A man has been sentenced for assaulting a police officer during rioting last summer.
Anthony Allen, 43, pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer on a night of unrest in Hartlepool on 31 July 2024, one of several nights of disturbances across the country in the wake of the Southport stabbings.
Allen, of Ormesby Road, Hartlepool, was cleared of taking part in the violent disorder by a jury in August.
He was handed a 12-month conditional discharge at Teesside Crown Court on Friday.
A man who hurled missiles at police during violent disorder in Rotherham was caught on CCTV buying beer shortly after the attack.
Jack Knight, 21, Bolton-upon-Dearne, was recorded throwing various missiles at police officers while wearing a balaclava to hide his identity, a court heard.
CCTV later then captured Knight purchasing a crate of beer from a nearby store during which he took his face covering off.
A social media appeal identified Knight and following his arrest a search of his house was conducted.
Analysis of a phone seized from the 21-year-old’s home included evidence of his offending.
This included messages placing Knight at the disorder, banking app transactions matching to the time Knight was seen purchasing beer and photos from outside the hotel.
Knight was charged with violent disorder.
After pleading guilty to the charge, he was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years, as well as a 50-day rehabilitation order.
Callum Armstrong, of Seaham, admitted violent disorder for his role in the widespread disorder in Sunderland last August
A man who threw a can of beer towards two people during a riot which brought shame on Sunderland has been locked up.
Callum Armstrong is the latest person to be sentenced over the disgraceful disorder that broke out in the city last August.
Newcastle Crown Court heard he was seen on CCTV, wearing a white polo shirt and black shorts, with two other men. They then joined a large crowd who were walking along John Street.
Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said Armstrong was drinking from a can of beer as he walked along. He added that there was audio of jeering and one of the group shouted a racial slur and a missiles were thrown by some of those in the crowd.
Armstrong threw his can of beer towards two men who were just inside an open window and it struck the window sill. Mr Perks said: “It was an attempted assault on members of the public with a weapon.”
Armstrong, 25, of Frederick St, Seaham, County Durham, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Jailing him for 12 months, Recorder Adam Vaitilingham KC said his behaviour had contributed to inciting others to more serious offending. He told him: “It may be you weren’t involved in direct attacks on the police but your actions encouraged other people.
“It was a protest that turned into widespread public disorder with a huge amount of damage caused to buildings, shops and police vehicles. Police officers were injured and it was terrifying for anyone who might have been caught up in what was persistent and widespread public disorder.”
The judge said that while Armstrong was a “hard-working young man who had barely been in trouble” and had positive references, only immediate custody could be justified.
Helen Towers, defending, said: “His role is peripheral and he has expressed remorse and has insight into the effect on the community.
“He is of previous good character. This was bravado. He has no animosity towards the police.
“It was seconds of very poor decision making but was peripheral to the wider disorder. He is full of shame and will do anything to repay the community that he damaged.”
A man who helped stoke a fire outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for nine years.
Matthew Crossland, 32, was filmed throwing planks of wood and bricks at police and the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August last year.
Footage later showed him adding wood to one of the fires that had been set around the building by some of the 400 anti-immigration protesters.
Crossland, of Everill Gate Lane, Wombwell, Barnsley, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life, was handed one of the longest sentences in connection with the Manvers riot at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday.
A second man, Jack Knight, has been spared jail “by the skin of your teeth”.
The 21-year-old had been caught on video “taunting” officers by running a large stick along their shields and throwing missiles, including stones, at the police line.
‘Baleful upbringing’
The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said: “You have truly endured what may be described as a hardscrabble life so far. The [pre-sentence] report makes it clear what happened to you as a youngster, and I understand.”
The details of Knight’s upbringing were not disclosed in court, but Judge Richardson described them as “baleful”.
Knight, of The Crescent, Bolton-upon-Dearne, was handed a 20-month sentence suspended for two years along with 50 sessions of rehabilitation activity and must return to court for periodic reviews by the judge.
“We all need boundaries, and the problem with your life is there haven’t been any,” Judge Richardson said.
He told him there would be no further chances, adding: “Justice, on occasion, needs to be seasoned with mercy.”
Matthew Crossland, 32, was jailed for nine years after he fuelled a fire set outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.
