Archive

Tag Archives: tamworth

Man jailed for violent disorder in town

By
January 21, 2025
Uncategorized

A man has been jailed after disorder in Staffordshire last summer.

Kyle Barber, 24, of Worthing Grove, Tamworth, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Stafford Crown Court on Monday.

Barber, who was arrested after disturbances at the Holiday Inn Express in August, was sentenced to 11 months in prison. His sentence was reduced by the 161 days he has spent in custody since being remanded.

Rioters targeted the hotel which was believed to have been housing asylum seekers as part of a wave of disorder that swept the UK after the killing of three young girls in Southport.

Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent was among places which also saw unrest.

BBC News

Couple who joined protest outside hotel housing asylum seekers jailed

By
January 9, 2025
Uncategorized

Colin Stonehouse, 36, and David Kirkbride, 28, joined a crowd of protesters who caused damage to a hotel housing asylum seekers in Staffordshire.


A couple who joined a protest outside a hotel in the wake of the Southport stabbings because they were “unhappy their taxes were being spent on housing asylum seekers” have both been jailed for 21 months.

Colin Stonehouse, 36, and David Kirkbride, 28, turned up at the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth on August 4 wearing matching football shirts with their initials on, and joined a crowd of hundreds of protesters who caused nearly £100,000 worth of damage to the hotel.

The pair spent around an hour at the scene, where others were throwing missiles including fireworks, a petrol bomb, bricks, chunks of concrete and lampposts at Staffordshire Police officers who were trying to protect staff and residents inside the hotel.

Prosecutor Daniel Moore told Stafford Crown Court on Thursday that the couple arrived at the hotel at around 6.30pm and were caught on CCTV and police body-worn camera footage in the crowd.

Stonehouse was seen shouting abuse at police and raising his arms while Kirkbride held him back.

Mr Moore said the pair were “actively encouraging people to move forward” towards the police and Kirkbride was seen laughing when a firework exploded, chanting and asking police about his taxes being spent on those in the hotel.

Stonehouse also shouted “we ain’t paying for them dickheads in there”.

When they were arrested, Kirkbride said he did not think he had done anything wrong but accepted that his actions could be perceived as racist and denied that the Southport stabbing had impacted his decision to attend the scene.

Stonehouse told police he wanted to “get his point across” that he was “unhappy” about his taxes being spent on asylum seekers but left when a hotel window was smashed and a firework was lit.

The pair both pleaded guilty to violent disorder at an earlier court hearing.

Mark Moore, defending Kirkbride and Stonehouse, said the pair had shown “incredible naivety” when they got involved in the disorder, did not realise their behaviour would equate to violent disorder and made no attempt to hide their identities.

He told the court: “They have both had four long months in custody awaiting their fate. They are regarded as model prisoners.

“They made a stupid decision to go to the protest and they became swept up in that. They have paid a price and they will continue to pay the price.

“There is no doubt they will not be back before any courthouse again.”

Jailing them, Judge John Edwards said the pair, who live together in Wilnecote, Tamworth, had attended out of “misplaced curiosity” after hearing about the protest at the pub but should have gone home instead of “vociferously venting your opinions and encouraging violence”.

He said the incident outside the hotel was an excuse for “wanton lawlessness” and said those involved are “criminals who do not represent the decent people of Tamworth”.

Addressing Kirkbride, who wiped away tears in the dock, and Stonehouse, who sat with his head in his hands throughout the hearing, the judge said: “How it comes to be that seemingly sensible, mature, hard-working people find themselves in the dock at the crown court in the aftermath of this disgraceful incident is beyond me.

“Both of you doubtless rue the day you decided to visit the Holiday Inn out of misplaced curiosity. You were both there for some time and neither of you needed to go there or stay there.

“It would have been easier had you just gone home but you didn’t. You were both part and parcel of this disorder.

“Whilst your individual roles weren’t the most serious that I have encountered, it would be wrong and misleading to look at your acts in a vacuum because violence feeds on itself.

“This was planned and coordinated conduct and you were both part of it.

“There must be a clear message that any involvement in violence of this nature cannot be tolerated.”

Judge Edwards told the pair they must serve at least half of their 21-month sentence in custody and also imposed a criminal behaviour order banning them from going to the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth or any other establishment that they believe is housing asylum seekers.
Evening Standard

‘Good’ dad bitten by police dog as he hurled beer cans at officers during riot

By
November 28, 2024
Uncategorized

He’ll now miss his daughter’s first birthday after being jailed

A dad who threw beer cans at police officers protecting a hotel full of asylum seekers and was bitten by a police dog has been jailed for 30 months.

Tommy McQuaker, 29, will miss his daughter’s first birthday this weekend after he was ordered to serve at least 12 months in prison for his part in “extreme” disorder on August 4 outside Tamworth’s Holiday Inn Express hotel that arose in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings.

When McQuaker arrived at the scene that evening, a fire had already been set inside the foyer of the hotel with around 300 protesters throwing missiles including fireworks, a petrol bomb, bricks, chunks of concrete, lampposts and makeshift flamethrowers at Staffordshire Police officers who were trying to protect those inside.

