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Rioter who wheeled lit Biffa bin at line of police handed himself in after seeing footage

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August 23, 2024
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The court heard that Louis McGrother went out to join a peaceful protest but ‘the mob mentality took hold and he got carried away’

A Middlesbrough rioter who wheeled a lit waste container at a line of police, has been jailed.

Louis McGrother, 22, was captured shouting and kicking out at the police, before he got hold of the plastic bin. Along with other rioters, McGrother lit the the plastic Biffa waste container and pushed it at the police corden on Linthorpe Road.

He was captured on bodycam footage as officers held up their shields to protect themselves, after the riot turned violent and missiles were thrown at the police, on the evening of August 4. The police corden was formed to try and stop rioters breaking away onto Clarendon Road.

Days later, on August 12, McGrother walked into a police station and handed himself in. He had seen himself on the video that police released to the media; it showed McGrother, clearly visible in green shorts and a blue jumper, pushing the bin alongside other rioters. McGrother took the clothes he was wearing in the footage into Middlesbrough police station.

He refused to answer police questions but later pleaded guilty violent disorder. He has one previous conviction for four driving offences, after he crashed into a Ford Focus on the M11 in June 2022. McGrother was banned from the roads at the time and he failed to stop after the crash or report the accident.

A warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to turn up to court in Essex, and he was handed a community order. On Friday afternoon, McGrother’s partner and his mother watched from the public gallery as Teesside Crown Court heard that he was taken into prison on remand after appearing at Teesside Magistrates on August 13.

In mitigation, Joel Wootton said that McGrother had gone to the pre-arranged meeting point at the Cenotaph to take part “…in a peaceful protest. “The mob mentality took hold” Mr Wootton said, “he got carried away.”

McGrother’s barrister said that his client felt a “great deal of regret” after seeing himself in the footage “acting the way he was. He knows he has let everyone in the town down. He has a great amount of affection for Middlesbrough.”

The court heard that McGrother’s employer wrote a character reference for him – although he has now lost his job. His mother and his partner also submitted references to the court, which said that he is a “well-balanced man who takes his family responsibilities seriously; and that he has a good work ethic.” McGrother helps to care for his partner’s child.

Judge Francis Laird KC told him: “You were acting aggressively towards a line of police officers – kicking out at them. Then you, along with others, set light to a wheelie bin and pushed it towards the police corden.

“I accept that losing your liberty and your job will not only hit hard on you, but also on those you care about. You chose to take part in an organised and large scale disorder. Eight police officers were injured; police cars were damaged; there was large scale damage to houses and to public buildings.”

McGrother, of South View Terrace, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 20-months.

Gazette Live

Judge tells smirking dad ‘you shake your head’ as he jails him

By
August 23, 2024
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Rory Allington-Mott winked as he was led down to the cells

A racist thug smirked and shook his head as a judge scorned him for the “repulsive” views that saw him target a mosque with bricks during a riot.

Liverpool Crown Court was told today, Friday, that Rory Allington-Mott played a “leading role” during the violent disorder on both Sussex Road and St Luke’s Road on July 30 this year.

Martyn Walsh, prosecuting, told the court the 34-year-old, of High Street in Southport, was part of a violent mob that targeted a mosque chanting “who the f*** is Allah” just an hour after a peaceful vigil was held in memory of three young girls killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party the previous day.

A compilation of videos taken from both CCTV and body-worn camera footage showed Allington-Mott hurling “at least 20 bricks” towards police officers, police vehicles and the local mosque. He also picked up a wheelie bin and a recycling bin and again hurled them at a line of police officers, who did not have protective clothing on, as other missiles from the thousand-strong crowd rained down on them.

The court heard Allington-Mott, who had travelled around two hours to Southport, also pushed over a wall at the mosque which “provided ammunition” to other rioters. Addressing the racist thug during his sentencing remarks, Judge Denis Watson KC said: “You shake your head, but that underlines your entrenched racist views which are repulsive to right-minded people in this country.”

The court heard Allington-Mott has a litany of previous convictions dating back to 2007. These included convictions for possession of an offensive weapon, harassment, drug driving, possession of cannabis, assaulting a police officer and racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage.

