Reece Greenwood, Sunderland (two years and six months)
A father-to-be who live-streamed himself shouting racial slurs during riots in Sunderland has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for violent disorder. Reece Greenwood, 31, posted footage on Facebook of himself “actively encouraging” the rioters and “verbally abusing police officers repeatedly”.
He shouted encouragement as others threw missiles at officers and could be heard making racial and religious remarks such as “f****** Muslim bastards” and “whose streets, our streets” – a phrase “synonymous with the English Defence League”, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
A judge was told scenes of people throwing rocks and readying beer kegs to throw seemed to buoy Greenwood, and he was heard laughing on the footage. He also filmed a mob vandalising a police vehicle.
Riley Adey, Sunderland (two years)
A teenager filmed waving from the top of an overturned car was locked up for his role in riots in Sunderland. Riley Adey, 19, was part of a group that attacked police during a “protest that soon turned to widespread violence” in the city on August 2.
He was filmed repeatedly throwing missiles at officers, including a vape, a brick and a scaffolding pole, Newcastle Crown Court heard. He was also seen standing and waving on top of an upturned vehicle after it had been set alight and taking a fire extinguisher from a damaged building.
Prosecutor Omar Ahmad said stolen fire extinguishers were sprayed at officers, obscuring their vision, although there was no evidence Adey had been responsible for that. Adey was sentenced to two years’ detention in a young offenders’ institution.
Judge Paul Sloan KC said Adey had “brought shame on the city” by taking part in an “orgy of mindless mindless, destructive violence”.
Paul Smith, Manchester (two years and ten months)
A man who threw bricks at police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for two years and 10 months. Paul Smith, 21, of Keynsham Road, Manchester, was sentenced for violent disorder on Thursday morning at Manchester Crown Court.
In footage shown in court, Smith can be seen throwing bricks and a bottle towards police officers and vehicles during the disorder outside the Holiday Inn hotel in Manchester on July 31. Prosecutor Philip Hall said of Smith’s demeanour on the footage: “He’s smiling and appears to be taking some delight from the event.”
In his sentencing remarks, Judge John Potter said: “On July 29, an appalling and tragic attack took place in Southport. Three children lost their lives and numerous other children and adults were seriously injured in a knife attack.
“Shortly after that attack, lies were deliberately spread via leaflets, the internet and social media as to who may have been responsible. This material emphasised the supposed nationality, ethnicity and religion of the alleged attacker. Inspired by the ignorance of racism, mobs gathered in towns and cities throughout the country intent on retribution.”
Oliver Chapman, Manchester (one year and eight months)
A man who carried out a “spinning kick” against a shop window during disorder in Manchester has been jailed for 20 months. Oliver Chapman, 23, of Duke Street, Radcliffe, was sentenced for violent disorder.
Prosecutor Philip Hall said Chapman was “part of a group seen kicking shop fronts” in Manchester city centre on August 3. During a police interview, Chapman admitted kicking a shop front, saying: “I’d done a silly spinning kick to it.”
Judge John Potter told Chapman that he had taken part in an “incident of lawlessness” and “violently kicked a glass door”. The judge added: “You decided to align yourself with a large group of individuals who were intent on causing violence.”
Philip Hoban, Leeds (eight months)
A self-styled paedophile hunter has been jailed for eight months at Leeds Crown Court after admitting racially abusing protesters who gathered for a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the city. Phil Hoban, 48, was a prominent figure in an anti-immigration demonstration in the centre of Leeds on Saturday August 3, where he could be seen shouting at hundreds of rival protesters and leading the chanting.
The anti-immigration demo in Leeds city centre was part of a series across England but, despite some scuffles with police, it did not turn violent in same way as others in Hull and Liverpool on the same day. Father-of-three Hoban is the founder of Predator Exposure – a group which set-up sting operations against men who made contact with fake profiles of teenage girls they set up online.
In 2019, Hoban was one of group of six from Predator Exposure who went on trial accused offences including false imprisonment following sting operations against two men. But they were all acquitted by a jury after telling the court they were engaged in lawful citizens’ arrests.
Hoban, of Northcote Crescent, Leeds, was jailed on Thursday after previously admitting causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
Joseph Ley, Manchester (three years and two months)
A man who punched and kicked a black man in the face during disorder in Manchester has been jailed for three years and two months. Joseph Ley, 30, of Hardman Street, Stockport, was sentenced for violent disorder.
Ley was also given a sentence of two months, to run concurrently, for possession of an offensive weapon – an extendable baton – that was found at his home.
Prosecutor Philip Hall said footage obtained by police showed “a black male being confronted by a group of white males” in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre on August 3. Mr Hall said the attack was “motivated by racial hatred” and Ley was the “first to instigate physical violence” against the man, punching and kicking him in the face.