Judge John Gosling said the incident was a “siege” which involved serious violence and racist and abusive language and that McQuaker was not a ringleader but part of a mob.

Stafford Crown Court heard on Thursday that McQuaker, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, wore dark clothing, a hoodie and a balaclava to disguise himself as he pulled at least four cans of beer out of a bag and launched them at a line of officers.

At around 9.20pm, a police dog handler and police dog Vixen were deployed, with the handler giving “repeated warnings to the baying mob, including the defendant, to move back or they may be bitten”, prosecution barrister Rajbir Punia said.

When the defendant did not move, he was set upon by PD Vixen who bit his leg to “discourage him from taking part in further violent behaviour”.

Ms Punia said: “He shouted ‘get your f****** dog off me’, which appeared to incite the nearby crowd. He fuelled an already hostile crowd, leaving the police dog handler vulnerable and in fear.

“He called for help but colleagues were unable to assist him as they too were coming under attack. He said this was the first time in his 10-year career that he felt he was in trouble.”

Ms Punia said the events at the hotel was an “unacceptable, relentless attack” on both police and hotel residents, which forced staff members to run to the loft for safety as smoke bombs and other missiles were hurled at the premises and fires were set.

Defending, Christopher O’Gorman told the court that McQuaker’s “inexplicable” behaviour had had a serious effect on his family, including his children and partner, and that he was suffering as his beloved grandmother died while he was in custody.

He said: “Men have appeared before this court for offences arising out of this disturbance for whom prison is an occupational hazard and missing their family is part of that occupational hazard while they serve their time.

“There are reasons that are unique to Mr McQuaker that bear a burden that will no doubt remind him every day of the utterly reprehensible and shocking behaviour he indulged in that evening.

“He genuinely regrets his inexplicable decision to get involved in that disturbance that night, but the regret will stay with him for the rest of his life.

“He is a good father. His daughter is one this weekend and he has missed a third of her life by getting himself remanded in custody because of the terrible behaviour he took part in.

“He knows he only has himself to blame for all of this. There is a handwritten letter from his nan. She is no longer here to read the letter out herself and he will think about that every day.”

Stoke Sentinel

Two men jailed over August riot outside hotel

By
November 14, 2024
Uncategorized

Two men have been sentenced for their involvement in rioting outside a Staffordshire hotel.

Danny Hollick, 41, from Tamworth, was sentenced to two years and two months in prison and Ian Green, 55, from Kettlebrook, Tamworth, was jailed for two years.

Both were sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Monday after previously admitting violent disorder.

It brings the total number of people charged over this summer’s violence in Staffordshire to 63, with 45 convicted and 29 sentenced, according to Staffordshire Police.

The force said Hollick threw a large rock at an officer in Tamworth on 4 August and repeatedly challenged those on the front line.

Meanwhile, Green told people to target the doors of the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth, and repeatedly obstructed police who were on the front line on 4 August.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said the force was continuing to trawl through evidence to bring action against people responsible for the violent disorder both in Stoke-on-Trent on 3 August and in Tamworth on 4 August.

They appealed to members of the public to contact them with any information which may help their investigations.

BBC News

Care worker who streamed riot aftermath jailed

By
November 12, 2024
Uncategorized

A care worker who livestreamed a group of masked and hooded men making racist comments on TikTok after a riot in Staffordshire has been jailed for nine months.

Cameron Bell, 23, was caught on CCTV wearing her work uniform as about 20 people, many armed with planks of wood and what appeared to be lengths of metal, walked through Tamworth on the night of 4 August.

Stafford Crown Court heard Bell was not present during violence earlier the same day at the town’s Holiday Inn Express, which was set alight in the disorder.

Judge John Edwards said Bell’s comments on the livestream were abhorrent and had the “potential to fan the flames”.

Rejecting calls for a suspended sentence, he said: “Anyone involved in violent disorder must command immediate custody, with the need for deterrence being acute.”

He was shown TikTok videos, filmed by Bell, of Worthing Grove, Tamworth, after she left work and saw the armed group as she walked home.

She was heard swearing while referring to asylum seekers as “tramps”.

Bell admitted violent disorder in September and has been in custody since being arrested.

She appeared to be on the verge of tears in the dock as her lawyer, Stephen Rudge, told the court she was “on the periphery” of a group which had not confronted anyone.

Mr Rudge said: “Her involvement is to upload the TikTok footage that was not encouraging anyone to join in or extend the violence that had been seen earlier on.”

Much of the TikTok stream had been rather amateurish, Mr Rudge argued, giving a view of the cobblestones in Tamworth but showing no acts of violence.

Passing sentence, the judge told Bell members of the group – which was caught on CCTV near to a statue of Sir Robert Peel – were armed and clearly intent on further violence.

‘Fuelled by misinformation’

There were disturbances across this country after the fatal stabbing of three young girls at a dance class in Southport in late July.

“The violence was fuelled by misinformation and misplaced far-right sentiment,” the judge said.

