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A father-of-three who threw rocks and a wheelie bin at riot police guarding a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for two years and four months.

A judge told Sonny Ackerman, 30, he would have received an even longer sentence for his part in the violence outside the Holiday Inn Express, in Rotherham, on August 4, but for his clear learning disability.

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Ackerman: “I have little doubt you’re easily led. I very much doubt you even understood what the disorder was all about.”

But Judge Richardson added: “You knew what you were doing and knew it was wrong.”

Footage shown at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday showed a masked Ackerman throwing a rock at police lines at the height of the disorder outside the hotel, which was housing 240 asylum seekers.

Further video showed the defendant helping to hurl a wheelie bin at the officers trying to push back the rioters.

This happened close to a larger bin, which had been set alight against the fire door of the building.

Judge Richardson heard that Ackerman was on bail for an offence of driving while disqualified at the time of the rioting.

The judge said he had received a report from a neuropsychologist and told the defendant it was clear he had a learning disability and a very low IQ.

The judge said: “This was a disgraceful episode. It shocked the entire country. Those involved were an ignorant mob and they must be punished. You were part of that ignorant mob.”

Ackerman, of Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing and appeared in court on Tuesday (Dec 3) via videolink from prison.

He is the latest of more than 70 men who have been jailed after the rioting at the hotel.

The court heard that the residents were trapped on the upper floors of the building as rioters broke in and started the fire in a bin at one of the exits, filling the hotel with smoke.

Staff have described how they barricaded themselves into a safe room, fearing they would die.

More than 60 police officers were injured in the disorder, the court heard.

Yorkshire Post

Three people have been jailed for more than seven years for their roles in violent disorder in Merseyside.

The three offenders appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 20 September, after pleading guilty to violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool.
They are:

• Daniel Frazer, 24 years, of Seafield Road, New Ferry was sentenced to two years in prison for violent disorder in Liverpool

• Lloyd Killner, 35 years, of Burton Road, Lincoln, was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison for violent disorder in Liverpool

• Callum Savage, 24 years, of Haig Avenue, Leyland in Preston was sentenced to two years, four months for violent disorder in Southport

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “To date we have made 109 arrests, charged 68, and brought 54 people before the courts – they have been sentenced to a total of 116 years in prison.

“Our investigation into the incidents in Merseyside continues with more arrests, charges and sentences being progressed.

“We continue to identify more people who attended the disorder in Merseyside and we will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.”

We would encourage anyone with information to contact us via Public Portal (mipp.police.uk) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Merseyside Police

Ashley Williams, 21, of Lowfield Walk, Denaby Main, has pleaded guilty violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 17 September. He will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on 25 September.

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Image of Williams

Scott Greenwood, 34, of Tingle Bridge Lane, Hemingfield, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life at Sheffield Crown Court on 16 September. He will appear for sentencing on 16 October.

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Image of Greenwood

A 14-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reason, has pleaded guilty to arson and violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 9 September. He will be sentenced at the same court on 2 October.

Stephen Roughley, 44, of Barnsley Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates; Court on 5 September. He will appear for sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on 19 September.

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Pictured is Roughley

A 16-year-old boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 4 September. He will be sentenced at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on 15 October.

Joshua Lane, 27, of Park Road, Brierley, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 31 August. He will appear for sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 18 September.

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Photo of Lane

Ricky Cotton, 32, of Broadwater, Bolton-upon-Dearne, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 31 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 18 September.

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Image of Cotton

Daniel Dicks, 33, of Probert Avenue, Goldthorpe, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 31 August. He will appear for sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on 17 September.

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Image of Daniel Dicks

Daniel Kendall, 21, of Sandymount Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 30 August. He will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on 23 September.

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Image of Kendall

A 15-year-old boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 30 August. He will be sentenced at the same court on 2 October.

Gareth Lunn, 40, of Billingley View, Bolton-upon-Dearne, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on 28 August. He is due to appear for sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on 11 September. 

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Image of Lunn

Christian Hemus, 33, of Clarney Place, Barnsley has pleaded guilty to violent disorder and having a dog dangerously out of control. He will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on 3 October for sentencing.

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Image is Hemus.

A 13-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the South Yorkshire Youth Court on 26 August. He will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 4 September.

Scott Kendall, 24, of Sandymount Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 24 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 11 September.

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Image of Kendall

Ryan Deering, 34, Potts Crescent, Great Houghton, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 20 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 18 September. 

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Image of Deering

Sonny Ackerman, 29, of Birkdale Drive, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 22 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 10 September. 

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Photo of Ackerman

Lee Marshall, 39, of Princess Street, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 22 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 10 September. 

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Image of Marshall

Mason Reddy, 24, of Victoria Street, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 23 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on 10 September.

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Photo of Reddy

Michael Woods, 64, of Ainsdale Avenue, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 19 August. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on 11 September for sentencing.