Ley, a father-of-two, was heard on footage saying: “You got a problem with us English, bro?’” In the footage, members of the crowd can also be heard shouting “kill him” and “stamp on his f****** face”.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge John Potter told Ley: “Your actions in Piccadilly Gardens amounted to nothing more or less than mindless violence inspired by your bigoted and racist views. You took a leading role in the attack – being the first person who instigated any violence. You are a violent racist offender who has access to weapons capable of causing very serious harm.”
Defending, Emily Calman said Ley had “thought he was attending an event to celebrate British culture”.
Kevin Searle, Weymouth (one year and nine months)
A father-of-one who poured a can of cider over a police officer during a protest in Weymouth has been jailed for 21 months. Kevin Searle, of Weymouth, Dorset, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker during the demonstration on August 4.
Matthew Mortimer, prosecuting, told Bournemouth Crown Court that the 40-year-old had been fishing during the day and had drunk six cans of cider before, as he was walking home, he heard the noises of the protest and decided to join in.
He said: “The defendant stated that he met people at the protest that he had not seen for a while and got caught up in the moment. He described the atmosphere as being hyped up, almost like being at a football match.”
He said Searle was part of the anti-immigration group which was faced by a counter-demonstration and police had formed a cordon to keep the groups apart. Mr Mortimer said: “The defendant was an attendee of the protest and was amongst two other males who were aggressively pushing and shoving the police officers present. It appeared that they were intent on breaking through the cordon.”
He described how the officers had to draw their batons and were forced to push the protesters back. He continued: “Whilst the defendant was attempting to push through the cordon, he was heard to hurl verbal abuse. The defendant had a can of cider in his hand and as the crowd surged forwards he was seen to pour the contents over (a police officer).”
Mr Mortimer said the defendant told police in interview that he did not know why he joined the protest and he was not a “violent or racist” person. The court heard that Searle had previously appeared in court 32 times for 52 offences including three offences against the person and six offences of public disorder and the current offences were in breach of a community order.
Ian Vetier, Weymouth (one year and six months)
A house husband was locked up for 18 months for violent disorder for taking part in a “far-right” protest in Weymouth despite the efforts of his wife to coax him away. Father-of-three Ian Vetier, of Weymouth, pleaded guilty to the offence at Bournemouth Crown Court in relation to the demonstration on August 4.
Richard Tutt, prosecuting, said that the 36-year-old played a “prominent” role among the group he described as the “Enough is enough” group which had gathered to confront a larger Stand Up To Racism group. He described how police officers feared for their safety as they attempted to control the protest group who were shouting and swearing aggressively at them.
He added that the police attempted to stop the “far-right group” as it attempted to march towards the counter-demonstration despite such a march not being “planned or agreed” with the police. He said that an officer “noticed two males pushing and shoving against one of the police sergeants who was then pushing back and the two males were trying to get past the cordon”.
He added: “One of those males was identified as Ian Vetier and he is noticeable as he is one of a few males who was shirtless and was holding a Union Jack flag in his right hand.” He added: “Mr Vetier can be seen and heard shouting ‘It’s a free country mate’, and a little later he was saying words to this effect: ‘You f****** wrong ‘un, back them f****** ragheads, c**** mate, the lot of them.” The protest group then started chanting collectively ‘Who the f*** is Allah?’
Richard Martin, defending, said that Vetier had shown remorse for his actions and had pledged not to attend another demonstration in the future. The court heard that Vetier was a “house husband” who had previously been convicted of three counts covering seven offences of dishonesty between 2013 and 2016.
Judge William Mousley KC told the court that Vetier’s wife could be seen in video footage shown to the court trying to “coax him away from his prominent position”. Mr Martin responded: “She was supportive of him but she is the one left carrying the consequences of what her husband did.”
Michael Whitehead, Rotherham (two years and eight months)
A man who shouted “you’re not fit to wear the badge” at police officers guarding a hotel housing asylum seekers which was being attacked in Rotherham has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed.
Michael Whitehead, 27, shouted and chanted to a mob at the Holiday Inn Express on Sunday August 3. More than 60 officers were injured as they battled hundreds of people outside the hotel in the Manvers area of the town, with some gaining entry to the building and trying to set it alight with a burning bin.
According to the CPS, Whitehead’s chants included “You’re not fit to wear the badge” to the officers and “Let’s go f****** mental, Let’s go f****** mental” to the mob.
Whitehead admitted violent disorder and was jailed on Thursday.
