Archive

Tag Archives: riots

Ellis Wharton brought to court

By
August 5, 2024
Uncategorized

The 22-year-old is charged with burglary with intent to steal at Spellow Library and assaulting an emergency services worker, namely PC Thomas Nielsen.

He is brought into the dock wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit with a black eye and short mousey hair. Wharton speaks to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He pleads guilty to burglary and not guilty to the assault. Mr Sanderson-Kirk says that the defendant was found inside the library carrying the computer screen by PC Nielson, who told him: “You’re getting locked up.”

Judge Boswell sends the case to the crown court on August 29.

Wharton, who has no previous convictions, is remanded into custody until this date.

Liverpool Echo

Woman pleads guilty to violent disorder in Sunderland

By
August 5, 2024
Uncategorized

A woman has pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being seen on footage pushing a large bin towards a police line during unrest in Sunderland.

Leanne Hodgson, 43, of Holborn Road, Sunderland, denies being involved in the original march but says she had been out drinking and became involved in the disorder when the pub closed, a court heard.

South Tyneside Magistrates Court was told she “came out into the street, was very drunk and angry, and behaved as described”.

John Garside, prosecuting, said “there was a large crowd cheering and joining in” as Hodgson pushed the bin at officers. She was later arrested at her home address.

The defendant, who has a “long-running alcohol problem,” was remanded in custody to be sentenced on September 2.

District Judge Zoe Passfield told her:

“This was large-scale mob violence which resulted in fear to the public and damage to local businesses.

“There is absolutely no justification for it. You chose to involve yourself in it.”

Manchester Evening News

Man admits taking vapes from shop in Sunderland that was damaged during disorder

By
August 5, 2024
Uncategorized

A man has admitted taking vapes from a shop in Sunderland that was damaged during the disorder, but denied being part of the protests.

Brian Gilby, 27, of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder when he appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on Monday.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary. The court heard he was seen on footage going into a damaged shop and taking boxes of vapes.

Heather Bolton, defending, said Gilby denied being part of the protests or of any violent disorder, but was out “socialising with friends” in the city centre when he saw a shop “that had already been damaged” and went inside.

Gilby was remanded in custody and will make his first appearance at a crown court on September 2.

Manchester Evening News

Drummond ‘punches officer in the face’

By
August 5, 2024
Uncategorized

Drummond, who is represented by Jack Sweeney, is brought into the dock wearing a grey jumper and sporting short greying hair.

One of his supporters is in tears in the public gallery. He speaks to confirm his name, address and date of birth before pleading guilty to both charges.

Mr Sanderson-Kirk says: “PC Ball had been deployed to Southport after the attacks on Hart Street. At about 6pm he was deployed in uniform to the mosque on St Luke’s Road. He sighted a group of around 300 marching towards the mosque. The crowd were shouting this is our f***ing country and scumbag b******s. Numbers grew rapidly and officers had to withdraw. The crowd were shouting England till I die and let’s get them.”

Mr Sanderson-Kirk says of the officer: “He had to draw his baton and was shouting get back. The crowd were shouting who the f*** is Allah.”

Drummond was then said to have shouted “s*** houses” before punching the officer in the face.

Another PC then “affected a baton strike” on the defendant, who went on to throw bricks and “breaking down a garden wall”.

PC Ball was left with injuries including cuts and bruises to his arms. Footage taken from a helicopter at the scene is played to the court.

Mr Sweeney says it is not accepted that Drummond is shown throwing bricks on the clip. There is no application for bail.

Judge Boswell sends the case to the crown court to be sentenced on August 29 and says: “This court’s sentencing powers are insufficient. You will be remanded into custody.

“If there is to be a basis of plea, that should be provided by August 15.”

A pre-sentence report is also ordered.

Drummond turns to his supporters in the public gallery and says “love you” as he is led down to the cells.

