A Leyland man who threw missiles at police officers and forced his way into a shop is the latest person to be jailed in relation to Violent Disorder in Merseyside last year.

Curtis Wright, 21, of Southbrook Road, Leyland, was jailed for 22 months for Violent Disorder and Burglary other than a dwelling at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday 21 March.

On Saturday 3 August, Wright was seen to throw missiles at police officers on Paradise Street, Liverpool City Centre, before going with others to a phone repair shop on Church Street and forcing entry to the premises.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “Wright joined a mob in Liverpool intent on causing damage and harm to officers, members of the public and businesses, just days after the tragic events in Southport.

“As well as the fear caused to those communities, we sadly saw multiple officers hurt carrying out their duties to protect and serve the communities. Our officers and staff will continue to identify, pursue and bring before the courts those who brought such shame to the region.”

Anyone with information should continue to come forward, through @MerpolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The total of people arrested by Merseyside Police has now reached 184, with 146 charged and 125 people sentenced to a combined 230 years and six months so far.

Latest galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website:
https://www.merseyside.police.uk/news/merseyside/news/2024/november/latest-cctv-appeal-following-disorder-in-merseyside-during-the-summer/

Merseyside Police

Hull Crown Court heard he had ‘no excuse’ for his ‘moronic behaviour’

A “moronic” looter took advantage of the violent scenes of mass disorder in Hull city centre to go into the Lush store, grab a bag and shamelessly help himself to as much as he could carry.

Father-of-two Josh Hill brazenly targeted the shop after it was broken into during the notorious day of rioting in August. He now wished he “could turn the clock back” and later confessed: “It was the stupidest thing I ever did.” He realised that there was “no excuse” for his opportunist actions, Hull Crown Court heard.

Hill, 27, from Hull but recently of no fixed address, admitted an offence of burglary at the Lush store on August 3.

The court heard that a large-scale demonstration took place in Hull city centre, similar to protests that had been organised nationally after the deaths of three girls in Southport.

Police went to fights in King Edward Street and they were called to disorder outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway, where asylum seekers were living at the time. The disorder spilled out to the cenotaph area opposite the hotel.

There was also disorder at a tyre business in the Milky Way area and fires were set as well as cars being damaged. A number of shops in Jameson Street were targeted by looters, including Lush, Shoezone, O2 and Greggs.

Hill was among those who “took advantage” of the disturbances that were going on in the city and he went into the Lush store. He was seen picking up a paper bag and “filling it with as much as he could” before leaving.

The total bill to Lush, including extensive damage, loss of stock, the interruption to business and increased insurance, had been put at more than £31,000, the court heard.

Ben Hammersley, mitigating, said that Hill pleaded guilty at an early stage. He had only a few previous convictions and none for dishonesty offences. He acted out of character.

“He has no excuse for what he did,” said Mr Hammersley. “He went in to see what was going on and he says that he got carried away. He wishes to apologise to those affected and he wishes that he could turn the clock back.”

Hill had said: “It was the stupidest thing I ever did.” Alcohol was a factor at the time in disinhibiting him and causing him to show “moronic behaviour” at a time when his life was “a bit of a shambles” anyway.

Hill wanted to have stable accommodation but he had delayed trying to find this because of the uncertainty about what would happen to him in the court case. He had two children aged six and two.

Hull, who had been on bail, was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence and 200 hours’ unpaid work.

Hull Live

“When he saw his picture on social media, he was incredibly embarrassed and ashamed of himself and he handed himself straight in to the police”

Violent scenes in Hull city centre led to a young music fan getting caught up in rioting and behaving like a “complete yobbo” while he was on his way to a big Humber Street Sesh festival that was also attracting crowds that day.

Shay Carroll was seen laughing as he hurled a drinks can towards the police cordon outside the hotel that was at the centre of the trouble, Hull Crown Court heard. Carroll, 21, of Plane Street, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, admitted an offence of violent disorder on August 3.

Blaise Morris, prosecuting, said that the offence happened on the day of a large-scale public disorder in Hull city centre involving trouble in Ferensway outside the Royal Hotel, where asylum seekers were being housed at the time. There was racist chanting, fires were set and damage was caused.