A 32-year-old man who fuelled a fire set outside a hotel housing more than 200 asylum seekers has been given a sentence which equals the longest handed down following the rioting in August 2024.
Matthew Crossland was jailed for nine years when he was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, South Yorkshire Police confirmed.
The force said Crossland was caught on CCTV throwing planks of wood and bricks at both the hotel and officers protecting the Holiday Inn Express, in Rotherham, on August 4 last year.
Body worn footage from officers inside the hotel captured Crossland’s abusive behaviour as he launched missiles towards police.
A spokesman said Crossland was finally captured adding wood to a fire before removing a face covering he had worn to attempt to conceal his identity.
Crossland, of Everill Gate Lane, Wombwell, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life.
More than 100 men have now been convicted for their role in the mob violence outside the hotel, which was besieged for around 12 hours.
Police officers and the hotel itself were pelted with missiles as more than 200 asylum seekers and 22 staff were trapped inside.
At one point, the rioters smashed their way into the building and a burning wheelie-bin was pushed against a fire door.
A total of 64 officers were injured in the violence along with police horses and a dog.
Two other men – Thomas Birley, 27, and Levi Fishlock, 31 – have also been jailed for nine years at Sheffield Crown Court for similar offending to Crossland in relation to the fire outside the hotel.
Daniel Kirtley has become the latest person to be jailed after widespread violent disorder broke out in Sunderland last August
A man who was with a group of “thugs with a mob mentality” who clashed with police protecting a mosque has been jailed.
Daniel Kirtley attended Sunderland city centre out of “curiosity” on August 2 last year as a protest turned into a riot which brought shame on the city and left police with a bill of £1.5m.
A court heard Kirtley was identified as participating in the widespread disorder on a series of pieces of footage. This included joining a group who had headed towards a mosque.
While some people squared up to police, Kirtley could be seen standing in front of officers. Michael Bunch, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court the police line tried to advance three times and officers had to push Kirtley back.
Mr Bunch said: “The first two times, he immediately returned to the his position in the line. The third time, he was pulled back by another member of the crowd.
“He could then be seen further down the road, bending down and picking up a missile which he threw towards the police line.” Kirtley, who had been drinking, said he had been with two cousins and headed to the city centre after seeing others heading that way.
Mr Bunch said: “He said he had been talking to the police when an officer used his shield to knock him to the floor. That’s not captured on the footage.
“He said he was angered by that and picked up a brick, which he threw. He said he threw it deliberately high so it didn’t hit anyone. He said he wished he hadn’t done that act.”
In an impact statement, Northumbria Police said they had submitted a claim for £1.5m to the Home Office.
Kirtley, 35, of Lyndhurst Terrace, Sunderland, who has nine previous convictions but nothing since he was a youth, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was jailed for 16 months.
A judge asked Mr Bunch if the police were there to protect the mosque. He said that was the intention, although it was not in the “immediate vicinity” and there was no evidence Kirtley was motivated by hostility based on religious beliefs.
He added that officers were concerned the mosque was the “direction of travel given the movement of the people towards that street”. Mr Bunch said: “It was more a matter of concern that was the ultimate aim. There’s nothing to say that this defendant had that in mind.”
Kirtley pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 16 months. Recorder Caroline Sellars told him the disorder he joined in was “carried out by thugs with mob mentality” and said a deterrent sentence was necessary.
Jason Smith, defending, said Kirtley’s involvement was “limited”. He told the court he had been sitting with his cousins when he saw lots of people going past and attended the scene out of “curiosity”, having noticed on social media that a protest was taking place.
Mr Smith added: “He stupidly attended because he had been drinking. He is a confirmed alcoholic. He attended to see what the event was all about.
“He deeply regrets that he became involved. He has shown extreme remorse.”
Stuart Polley, of Washington, has been jailed for three years and four months for taking part in a riot in Sunderland city centre last August
A rioter who “brought shame” on an England flag and Sunderland was reprimanded for laughing as he was jailed.
Stuart Polley was caught on camera participating in widespread disorder while wearing a pink shirt with a St George’s flag draped over his shoulders.
A court heard his criminality involved throwing a piece of metal fencing towards a police van and breaking up a wooden bench to produce further missiles. As the wider facts of what happened in Sunderland city centre on August 2 last year were outlined by prosecutors, Polley was told off by Judge Amanda Rippon near the start of the hearing at Newcastle Crown Court for his reaction in the dock.