Paul Dixon, Nottingham (four months)
A father-of-one has been jailed for four months after admitting punching an Asian man at a protest where he chanted racial insults. Paul Dixon, 35, was recorded shouting “paedo” and “Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah” while attending a protest in Nottingham on August 3 before he punched an unknown Asian man during an altercation.
The railway safety supervisor, of Broadwood Road in Bestwood, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to the charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. After the defendant was identified by police from a YouTube video, he was arrested on Wednesday and was found in possession of cannabis, which he also pleaded guilty to on Thursday.
Graham Heathcote, defending Dixon, said the defendant had been out drinking with friends on the evening of the protest but he had “no interest” in joining.
Sentencing Dixon, district judge Sunil Khanna said: “You did not want to get involved in the demonstration but you clearly did. This incident escalated in violence. I also have to bear in mind that it did not get any worse but there was a chance it could have.”
Billy Pemberton, Rotherham (two years and four months)
A painter and decorator was caught on video with a mob which was attacking a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham. Billy Pemberton has been jailed for two years and four months after a court heard how he was filmed in a group which was throwing missiles at a small group of cornered police guarding the Holiday Inn Express on Sunday August 3, but there was no evidence he threw anything himself.
Pemberton, 31, of Rosehill Road, Rawmarsh, was also spotted in a group which was chanting “who the f*** is Allah?” and admitted picking up a baton dropped by a police officer which he took away from the scene.
Sheffield Crown Court heard earlier this week how Pemberton was “utterly dejected and remorseful” and faced losing his business, which employs three people. He was jailed on Thursday after admitting violent disorder.
Aaron Bradshaw, Ben Judge, and Jonathan Ambrose, North East (up to three years)
Four people, including a 28-year-old man who threw bricks, stones and wood at police, were jailed for taking part in unrest in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.
Aaron Bradshaw, from Hartlepool, was captured on footage a number of times throwing missiles at officers during disorder on July 31, Cleveland Police said. The force said he “played a significant role” in the rioting and “demonstrated aggressive behaviour”.
At one point, he was in possession of a police-style baton and lashed out at the officers attempting to assault them, the force added. Bradshaw was jailed at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday for two years and eight months.
Ben Judge, 28, also from Hartlepool, was jailed for three years. The force said he threw bricks and a metal object at police during the disorder on July 31 and kicked-in a boarded-up window after pulling off the boarding.
Ben Judge, 28, also from Hartlepool, was jailed for three years. The force said he threw bricks and a metal object at police during the disorder on July 31 and kicked-in a boarded-up window after pulling off the boarding.
Jonathan Ambrose, 33, also from Middlesbrough, was identified as throwing missiles at officers during disorder on August 4. The force said he was also found in possession of class B drugs. Ambrose was jailed for 30 months.
Kerry Gove, Andrew Ball and Grant Braidwood, Plymouth (18 months and 32 months)
Two men and a woman have been jailed for their roles in a protest in Plymouth which created fear and anxiety in the local community. Kerry Gove, 34, Andrew Ball, 49, and Grant Braidwood, 40 – all from Plymouth, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court having pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the demonstration in the Devon city on August 5.
Ball and Braidwood were both give prison terms of 32 months, while Gove was jailed for 18 months.
Holly Rust, prosecuting, described how Ball had been “aggressive towards officers, swearing at them, squaring up to them and poured a can of drink over them”. She said that police pushed him to the ground as he was attempting to reach a counter-demonstration.
The court heard that Ball has appeared in court previously on 51 occasions for 93 offences including racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress and for public order offences. Chris Cuddihee, defending Ball, said: “He had too much to drink and was swept up in the atmosphere, he doesn’t seek to justify his behaviour and he is genuinely remorseful.”
The court heard that Braidwood had been in court previously on 27 occasions for 62 offences including assault and assaulting a police officer and public order offences. Mr Cuddihee, who also represented Braidwood, said that he was a “devoted father to four children” and had autistic spectrum disorder which meant he had “tunnel vision and was unable to stop himself”.
In a separate hearing, Ms Rust said that Gove had asked police “Are you British?”, had been seen to climb on railings and had pushed and kicked out at a police officer’s shield. Deni Matthews, defending Gove, said she was of previous good character and added: “She expressed her own disgust at what had been said, there was clear expression of disgust at her own behaviour.”
David Wilkinson, Hull (six years)
A member of a “baying mob” that forced three Romanian men from their car during riots in Hull was jailed for six years. David Wilkinson, 48, pleaded guilty to violent disorder, attempted arson and racially aggravated criminal damage after playing a “prominent role” in the violence and disorder that gripped the city on August 3.