The court heard Allington-Mott attended the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury town centre – which was housing asylum seekers at the time – on April 20 last year. The thug approached staff and asked if they were accommodating asylum seekers before he smashed 21 windows with a hammer before making off from the scene.

He was handed a suspended sentence for the racist attack, but the court heard his strong opinions regarding race made his unpaid workplace a “toxic” place. A note from his workplace supervisor read out in court drew attention to comments Allington-Mott made about people of other races, including: “They come raping my country and my women” before he added: “I have to blow the f****** up.”

The court heard he triggered his suspended sentence in January of this year when he failed to provide a specimen to police. He was released from prison on April 8 this year and his licence expired on July 8.

Allington-Mott was arrested on August 16 after he was identified by officers and interviewed the next day. He provided a no comment response to every question asked of him.

Allington-Mott originally appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court earlier this week but did not enter a plea. However, he entered a guilty plea during the plea and trial preparation hearing today at the higher court and the judge moved ahead and sentenced him straight away.

In mitigation, Zahra Baqri, defending, told the court: “I do not seek to minimise the seriousness of the incident. There is little I can say in mitigation. The strongest point is his entry of a guilty plea. He wanted to plead guilty at the lower court but was advised to wait for footage.”

Ms Baqri told the court her client “clearly requires rehabilitation and education” in respect of his strong racist views. She added: “He tells me he understands that his behaviour will be regarded as disgusting and disgraceful by normal people. That shows a slight glint of progress.”

She added her client suffered with delusional thoughts and paranoia but had never sought medical advice. Instead, she said, he had self-medicated with recreational drugs. She added he also suffered from anxiety and depression.

The court heard Allington-Mott is a trained brick-layer and had two children, aged seven and eight, with his former partner. Sentencing, Judge Watson told the defendant he was part of a “mob engaged in a violent confrontation that lasted for several hours”. He added: “This spouted other incidents in Liverpool and across the country.”

Judge Watson told the defendant, who wore a grey t-shirt and sported short, fair hair, that an individual’s actions during violent disorder are capable of encouraging others to act in a similar way. However, the judge told him: “You weren’t sucked in because it was your purpose to be there to engage in the violence.”

The judge sentenced Allington-Mott to three years and three months in prison. As Allington-Mott was led down to the cells, he winked towards the press bench.

Liverpool Echo

15-year-old boy pleads guilty to violent disorder in Bristol riot

By
August 23, 2024
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A total of 19 people have been charged following the riot

A 15-year-old boy is the latest person to admit their role in the Bristol riot earlier this month. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the shameful scenes in the city centre on Saturday, August 3.

The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, was the 19th person to be charged following the riot which saw the far-right clash with police and counter-protesters. He was granted conditional bail and will appear at Bristol Youth Court on Thursday, September 12.

The violent and disorder broke out in Castle Park before moving to Bristol Bridge and Redcliff Hill. Police have since arrested a total of 33 people in connection with the disorder, with more people still the subject of a wanted appeal.

Bristol Post

Hull riot: Three more troublemakers jailed after ‘miasma of madness’ in city centre

By
August 23, 2024
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Another trio of offenders involved in the violent disorder on August 3 have been locked up

More troublemakers have been jailed after serious disorder broke out in Hull city centre during frightening scenes that have been branded a “miasma of madness”.

They were the latest to be locked up at Hull Crown Court for their part in the hours of violent disorder that day.

Daniel Mennell , 36, of Belmont Street, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for two years and three months.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that Mennell played a prominent role in the disturbance outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway and he picked up rocks and stones from shrubbery opposite the hotel before throwing them towards police. He joined a line of other people and took a selfie picture of the hotel.

Mennell had convictions for 54 previous offences, including 34 for dishonesty, two for public disorder and others for arson in 2004 and burglary. He had previously been given an antisocial behaviour order in 2004 when he was 15.

Charlotte Baines, mitigating, said that Mennell was sorry for his actions. “He had been drinking heavily,” said Miss Baines. Mennell had gone into the city to see what was going on.

