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Woman jailed for 27 months after taking 11-year-old to post-Southport riot

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November 6, 2024
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Aimie Hodgkinson-Hedgecox shouted racist abuse as police were attacked outside a Staffordshire hotel housing asylum seekers.

A 37-year-old woman who took a young boy to a post-Southport riot which saw an arson attack on a hotel has been jailed for more than two years.

Aimie Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, who has 14 previous convictions involving 30 offences, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being recorded shouting “incendiary and racist” remarks at police protecting asylum seekers housed at Tamworth’s Holiday Inn Express.

She reacted angrily to being handed a 27-month sentence at Stafford Crown Court, looking towards friends and relatives in the public gallery and complaining: “It’s a joke, it’s a f***ing piss-take.”

Video footage played to the court on Wednesday showed Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, wearing shorts and Crocs-style footwear, swearing towards police lines and having to pull an 11-year-old boy out of the way as a firework was aimed at officers.

The court heard Hodgkinson-Hedgecox had intended to take the boy to a skate park when she saw the crowd outside the hotel on August 4 and decided to join the protest.

Defence lawyer Stephen Rudge urged the court to consider alternatives to custody, including unpaid community work, and said the defendant was “not somebody who holds overtly racist views or opinions”.

Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, whose last previous conviction was for battery in 2009, had left the area shortly after being recorded on three video clips, Mr Rudge said.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese told the court that following her arrest, Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, of Edale, Stonydelph, Tamworth, admitted that she was shouting abuse about asylum seekers housed at the hotel.

During the disorder, Ms Cortese said, the hotel was damaged and petrol was poured inside and set alight.

Passing sentence, Judge Jonathan Gosling said: “I have watched the footage myself and you were recording the unfolding violence.

“You are clearly visible on the footage shouting incendiary and racist remarks.”

Hundreds of people were involved in a serious attack on the hotel, the judge said.

After ruling that Hodgkinson-Hedgecox’s offending was seriously aggravated by the fact she had taken an 11-year-old boy to the scene, the judge added: “I accept you didn’t have a weapon and you didn’t use any direct violence yourself.”

Judge Gosling said what Hodgkinson-Hedgecox had involved herself in “wasn’t politics” or a right to peaceful protest.

“Nobody is being punished for expressing their own views,” the judge continued. “This was anarchy. You were lending support to an extremely violent racist protest… where lives were endangered.”

In his submissions to the court, Mr Rudge stressed that Hodgkinson-Hedgecox had not contacted anyone else involved and that those participating in the violence were already present.

“She sees the crowd and gets involved,” the defence lawyer said. “It’s a decision she bitterly regrets.”

London Evening Standard

Hull rioter with an ‘appalling catalogue’ of other horrific offences is jailed

By
November 5, 2024
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Sonny Brewitt threw a plank of wood at police during the Hull city centre disorder in August but also admitted a string of other crimes

A violent troublemaker who played an “active” role during “12 hours of racist hate-fuelled mob violence” in Hull city centre – and also had an “appalling catalogue” of other nasty offences – has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Sonny Brewitt was at the front of the frightening disturbances, including the targeting of a garage where cowering children and others had to take refuge. In separate offences, he made his ex-girlfriend’s life a misery by repeatedly harassing her and he was also involved in a callous burglary, Hull Crown Court heard.

Brewitt, 22, of College Grove, off Preston Road, east Hull, admitted violent disorder, racially aggravated criminal damage and stealing a wallet on August 3.

He also admitted separate earlier offences of stalking his ex-girlfriend between July and December last year, breaching a restraining order and assaulting a nurse. He admitted a separate burglary offence on July 14.

Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said that bare-chested Brewitt was holding a plank of wood during the disturbances in Hull city centre and he threw it at a line of police officers in Ferensway, Hull. They were forming a protective guard outside the Royal Hotel, which was understood to be housing asylum seekers at the time.

Brewitt was one of the leaders in the confrontation and he was one of the first to get involved in trouble at a garage in Milky Way, off Spring Bank. Seven people, including children, had to pull down the shutters and lock themselves inside the garage. There were shouts by others of “Open the door. I’ll kill you.”