“It spread to various towns and cities across the nation including, as we know, Tamworth.

“A hotel in Tamworth housing asylum seekers was targeted, with significant damage being caused and injuries sustained.”

He said Bell was among a group believed to have been heading towards a different hotel in the town.

BBC News

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

By
November 6, 2024
Uncategorized

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

Rioter jailed for threat to bite police officer

By
October 31, 2024
Uncategorized

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

Rioter jailed over asylum seeker hotel attack

By
October 17, 2024
Uncategorized

A man has become the first person to be sentenced over West Midlands riots which occurred during unrest across the UK this summer.

Simon Orr, 38, of Grazier Avenue in Tamworth, Staffordshire, was sentenced on Thursday to six years and 17 weeks in prison.

In September, he pleaded guilty to rioting and assaulting an emergency worker during disorder which saw the town’s Holiday Inn Express hotel targeted by petrol bombs and missiles.

Orr’s sentence also included a 10-year criminal behaviour order, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The Holiday Inn Express, which has been home to asylum seekers, was set on fire during the violence of 4 August.

The events came in the wake of the fatal stabbings of children in Southport, Merseyside. Social media reports had at the time erroneously suggested a suspect in the case was an asylum seeker.

No details of Orr’s involvement in the rioting were given to the court during last month’s hearing, but the CPS said then that he was an active participant who was directly attacking police, especially after officers tried to control the situation.

The CPS added during its September statement that when the disorder escalated, rather than leaving, “Orr continued to play an active role; encouraging others to set fire to the hotel with people trapped inside – recklessly endangering lives”.

On Thursday, Adam Till of the CPS, said: “This sentence reflects the seriousness of Simon Orr’s actions and sends a clear message that unlawful violence which endangers public safety will not be tolerated.

“The [CPS] is continuing to work closely with Staffordshire Police to ensure those responsible for the disorder are brought to justice.”

He said those who had taken part in the disorder could expect to be brought to justice to face the full consequences of the law.

In addition to the sentence for rioting, Orr was also sentenced for breaching the conditions of a separate suspended sentence for assault.

BBC News

Rioter, 60, threw rocks at cops as he threatened to ‘bite officer’s face off’

By
October 5, 2024
Uncategorized

A man who threw rocks at police and told an officer he would ‘bite his face off’ has admitted his part in a Staffordshire riot. Martin McCluskey, 60, was seen on footage repeatedly challenging officers who were on the frontline in the violent disorder in Tamworth on August 4.

McCluskey approached an officer and told him he would ‘bite his face off’ before launching rocks at him. Stafford Crown Court heard he continued to walk up and down the police line, shouting abuse and launching missiles.

The officer he threw the rocks at was also hit with a bicycle that was thrown in his direction. Despite wearing a public order helmet, the officer still suffered bruising and reddening to his face because of what happened. He was also doused in petrol.

McCluskey also kicked a glass bottle at an officer, causing it to shatter against the officer’s shin. The defendant was arrested after he was identified by detectives.

He went on to plead guilty to violent disorder and two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. McClusky, of Bolehall, Tamworth, was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing at the same court on October 30.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Ellison said: “McCluskey’s actions clearly reflect what the brave officers were faced with that day: acts of mindless criminality and violence with no regard for those trying to keep people safe.

“Our officers showed immeasurable courage in the face of the violence to carry out their duties and keep the public safe from harm. These officers are people living in local communities, with families and friends of their own. They, along with local residents, did not deserve what happened to them.

“We will never tolerate acts of aggression towards officers or members of our communities. McCluskey will be serving time behind bars for his actions, and those who committed similar acts will meet the same fate once our detectives find out who they are.”

MSN

Four admit role in violent disorder

By
September 26, 2024
Uncategorized

Four people, have admitted taking part in violent disorder in Staffordshire in August.

Three men and a boy all pleaded guilty to charges relating to unrest in Hanley and Tamworth – where a Holiday Inn housing asylum seekers was targeted by rioters.

Hayden Cooper-Horne, 18, of Tamworth, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possessing a controlled drug of class B.

Lewis Edwards, 21, of Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, Jordan Winyard, 28, of no fixed address, and a 16-year-old boy, of Stoke-on-Trent, all pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

During the riot in Tamworth, Cooper-Horne threw rocks at officers, while Winyard was seen wearing a pig mask when he threw missiles at officers, police dogs and the hotel, Staffordshire Police said.

It was one of a wave of protests and riots that swept the UK at the beginning of August in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

In part they were fuelled by false claims the suspect was a migrant who had come to the country in a small boat.

In Hanley, the 16-year-old boy was seen wearing a balaclava as he launched missiles at police.

Edwards was also seen throwing a rock at officers.

Staffordshire Police said 105 people had now been arrested and 42 charged with offences relating to the violent disorder.

Winyard is due to be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday, while Cooper-Horne is due to appear at the same court on 8 November.

The 16-year-old boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons – is due to be sentenced at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 16 October and Edwards is due to be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 1 November.

BBC News