Hull Crown Court heard the driver of a BMW was left in fear for his life when more than 100 “angry” men descended on him and his two cousins and attempted to drag them from the car, punched him in the head and tried to strike him with a metal bar. In footage of the incident, the three “terrified” men in the vehicle could be seen getting out with their hands raised in a gesture of surrender before fleeing to a nearby hotel, the court heard.
Wilkinson was captured in the video damaging the windscreen of the car, which suffered £1,500 of damage. The court heard at other points during the day of disorder Wilkinson spat, threw missiles and pushed wheelie bins at a police line protecting a hotel known to house asylum seekers. He appeared to be holding nunchucks – a martial arts weapon – at one point, it was said.
During an attack on a garage in which nine cars were damaged, Wilkinson was seen trying to set fire to a bin on top of a pile of tyres which were already alight, sending plumes of black smoke through the shutters of the workshop, where a group of people were sheltering.
Paul Wiliams, Sunderland (two years and two months)
A 45-year-old man threw metal fencing and a can of beer at police after goading officers during rioting in Sunderland. Paul Williams was jailed for two years and two months at Newcastle Crown Court.
A judge was shown video of Williams, 45, of Esdale, Sunderland, acting aggressively towards lines of police during the widespread disorder in the city centre on August 2. The court heard how he shouted “put your shields down and let’s go, let’s f****** go” and took his shirt off as he squared up to police, running at the line of riot shields.
Sophie Allinson, defending, said her client was not aware of any protest and had gone into Sunderland city centre to collect takeaway food after a spot of gardening in the sun. Ms Allinson said it was “utterly bizarre” that he then “changed his behaviour in the most disgraceful fashion”, becoming the “front-runner” of the mob.
The barrister said her client, who admitted violent disorder, has no political opinions around immigration and was “entirely unaware of the basis of what started this”, saying his “moment of madness” was down to having drunk eight cans of lager.
Steven Love, Travis Whitelock and Corey Holloway, Hull (up to three years and four months)
Three men who took part in a barrage of verbal and physical abuse towards police during riots in Hull have been jailed.
Steven Love, 41, who hurled an empty bin at a protective line of officers, was sentenced to 40 months in prison as a judge told him he was “lucky not to be charged with riot” after his central role in the disorder.
Travis Whitelock, 23, was jailed for two years after also playing a “prominent role” that included pushing a street litter bin onto a burning pile of rubbish and shoving a large wheelie bin at police.
Corey Holloway, 20, was detained for 18 months in a young offenders institution after throwing a traffic cone at police and behaving in a “violent and aggressive manner”.
All three pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
John Honey, Hull (four years and eight months)
A man pictured looting a branch of cosmetics chain Lush while wearing a “distinctive” England flag T-shirt during riots in Hull has been jailed for 56 months. John Honey, 25, helped attack a BMW carrying three Romanian men, targeted a garage leaving nine vehicles damaged, and pushed bins at police lines during the disorder on August 3.
Honey pleaded guilty to violent disorder and three charges of burglary at Lush, an O2 store and Shoezone. He also admitted racially aggravated criminal damage over the BMW incident, and damaging nine other cars during an attack on a garage.
A sentencing hearing earlier in the week was adjourned after a prison probation officer said Honey had asked him “if he wanted his autograph because he was famous”, which the court heard could have undermined Honey’s claim of being “genuinely remorseful”.
But after hearing that Honey had developmental issues due to his “difficult start in life”, Judge John Thackray KC said his alleged comment “does not have the significance it would otherwise have”.
The judge told Honey: “I’m not going to hear any evidence about comments which you may or may not have made in the prison setting. I’m not going to give them any relevance. If your defence say that there is now genuine remorse, I’ll accept that submission.”
Roger Haywood, Blackpool (two years and six months)
A 41-year-old man was jailed for 30 months for his part in disorder in Blackpool on Saturday August 3. Roger Haywood encouraged a group of men, women and children to follow him to various locations, including the Cenotaph and Blackpool Tower, while the resort was busy with visiting families.
He repeatedly verbally abused police officers and then attempted to pull up the shutters of a store in the Hounds Hill shopping centre before he assaulted a member of its security team, said Lancashire Police. He was later arrested on the same evening and assaulted an officer as they attempted to restrain him.
Haywood, of Yew Tree Road, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault.
Sarah Gallagher, district crown prosecutor for CPS Northwest, said: “When a violent mob descended on Blackpool on August 3, Roger Haywood took a leading role in the disorder, encouraging others and behaving aggressively towards members of the public and police officers. This vile behaviour cannot go unchallenged. Those taking to the streets, taking part in violent conduct and spreading fear in our communities must face the consequences of their actions.”
Manchester Evening News
Far-Right Criminals 