A man who made graphic death threats to senior police during riots last summer was found to have photographs of himself wearing a swastika armband.
Jack Mason sent emails to officers saying their “throats would be sliced open”, but sent them in the name of Harry Roberts, who murdered three officers in London in the 1960s.
Liverpool Crown Court heard when the 31-year-old was arrested, officers found Nazi symbols on his phone and a meme that said “Don’t blame me, I voted for Hitler”.
Mason, of Grasmere Avenue, St Helens, was jailed for four years and four months after admitting five counts of sending threatening communications between February and August, one count of violent disorder, and possession of cannabis.
‘Pain and suffering’
The court heard Mason had also written about getting hold of guns and said that the violent thoughts he had “gave him sexual pleasure”.
In one email, sent to Merseyside Police deputy chief constable Chris Green, he wrote: “There’s something so beautiful and natural in blood, pain and suffering.”
Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, said Mason’s mobile phone contained images including swastika flags a photograph of a rainbow flag being burned.
In one email, Mason told an officer: “I will be tasting blood even if it’s not yours.”
Miss Nemat said that in the message to DCC Green, Mason described wanting to make him watch as he mutilated Merseyside Police chief constable Serena Kennedy.
A smiling Serena Kennedy, chief constable of Merseyside Police, who has blonde hair, sits at a brown wooden desk in her black uniform with her police hat and a mug branded with Yorkshire Tea in front of her.
“I shan’t hesitate to seize such an opportunity,” he wrote.
Ms Nemat said Mason had been involved in throwing missiles after disorder flared following the Southport knife attacks, in which three young girls were killed.
He was caught after throwing items at the force in Liverpool on 3 August.
Mason was wearing a mask at the time.
The court heard he had five previous convictions for seven offences, including harassment and sending obscene and menacing messages to two police officers, for which he received a community order in 2023.
Paul Becker, defending, said that the death of Mason’s father had had a significant impact on him and his mental health, and he suffered from anxiety and depression.
Judge David Potter, who also imposed a five year Criminal Behaviour Order on Mason, said he believed he was motivated by racial hatred.
Today, Tuesday 14 January, six people were sentenced in court for their roles in violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool.
Five juveniles, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and a man appeared in court today after pleading guilty at a previous hearing.
Sam Winstanley, 27 years, of Lune Road, Wigan was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail at Liverpool Crown Court for his role in violent disorder in Southport.
The court heard that Winstanley travelled from Wigan to join in the disorder which took place on Sussex Road in Southport on Tuesday 30 July.
He was seen on CCTV footage wearing a flag of the St George’s Cross to cover his face. He was at the forefront of the disorder and is captured on CCTV throwing multiple glass bottles at the police line.
Five teenage males were in Liverpool Youth Court to be sentenced today, of which four of the offenders from Sefton and Lancashire took part in the violence in Southport. They were:
A 17-year-old male from Bootle was sentenced to a 12-month youth referral order and ordered to pay court costs of £111 for his involvement in violent disorder.
The youth was identified after his mum saw him publicised in one of our press appeals and contacted police. He is captured on CCTV on St Luke’s Road throwing multiple bricks and rocks at police while wearing a balaclava at times to disguise his identity.
A 17-year-old male from Southport was sentenced to a 12 month youth referral order for his involvement in violent disorder and handling stolen goods.
The teenager handed himself in after seeing his image circulated in one of our appeals. CCTV footage showed him throwing bricks at police on Sussex Road and engaging in racial chanting. He was seen handling stolen goods which were passed to him when people broke into Windsor minimart.
A 17-year-old male from Banks was sentenced to 12-month youth referral order and court costs of £111 for his involvement in violent disorder and possession of a controlled Class B drug.
He is captured on CCTV throwing multiple missiles at police and police vehicles. When arrested at his home address he was found to be in possession of a class B drug, cannabis.
A 14-year-old male from Birkdale was sentenced to a 12-month referral order and ordered to pay court costs of £111 for his involvement in violent disorder and criminal damage to property.
