A string of men and boys have been hauled to Manchester Magistrates’ Court this week, with 16 so far admitting their crimes following the ugly scenes in Manchester city centre; disorder outside a hotel in Newton Heath; and trouble in Bolton. More defendants appeared before District Judge Lucy Hogarth today.
Two more thugs have admitted their involvement in a sickening mob attack on a black man during violent scenes in Piccadilly Gardens after ‘protesters’ flooded into Manchester city centre. A teenager has also pleaded guilty to violent disorder having being accused of confronting cops trying to control crowds, breaking through a barrier and snatching beer from someone leaving a Sainsbury’s store.
There was large-scale disruption in the city centre last Saturday (August 3) following a demonstration dubbed ‘Enough is Enough’. Counter-protesters also gathered as tensions flared.
A string of men and boys have been hauled to Manchester Magistrates’ Court this week, with 16 so far admitting their crimes following the ugly scenes in the city centre; disorder outside a hotel in Newton Heath; and trouble in Bolton. More defendants appeared before District Judge Lucy Hogarth today (Saturday, August 10).
Two men – Kane Kelly, 23, of Woodford Road, Failsworth, Oldham; and Daniel Hanslip, 33, of Central Avenue, Shipley, West Yorkshire – will be behind bars tonight having been remanded into custody after admitting their guilt in relation to the attack on a lone black man in Piccadilly Gardens by dozens of thugs.
Earlier this week, other men admitted their role in the sickening assault – including Liam Ryan, 28, of Thirkleby Royd, Bradford; Joseph Ley, 30, of Hollywood Towers, Stockport; Colin Demulder, 36, of Birch Lane, Longsight, Manchester; and Anthony Livesey, 31, of Moorfield Avenue, Denton, Tameside.
As Kelly and Hanslip appeared in court, prosecutor Karen Saffman said members of the mob shouted ‘kill him’ and ‘stamp on his f*****g face’. District Judge Hogarth described the incident as a ‘racially aggravated assault’.
Ms Saffman described the violent scenes, which were caught on camera, saying: “It’s a group assault on a lone, black male. The group is heard saying, ‘kill him… stamp on his f*****g face’. The male is then dragged away and then falls to the ground.”
The court heard Hanslip was seen throwing security fencing before joining a ‘melee’ alongside Kelly. Kelly appeared to join the ‘group assault’, the court heard. Ms Saffman said the two men were identified in footage from the incident, some of which has been published on YouTube. She described the clip as ‘disturbing’.
Both men will be sentenced at the Crown court on August 16. Addressing Kelly, District Judge Hogarth said: “This is a racially aggravated group assault in broad daylight in full view of the police and it’s well out of the sentencing powers of this court.”
No application for bail was made for Kelly, who has no previous convictions. His family members were in the courtroom when the judge ruled he would be remanded into custody.
Hanslip was also remanded into custody after his application for bail was rejected. Michelle Man, defending, told the court he has no previous convictions, has a well-paid job and lives with his partner, who was in court and was due to go on holiday with him this week.
Teenager Aaron Davy pleaded guilty for his part in the violent disorder in Piccadilly Gardens. The 18-year-old’s birthday was days ater the incident on Saturday (August 3), which he was accused of being ‘heavily involved’ in.
Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard Davy, of Liney Road, Cheadle, Stockport, was part of a large, chanting group who confronted police. Davy, who was wearing a mask, was pushed back from the police line and later broke through a metal barrier to get closer to counter-protesters.
He was then seen with a man snatching a pack of beer from someone leaving a nearby branch of Sainsbury’s. Karen Saffman, prosecuting, told the court, adding: “He was an active part on this day. He wasn’t just a by-stander – he wasn’t just observing.”
Davy was granted bail after the court heard he tried to kill himself last year. Claire Parrott, defending, said: “In reality this is a very, very frightened young man.” Ms Parrott told the court Davy’s family, who were watching the hearing from the public gallery, were concerned about an older ‘friend’ who took the teenager out that day, but said that the teenager went there ‘on his own volition’ and realises the ‘enormity of the situation’.
She added: “He states that he would never put himself in this situation again.” DJ Hogarth granted bail with conditions that require him to live and sleep at his home address with an electronic tag, ensuring he remains indoors between 7pm and 7am.
Davy must also not gather in a group of more than two without an adult family member there. The judge warned Davy he may be arrested if he breaches any of these conditions and put in a cell overnight. She also told the teenager that he may receive a custodial sentence.
Explaining her decision to grant bail to Davy, DJ Hogarth said: “What I’m about to say now makes no promises about how the Crown Court deals with you. This is very serious conduct that has made communities feel frightened and has made the police’s job more difficult.”
Davy will be sentenced by the Crown Court on Friday, August 16.
On Saturday, a 13-year-old boy was the latest child to appear before DJ Hogarth. The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after he was caught throwing missiles at police outside the hotel – thought to be housing asylum seekers – in Newton Heath. His mum watched from the public gallery.
The court heard he was ‘caught up’ in the violent scenes as the ‘hostile’ and ‘aggressive’ crowd gathered on July 31. The crowd threw glass bottles, bricks and eggs at cops.
Prosecuting, Karen Saffman said: “[The boy] was seen throwing missiles at police and the hostel. He was also seen with a group of youths hitting and kicking a bus with the bus driver and members of the public on that bus.”
Ms Saffman read a statement written by a bus driver who was attacked by the mob. He wrote: “The incident has left me very stressed. It’s made me scared to deal with members of the public because I would never have expected to experience this when I started my shift at the beginning of the day.”
DJ Hogarth told the boy she would adjourn the case and request a report from the youth offending service. He was granted bail with conditions that he lives and sleeps at his home address every night; does leave the property between 7pm and 7am; and does not meet in groups of more than two people without an adult family member present.
Addressing the defendant, DJ Hogarth said: “Very serious things have been happening around you and you joined in. We need to look at how serious that was and what we’re going to do about it.”
The case was adjourned until a hearing on September 17. The boy’s mum was heard saying: “Thank you, thank you so much.”
Others to appear in court on Saturday were:
Anthony Whitelegg, 40, of Mulberry Close, Heald Green, Stockport: Charged with violent disorder in relation to the Newton Heath incident on July 31. No plea indicated. Remanded into custody ahead of Crown Court hearing on September 16
Darren Butler, 41, of Cattlin Way, Oldham: Charged with violent disorder following the incident in Newton Heath on July 31. No plea indicated. Remanded into custody ahead of Crown Court hearing on September 13
David Whittaker, 36, of Farnborough Road, Miles Platting, Manchester: Charged with violent disorder in relation to the Newton Heath incident on July 31. Not guilty plea. Remanded into custody ahead of Crown Court hearing on September 13
Colin Brown, 37, of Moorcroft Road, Manchester: Charged with violent disorder in relation to Piccadilly Gardens disorder; and robbery. He is alleged to have stolen a woman’s scarf. No pleas entered. Remanded into custody head of Crown court hearing on September 13
Manchester Evening News
