A man who attacked police officers during violent disorder outside a hotel being used to house asylum seekers has been jailed.

Darren Ward, 55, was filmed “aggressively pushing officers and displaying threatening behaviour” at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August 2024.

Three months after the disorder he handed himself in at Barnsley police station, after he was pictured in an appeal showing “perpetrators of the violence”, South Yorkshire Police said.

At Sheffield Crown Court on Monday Ward, of Norville Crescent, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 20 months.

Ward did not provide an explanation for his conduct during police interviews.

BBC News

A man who has pleaded guilty to his role in the violent disorder that caused chaos in a North East town centre will have to wait to be sentenced.

A judge ordered a medical report to be compiled on Andrew Grieves to assess whether he has a diagnosed learning disability.

The 24-year-old became embroiled in the rioting that broke out in Middlesbrough following the death of three young girls in Southport in the summer of 2024.

Teesside Crown Court heard how further medical reports would be required before the defendant could be sentenced.

Gary Wood, representing Grieves, said his client was taken out of mainstream education as a teenager due to his learning difficulties.

He urged the judge to adjourn sentencing to allow time for a psychological report to be compiled on the defendant.

Grieves, of Acorn Close, Sacriston, County Durham, pleaded guilty to violent disorder in Middlesbrough on August 4, 2024.

Judge Richard Bennett adjourned sentencing until April 27 to allow time for the report to be completed.

He said: “I had intended to sentence you today, but I have read conflicting information,” he said.

“In your pre-sentence report it suggests that you have a learning disability but in the psychiatric report, the doctor suggests the position may not be as difficult.

“I need that sorting out. I need to know precisely what it is and I can’t sentence you until I know that.

“I can’t tell you what your fate will be but I can tell you it crosses the custody threshold and it will be decided at the next hearing whether you serve that sentence or whether I am able to suspend it.”

Grieves was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing.

Northern Echo

You joined in with wanton mob violence… it was despicable behaviour’

Dad Liam Curwen spat at officers and threw a brick towards the police line during the violent disorder in Hanley.

The 32-year-old was part of a mob which walked towards the police line on Town Road on August 3, 2024, just days after three girls were murdered in a Southport dance studio.

He spat towards the police line and threw a brick which hit an officer’s shield. Now Curwen has been jailed for 27 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Barry White said the defendant was seen to leave Hanley Bus Station and walk past The Albion pub towards the city centre on the day of the disorder. He joined a group on Town Road. Mr White said: “He and others walked towards the police line. The defendant had his right hand raised. He appeared agitated and angry.

He spat towards the police line. He continued shouting and pointing at the police line. He moved towards police holding a brick in his right hand, having picked up a paving block. He threw it. It hit a shield in the police line. He went back to the city centre. He covered his face.”

The defendant was arrested on January 24, 2025. He answered no comment to questions in his police interview. Curwen, of Murhall Street, Burslem, later pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Debbie Leadbeater, mitigating, said Curwen is remorseful. Miss Leadbeater said: “He was meeting a friend and got caught up in the group activity. He and his partner are carers for their children.

“There is a very good chance of rehabilitation in his case. I hope you will consider a suspended sentence. He needs further assistance in how to cope with things when they are getting out of control. The work that could be done with probation could ensure he does not appear before the courts in the future.”

Recorder Robert Smith said: “You and members of your group walked towards the police line. You spat towards police on the police line. You ran towards police holding a brick. You are shown on a video to pick up paving bricks. You threw a brick at the police, hitting a riot shield of an officer in the police line.

“I accept any imprisonment would adversley effect your partner and children. You should have thought about that before you involved yourself in a large-scale violent disorder. You participated, spitting at officer, wielding a brick and throwing a brick at the police line.

“What you did was not a peaceful protest. You joined in with wanton mob violence. It was despicable behaviour. I cannot and will not suspend the sentence.”

Stoke Sentinel

A court heard he was caught on CCTV fighting with police, damaging a car and kicking at a shop shutter while staff tried to close it

A Hull rioter was jailed after CCTV captured him fighting with police, damaging a car and kicking at a shop shutter as staff attempted to close it.

Jamie Thompson, 30, of Vauxhall Grove, off Walker Street, Hull, admitted violent disorder and burglary on August 3, 2024.

Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Thompson was one of a large number of people involved in a number of incidents which were captured on film, thanks to CCTV cameras, police body-worn cameras and drones and footage posted on TikTok. He was dressed in a green T-shirt, a black baseball cap and sunglasses in footage shown near the Royal Hotel on Ferensway, Hull, at around 3pm.