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Photo of Woods

Christian Ivermee, 31, of Chapel Street, Mexborough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 17 August. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on 13 September for sentencing.

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Photo of Ivermee

Michael Shaw, 26, of Pagnell Avenue, Thurnscoe, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 14 August. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on 4 October for sentencing. 

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Photograph of Shaw

South Yorks Police

Almost 60 people have now been charged in connection with the Rotherham disorder centred around a hotel housing asylum seekers, police confirmed this morning.

Riots broke out at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers Way, Rotherham, on the afternoon of August 4, 2024, after around 750 anti-immigration protesters arrived at the hotel, where asylum seekers were being housed.

The riots formed part of more than a dozen protests held across the country, many of which turned violent. The protests were fuelled by misinformation and followed a shocking knife attack in Southport, Merseyside, in which three young girls were killed.

Almost 60 people have now been charged in connection with the Rotherham disorder centred around a hotel housing asylum seekers, police confirmed this morning.

As of yesterday morning (Tuesday, August 27, 2024), a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson confirmed that a total of 59 people have now been charged in connection with the disorder. The ages of those charged ranges from 16 to 64.

The SYP spokesperson added: “59 people in total have now been charged. 44 of the 59 people have now pleaded guilty to the offences they have been charged with. 29 of these 38 have been sentenced.”

Police have provided the below list of everyone charged so far. Please note: it is not possible to name juvenile defendants due to their age.

Craden McKenzie, aged 26, Doncaster Road, Darfield, Barnsley, is charged with violent disorder. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 21.

Rory Huggins, aged 20, of Haythorne Way, Swinton, Rotherham, is charged with violent disorder. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 23.

Ryan Deering, aged 34, of Potts Crescent, Great Houghton, Barnsley is charged with assault of an emergency worker. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 20.

Graham Harper, aged 43, of Henry Street, Darfield, Barnsley is charged with violent disorder. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 20.

Kaylee Cunningham, aged 36, of Gerald Crescent, Kendray, Barnsley is charged with perverting the course of public justice. She was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 20.

Thomas Birley, aged 27, of Rowms Lane, Swinton, Rotherham, is charged with violent disorder, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and attempted arson with intent to endanger life. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 16.

Graham Doherty, aged 35, of Common Wealth, Bolton-Upon-Dearne, Rotherham is charged with violent disorder. He will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 22.

Christian Hemus, aged 35, of Clarney Avenue, Barnsley, is charged with violent disorder, possession of cannabis and production of cannabis. He is due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 21.

Morgan Hardy, aged 29, of Melton High Street, Rotherham, was charged with violent disorder. He appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, and will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 21.

Richard Harrison, aged 37, of Burman Road, Rotherham, has been charged with violent disorder. He was remanded and was due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 12.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with violent disorder. He has been remanded and was due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 12.

Joseph Iggo, aged 20, of Hartley Brook Road, Sheffield is charged with violent disorder. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 20.

Levi Fishlock, aged 31, of Sheffield Road, Barnsley is charged with violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life. He will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 20, 2024.

Damien Mayfield, aged 41, of Spring Lane View, Sheffield is charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words, behaviour to cause harassment, alarm and distress. He will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on October 4, 2024.
A 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with violent disorder and appeared before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 8.

Jake Turton, aged 38, of West Street, Barnsley, has been charged with violent disorder, driving a motor vehicle without the owners consent and driving without insurance. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 20

Christopher Rodgers, aged 38, of Millmoor Road, Barnsley is charged with violent disorder. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 20.
Liam Grey, aged 20, of Randerson Drive is charged with violent disorder. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 20.

One boy aged 16 and two boys aged 17, who can’t be named for legal reasons, are also charged with violent disorder.

Convicted and sentenced so far

A total of 44 people have been convicted over their participation in the disorder, after entering guilty pleas to the charges they faced. Of the 44 convicted, 29 have been sentenced so far, say police.

Defendants who have pleaded guilty over the last week and are awaiting sentence

– Richard Harrison, aged 37, of Ings Field Lane, Wath-Upon-Dearne, Rotherham has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 21. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 10.

– Ryan Deering, aged 34, Potts Crescent, Great Houghton, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 20. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 18.

– Sonny Ackerman, aged 29, of Birkdale Drive, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 22. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 10.

Lee Marshall, aged 39, of Princess Street, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 22. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 10.

– Charlie Eames, aged 30, of High Street, Sheffield, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 22. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on August 28.

– Mason Reddy, aged 24, of Victoria Street, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 23. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 10.

Defendants convicted earlier this month, who are awaiting sentence

Brad Westerman, aged 24, of Washington Road, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 19. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing.

Michael Woods, aged 64, of Ainsdale Avenue, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 19. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing.