Vehicles were damaged outside while the group cowered inside the main garage. They feared for their safety. Brewitt went up to the shutters and started shaking them. He was part of a mob that surrounded a BMW car with three terrified Romanian occupants inside. He leaned in and stole a wallet.

The stalking offence happened when Brewitt breached a restraining order that had been imposed by Hull magistrates on January 5, 2022, banning him from contacting his ex-girlfriend.

On July 26 last year, he approached her and shouted aggressively at her before grabbing a pram. He followed her, became more aggressive and punched her in the face before pushing her off a fence.

He tried to take her mobile phone from her and pushed her into a bush. She shouted “Get off me”. A nurse saw what was happening and she said that she was going to call the police. Brewitt became aggressive towards her and assaulted her.

In November, Brewitt sent voicemails to his ex-girlfriend, including saying “I’m on my way” and, on another occasion, he went to her home. He also sent a text message to her, pretending to be “Paul from Clough Road custody” and giving a fake crime number.

During a telephone call to the phone number that sent the text, the woman realised that the voice was not the supposed police officer but Brewitt.

The burglary offence happened when Brewitt and an accomplice raided a house in Kilnsea Grove, near Preston Road, east Hull. A TV was stolen from the living room as well as a firestick and a sound bar.

Brewitt was identified from CCTV pictures. The occupier was devastated by what happened because she had known Brewitt for years.

Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that Brewitt admitted playing an “active” role in the city centre disturbances and it was an escalation in his criminal behaviour from earlier offences.

“His life has clearly spiralled out of control,” said Mr Shipley. “There is no getting over that. This will be his first custodial sentence.”

Brewitt was immature, easily manipulated and prone to boredom and recklessness. He had struggled with the breakdown of his previous relationship with his girlfriend as they had a child together.

Judge John Thackray KC said that Brewitt committed an “appalling catalogue” of offences. He was part of “12 hours of racist hate-fuelled mob violence” in Hull city centre and “utterly deplorable” behaviour.

Brewitt was jailed for a total of five-and-a-half years. It included two years for the city centre violence offences, a consecutive 18 months for breaching the restraining order and a consecutive two years for burglary. He was given a five-year restraining order.

Hull Daily Mail

Rioter pushed burning bin towards police cordon after violence erupted at Middlesbrough protest

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November 5, 2024
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Paul Smith was jailed for 22 months following violent disorder in Middlesbrough

A rioter pushed a bin towards a police cordon after violence erupted at a far-right protest.

Paul Smith, 24, was locked up for 22 months at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, following riots in Middlesbrough on Sunday, August 4. The court heard Smith was seen on Ayresome Street among a group of males who were trying to set alight a Biffa bin.

The Middlesbrough defendant was seen with a lighter before pushing the bin into the police cordon. A second bin, a household wheelie bin, was also set alight and pushed into the police cordon.

The St Catherine’s Court defendant was jailed for 22 months for violent disorder. Teesside Live previously reported how protestors stormed Middlesbrough town centre in August after a week of violence across the country in protests organised by far-right and anti-immigration groups.

Cars were torched, windows were smashed and police were attacked in the shameful violence. In recent weeks, countless rioters have been jailed on Teesside with police still tracing suspects.

Following the troubles, Cleveland Police launched an investigation to identify individuals suspected of being involved. Codenamed Operation Acorn is led by detectives in the force’s homicide and major enquiry team.

Gazette Live

Rioter jailed for police office attack

By
November 5, 2024
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A rioter who attacked a police station with metal poles during disorder has been jailed for three years and four months.

Brian Gilby, 27, was part of a mob which targeted the police office on Waterloo Place, Sunderland, during widespread mayhem on 2 August, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Gilby, of Hendon Burn Avenue in Sunderland, also looted a vape shop, prosecutors said.

He admitted rioting with judge Tim Gittins saying he had brought “shame on the city”.

‘Abhorrent behaviour’

Hundreds of people were involved in disorder which broke out across the city after anti-immigration protests turned violent, prosecutor Michael Bunch said.

Police officers were repeatedly attacked with missiles, with four needing hospital treatment.

Businesses were also looted, vehicles damaged and windows smashed, during the unrest.

Gilby was seen on CCTV at the forefront of a group attacking a police office with metal poles and passing weapons to others to use, Mr Bunch said.

