was a vulnerable girl targeted by online predators searching for victims to abuse.

“Her tragic story shows the serious dangers that young people face every time they log on. It is vital that parents talk to their children about what they are doing online and are aware of the risks.

“And in 2015, the NSPCC’s Flaw in the Law campaign prompted the Government to make it illegal for an adult to send a sexual communication to an under 16-year-old.

“But almost two years later, the Government has yet to trigger the law, already successfully used to catch abusers in Scotland. It is an unacceptable and baffling delay.”

Leicester Mercury

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Teenager stole cats from animal sanctuary to use as ‘live bait’ for his dogs to hunt and kill

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January 27, 2017
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Frank Lewis used the pets in his hunting game with his dogs

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A teenager stole cats from an animal sanctuary to use as “live bait” for his dogs to hunt down to kill.

Frank Lewis, 18, slit one of the cat’s legs to slow it down while he used the pets in his hunting game with his dogs.

A court heard the teenager broke into the purpose-built cat sanctuary late at night and stole a cage with ten cats which were being nursed back to health by volunteers.

Georgina Buckley, prosecuting, said: “Lewis essentially used the cats for sport. He used his dogs to hunt down and kill them.

“He caused lacerations to the cats himself to try and hinder their escape.”

Miss Buckley told Swansea Crown Court that three cats were found mauled to death in different spots near the sanctuary in Neath Port Talbot.

Four were found alive and returned but three others are still missing and presumed dead.

Ms Buckley added: “Post mortem gave the cause of death as the result of an attack and having been shaken viciously by an animal, like a dog.”

The court heard Lewis set up his sick game just two weeks after he was sentenced in a youth court for a gruesome attack on a sheep.

Lewis stole the sheep from a field and strung it up upside down to a tree, before cutting its head off with a machete. He then posed for photos next to its bloodied carcass and posting them on Facebook.

The police were alerted and Lewis, who is unemployed and on benefits, was given a referral order at Swansea Youth Court.

But he then went on to strike at the Ty Nant Cat Sanctuary at Port Talbot just days later with a 15-year-old accomplice.

Theresa Ahmed, owner of the sanctuary, read out a victim impact statement in court, where she called Lewis “pure evil and beings without a soul.”

Ms Ahmed, who built the sanctuary on the grounds of her family home and has run it with her husband since 1990, said: “The burglary has changed my life forever.

“The sickening realisation that cats were missing and what had happened to them will remain with me for the rest of my life.”

She said she had fallen during the search for the cats, and sustained injuries to her spine for which she was waiting for the results of an MRI scan.

Mr Herd, defending, said Lewis accepted responsibility for the burglary and the deaths of the cats.

He said: “Lewis concedes his dogs were trained to hunt and he knew full well about what the outcome would be.”

Mr Herd said Lewis, whose mother committed suicide five years ago, had been seen by child psychologists after decapitating a sheep, who concluded he showed “psychopathic traits” and signs of a personality disorder.

He pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage at Swansea Crown Court where he appeared for sentencing.

Judge Paul Hopkins told Lewis his acts added with his “extreme right-wing views on race and sexuality” meant he was “dangerous.”

Judge Hopkins said: “You tortured a sheep before beheading it, and then took a photo such was your satisfaction at what had been done.

“You then broke into a cat sanctuary and stole 10 cats. You used them as bait for your dogs.

“They are acts of great cruelty amounting to sadism.”

Lewis, of Croeserw, near Port Talbot, was sentenced to 30 months in a young offenders institute.

His 15-year-old accomplice, who was found not to have taken part in the killing of the cats, was given a nine month curfew order earlier this month.

Speaking after the hearing, Inspector Tim Hopkins, from South Wales Police, said: “This was a particularly awful crime against defenceless cats. The outpouring of emotion from the local community – and on social media from across the world – highlights the impact of Frank Lewis’ heinous actions.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community for their support during this investigation which resulted in the two males involved being brought before the courts.

“Thanks to a thorough investigation, and along with today’s outcome, it sends out a clear message that South Wales Police takes all crimes seriously and will ensure that offenders will be brought to justice.”