Carroll was seen on drone pictures at the cenotaph behind the police cordon. He was standing on a bench at first but he got off it and laughed as he hurled what looked to be an empty drinks can towards the police. He laughed again and stood back on the bench.

“To his credit, he did hand himself in after an image of him was circulated on Hull Live and Facebook,” said Mr Morris. Carroll had no previous convictions but he had a caution in 2019 for assault and using threatening words or behaviour.

Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Carroll was not intending to join the riots and he was on his way to the Humber Street Sesh music festival that was going on that day. A friend became involved in the confrontation with the police.

“When he saw his picture on social media, he was incredibly embarrassed and ashamed of himself and he handed himself straight in to the police,” said Miss Scott. “He has taken responsibility for his actions. He would never involve himself in anything so stupid again.”

Carroll realised the impact of the trouble that day and he had written a letter of apology to the court. “He has shown genuine remorse,” said Miss Scott. “He has been in employment since the age of 16.”

Carroll had previously worked in factories and construction yards as well as at a pallets company but he lost a job at a kitchen company in January for medical reasons.

“He has let himself down with this offending,” said Miss Scott. “This sort of behaviour is disgraceful and he doesn’t want to repeat and he won’t repeat it.

“He is a low risk of reoffending. This defendant was involved for a very short period of time. This was the throwing of one can in the midst of a much bigger incident.” Carroll found out a couple of months ago that he was going to be a father because his girlfriend was pregnant.

Judge Mark Bury told Carroll: “I have seen you behaving like a complete yobbo. Your involvement in that violent disorder was limited. Others played a far bigger part than you.

“It represents serious criminality and also represents a stain on this city.

People such as you behaved in this way against the police while they were just trying to keep order. You were just caught up in the moment and a moment that you now bitterly regret.”

Carroll was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours’ unpaid work and 10 days’ rehabilitation.

Hull Live

A woman has been jailed for providing a false alibi for a 15-year-old boy who took part in rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Kaylee Cunningham, 36, told officers the boy was at her house when he was actually part of a group throwing rocks and wood at riot police outside the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August last year.

Sheffield Crown Court heard the boy was arrested but later released by police after Cunningham provided him with the alibi.

Cunningham, of Kendray, Barnsley, was jailed for 12 months on Thursday after admitting perverting the course of justice at a previous hearing.

Police later examined the teenager’s phone and found he had filmed himself taking part in the disorder.

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC rejected her claim that she had been pressured into lying by the boy’s father and noted that police had expressly warned her about the dangers of making a false statement.

‘You were a liar’

Judge Richardson told Cunningham: “You have been very, very foolish and, I’m afraid, you have to be punished.”

“It was a pernicious act to do as you did, and you did it entirely wilfully.

“Courts do not like liars and you were a liar.”

The court heard the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a 12-month referral order after admitting violent disorder at Sheffield Youth Court.

More than 70 people have been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court for their roles in the Rotherham disorder, which left 64 police officers, three horses and a dog injured.

More than 200 asylum seekers and staff were trapped in the building during the unrest, with some rioters breaking into the building.

BBC News

Two men who threw missiles in violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool city centre with one assaulting a police officer are the latest people to be sentenced today, Thursday 20 March.

The court heard that Kevin Clark travelled from Wigan to Southport to take part in violent disorder on Tuesday 30 July last year.

The 34-year-old threw multiple bricks and rocks at officers for a long period of time and showed extreme aggression throughout. He was also responsible for throwing bricks towards officers resulting in grievous bodily harm.

Clark, of Brookdale Road in Hindley, was sentenced to five years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty.

Next to be sentenced was Cornneliu Mihai Magureanu from Birkenhead for his involvement in violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday 3 August.

The 20-year-old was captured on CCTV watching a crowd of people throw missiles at police officers. He threw a rock at the police line and shouted towards the officers.

Magureanu, of St Annes Close, was sentenced to 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court today after pleading guilty.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “Both men, Clark and Magureanu, displayed shocking behaviour for their involvement in causing violent disorder on Merseyside last summer.

“In particular, Clark’s violent behaviour resulted in the victim requiring surgery to his ankle, physiotherapy and has been left with scars. Clark was not satisfied in taking one officer out, he moved on to another police line and continued his aggressive behaviour attacking them with bricks.