“He very stupidly involved himself in the disorder,” said Miss Baines. “His behaviour was idiotic. At the time, he was under the influence.” Mennell was involved in trouble in only one place. He had tried to turn his life around since 2022 and he had regularly worked as a labourer.

Jarrod Farrah, 32, of Portobello Street, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for two years and he was given a six-year criminal behaviour order.

Farrah was outside the Royal Hotel and he lunged towards police in an aggressive way in Queen Victoria Square. He was with others who threw missiles but he did not do so himself and he was at the front of the group. He gestured and shouted and moved towards the police and lunged towards them. He had convictions for 16 previous offences, including two of assault and others of drugs and criminal damage.

Nigel Clive, mitigating, said: “He is thoroughly ashamed of himself and his behaviour. He knows that he has let Hull down.”

Farrah was involved in shouting and finger-pointing towards police and he was at the forefront on a number of occasions. He did not throw or pick up any objects during the “highly emotionally charged” incident.

When he was shown footage a the disorder, he looked at the floor in disgust. He apologised for his actions.

Father-of-three Farrah had let his family down at a time when it was facing having to attend a funeral. He had twin boys aged five and another son aged 14.

He was in an emotional state. “It’s no excuse at all for his behaviour,” said Mr Clive.

Michael Campbell, 56, of Icelandic Close, Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3. He was jailed for 20 months.

Campbell was at the front of a group of people confronting police outside the Royal Hotel. He was aggressive towards police and was shouting and gesturing.

He used a bicycle as a “barricade” and to fend off a police dog. He was bitten by the dog on his right lower leg. Campbell had convictions for 11 previous offences.

Michael Forrest, mitigating, said that the bite from the police dog had an impact on Campbell while he was in custody and the pictures of his wound were “graphic”.

Campbell went to Hull Royal Infirmary after being bitten and he was now in a wheelchair because of it as well as using crutches. It was making his time in prison even more difficult.

“He was deeply ashamed when he saw the footage,” said Mr Forrest. “He is utterly disgusted with his actions.” Campbell had six daughters and four grandchildren, who were the “light of his life”. He was in Hull to buy a suit for a funeral at the time of the disorder.

At an earlier hearing, Mr Forrest described the disorder during the day as a “miasma of madness”.

Judge John Thackray KC said that the fact that Campbell was bitten by a police dog did not reduce his culpability but he did suffer a “bad injury”.

The offences of all those involved were part of “12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence” that caused “immeasurable harm”. The video footage was “depressing and horrifying to watch” and it was “utterly deplorable public disorder involving huge numbers of people”.

Hull Daily Mail

Middlesbrough rioter with police grudge tried but failed to set fire to wheelie bin pushed at cops

By
August 22, 2024
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Michael Stevenson, 34, was caged for 26 months at Teesside Crown Court

A man who tried but failed to set fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards riot police during disorder in Middlesbrough has been jailed.

Michael Stevenson was later recognised by a police officer who watched YouTube footage of the widespread trouble in the town on August 4.

The 34-year-old could be seen trying to set fire to rubbish in a large wheelie bin which he then helped push towards police lines

When he was arrested four days later, Stevenson said he had been visited at his home by police five years earlier and he had “acted in retaliation for that”, said Rachel Masters, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court. He admitted a single count of violent disorder.

Judge Francis Laird KC sentenced him to 26 months, saying: “You chose to take part in an organised and large-scale act of public disorder.” Gary Wood, defending, said Stevenson, of Newport Road, Middlesbrough, was isolated from other people, had mental issues and will find prison very hard.

Gazette Live

Teen jailed for throwing missiles at police

By
August 22, 2024
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A masked teenager who threw bricks, bottles and a beer barrel at police during Bristol’s unrest has been jailed for two years.

Cassius Adamson, 19, of Lockleaze, joined a far-right protest high on drugs on 3 August. He was front of a group which gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

The labourer pleaded guilty to violent disorder when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.

Judge James Patrick, who described Adamson’s behaviour as “disgusting”, added: “This offending had a significant community impact and brought shame on this city.”