Wales Online

This man is a danger to all women who has left a string of victims terrified

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January 26, 2017
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A judge has described a man who beat up his internet dates as a danger to all women.

Ryan Schofield, 26, had eight victims who he bullied and terrorised after meeting them online.

A judge heard that he had fits of ‘insane jealousy’ that left the women terrified for their safety.

In one incident he held a pillow over a woman’s face saying ‘Shh, I’ll do what I want’ as he penetrated her with a Lynx deodorant can.

Another woman was thrown to the floor, kicked and stamped, leaving her so traumatised she says she is ‘frightened to death’ whenever her son says ‘boo’ to her.

Schofield stormed out of the dock as the case against him was laid out at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester.

The case continued with details of a woman being threatened with a crowbar, headbutted and stripped of her clothing whilst another was punched in the stomach and grabbed until she almost fainted.

However, he returned to the court to hear that he would be jailed for five years and four months.

Judge John Potter told him: ‘When you are in a relationship with a women you exhibit violent and controlling behaviour over them.

‘This characteristic of you has been present for many, many years and has been well established in numerous previous relationships. It’s obvious that that your previous convictions significantly aggravate the offending I must sentence you for now – and that is because they are very similar.

‘Some of these latest offences illustrate once more that whilst in a violent and controlling relationship, you not only physically but sexually abused your victim. She makes it clear that she has suffered significantly as a consequence of this violent and sexually abusive behaviour towards her.

‘The other lady indicates she suffered significant physical harm and thereafter some level of psychological harm. I view you as presenting a danger to others with whom you share a relationship.’

The court heard that Schofield met up with one the latest victims in March 2015 after meeting her on Plenty of Fish and moved into her home, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire the following June.

But prosecutor Joe Boyd said he would become ‘insanely jealous’ and falsely accuse her of being unfaithful. Violence flared when the couple went for a drink and he became jealous again as they walked home from a pub.

Mr Boyd said: ‘They started arguing outside the house and when they got inside he pushed her onto the radiator, putting his face to hers and then head butted her to the left eye.

‘He dragged her into the bedroom and pushed her into a chest of drawers. She couldn’t move and an ambulance was called. They asked what happened and she said she had fallen and banged her head on a table.

‘They put her on a spinal board and took her to hospital. She discharged herself and the defendant said he couldn’t remember what had happened.’

Despite the row Schofield rekindled his romance with the woman but beat her up again in July – punching in the ribs during a row in which he repeatedly demanded to know whether she had been seeing other men.

She filed a complaint of assault against him the following August but met up with Schofield again in October at her mother’s house where they had sex.

Mr Boyd added: ‘There became a point where he ut a pillow over her face and she felt something was inserted inside her. She was trying to push his hand away and he said ‘shh I’ll do what I want’. She didn’t consent to the foreign body.’

The other victim, a mother of one, met Schofield over the internet in Christmas 2015 but she was assaulted on March 6 last year when she went to his house only for him to accuse her of seeing another man.

Mr Boyd added: ‘They had been texting and ringing each other and when she got there the defendant said they needed to talk and accused her of seeing someone else.

‘He jumped off the bed, dragged her by her coat and threw her to the wall. He accused her of joining a dating site and threw her on the bed. He then threw her to the floor and stamped on the middle of her back.

‘They made up the following morning but later the defendant came to her house and started to go on about ex-partners, he then threw her into kitchen units, hitting her on the ribs. As a result she attended Crumpsall hospital and had four cracked ribs and bruising to her arm.

In a statement the mother of one said: ‘I’m not in a good place at the moment. I was feeling very low last week and completely broke down, I’ve not been put on antidepressants. I feel I am turning into a recluse. As long as I’m at home with my son, I feel safe. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. My son was jumping out at me and shouting ‘boo’ and this frightened me to death’.

Schofeld admitted sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and criminal damage.

His counsel Andrew Long said in mitigation: ‘There is a degree of remorse in this case. He acknowledges his failings, his responsibility, the fact he’s a repeat offender, the fact that he can’t stop himself and the fact that he might do it again if he doesn’t get the help he needs’.