He was captured on CCTV pulling at a concrete post with others then threw 13 missiles at officers close to the mosque in Southport.
Finally, a 16-year-old male from Speke was sentenced to a 12-month youth referral order for his involvement in violent disorder in Liverpool city centre.
He handed himself in after seeing his image circulated in the press and admitted to throwing multiple missiles at police in Liverpool One on Saturday 3 August.
Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “Today’s sentencing of six people shows that we are relentless in bringing those who helped cause such violence and disruption to our communities to justice.
“Three of the six sentenced today either handed themselves in to police or were identified by others in our press appeals. I am encouraged by the fact that they have now realised their actions were wrong and they had broken the law. We advise anyone else who took part in the disorder to do the right thing and hand themselves in.
“We are committed to ensure those responsible are held to account, including those who travelled to Merseyside to take part in the disorder.
“We are continuing to identify more people who displayed such abhorrent behaviour which damaged our communities, and we will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.”
The total number of people arrested for disorder in Merseyside now stands at 165, with 125 charged and 99 sentenced to a combined 198 years and four months in prison.
We would encourage anyone with information to contact us by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Current galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website: Latest CCTV appeal in relation to summer disorder in Merseyside | Merseyside Police
A St Helens man has been jailed following disorder in Liverpool in the summer and later threatening to kill police officers.
He was sentenced today Monday 13 January to four years and four months in prison (20 months for death threats and two years eight months for disorder. He was also given a five-year criminal behaviour order.
Jack Mason, 31 of Grasmere Ave St Helens, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to violent disorder and threatening to kill police officers.
On Saturday 3 August 2024 Mason travelled to Liverpool city centre and took part in disorder by throwing missiles at police and then later threatening to kill police officers by e-mail.
Detectives arrested Mason on 17 September 2024 for his threats to maim and kill police officers. He also threated to kill politicians, members of the armed forces and the media who he stated “…all deserve to die”.
Detectives arrested Mason on 17 September 2024 following his threats to kill, and it was established he had been captured on CCTV at the protest prior to the disorder.
He then applied a mask and threw an item at police on the Strand before smashing bricks, working his way through a crowd and throwing them at police officers. Mason then marched through the streets of Liverpool with a masked mob.
Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “Mason not only threw bricks at officers during the disorder, he went on to make threats to kill them.
“His behaviour towards officers who turn up to work every day to enter challenging and sometimes dangerous situations to protect the public was, quite frankly, deplorable.
“The contrast between Mason’s behaviour and that of the officers deployed to protect people and property that day could not be starker, and I hope he spends his time behind bars reflecting on his actions.
“This year we continue to arrest, charge and sentence those involved in Merseyside disorder. Mason is now removed from the community that he terrorised by his appalling behaviour.
“The actions of those who took part in the disorder not only seriously injured officers, but also caused harm and fear to people in Liverpool city centre.
“The sentencing results we have seen so far for disorder shows how seriously the courts take this matter. Mason now finds himself at the beginning of xxx jail term.
“We continue to review footage and information and will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.
“Merseyside Police have to date arrested 165 people, charged 125 and sentenced 92 for a total of 195 years four months.
We are welcoming the sentencing of the 93rd person in connection with Violent Disorder in Merseyside last summer.
Thomas Price, 21, of Hewitt Avenue, St Helens, was sentenced to 20 months at Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday 13 January.
Price was found to have committed Violent Disorder on Saturday 3 August in Paradise Street, Liverpool City Centre. He was captured on CCTV throwing stones along with other missiles at a Police line whilst present with a large group of people.
A total of 165 arrests have now been made, with 125 charged and 93 people sentenced to a total of 197 years.
Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “Price handed himself in last December after seeing himself on one of our appeals (see above). Like many others before him, he will now face the consequences of his disgraceful actions.
“The behaviour of Price and others in Liverpool City Centre was utterly shameful, and brought further pain to communities in mourning the tragic events in Southport just days previously.