Christian Ivermee, aged 31, of Chapel Street, Mexborough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 17. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 23 for sentencing.
Jamie Philips, aged 31, of Newington Avenue, Cudworth, pleaded guilty to using threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 10. He is due to appear before Doncaster Magistrates’ Court later this month for sentencing.

Michael Shaw, aged 26, of Pagnell Avenue, Thurnscoe, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 14. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on October 4 for sentencing.

Joshua Simpson, aged 26, of no fixed abode, has pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 27.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder and will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on October 2, 2024.

Sheffield Star

Daniel Lewis (L) received the heaviest sentence of 19 years after admitting seven robberies while Daniel Holding (R) received 15 years



A gang has been jailed for more than 50 years over a string of armed shop robberies across Lancashire.

The balaclava-wearing men threatened staff with weapons at Co-op and Spar shops in Leyland, Preston and Chorley as well as Warrington, Cheshire.

Staff were left “shaken” and “distressed” after the eight raids between November 2021 and April.

Lancashire Police said the gang netted more than £10,000 each time they hit the convenience stores.

Daniel Lewis, 35, of Battersby Street, Wigan, was jailed for 19 years after he admitted seven robberies.

His co-defendant Daniel Holding, 33, of Arley Close, Wigan, pleaded guilty to six robberies and was jailed for 15 years.

He was jailed at Preston Crown Court alongside Anthony Heaton, also 33, who admitted his part in five robberies.

Heaton, of Marshall Avenue, Warrington, was jailed for 14 years while Matthew Lowe, 34, of Petticoat Lane, Wigan, was jailed for seven years after he pleaded guilty to two robberies.
Anthony Heaton and Matthew Lowe

(L-R) Anthony Heaton and Matthew Lowe were jailed for their parts in the robberies

Det Insp Denise Fardella said: “The men entered the store wearing balaclavas or masks, while brandishing weapons and threatening people who were simply trying to do an honest day’s work.”

She added: “In each case there were two or three members of staff working when the offences were committed and many say they were left distressed and extremely shaken and are still feeling the effects of that today.”

BBC News

Thomas Leech was jailed after pleading guilty to a number of offences

A neo-Nazi who encouraged far-right terrorism against Jews and Muslims has been sentenced to two years in a young offenders institution.

Thomas Leech, 19, posted a “call to arms” and glorified far-right killers online.

Manchester Crown Court heard that after being arrested by police, he told officers: “I am a Nazi.”

Leech, of Preston, pleaded guilty to encouraging acts of terrorism and stirring up religious or racial hatred.

The court was told Leech believed conspiracy theories that Jewish people were planning the “Great Replacement” of the white race through extinction and the “Islamicisation” of Europe.

Joe Allman, prosecuting, said he first came to police attention when he claimed to be planning a shooting at his school in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, in January 2017.

He told police it was a “prank” and received a caution and some intervention.

Leech was referred to Prevent, the Government’s deradicalisation programme, but he “dropped off the radar” when he moved to Gillingham, Kent, in June 2017.

After moving to Preston in 2020, posts by him on an online platform were found by the Community Security Trust, a charity involved in security for Jewish communities.

Mr Allman said: “The cumulative effect of the posts is a call to arms by Mr Leech, inciting others who shared his world view to commit mass murder.”

‘Deeply disturbing’

Leech posted that the Holocaust was a hoax and Jews controlled the world, as well as posting Third Reich imagery and anti-Muslim content, the court heard.

Police found he had posted about Anders Breivik, who murdered 69 youngsters in Norway, and Brenton Tarrant, who murdered 51 people at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019.

The men along with Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who murdered nine African-Americans at a church in Charleston in the US in 2015, were talked of in terms of martyrs to the white race, the court heard.

The court heard there was no evidence Leech’s posts had inspired anyone to commit an offence.

Rachel White, mitigating, said some offences were committed when Leech was aged only 17 or 18 and that he suffered from autism, agoraphobia and bullying, which kept him out of school.

She said he rarely left his home, spending his life online and was “effectively became a keyboard warrior”.

But Judge Alan Conrad QC branded Leech’s action as “deeply disturbing”.

Leech, of Derby Road, admitted three counts of encouraging acts of terrorism and two counts of stirring up religious or racial hatred, between March and November 2020.

He also admitted possessing indecent images of children.

BBC News

A man has admitted he was responsible for racist graffiti at a Fulwood mosque.

Gavin Edghill, 47, of Lower Bank Road, Fulwood, pleaded guilty to five counts of racially aggravated criminal damage, one offence of racially aggravated public order and a further five counts of criminal damage.

Police launched an investigation after three separate reports of offensive and racist graffiti at Masjid E Salaam Mosque in Watling Street Road over the weekend.

Similar graffiti was found on an NHS sign nearby.

Edghill was arrested and appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday 23 April).

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in May.