Liverpool Echo

Burglar who targeted Spellow Library during riots says ‘nice one lad’ as he’s led to cells

By
August 5, 2024
Uncategorized

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard convicted burglar Adam Wharton was “attacked in the cells” before his case was called on

A man who burgled Spellow Library wearing a balaclava during the weekend’s riots said “nice one lad” as he was led to the cells. Adam Wharton, 28 and of Selwyn Street in Walton, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning, Monday, August 5 after he was charged with burglary in relation to serious disorder on Saturday night.

Wharton, who was brought into the dock wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit, pleaded guilty to the charge put before him. His case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court for sentence on August 29.

Before the proceedings started, the court heard from Wharton’s solicitor Isaac Mirza who said the defendant had been “attacked in the cells” prior to appearing. Mr Mirza said the defendant had “a bloodied nose and an injury to his eye”.

Wharton’s charge comes in relation to the violent disorder in Liverpool and around the country over the weekend. A planned protest at the Pier Head on Saturday afternoon turned violent, with Merseyside Police forced to use riot gear after people were seen throwing bricks and debris at officers.

Scenes later spilled onto County Road in Walton, with rioters causing major damage in what police described as “serious violent disorder”. Chaos, violence and destruction followed as looters targeted businesses, bins were used to start fires and the Spellow Library & Community Hub was set alight.

Prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk told the court: “Officers were dealing with large scale violent disorder. Officers dealt with arson, throwing bricks and glass. A police helicopter observed a male entering Spellow Hub Library, which had previously been burnt out and looted.”

The prosecutor said one man was found inside the library carrying a computer monitor. He added: “Outside, the police found this defendant. He was wearing a balaclava and appeared to be profusely sweating. The crown says this defendant was acting as a lookout.”

Mr Sanderson-Kirk told the court the offence carries a starting point of one year with a range of a community order to two years in prison. The court hears that Wharton has 16 previous convictions for 26 offences, including robbery and burglary.

His solicitor Mr Mirza said there would be no application for bail. The defendant put his hands up and said: “Am I allowed to speak?” District Judge Timothy Boswell told Mr Mirza to speak to his client, before addressing the defendant.

He said: “Mr Wharton, I am committing your case for sentence to the crown court. It will be up to the crown court to decide what the right sentence is.” Following a query regarding the preparation of a pre-sentence report, the defendant said “nice one lad” as he was led to the cells.
Liverpool Echo

Gareth Rigby fined after becoming ‘aggressive’ to police in ‘shameful mass disorder’ in Bolton

By
August 5, 2024
Uncategorized

Gareth Rigby, 43, of Masefield Drive in Bolton, was fined after he admitted a single charge of using threatening words or behaviour during yesterday’s protests in Bolton.

Prosecutor Mr Cooper told Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning that the defendant was stopped by the police at around 2.30pm because they suspected he had ‘substances’ on him.

No substances were found but the defendant became ‘aggressive’ towards the officers, the court was told.

Rigby threatened the officers and told them to ‘f*** themselves’, according to the prosecutor.

When the defendant was cautioned by the officers, he was said to have told them ‘you get f***ed’.

In a statement read out in court, the arresting police officer said:

“I’m sick and tired of people who think it’s part of my job to put up with this kind of behaviour.”

He said the defendant, who is on benefits, never offered an apology.

The court heard Rigby has 15 previous convictions for 23 offences including being drunk and disorderly last year.

David Philpott, defending, told the court his client had spent one night in police custody and that it was not an offence which could attract a prison sentence.

District Judge Joanne Hirst told the defendant:

“You involved yourself in the shameful mass disorder in Bolton yesterday.”

The defendant had shown ‘significant disrespect to the police who were trying to keep members of the public safe’, said the judge.

However, the judge acknowledged it was a ‘non-imprisonable offence’ before fining the defendant £120. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs plus a £48 victim surcharge.