“Today’s outcome should show those who have yet to be identified that we will not rest until we put each and every offender before the courts. The gallery of those we would still like to speak to can be found below, and I’d encourage anyone who recognises those pictured to come forward at the earliest opportunity.”
A man who attacked police and set fire to a car during the Hull riots has been jailed for 45 months.
Tony Mulchinock, 35, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson at a previous hearing.
Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland played CCTV footage to Hull Crown Court showing Mulchinock outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway on 3 August kicking a police car and “aggressively challenging officers”.
Later footage showed him smashing the window of a car on a garage forecourt and leaning in and setting fire to it, completely destroying the vehicle.
Ms Gatland told the court that the defendant “carried out a leading role” in the disorder, which followed an anti-immigration demonstration in Hull city centre, and was “present throughout the entirety of the events of that day”.
In mitigation, his defence barrister Billy Torbett said his client had a troubled upbringing and mental health issues and was “remorseful and deeply regrets his actions”.
Passing sentence, Judge John Thackray KC said Mulchinock, of Stroud Crescent West in Hull, played a “very prominent role” in the violence.
“It formed part of 12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence which led to police officers being injured,” the judge said.
He said that Mulchinock had set fire to a car while a family including children sheltered in a nearby garage “terrified as they heard threats to kill directed at them”.
Judge Thackray imposed an increase to the sentence to reflect that both offences were racially aggravated.
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
A man who was part of a violent mob that attacked police officers guarding a hotel housing asylum seekers has been sentenced.
Rory Huggins, 20, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after he was filmed throwing a water bottle at officers outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, during rioting on 4 August.
Sheffield Crown Court heard on Tuesday how Huggins, of Haythorne Way, in Swinton, Rotherham, had learning difficulties and was described as having the mental age of a 10-year-old.
Sentencing him to 12 months detention in a young offender institution, Judge Sarah Wright told the defendant he was “to some extent a very vulnerable young man” who was “easily led and clearly exploited by others”.
“Although I don’t sentence you as a 10-year-old, as you are in fact an adult, I take into account your reduced levels of functioning,” Judge Wright said.
“Whatever your own involvement, you were part of a violent group attacking the police.”
Huggins is one of more than 80 people who have been sentenced in relation to the disorder in Rotherham.
During the unrest, rioters smashed windows and doors, set fires around the building and attacked police with weapons, including fence panels and metal poles.
More than 60 officers were injured, and the hotel and surrounding area sustained immense damage, Sheffield Crown Court heard previously.
Footage played in court on Tuesday, showed Huggins as part of a group being aggressive towards police and throwing a water bottle at the police line.
Judge Wright was told the bottle subsequently hit an officer’s shield, but no injuries were sustained as a result.
Passing sentence, Judge Wright said she accepted Huggins’ involvement had been “limited” and that in light of his personal circumstances, his culpability had been reduced “substantially”.
Huggins, who appeared via video link from HMP Doncaster, had no previous convictions.
A 16-year-old boy has been given a referral order after taking part in last summer’s rioting in which 400 missiles were thrown at police in Hull.
The boy, who was 15 at the time and cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught on CCTV hurling objects, damaging shop windows and stealing items from a Lush store in Hull city centre on 3 August.
At Hull Magistrates’ Court earlier, which was sitting as a youth court, the teenager admitted burglary with intent to cause damage and burglary with intent to steal. He previously admitted violent disorder and theft at a previous hearing.
Judge Mark Daley heard the boy had played a “very active part” in the unrest.
Violence erupted across England following the fatal stabbing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.
In Hull, a hotel was targeted, police officers were attacked, shops looted and cars were damaged and set alight as a demonstration descended into angry unrest.
Prosecutor Mr Dhinsa said the boy had “actively armed himself” during the disorder.
Video clips of the teenager were played in court, in which he could be seen smashing the windows of Shoezone and O2 stores.
In one clip, he could be seen lifting items from a Lush store and adding them to a basket before walking out. In another he is seen throwing a bath bomb at a wall inside the same premises.
In other footage, the boy was seen on Jameson Street pushing two large wheelie bins and throwing missiles among a mob, which included John Honey, who was jailed for his part in the riot.