But later he changed his clothes. He behaved aggressively towards police officers and footage showed him pushing against officers with riot shields and fighting with them. He was filmed in close proximity to the men organising and leading the infamous riot.

At shortly after 5pm, Thompson and others were captured attacking a BMW car containing three Romanian men, whose car had been diverted due to the violence on the streets of Hull city centre. One of the men fled from the car and was chased by Thompson.

Cameras later captured him returning to the car and kicking and smashing the car wing mirror. Thompson’s clothes had changed since the earlier violence and he was also carrying a pink bag.

Staff at Morrisons Daily in Jameson Street attempted to close the shutters due to the violence in the street but Thompson kicked out at the shutters.

The Assistant Chief Constable of Humberside Police, Thom McLoughlin, had previously said that the cost of the violence in Hull city centre had run to “hundreds of thousands of pounds” and led to injuries among several police officers.

Connor Stuart, mitigating, said that Thompson accepted that he made “serious mistakes” and used “impulsive actions.” He was in a stable relationship and had accommodation.

Judge John Thackray KC said Hull had a proud link with Freetown in Sierra Leone, Africa, due to slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce, but the city centre experienced “racist, hate-fuelled, mob violence” on August 3, 2024. There had been immeasurable damage and 11 police officers were injured, one of them permanently scarred by the violence.

Thompson had been part of the “baying mob” who terrified families in the city centre. “It is impossible to imagine the fear of children cowering in a garage hearing threats to kill,” said Judge Thackray.

It had been “depressing” viewing the CCTV footage and hearing repeated racist chanting and seeing looting of commercial premises. “You were involved in one of them,” said Judge Thackray. “It was widespread, large-scale violence on people and property.”

Thompson was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Hull Daily Mail

A rioter who repeatedly struck police officers with bricks and metal poles during citywide disorder has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Balaclava-clad Leyton Kennedy, 22, hurled missiles at close range at police during the riots in Sunderland on 2 August 2024, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The riot was one of several to break out across the country when anti-immigration protests sparked by the murder of three girls in Southport turned violent.

Kennedy, of High Croft in Washington, admitted riot, which has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The killing of the girls in Southport, for which a man was jailed for at least 52 years, sparked a “national outcry” with incorrect information quickly spreading on social media that the killer was an immigrant to the UK, prosecutor Saba Shan said.

In north-east England, anti-immigration protests took place in Hartlepool, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Newcastle in the days after the murders, the court heard.

‘Serious and sustained violence’

In Sunderland, a planned protest erupted into violence and disorder involving hundreds of people at several spots around the city centre after 16:00 BST on 2 August, the court heard.

In CCTV footage shown to the court, Kennedy can be seen hurling at least 18 missiles, including bricks and a metal pole, at a line of police officers at Keel Square at about 19:30.

He repeatedly ran up to the line and threw objects at a close range and was part of a group that used a large scaffolding pole as a “battering ram” against the officers, Ms Shan said.

Kennedy was also seen as part of a group shouting anti-immigration slogans, the court heard.

Officers were met with “serious and sustained violence” throughout the riots with several requiring hospital treatment, the hearing also heard.

A police office and neighbouring Citizen’s Advice Bureau were destroyed by a fire, businesses were looted and vehicles damaged, Ms Shan said.

‘Scary riots’

In mitigation, Liam O’Brien said Kennedy, who wept throughout the hearing, had been “immature foolish and stupid” and accepted his actions had been “abhorrent”.

He said as a young man Kennedy, who had a conviction for assault from when he was 17, was “susceptible to peer pressure”, which was what happened during the riot.

Mr O’Brien also said he had various disorders, including dyslexia and ADHD, which made it “more likely” for him to get “swept up in the frenzy” of the rioting.

The Honourable Mr Justice Tinkler said the disorder had been “scary” and rioting had a “collective impact which is greater than the actions of each individual on their own”.

He said Kennedy was at the front of a group of people attacking the police but his youth and mental health disorders had an “impact on his personal responsibility”.

BBC News

A council worker who threw a plant at a police officer during a city centre riot has been put behind bars.

The single, soil covered item hurled by Harry Farrer hit the cop’s helmet during the trouble that swept through Sunderland, and mirrored similar scenes in other UK cities, on August 2 2024.

Farrer, who lost his job with the local authority because of his involvement, handed himself into the police after he featured in a press appeal to trace those involved in the violence.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Farrer, who had been drinking, was “part of the crowd” that gathered and turned aggressive in the city centre and he ended up behind a police line that was trying to control the violence.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court: “He picks something up from the ground, I wouldn’t like to say with certainty what he has thrown.

“He is behind the police line.

“It strikes the officer on the back of the helmet.”