Hundreds of far-right protesters and a counter-protest group gathered for two demonstrations near Castle Park on 3 August.

The unrest caused families, particularly those with an ethnic background, to become fearful, stockpile food and board up their businesses, Judge Patrick added.

Adamson is the ninth person to be jailed for violent disorder after the unrest. Thirty-three people have been arrested and 18 charged.

The court heard, Adamson joined the demonstration after drinking two litres of spirits and taking MDMA, ketamine and cocaine earlier that day.

Giles Nelson, defending, said the teenager was “deeply remorseful” and had been “swept along” in the violence having had a difficult childhood with learning difficulties.

“With the fact he is such a loner, has attachment disorder and ADHD, when he was in that corridor of violence, he became a sheep and a follower.”

Mr Nelson added: “He does not have any idealistic attitudes or any racist attitudes. He is easily influenced and easily used. There is no excuse for his behaviour.”

Judge Patrick told Adamson: “I have to deal with you for persistent lawlessness in the name of patriotism.

“You were involved in throwing missiles, cans and bottles, towards the police. You were gesturing, shouting and you were filming.

“You were aggressively trying to get to the hotel. The group, including you, threw missiles at the police, including a traffic cone, and also at others.”

He explained four empty beer barrels were thrown at a police van, one of which was thrown by Adamson. He then also also used a brick and a glass bottle as a missile.

The judge said the “persistence” and “violence” of Adamson’s behaviour” for nearly an hour towards public servants and “also while masked” was too serious to suspend the sentence.

He added: “The police incurred hundreds of thousands of pounds of costs.”

BBC News

Conspiracy theorist grandad jailed over disorder

By
August 22, 2024
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A “conspiracy theorist” who abused police when an anti-immigration protest turned violent has been jailed.

Grandfather Peter Lynch, 61, went to the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August with a placard which called police officers, MPs and the media “corrupt”.

He shouted “racist and provocative remarks” towards officers and called asylum seekers in the hotel “child killers”, the Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Sheffield Crown Court during his sentencing.

Lynch pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder and was jailed for two years and eight months on Thursday.

“Family man” Lynch, who recently had a heart attack, had gone to protest at the hotel against immigration, his defence barrister said.

He had “a general conspiracy theory against anyone and any form of authority”, and his placard referenced the “deep state” and space agency Nasa.

Video played to the court showed Lynch “revving up” the situation before it turned violent, the judge said.

He was filmed calling the police “scum”.

His sign and protest was not unlawful, but his verbal abuse towards police officers during the “racist incident” crossed the line, the judge added.

Lynch, of Burman Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, was a “full participant” in the disorder, the court was told.

“You were unquestionably endeavouring to rev up the situation the best you could,” Judge Richardson added.

The placard stated that police chiefs, reporters, civil servants, judges and the Environment Agency were all “corrupt”.

BBC News

Man who threw bottles and bricks at police jailed

By
August 22, 2024
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A 27-year old man who has spent the majority of his adult life in prison has been sent back to jail for his part in the recent disorder in Middlesbrough.

Matthew Putson, from the town, threw bottles, stones and bricks at police lines, as well as kicking and punching a police officer on 4 August, Teesside Crown Court was told.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault at an earlier hearing.

Judge Francis Laird KC jailed him for 32 months for the violent disorder and eight months for the assault, the latter to be served concurrently.

Judge Laird said he found the violent disorder to have been racially aggravated, as Putson was part of group shouting abuse about Asian people.

The defendant denied using racist language.

The court heard Putson had 30 previous convictions, including for public disorder, battery and theft.

He will have to serve up to half of his current sentence before being released on licence.

BBC News

Man who threw brick at police during riot jailed

By
August 22, 2024
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A man who joined in racist chants and threw objects at police during disorder in Southport has been jailed.

Tommy Callaghan, 32, of Platt Bridge, Wigan, appeared via videolink from HMP Altcourse at Liverpool Crown Court.

Footage was played showing him in a “large and aggressive mob” on 30 July, after a vigil had taken place for three girls killed in a knife attack in the town.

Callaghan was sentenced to two years and two months for violent disorder.

The riot broke out after hundreds had gathered for a vigil to remember Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class a day earlier.