The prosecutor said police officers were “outnumbered” by those taking part in the violent unrest with tens of thousands of pounds of damage caused to the city that day including £220,000 worth at the Lush and O2 stores.
However, the boy “wasn’t involved in all of it”, said Mr Dhinsa.
The court heard the boy was handed into the police station by his parents after his mother received a phone call from a family friend who had seen the teenager in videos. When she confronted him about it, her son said: “I was there when it happened but I didn’t throw anything.”
In mitigation, solicitor Jason Nicholson said the youngster went to the city centre “out of curiosity and didn’t know anybody there”.
“He was drawn into the activity and he takes full responsibility for his actions,” he said.
Sentencing the boy to a 12-month referral order and a £26 surcharge, Judge Daley heard how he had “let himself down and his family”.
The teenager’s father told the court how it had “affected the family”.
A builder, market worker and war veterans were among those who were jailed this year for their roles in the Hanley riots. Trouble erupted on Saturday, August 3 as the city centre was swamped with protesters marching down the streets.
Around 100 police with riot shields and dog units responded to the chaos. Planned protests kicked off at around 11.30am.
Large groups of men were seen turning out around the mosques in opposition to the demonstrators. From around 1.30pm, the groups began to clash, primarily at first around the Darul Falah mosque in Town Road.
Among both the protestors and those who had turned out at the mosques to oppose them, individuals were witnessed to be carrying weapons. Scores of people have been arrested in connection with the riots and the police investigation continues.
Any witnesses to the Hanley riots can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Here’s a round-up of some of those who have been jailed:
Ciaran Lockett and Deana Evans
Ciaran Lockett and Deana Evans
‘Chanting’ couple Ciaran Lockett and Deana Evans became the first to be jailed for their parts in the Hanley riots. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Lockett chanted songs, took part in a sit-down protest, stopped a police van driving through the city centre, and threw a bottle at police.
The 34-year-old scaffolder, of Fletcher Bank, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 32 months. Partner Evans filmed the incident, shouted and chanted. The 32-year-old warehouse worker, of Poplar Court, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker and was jailed for 20 months.
Ashley Morris
Ashley Morris
A dad-of-three left needing six stitches after being bashed over the head in a Hanley riots hammer attack was jailed. Ashley Morris also suffered a broken nose as violence erupted on the streets of Hanley.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 31-year-old was bare-chested because he had taken his shirt off to use it as a bandage for an injured woman. But Morris – who has lost his job as a groundworker following the troubles – pleaded guilty to violent disorder after throwing a brick towards St John’s Church which Islamic leaders want to convert into a Mosque. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Andrew Townley
Andrew Townley, aged 45, of Hanley
Bungling builder Andrew Townley was easily identified at the Hanley riots – with his work’s phone number on the back of his hi-vis jacket. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 45-year-old had no intention of going to the riots – and was instead trying to get to his mum’s home on the opposite side of the police cordon.
But he was arrested at work more than a month later after trying to break through the police line. He had told police ‘you have got no chance against me, no chance, any of you’ before disappearing back into the crowd.
Townley, of Penarth Grove, Hanley, was jailed for 34 months after admitting violent disorder following the August 3 trouble. He was also handed an eight-month prison sentence for assaulting an emergency worker which will run concurrently.
Lee Whitby
Lee Whitby, who once served the UK in the armed forces, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for violent disorder after participating in the Hanley riot on August 3 2024.
Iraq veteran Lee Whitby was at the ‘forefront’ of the Hanley riots. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 41-year-old was caught on camera near Salahuddin Mosque, on Town Road, as well as at the front of police lines outside Hanley Library and in Shelton during the August 3 troubles.
Whitby – who had 42 previous offences on his record – was jailed for 26 months after admitting violent disorder. Tours of Kosovo and Iraq have left him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the court was told.
Marcus Ramsden
Marcus Ramsden
A dad who took part in the Hanley riots will miss his son’s first birthday after being locked up for two years for spitting at police. Marcus Ramsden was invited to the Hanley riots by friends and family.