“We continue to identify people and are relentless in pursuing those who took part and brought disgrace to the region.

“We advise anyone else who took part in the disorder to do the right thing and hand themselves in.”

The total of people arrested by Merseyside Police has now reached 184, with 146 charged and 124 people sentenced to a combined 228 years and eight months in prison so far.

Images and footage are still being worked through so please contact us with any information via our public portal mipp.police.uk or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Latest galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website https://www.merseyside.police.uk/news/merseyside/news/2024/november/latest-cctv-appeal-following-disorder-in-merseyside-during-the-summer/

Merseyside Police

A teenage girl said to have been “in the thick of it” at a riot outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has been told she could go to prison.

Elarna Abbey-Garner, 19, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August when she appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court earlier.

Abbey-Garner, of Station Road in Dunscroft, Doncaster, had been on bail for a separate offence at the time, the court heard.

Judge Marcus Waite said an immediate prison sentence would be an option when she was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court.

Judge Waite told the court Abbey-Garner was “said to have been in the thick of it” at the riot, which saw more than 60 police officers injured by demonstrators trying to gain access to the hotel which was being used to house more than 200 asylum seekers.

At the time, the defendant was 18.

The court heard Abbey-Garner has no previous convictions and she was granted unconditional bail ahead of her next court appearance on 25 March.

Judge Waite told her: “Whilst I’m giving you bail for now, that’s not an indication for what might happen at the crown court.

“This may be an immediate prison sentence. There may be alternatives, that’s up to the crown court judge.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said 104 people had been charged in connection with the riot, with 89 of them jailed.

Violence erupted across the country at the start of August following the deaths of three schoolgirls in a knife attack in Southport in Merseyside in July.

BBC News

Building site worker Lewis Edwards who hurled bricks and stones at police as anarchy erupted in Hanley has been spared jail.

The 21-year-old was arrested on September 19 and has served the equivalent of a 12-month prison sentence on remand after his involvement in the violent disorder in the city centre on August 3.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he was captured on CCTV twice during the riot. Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said: “He was standing on a concrete block shouting towards the opposing group, ‘Twenty boys from Shelton, go and get us a kebab’. He was joining in the chanting.

“In Town Road, near the mosque, he picked up a rock and threw it towards the police line. He picked up a large paving stone, raised it over his head and threw it to the ground, causing it to smash to pieces, which meant others could pick it up. He picked up a brick and threw it towards the police line.”

The defendant was arrested at a building site on September 19. Edwards, of Thornhill Road, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Hamish Noble, mitigating, said Edwards was aged 20 at the time and has no previous convictions. Mr Noble said: “He was in a good position in life. He was working and was approaching the end of his gas and plumbing apprenticeship.

“He has no history of substance misuse and has a supportive family. He was with friends. He was disinhibited by alcohol. He had had four or five pints and went to Hanley to see what was happening. He does not hold racist views but accepts that the behaviour displayed was contrary to this. There was a lack of maturity and an element of peer pressure.

“He apologises through me for his behaviour that day. He understands and acknowledges it was totally unacceptable. He has had a significant period of time to reflect on his behaviour while in custody.”

Mr Noble added that Edwards’ grandad has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Edwards to two years in prison, suspended for two years, with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days and 300 hours unpaid work.

Judge Smith said: “Weapons were brandished, missiles were thrown, including by you, and a number of people were injured. There is no suggestion that anything you threw caused an injury.

“Outside the town hall you were shouting slogans with racist connotations. Although they may have been offensive, you were not causing or inciting anyone to violence. In Town Road you were seen picking up and throwing missiles.

“According to your references you have no racist views and are friends with people who hold to the Muslim faith. It is puzzling how you got involved in this.

“You are assessed as a low risk of re-offending. The probation service considers they can work with you. There is the recent diagnosis and treatment is about to start for your grandfather. You have already served the equivalent of about one year. In those circumstances, I am just persuaded that I can suspend the sentence.”

Edwards was ordered to pay £150 costs.

Stoke Sentinel

This is Blackpool man Peter Waite.

He left a man with a bleed on the brain after headbutting him in an attack during the Blackpool disorder last summer.