She told his barrister: “I’m going to give you a couple of minutes to read the riot act to your client, who’s laughing and seems to think it’s funny. If I come back and he is anything other than a statue in the dock I will read him the riot act, and I use that term quite deliberately and any person in the public gallery who he is engaging with, I will remove.”
Laura Miller, defending, later explained that Polley had not expected the wider facts of what happened to be outlined as he was not directly responsible for those. She said his reaction was shock rather than amusement.
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, told the court of Polley’s involvement: “The defendant was identified as an individual who participated in acts of disorder. He was captured in a series of pieces of footage.
“He was first seen on camera drinking and milling around with others on Keel Square. He has an England flag on his shoulders.
“As disorder breaks out, he was seen near the Empire theatre at the front of a crowd who were confronting officers in protective equipment. He and others were seen pushing a picnic table towards a police van.
“The defendant returned to the same vehicle a short time later. He was dragging a piece of metal fencing and throwing it towards the vehicle. Not content to leave matters there, he was seen to break up a wooden bench, no doubt to obtain further missiles.”
When he was interviewed, he said he attended to show support for the protest and had three or four pints beforehand. He admitted being in the crowd but but said he played no part in the violent acts.
When shown the CCTV of what he had done, he said he had no memory of doing it.
Polley has four previous convictions, including an arson attack for which he was jailed in 2018 after setting fire to a house in revenge, blaming the absent occupier for the death of his cousin.
For the latest offence, he pleaded guilty to riot and was jailed for three years and eight months. Judge Rippon told him: “You were present at what was a planned event and mirroring what had occurred in other cities and towns over a few days you, together with others, brought shame on Sunderland. For no justifiable reason whatsoever, you and others gathered in the city to participate in an orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder.
“Your pink shirt was readily identifiable in footage, over which you draped an England flag, which you wore as you rioted and brought shame on that flag.”
Laura Miller, defending, said Polley is remorseful for what he did. She added: “He has expressed that he is ashamed of his actions. He called his behaviour on the footage absolutely ridiculous.”
She added that those close to him say he is kind, caring and compassionate and a good role model.
Two men have admitted violent disorder and have been told they are likely to face jail time
Two men who took part in a demonstration outside a hotel housing asylum seekers have been warned they are likely to be jailed.
Supermarket worker Dean Smith along with Stuart Williams were two of several men to have appeared in court charged with violent disorder following protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping.
Protests began after a migrant who was housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. A series of separate hearings took place at Chelmsford Crown Court today involving people alleged to have gone to the area during protests last month.
Smith, 51, of Epping, pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder said to have happened on July 17. Judge Jamie Sawyer remanded Smith in custody until October 6 when he will be sentenced at the same court, and he warned the sentence would “likely” be one of immediate custody.
Barrister Christopher Martin, for Smith, told the court Smith “lives with his mother and is her carer” and “still works full-time for a supermarket where he’s worked full-time for the last seven years”.
Additionally, Williams, 36, of Duck Lane, Thornwood, Epping, pleaded guilty to a single charge of violent disorder. No information on his alleged actions were shared during the short hearing. Williams will now be remanded in custody ahead of his sentence with the other defendants who have pled guilty on October 6 in the same court.
Judge Sawyer has authorised a pre sentence report for Williams, but warned him he faces jail. He said: “The only likelihood is an immediate prison sentence, but give the benefit of the doubt for that pre-sentence report. You will be back before this court for sentence with the other defendants who have pleaded guilty in this case. You will be remanded in custody.”
Lee Gower, 43, of Epping, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and he also denied assaulting a police officer on July 17. Gower was remanded in custody until a further case management hearing on September 22.
Shaun Thompson, 37, of Epping, who is alleged to have punched a police car, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder on July 17 and was bailed until a further case management hearing on September 22.
Jonathan Glover, 47, of Waltham Abbey, was not asked to enter a plea to a charge of violent disorder alleged to have happened on July 17. Glover was bailed until September 22, when an application to dismiss his case is due to be heard.
Keith Silk, 33, of Loughton, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder on July 17. Silk also denied criminal damage, having been accused of damaging a sign belonging to the Bell Hotel, and was bailed until a further case management hearing on September 22.