CCTV footage captured the 22-year-old – from Latebrook Close, in Goldenhill – shouting, swearing and spitting at police officers on Town Road. Ramsden pleaded guilty to violent disorder and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
Ryan Perry
Ryan Perry, 23, was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to violent disorder and assaulting two police officers during the Hanley riots on Saturday August 3 this year. (Image: Staffordshire Police)
A 23-year-old man who has worked in Hanley Market for 12 years was locked up – after ‘stumbling across’ the city centre riots ‘by chance’. Ryan Perry was on a Saturday off when he dropped his girlfriend off in Hanley and went to the shops and a pub.
But he later joined the Hanley riots, struck police officers’ shields, and made an obscene gesture to a group outside Salahuddin Mosque, on Town Road. Perry, of Mount Street, Hanley, was jailed for 22 months for violent disorder and assaulting two police officers.
Dominic Cartwright
Dominic Cartwright, 34, was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment for violent disorder during the Hanley riots which took place on Saturday August 3 2024. (Image: Staffordshire Police)
Dad Dominic Cartwright hurled missiles towards a mosque and was up for a fight at the ‘forefront’ of the Hanley riots. The 34-year-old says he had only gone to Hanley after finishing his night shift to have a drink in Wetherspoons and watch Stoke City.
But he instead endured the ‘worst day of his life’ after becoming caught up in the August 3 riots. Cartwright, of Shawport Avenue, Bradwell, was jailed for 28 months after admitting violent disorder.
Joseph Pointon
Joseph Pointon
A first-time buyer who went to Hanley to arrange a mortgage for a house became involved in ugly scenes of violent disorder. Joseph Pointon, aged 23, allowed his curiosity to get the better of him when he saw a group being aggressive towards police in Hanley on Saturday, August 3.
He ripped off a plastic drainpipe and launched it at police. He dismantled parts of a roundabout at Town Road and threw a brick which connected with an officer’s riot shield.
Pointon was jailed for 28 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Prosecutor Dylan Wagg said Pointon was seen in Cannon Place with others being stopped by the police cordon.
Lee Grocott
Lee Grocott
A 48-year-old man attended the Hanley riots to ‘protest about illegal immigration’ – and ended up being jailed for 32 months. Lee Grocott, of no fixed address, launched missiles in Town Road, shouted anti-Islamic remarks, shouted ‘paedos’, and targeted peaceful protesters outside Hanley Town Hall.
The defendant was identified on CCTV, admitted violent disorder, and was jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Jordan Jones
Jordan Jones has been jailed
A rioter who hurled a brick at police trying to quell trouble in Hanley was jailed for more than two years. Jordan Jones was caught on CCTV launching the missile and shouting abuse as mass disorder erupted in the city centre.
The 27-year-old, of Meir, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to two-years-and-two-months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of a controlled drug of class B – cannabis.
James Watkins
James Watkins
Dad-of-four James Watkins ‘lost everything again’ having fought back from losing his job in Covid, becoming addicted to monkey dust and ending up on the streets. The 35-year-old has been drug-free for more than a year.
But he is now behind bars after being a ‘continuous presence’ at the August 3 Hanley riots. He was verbally abusive, gesturing, and wielded a bottle after being struck by a police shield.
Watkins, of Sherwin Road, Stanfield, was jailed for three years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after admitting a charge of violent disorder.
Jarrod Hollinshead
Jarrod Hollinshead
Homeless Jarrod Hollinshead was jailed for his part in the Hanley riots – after joining what he thought was a ‘music parade with free beer’. The 26-year-old had gone to City Central Library, in Hanley, to email family just an hour after appearing at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
But the library was shut and he joined what he initially thought was a music parade with the offer of free beer. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Hollinshead later threw a brick and shouted ‘f**k all of you’ before being taken to the ground.
The brick had been hauled towards St John’s Church, on Town Road, which Islamic leaders want to turn into the Darul Falah Mosque.
Far-Right Criminals 