CCTV showed Waite running towards his victim and headbutting him causing him to fall back and bang his head on the pavement. The man, in his 50s, lost consciousness.

In a victim personal statement, the man describes how he now cannot sleep and feels socially isolated and feels unwell in crowded places.

Hundreds of people gathered in a demonstration in Blackpool on August 3 where police and members of the public came under physical and verbal attack. Items were thrown at officers and police vehicles, and racist and offensive signs were used.

There was also serious disorder and looting in Hounds Hill shopping centre.

Waite, 50, of Cheltenham Road, Blackpool, admitted charges of Section 20 wounding and violent disorder.

As well as the headbutting incident Waite threw two bottles he had retrieved from a bin, although he claimed he had made sure they were plastic rather than glass. He said he had gone to town for a beer festival and not to engage in disorder.

Waite was jailed today (Monday, March 10) at Preston Crown Court for a total of three years and four months.

Assistant Chief Constable Karen Edwards said: “Peter Waite not only clearly played a role in the disgraceful disorder which we saw in Blackpool on August 3 but also caused serious injury to a man through his violent actions.

“Such behaviour is not welcome in Lancashire and will not be tolerated in our county.

“A number of people have already been brought to justice for the role in the disorder and I welcome the sentence in this case.”

Blackpool Gazette

A woman has been given a suspended prison sentence for inciting racial hatred in a social media post during last summer’s riots.

Megan Morrison, 27, from Workington, Cumbria, shared an image on Facebook of violent disorder at a Holiday Inn in Rotherham housing asylum seekers and suggested the same should be done outside the Cumberland Hotel.

Prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court there were no asylum seekers being housed at the hotel, nor had there ever been.

Morrison admitted inciting racial hatred and was given a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months and ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work. She was also given an electronically monitored night time curfew for two months.

The court heard that Morrison shared the image with the caption: “They should do this to the Cumberland Hotel. It’s full of them.”

Mr Evans said a follower of the defendant commented on the post “You can’t incite riots” and Morrison responded with a laughing emoji.

‘Self rehabilitation’

“This is of course the terrible danger of these criminally, ill-advised postings,” Mr Evans said.

“Entirely innocent people or properties can be dragged into situations by this sort of invitation if people accept.”

Morrison’s post was on 6 August, eight days after three children were murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.

The murders resulted in violent disorder across the country.

She was one of a number of people prosecuted in Cumbria for racially offensive online posts.

Morrison’s barrister said her phone had been seized by police and she had not replaced it having withdrawn from social media as part of what she called her “self rehabilitation”.

She told a probation officer who prepared a pre-sentence report that her offending was “stupid”.

‘Civil disorder’

After hearing details of Morrison’s family circumstances, Judge Nicholas Barker said he accepted she felt genuine remorse.

Referring to her sharing the image from the Rotherham riot, the judge said: “What you did was to demonstrate an implied assertion that you supported the actions that these mindless thugs were taking.

“No one considering this case can themselves disconnect it from the wave of civil disorder and appalling conduct that swept this country in August last year.

“You were part of that.”

BBC News

A man who admitted violent disorder and stealing from four shops during the Hull riot has been jailed.

Ashley Smith, 26, was seen on CCTV footage pushing a metal barrier on to Ferensway, outside a hotel which was being protected by police.

He was also seen throwing an object towards officers in a different part of the city and taking items from shops that had their windows smashed by looters.

Smith, of Woodhill Way Caravan Park, in Cottingham, was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Hull Crown Court.

His barrister Abigail Rowley told the court Smith had acted “wholly out of character” and was “full of remorse”.

She claimed her client did not “hold any discriminatory views” and was not an instigator in the violence.

Shops were looted, fires started, cars damaged and police officers attacked following demonstrations involving anti-immigration protesters on 3 August last year.

Passing sentence, Judge John Thackray KC said: “Your offence formed part of 12 hours of racist, mob-fuelled violence” which caused ” fear and distress in those communities who were targeted”.

Smith pleaded guilty to one charge of violent disorder and four counts of burglary of commercial premises.

The judge did not impose an uplift to Smith’s sentence as he accepted there was no racially motivated element to his offences.

BBC News