Farrer, 22, of Sea View, Sunderland, admitted violent disorder.

Nicholas Lane, defending told the court: “He handed himself in to the police station when circulated as wanted.

“What he has thrown is soil, a plant that had been taken from a plant pot. That is, of course, behind the police line but it doesn’t appear to have caused very significant inconvenience or harm to that officer, who continued to walk away.

“I accept it was a clear distraction from an essential policing task.”

Mr Lane said Farrer had character references, a good employment record, positive work ethic and added: “He was employed by the local authorities who manage the area in which this offence took place.

“They terminated his employment on his arrest.”

Recorder Jason Pitter KC sentenced Farrer to 27 months behind bars.

The recorder said the violence that day affected “community cohesion” and added: “One can only imagine how terrifying it would have been for members of the public who were present but also for the actual police officers.”

Mr Wardlaw said during the widespread trouble that day police officers, dogs and horses were pelted with missiles as areas became unsafe for ordinary members of the public.

He added: “Officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence. Officers were attacked with missiles and verbally abused.

“Four officers required hospital treatment and some are not fit enough to return to frontline duties.”Police vehicles were targeted and damaged. Several patrol cars needed repairs.”

The court heard the city’s police hub was set on fire, business premises were smashed and shops were looted.

Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said in an impact statement police vehicles as well as community buildings and businesses came under attack that day.

Ms Jardine said the violence was met with a £1.517m policing operation and the full psychological cost to officers involved is yet to be known.

Sunderland Echo

Brandon Holdcroft rode into the city centre on an e-bike with his face covered to take part in the mass disorder

Teenager Brandon Holdcroft has been jailed after he threw bricks towards police as a riot erupted in Hanley.

The 19-year-old rode into the city centre on an electronic bike wearing a face covering on the afternoon of August 3, 2024.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he was seen to pick up bricks and stones and throw them towards the police line which was trying to keep protesters and counter-protesters apart. Now Holdcroft has been sentenced to 16 months detention in a young offenders’ institution.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said the defendant was on an e-bike in Hanley just days after three girls were murdered at a dance studio in Southport. Miss Cortese said: “There was large-scale public disorder in Hanley city centre and on Town Road near the mosque and Islamic centre.

“Police officers were assaulted and verbally abused. The defendant’s participation was captured on various videos from around the city centre. He can be seen holding a large brick and he threw a small brick towards the police line. He threw a large brick at the police line. Both could be heard to make contact with the police shields. He rode away.

“In a church yard near the mosque he can be seen passing a brick to another.”

The defendant was arrested on September 19, 2024. Holdcroft, of Winchester Avenue, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Paul Cliff, mitigating, said: “At the time he was still 17. He is now 19. He is regarded as being immature for his age.

“He is actively disinterested in politics. His presence in Hanley on August 3, 2024 was not motivated by political views or by racist views. More likely it is the case he is a young man who is easily led who was swept up in the disorder.

“He is able to see that his behaviour was appalling. He regrets it and he invites me to apologise to the court on his behalf. He is embarrassed of his behaviour on that afternoon.

“The delay has enabled him to demonstrate he has a capacity to stay out of trouble. He appears to have made positive steps to improve his lot since 2024.

“He is a young man who has not had issues with alcohol or class A drugs. The sentence can be and should be suspended.”

But Judge Richard McConaghy said the offending was so serious only immediate custody was appropriate. He said: “You attended the area with others. You were on an electronic bicycle and were wearing a face covering. You actively engaged in the violence and disorder. On a number of occasions you threw bricks at the police line. At least two of those were heard to strike police shields. You threw them with force and you threw them deliberately at the police officers.

“You took a traffic cone and passed it to another so he could dismantle it and throw part of it at the police. On another occasion you were part of a group running in and out of a church yard. You were gathering bricks and stones and throwing them. You were present for a long period of time.

“Members of the public and police officers were injured in the incident. Public safety and public order were put under severe threat.

“While others were acting with religious hostility I do not take the view that you were. You saw an opportunity to join in with disorder and violence, which you seemed to think was fun.

“Your actions were directed at police officers, rather than at others. You saw this as a free day in which you could throw things at police officers who were there to protect the community.

“The aggravating feature is the fact you threw missiles on more than one occasion.”

The Sentinel

A rioter who threw a missile at police during mass city centre disorder has been put behind bars.

The single item hurled by Liam Dugdale hit an officer’s shield during the trouble that swept through Sunderland, and mirrored similar scenes in other UK cities, in August 2024.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Dugdale was identified through CCTV and questioned about his involvement while he was serving a prison sentence for something else.

The 32-year-old, of Townsend Road, Sunderland, admitted riot.