Misinformation about the suspect shared online led to disorder in towns and cities across the UK.

Judge Denis Watson KC told Callaghan he was one of those who repeated racist chants “with your left arm and fist raised as you chanted and gesticulated in rhythm” before “surging forward at the police line”.

He added: “You picked up part of a brick, threw it at police, then picked up a second missile even before the first had landed.”

Peter White, defending, said Callaghan had put his gas engineering business, which employs three people, and the mortgaged home he shares with his partner and nine-month-old daughter at risk.

He said Callaghan had travelled to Southport, about 25 miles from his home, to attend the vigil.

Mr White said the defendant had no racially or religiously prejudiced beliefs but had “gone along with the mob”.

BBC News

The dark past of thug who filmed brutal Piccadilly Gardens attack – and the disturbing discovery at his home

By
August 22, 2024
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The 52-year-old was in the thick of the disorder in Manchester city centre on August 3

Wearing a black helmet with a mounted camera, Warren Gilchrest watched the chaos unfold from behind a pair of dark sunglasses. Holding aloft recording equipment, the 52-year-old was in the thick of the disorder in Manchester city centre on August 3.

Weaving between the crowds, many thought he was merely an observer. But as a group of thugs set upon a lone black man in Piccadilly Gardens, Gilchrest’s true intentions became clear.

“Kill him… stamp on his f***ing head,” he yelled as a mob attacked the terrified victim. The man was kicked, punched and berated by hooligans intent from the start on causing trouble.

Gilchrest – who runs his own social media channel – describes himself as a ‘freedom fighter’ and ‘critical thinker’. He filmed the sickening attack, and was eventually brought to justice after cops watched the footage.

The video also led to detectives making a disturbing discovery at his home. As Gilchrest was arrested at the property on North Road, Clayton – 10 days after violence flared in the city centre – a hoard of Nazi paraphernalia was found, including images of the Swastika; a depiction of two young, saluting children; and other right-wing flags.

Manchester Crown Court was also told Gilchrest has 18 previous convictions for 67 offences. Up to 31 of those were for sex offences against children under 13. He has 14 offences of failing to comply with the notifications of the sex offender register on his record. Gilchrest was last before the courts in November 2023 for possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, namely two batons.

Gilchrest has now been jailed for three years – and made the subject of a criminal behaviour order for five years, banning him from the city centre – having admitted violent disorder in relation to the disorder in Manchester as trouble broke out across the UK.

As the man was attacked, Gilchrest encouraged others to get involved and screamed ‘get him… kill him… stamp on his f******g face’. He hurled vile abuse at cops trying to restore peace, as well as members of the public, including two young Asian women wearing hijabs.

As a large group confronted the women, Gilchrest shouted offensive remarks about Allah. In one video, he was heard joining in with chants of ‘save our kids’. A judge deemed that ‘rank hypocrisy’ as it was revealed Gilchrest had previous convictions for child sex offences.

As he filmed people kicking in the doors of Sainsbury’s store on Mosley Street – and targeting a vape shop – he was heard saying about police who moved them on: “You know why they do that, don’t you? You know why there are so many police for such a short amount of people? Because they are white, that’s it, I’m not being racist, but that’s it.”

Philip Hall, prosecuting, said: “He told officers ‘ethnic groups are running round with swords and machetes and baseball bats, excuse me if you can’t do anything about it’.”

Interviewed by detectives in relation to the video, he said cops had been racist towards white people. In mitigation, he Gilchrest, through his barrister, that he wanted to apologise.

“He feels appropriately embarrassed and ashamed,” Tobias Collins said. “He understands other rioters have received death threats. He is concerned if any of his previous convictions get reported in the press.”

Mr Collins said he was not asking for a reporting restriction banning the reporting of his criminal past, but merely wanted to make the court aware of his client’s concerns. “I have no power regarding that,” Judge Patrick Field KC replied.

Addressing Gilchrest, he said that evidence showed he had ‘deeply unpleasant and frankly a concerning extreme mindset’, adding: “You were motivated by racial and religious hostility and frank misogyny.”

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