He also wielded a fire extinguisher at the building while a neighbouring citizens’ advice office burned after being set alight by rioters which was an “irony”, judge Gittins said.

Gilby then went to a looted vape shop and helped himself to as many products as his “tracksuit bottoms could hold”, the judge said, adding that there was “no legitimacy” for the “abhorrent behaviour”.

‘Encouraged others’

In mitigation, Nick Lane said Gilby had been celebrating a friend’s birthday and was “drawn” into the disorder after “stumbling” across it.

He said the father-of-three, who had missed important family milestones while on remand, was “deeply embarrassed and ashamed” by his actions.

Judge Gittins said he was part of an “orgy of mindless destruction” which “shocked, appalled” and caused fear to “right-thinking” people.

He said those present “inflamed” others to take part in the disorder.

The judge said he acknowledged jailing Gilby would have an affect on his family but told him: “You weren’t thinking of them when you took part in this disgraceful behaviour.”

BBC News

Brick-throwing rioter and disorder recorder jailed

By
November 4, 2024
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A rioter who threw bricks at police and a man who filmed disorder and tried to intervene in the arrest of a protestor have been jailed.

Liam Doeg and Ian Kirtley, both from Sunderland, were involved in multiple incidents after anti-immigration protests turned violent in the city on 2 August, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Doeg, 33, repeatedly attacked police and looted a vape shop. Kirtley, 36, was part of a group that tried to attack a mosque and encouraged people to attack officers as he filmed them on his phone.

Doeg, who admitted rioting and burglary, was jailed for three years and eight months and Kirtley, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, for one year and nine months.

Violence erupted across Sunderland City Centre at about 16:00 BST after protestors gathered in the wake of the killing of three young girls in Southport, prosecutor Omar Ahmad said.

Four police officers required hospital treatment, shops were looted, windows were smashed, a Citizens Advice office was set on fire and a neighbouring police station was “ransacked”, the court heard

Doeg, of Poplar House in Sunderland, was “at the front” of a crowd throwing bricks at a line of police officers in Keel Square at about 19:30 BST and about an hour later was part of a group that sprayed police with a fire extinguisher and hurled multiple missiles, the court heard.

He also pushed a wheelie bin at police, threw a parasol and helped a group thrust a picnic bench at officers, Mr Ahmad said.

At about 21:30 BST he entered a vape shop which had already been looted and stole multiple products from a smashed cabinet, the court was told.

Kirtley, of Hylton Road in Sunderland, was draped in an England flag when he was part of a group that went to attack a mosque in St Mark’s Road but they were thwarted by a line of officers, Mr Ahmad said.

‘Ferocious attacks’

A short while later he intervened in the arrest of man on Hylton Road, pulling him free so he could escape from a horse-mounted police officer, the court heard.

Later Kirtley filmed people throwing stolen beer kegs at police and indicated a bin to protestors to be used as a weapon.

After being arrested, Kirtley claimed he had gone simply to “wave a flag” and was pointing to the bin to tell people not to use it.

In a statement read to the court, Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said the riot had been “appalling” with officers “ferociously” attacked.

She said the force had requested more than £1.5m from the Home Office to help pay for police operations in the aftermath.

‘Brought shame’

In mitigation for Doeg, the court heard he was drunk at the time and had a history of alcohol addiction.

The court was also told he was sorry for his actions.

Kirtley, meanwhile, was “vulnerable and easily influenced by others,” his barrister said.

Judge Tim Gittins said Doeg, Kirtley and others had brought shame on Sunderland, having gathered in large numbers for “no justifiable reason whatsoever”.

He said they carried out an “orgy of mindless destruction” including “serious acts of violence towards person and property”.

Judge Gittins said Kirtley had also brought “equal shame” to the England flag he carried through part of the disorder.

BBC News

Man jailed for violent disorder during riot

By
November 4, 2024
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Two men have been handed jail terms for violent disorder during this summer’s riots.

Unrest spread in Middlesbrough on 4 August, during a protest which started at the town’s cenotaph.

Akheel Khan, 24, of Wheatley Close in Middlesbrough, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, appeared at Teesside Crown Court and was sentenced to 15 months.