Metro

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Anglesey far-right ‘Infidel’ jailed over drugs and firearms offences

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January 20, 2017
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Richard Lewis Williams, only recently released from prison over a clash with anti-racist protestors, was jailed again for two years after police discovered a cannabis farm

An Anglesey man has been jailed over firearms and drugs offences after police uncovered a cannabis farm.

They found a growing operation, including numerous plants and dangerously overloaded multi-socket adaptors.

Officers from the ongoing Operation Scorpion organised crime crackdown welcomed the two-year prison term given to Richard Lewis Williams, 32, from Bryngwran.

Williams, has only recently been released from a prison term for his part in violent disorder in Kent, where members of his Infidels group clashed with anti-racism protesters.

In 2015, Williams and others were involved in a demonstration in Llangefni, where they protested against mass immigration and the alleged ‘Islamification of Britain’.

Following the sentencing of Williams for drugs and firearms offences, PC David Heptonstall, from Llangefni Police Station, said: “North Wales Police welcome the sentence today at Caernarfon Crown Court. Lewis was a member of an Organised Crime Group in Anglesey and his incarceration will I’m sure bring a sense of relief to many in the local community.

“His sentence is also a message considering a others a life of crime, that we will continue to effectively and robustly target drug dealers. There will be no hiding place on the Island.

“I would urge the public to continue to identify the individuals, movements, locations and details of any drug supplying activity in their area. Working together in our community we can effectively target those who cause the most harm and help keep our communities safe.

“We are determined to effectively target, disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups which operate in North Wales to keep this a safe place to live, work and visit”.

Operation Scorpion has taken down a number of high profile targets in recent years, including major drugs rackets in the North West Wales area.
Daily Post

Father and son who burgled fifteen churches in Southport and West Lancs jailed

By
January 14, 2017
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Notorious thieves Gregory Hawkshaw and his son Danny Hawkshaw left trail of destruction

Gregory Hawkshaw (left) and son Danny Hawkshaw (right) admitted burgling 12 churches across Southport and West Lancashire

Gregory Hawkshaw (left) and son Danny Hawkshaw (right) admitted burgling 12 churches across Southport and West Lancashire

A father and son burglary team who ransacked fifteen places of worship have been jailed over their disgraceful spree.

Shameless Gregory Hawkshaw, 45, and Danny Hawkshaw, 23, left a trail of destruction in overnight raids across Southport and West Lancashire.

The drug addicts targeted churches across Ainsdale, Southport and Scarisbrick, making off with hundreds of pounds in cash, laptops, projectors and televisions.

When the pair were set to be sentenced last November, Danny – who was on bail – failed to attend Liverpool Crown Court.

Meanwhile Gregory, of no fixed address, brazenly requested a deferred sentence, claiming he could retrieve some of the stolen goods.

His son, of Sandbrook Road, Ainsdale, went on the run, living in a tent in Preston, and was not caught by police until Christmas Eve.

Today Judge Robert Warnock said some of the kind-hearted parishioners from the churches had offered the pair forgiveness.

But jailing them both, he said: “This was invasion of these places of worship. I owe a public duty in respect of these matters.”

The pair were caught when blood matching Gregory’s DNA was recovered from the scene of one of the burglaries.

They admitted burgling Ainsdale Methodist Church in Liverpool Road overnight on September 30, stealing two laptops and a projector.

Paul Becker, prosecuting, said they broke their way in using a fire extinguisher, took the CCTV hard drive and smashed a window.

The duo also admitted raiding St John’s Anglican Church, also in Liverpool Road, on October 10, when they took a £300 laptop.

A vestry door was pulled completely off its hinges and they caused an estimated £1,000 of damage.