Barrister Richard Reynolds, for defendant Aaron Elles, 28, of Harlow, said Elles wanted to make an application to vacate his guilty plea to a charge of violent disorder, entered at an earlier magistrates’ court hearing. Elles was remanded in custody until a further case management hearing on September 22.
Peter Towers admitted setting three deliberate fires in the space of eight hours
An arsonist who started three fires in eight hours, including torching a school bus, has been jailed.
Peter Towers pleaded guilty to three counts of arson, and admitted charges of criminal damage and having an offensive weapon.
Now, Towers, from Rosemary Crescent in Winsford, has been jailed for 10 years at Chester Crown Court. On Sunday 4 August 2024, during the far-right disturbances that swept across the UK, Cheshire Police were alerted to three intentional fires that had been started in Winsford between 3pm and 11pm.
These incidents occurred on High Street, Queensway, and Ford Court.
Eyewitnesses reporting the fires described seeing two men, fitting the descriptions of 31-year-old Towers and Joshua Sigley, reports Cheshire Live.
The fire on High Street was started using rubbish placed on the ground and a green jerrycan filled with petrol.
CCTV footage from a petrol station showed Towers arriving on a bike, filling a green jerrycan with petrol, and making payment.
Dashcam footage then captured Towers meeting with 25-year-old Sigley just minutes later.
On Queensway, a school bus was completely destroyed after being set alight, resulting in £70,000 worth of damage.
Two men matching Sigley and Towers’ description were then spotted attempting to set fire to trees near to Ford Court.
Both men were subsequently arrested at an address in Winsford on Sunday 4 August 2024 and later charged.
Sigley, from St Chads Fields in Winsford, was jailed for three-years in June after confessing to three counts of arson.
Detective Inspector Ross Hamilton stated: “Sigley and Towers’ actions were incredibly dangerous, fuelled by the national disorder last summer, and could easily have ended up injuring someone, or even worse.
“To target a school bus and cause £70,000 worth of damage is shocking.
“This should serve as a strong reminder of how serious these crimes are regarded and robust action will be taken against anyone who chooses to behave in this manner.”
Liverpool Echo
He was passed crisps, drinks and other items during the incident
A young troublemaker joined in the looting of a Greggs shop during a day of rioting in Hull city centre and he was also seen “kicking things” onto a fire and “firing” a fire extinguisher around.
Dylan Reed was part of the “horrendous” disorder that broke out that day but he was now “rightly ashamed” and “disgusted” at his antics, Hull Crown Court heard.
Reed, 24, of Melrose Street, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, admitted offences of violent disorder and burglary on August 3 last year. Michael Masson, prosecuting, said that Reed was seen on CCTV pictures using a bicycle to smash against the window of the Greggs store in Jameson Street at about 6.50pm during the day of rioting.
He was seen being given drink and crisps from the shop while it was being looted. “Things have been thrown out of the Greggs shop,” said Mr Masson.
“A man comes up to him and offers him further items.” Reed was seen kicking things onto a fire that had been started. He was also seen “firing” a fire extinguisher during the general disorder.
Ben Hammersley, mitigating, said that Reed regretted his involvement in the trouble. “This is behaviour that he is ashamed of and disgusted at,” said Mr Hammersley.
“His remorse is mirrored in his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.” There were references for Reed, including from one of his employers. He had a variety of jobs in construction and at a tyre fitting service.
He moved from Middlesbrough to Hull about four years ago to escape negative influences after suffering problems there. “He has made great strides in his life off his own back,” said Mr Hammersley. “This is undermined by what he did that day.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Reed: “Your offending formed part of the horrendous disorder that took place in this city just over a year ago. Police officers were injured.
“Police officers were permanently scarred. There was huge financial cost, not to mention the distress caused to various communities.
“You were very much on the periphery of the offending. Nevertheless, the offence is serious.”
Reed, who was on bail, was given a 20-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours’ unpaid work and 10 days’ rehabilitation. “It has been a close-run thing,” said Judge Thackray.
“If you commit any offence over the next two years, you start with 20 months and anything else on top for new offences. If you give excuses and don’t turn up on time, then you will end up serving this sentence.”
Far-Right Criminals 