Judge Tim Gittins today jailed him for 20 months and said what happened that day was an “orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder”.

The judge added: “Those participating in mass disorder must expect severe sentences, intended not only to punish what you have individually done but also to deter others from copying their example.”

The court heard Dugdale has 13 convictions on his record, including violence.

Sue Hirst, defending, said Dugdale was questioned about his involvement in the riot while he was in custody for something else, in March 2025.

Miss Hirst added: “Surprisingly, it has taken the police and CPS a further eight months to charge him. “He was released from custody in July last year. It does appear the police have then waited until he was released from the last custodial sentence to charge him with this offence.

“Clearly, that is not what should happen, it means he has been back out in the community trying to get his life together and now he faces another potential custodial sentence.

“That is not conducive to rehabilitation, it simply perpetuates the cycle.

Miss Hirst said after his release from the last prison sentence Dugdale, who has a good employment record, has been working and kept out of trouble.

Prosecutor Rachel Butt said during the widespread trouble that day police officers, dogs and horses were pelted with missiles as areas became unsafe for ordinary members of the public.

She added: “Officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence. Officers were attacked with missiles and verbally abused.

“Four officers required hospital treatment and some are not fit enough to return to frontline duties.

“Police vehicles were targeted and damaged. Several patrol cars needed repairs.”

The court heard the city’s police hub was set on fire, business premises were smashed and shops were looted.

Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said in an impact statement police vehicles as well as community buildings and businesses came under attack that day.

Ms Jardine said the violence was met with a £1.517m policing operation and the full psychological cost to officers involved is yet to be known.

Sunderland Echo

A dad-of-two who was at the forefront of racist rioting where he bombarded police with missiles has been locked up.

Jason Brady was caught on camera repeatedly throwing objects at police officers and private property when a far-right protest in Middlesbrough turned violent in August 2024.

The 25-year-old was spotted in the Parliament Road and Union Street area of the town hurling rocks while at the front of a crowd.

Teesside Crown Court was shown a compilation of footage detailing the painter and decorator’s behaviour throughout the rioting where he threw at least nine missiles.

Rachel Butt, prosecuting, said the damage had severely impacted the residents living in and around the town centre.

She said: “He was an active and persistent participant who was repeatedly seen at the front of the group on the CCTV and was repeatedly seen to throw objects at police officers and members of the public’s vehicles.

“We submit that it was incitement to others as he was at the front of the group which occurred in a busy public area.”

Brady, of Raisdale Close, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Kate Clark, mitigating, said her client had turned his life around since his shocking behaviour and urged the judge to pass a suspended sentence.

“The footage itself does not make comfortable viewing,” she said. “He has gone through it himself and during his police interview made comments about ‘how embarrassing and humiliating’ it was.

“He is most ashamed of himself.”

Judge Aisha Wadoodi told Brady that his actions were so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate as she jailed him for 26 months.

She said: “You didn’t just throw one missile there were nine separate occasions you were seen to throw thing.

“You were seen throwing a stone at a police van before throwing an item at a red vehicle on Parliament Road, there was a female jumping on the roof and it then transpired that the vehicle was set on fire.

“You were then seen on Derwent Street throwing an object at the opposing group and again at a line of police officers.

“You stayed in the area and continued gesturing towards the police and the opposing group.”

Northern Echo

Two men who joined in a city centre riot as mass disorder swept through the country have been put behind bars.

Violence erupted in Sunderland on August 2 2024 and mirrored similar shocking scenes across the country.

At Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, during separate hearings, Liam Clarke and Michael McHugh were both jailed for their parts in the riots.

The court heard Clarke, a joiner who has never been in trouble before, threw five missiles at police during a “moment of severe madness” that day.

McHugh, who also has no convictions, said he had been out drinking before things “went pear-shaped” and he threw two projectiles at police during the trouble.

Clarke, 25, of Kirkdale, Spennymoor, County Durham, admitted riot and was jailed for four years.

McHugh, 42, of Haydon Square, Sunderland, admitted riot and was jailed for 40 months.

The court heard during the widespread trouble in the city that day police officers, dogs and horses were pelted with missiles as areas became unsafe for ordinary members of the public.

Officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence, attacked with flying objects and verbally abused.

Four officers required hospital treatment and some are not fit enough to return to frontline duties.

Police vehicles were targeted and damaged. Several patrol cars needed repairs.

The court heard the city’s police hub was set on fire, business premises were smashed and shops were looted.

Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said in an impact statement police vehicles as well as community buildings and businesses came under attack that day.

Ms Jardine said the violence was met with a £1.517m policing operation and the full psychological cost to officers involved is yet to be known.

Sunderland Echo