Meanwhile, Ashley Ferguson, 34, of Somerset Street in Middlesbrough, who was charged with a number of offences including violent disorder, was also sentenced to 30 months in jail.

Ferguson was handed 30 months for violent disorder and 12 months, to be served concurrently, for burglary.

A charge of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place was left to remain on file.

BBC News

Man who threw missiles at police in Bristol riot avoids jail

By
November 1, 2024
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Ricky Whitbread was filmed on police bodycam footage making threatening gestures towards officers

A 33-year-old man from Bristol has become the 35th person to be sentenced for their involvement in the Bristol riots. Ricky Whitbread, from Brenty, has been handed a suspended prison sentence after launching missiles at police officers during the disorder in August.

Whitbread pleaded guilty to the charge of violent disorder and was given an 18-month suspended sentence at Bristol Crown Court yesterday, Thursday, October 31.

During the incident outside the Mercure Hotel on Saturday, August 3, Whitbread was filmed on police bodycam footage making threatening gestures towards officers and hurling an object.

Judge James Patrick said he had been involved in a “disgusting and very ugly ordeal” on Saturday 3 August adding that he had multiple opportunities to leave but decided not to.

Detective Inspector Tom Herbert said: “Ricky Whitbread’s behaviour throughout the disorder that day was shameful and he has rightly appeared before the court for sentencing.”

He is now the 35th person to be sentenced for their involvement in the disorder on August 3.

Bristol Post

Girl, 13, charged over UK riots admits violent disorder and stealing four bottles of Lucozade and cash

By
November 1, 2024
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A 13-year-old girl charged over her involvement in the UK riots has admitted violent disorder, stealing four bottles of Lucozade and cash.

The youngster admitted violent disorder in County Road, in the Walton area of Liverpool on August 3 and two other charges involving theft of the energy drink and money from Go Local Extra in nearby Delamore Street on the same date.

The girl, dressed in a blue tracksuit and trainers, appeared before Liverpool Youth Court and the magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

She was remanded on unconditional bail to appear for sentence before a District Judge on November 26.

The riots were stoked as misinformation about the perpetrator of the Southport stabbings circulated online – claiming, falsely, that he was a Muslim asylum seeker and giving a fake name.

It was shared by a number of high-profile far right figures online and a Russian-affiliated ‘news’ website.

In early August Liverpool was beset by a group of about 100 thugs who set fire to bins, damaged businesses and buildings and threw missiles at police on County Road, Liverpool.

Spellow Library was also torched during the violent scenes.

The rioting came after the murder of three young girls – Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.

The three girls had been attending the summer holiday club at the Hart Space Community Centre, in Southport, when they were stabbed on July 29.

Eight other children and two adults were also seriously injured.

According to data collated by the PA news agency, more than 600 people were charged over the Southport disorder.

Of these, 75 are children under the age of 18 – 13 per cent of the total.

The attack and subsequent rioting prompted King Charles to express his ‘profound shock’ and cut into his holiday to Balmoral, in Scotland, to visit the Merseyside seaside town.

Daily Mail

Prison term for violent disorder rioter

By
October 31, 2024
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A man has been jailed for violent disorder during a riot in the summer.

Paul Sizer, 40, from Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 27 months in prison at Teesside Crown Court after admitting his part in the unrest on 4 August.

The disorder had spread from an afternoon protest at the town’s cenotaph, and was described by officers at the time as “staggering”.

Cleveland Police believes 143 suspected offenders have yet to be identified.

The riot was one of many that took place across the UK following the deaths of three young girls who were stabbed during a dance workshop in Southport.

BBC News

Rioter jailed for threat to bite police officer

By
October 31, 2024
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A man who threw rocks at police during a riot in Staffordshire in the summer, telling one officer he would “bite his face off”, has been jailed for three years.

Martin McCluskey was filmed verbally abusing the officer before footage also showed him throwing missiles at officers, during trouble in Tamworth in August.

The 60-year-old, of Manor Road, Tamworth, previously admitted violent disorder and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, at Stafford Crown Court.

Asst Ch Con Stuart Ellison, of Staffordshire Police, said officers faced “acts of mindless criminality and violence” in the riot, during which petrol bombs were thrown and attempts made to torch a hotel housing asylum seekers.

BBC News