Blog Preston

One of the longest prison terms dealt to a demonstrator at the Dover protests was served today.

Bretton Vaughan, 45, of Belmont Road in Preston, Lancashire, travelled to Kent to take part in a pre-planned march through the town on Saturday, January 30, 2016.

Fighting broke out when those present were met by other visitors who were holding a counter-protest at the same time.

Bretton Vaughan

Bretton Vaughan

Vaughan was witnessed throwing objects on three occasions by offers reviewing evidential footage captured during the disturbances.

He was arrested at his home address on Thursday, July 7, and subsequently charged with violent disorder.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.

Police believe this is the third longest term from a January 2016 Dover rioter.

Investigating officer Detective Constable, Kirsty Bricknell, said: “Bretton Vaughan and others like him had no business in coming to Dover and contributing to the widespread trouble that took place that day.

“He has received a significant custodial sentence for his actions, which reflects the seriousness of the crimes he committed and the effect they had on the people of the town.”

Kent Online

Cars are cleaned up after the graffiti attacks last November, by Ethan Hesketh

Cars are cleaned up after the graffiti attacks last November, by Ethan Hesketh

A FATHER-of-one who sprayed racist graffiti in Blackburn has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Ethan Hesketh, 24, covered property in a predominantly Asian area of the town with the letters ‘EDL’ and other offensive language.

The court heard how the defendant, formerly of Blackburn, but now living in Derby Square, Preston, also damaged 11 cars and stonework in Shear Brow and a sign belonging to Abbeydale Vets.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of racially aggravated criminal damage and nine further counts of criminal damage.

Sentencing him to 35 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, Judge Stuart Baker, sitting at Preston Crown Court, said the damage would have caused the victims ‘annoyance and inconvenience’.

He told Hesketh: “You were motivated by some antipathy towards people who are not British.

“You have brought this on yourself.

“These are serious offences because you left so many victims no doubt feeling thoroughly annoyed.”

And the judge asked Hesketh, who claimed he had almost given up drinking alcohol since causing the damage, if he was trying to make a statement by wearing a T shirt with the slogan ‘Let’s Get Smashed’ in court.

Hesketh replied: “I was in a rush this morning.”

As well as the suspended sentence, Hesketh must go back to the court periodically to make sure he is making progress, must attend a thinking skills course and pay £350 prosecution costs.

He will also be electronically tagged with a curfew from 8pm to 6am.

Defending, Amanda Johnson said Hesketh now had a job and was involved in looking after his two-year-old daughter.

She said: “He has no desire at all to go back to Blackburn. He has severed entirely contact with his previous crowd.

“No doubt having now had a couple of months of abstinence from illegal substances and, to a large extent, alcohol, he looks back and can see what were the negative influences in his life.

“He acknowledges that these offences are serious and wishes me to convey his remorse to the court.”

Nicola Riley, of East Park Road, Blackburn, was also charged in connection with the graffiti. No evidence was offered in her case and not guilty verdicts were entered.

This is Lancashire

A father-of-three has been spared jail after assaulting a man and his teenage son with a paving slab as they walked to their mosque.

Shaun Wilkinson, 25, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault after unleashing a barrage of vile racist abuse at the men as they walked down Thompson Street, Preston.

Preston Crown Court heard Wilkinson, of Slaidburn Road, Ribbleton, saw the father and his 14-year-old son approaching and said “watch this” to his girlfriend. As they walked past, Wilkinson punched the father in his face.

The son stepped in to try and help his father, grappling Wilkinson to the ground. However, Wilkinson got up and threw a piece of paving stone, hitting the youngster in the forehead.

Rachel Faux, prosecuting, told the court: “(The father) asked what the problem was and received a barrage of verbal abuse.

“As the father waited for the police to be called there was further abuse from females on the street.”

The police arrived and arrested Wilkinson he continued making racist comments.

During the attack the father’s diabetes flared up and he was taken to hospital with his son.

In a victim impact statement, he said: “The incident has affected me and my son and all our family very badly.

“Before this incident I always used to walk to mosque by walking the same way but now I go to mosque by car.”

Daniel Prowse, defending Wilkinson, said: “This was an extremely ugly incident of gratuitous violence and racist language – something Shaun Wilkinson finds it difficult to comprehend he would even do.”

Shaun Wilkinson - EDL

Shaun Wilkinson – EDL. Courtesy of Islamophobiawatch.co.uk

He said Wilkinson worked with a number of Asian people and felt a sense of “deep shame” about his behaviour.

Wilkinson has a criminal record but Mr Prowse said he has tried very hard to put the past behind him and had stayed out of trouble for four years before the attack.

Wilkinson was handed a 14 month sentence suspended for 18 months with a curfew between 9pm and 8am for six months.

He must also carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and pay his victims £500 compensation each.

Lancashire Evening Post