Mr Becker said they confessed to 13 other break-ins, which were to be taken into account. These included raids on:

St Mark’s Church in Southport Road, Scarisbrick, where £400 of cash was taken
St James’ Church in Lulworth Road, Birkdale, where a TV, laptop and cash worth £1,380 were taken
St Peter’s Church in St Peter’s Road, Birkdale, where a projector and two laptops were stolen
Lord Street West United Reformed Church, Southport, where £30 in cash and a laptop was taken
St John’s Church in Rufford Road, Crossens, Southport, where a laptop and projector were taken

Gregory, formerly of Bank Street North in Southport, was first convicted of burglary when he was just 11-years-old.

He was locked up after stealing two expensive mountain bikes from a Southport garage with his son in December 2013.

The dad had the gall to claim he only struck at the garage – and four other homes – to try to pay off his cannabis smoking son’s drug debts.

On that occasion, Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, said: “You commit offences because you are an inherently dishonest man who was burgling houses and sheds years before your son was born.”

Rebecca Smith, defending Gregory, admitted his record was “appalling” and said he was trapped in a “vicious cycle of drug addiction and offending to facilitate that addiction”.

Nicholas Archer, defending Danny, said it was “very sad” to see a father and son before the court, but his client did not seek to blame anyone else.

He said: “He feels he’s let himself down and it’s safe to say he feels let down by his upbringing, but he accepts he is the author of his own misfortune.”

Judge Warnock said Gregory’s record was “disgraceful”, adding: “You too Danny Hawkshaw have started off in the same way as your father.”

He jailed Gregory for four years and Danny for three years, plus three consecutive months for “running away from what you knew you were going to face”dh

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Southport Visiter

Daniel Johnson of Hastings Avenue, Margate, jailed for his part in 2016 Dover riots

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January 13, 2017
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A Margate dad, who claimed he hurled a brick during a riot in self-defence, was betrayed by messages on his own mobile phone.

Masked Daniel Johnson, 33, said he was at the Dover demonstrations in January when he was struck by a missile.

He told police that video footage taken during the riots showed him trying to defend himself from left wing thugs and he denied a charge of violent disorder.

But a judge at Canterbury Crown Court heard how officers later downloaded messages from his mobile phone.

And it was revealed how the groundworker, from Hastings Avenue, had texted a pal three days after the riot, saying: “That was the best one yet. Already counting down the days to the next one.

“It was nice to see them on the floor getting a beating!”

Johnson later changed his plea to guilty and has now been jailed for eight months.

Prosecutor Paul Valder told how right-wing demonstrators had met outside the Dover Priory railway station intending to march through the town.

It was then that their route was blocked by left wing rivals and the police stood between the groups.

Johnson was seen holding a piece of wood and making obscene gestures towards the opposing group.

“He is then seen clearly to pick up a half brick or piece of masonry which he then hurls towards the left-wing protesters.

“Throughout the action his face is masked. He was unmasked at the beginning of the demonstration and at the end when he is seen smoking a cigarette

Johnson was arrested in May this year as he gathered for a similar demonstration and was recognised as one of the men wanted by Kent Police.

Mr Valder said: “He was interviewed and in effect said: ‘Yes, I was there. Yes, that’s me on the CCTV. I was acting in self-defence. A missile struck me, hitting me on the leg, etc, etc’.”

But after the text message was revealed, Johnson decided to change his plea and his lawyer Nicholas Jones presented personal references to the court

He said: “They show a gentler person outside what is clearly a poisonous peer group.”

Judge James O’Mahony told him: “This was not about politics and everyone has a right to demonstrate but peacefully.

“But this was  just horrible, stark violence and  nasty, serious public disorder. It is clear that there were those on both sides who went to Dover intent on causing trouble.

“What I don’t understand is the sheer hate on people’s faces. What’s all that about? You can have your political views but you don’t have to express them with sheer nasty visceral hate!”

After the hearing, Detective Inspector Bill Thornton said: “Dover is now considered a no-go area for such demonstrations, as we have made it very clear that the behaviour of men like Daniel Johnson will simply not be tolerated.

“He was of previous good character but has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for his crimes, which shows how seriously the courts take such incidents.

“Johnson is the latest of many who have been forced to face the consequences of their violent actions on that day in Dover, and I am looking forward to hearing of further positive outcomes in the future.”

Kent Online