Manchester Evening News

First suspect appears in Manchester court

By
August 5, 2024
Uncategorized

Daniel Robinson, 37, of Lesley Street in Bolton, admitted one count of possession of an offensive weapon, a hammer, when he appeared before a judge.

The court heard Robinson had not gone into Bolton town centre for the purpose of attending the protests on Sunday but that police found him in possession of a claw hammer outside the Army Careers’ Office.

Prosecutor Mr Cooper said CCTV captured the defendant with the hammer at 5.35pm in Bolton town centre on Sunday.

The defendant appeared to have a claw hammer and when officers attended they found him with the weapon, the court was told.

The court heard the defendant had 11 previous convictions covering 13 offences although the last one was 12 years ago.

He wasn’t directly involved in the protest, the court was told.

District Judge Joanne Hirst told the court she believed her powers ‘are insufficient given the mass violence experienced during the protest in Bolton’ on Sunday.

She adjourned the case until September 2 when Robinson will be sentenced at Bolton Crown Court.

David Philpott, defending, said his client, a pipe fitter, was in his car with two of his children when items were thrown at the car and ‘words were exchanged’ with a group of others.

Robinson made a ‘very very foolish decision’ to pursue them with the hammer, the court heard.

Mr Philpott said:

“He very much regrets his actions.”

The defendant, a father-of-three aged 18 months, six years and 17 years, was granted bail on condition he does not enter Bolton town centre.

Manchester Evening News

Man weeps in court as seven are charged with violent disorder in Hartlepool

By
August 2, 2024
Uncategorized

200 people were on the streets when trouble flared, Teesside Magistrates’ Court was told.

A man cried in court as he and his partner admitted joining in the disorder that broke out in Hartlepool on Wednesday night.

Steven Mailen, 54, of Elliott Street, Hartlepool, and Ryan Sheers, 28, of Powlett Street, each admitted a single charge of violent disorder during a series of hearings for seven defendants at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

Paul Doney, prosecuting, said around 200 people gathered on Wednesday in the town centre and police were deployed to maintain order.

The march moved towards mosques and a community centre, Mr Doney said, and officers came under attack from bricks, eggs and other weapons.

Disorder lasted for several hours and a police car was torched, the prosecution said.

Mailen was “constantly in the face of officers” and was gesticulating towards them, shouting, until he was struck on the leg by an officer’s extendable baton.

His partner Sheers, who wept during the hearing, was then bitten on the hip by a police dog, the court heard.

He had been trying to push through the police cordon, shouting and refusing to move away.

The defendants, who have no previous convictions, were granted bail by District Judge Helen Cousins to appear before Teesside Crown Court for sentencing on September 2.

Sheers, formerly a McDonalds worker, was emotional and said: “Thank you judge, thank you.”

The pair covered their faces as they left court.

When asked why they got involved, Sheers replied: “Didn’t get involved in nothing.”

Asked about his actions, he replied: “We didn’t smash no town up.”

Asked if they regretted getting involved, he said: “We didn’t get involved.”

Asked why they pleaded guilty, Sheers said: “Wrong place, wrong time, sir.”

Five other defendants were remanded in custody to appear before the same court on the same day.

Anthony Allen, 42, of Ormesby Road, Hartlepool, was charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.

James Elliott, 41, of Raby Road, Hartlepool, was with him in the dock, charged with violent disorder.

Peter Clark, 47, of no fixed address, appearing separately, was charged with violent disorder and exposure after allegedly showing his buttocks and genitalia to police.

No pleas were entered to any of the charges.

John Barton, 33, of Duke Street, Hartlepool, and Dylan Wiley, 28, of St Catherine’s Court, appeared in the dock together at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, charged with violent disorder.

Wiley is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a plank of wood.

Mr Doney, prosecuting, said Barton threw bricks at the police and was arrested after he was bitten by a police dog.

The prosecution said Wylie was caught on body-worn camera footage throwing missiles, shouting at police and threatening to hit them with a large piece of wood.

They denied the charges.

London Evening Standard