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County Durham man convicted of riot after taking part in Sunderland and Hartlepool disorder

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November 9, 2024
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Ashley Wilkinson, 35, went equipped with a ‘riot kit’ to the disorder in Hartlepool and Sunderland, in July and August

A Durham man has been convicted of riot at Newcastle Crown Court, after taking part in two separate incidents of disorder.

Ashley Wilkinson, 35, of James Street South, Murton, County Durham, went equipped with a ‘riot kit’ to the disorder in Hartlepool and Sunderland, in July and August.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of riot in relation to his involvement in the Sunderland rioting, and a further charge of violent disorder for his involvement in events in Hartlepool.

Wilkinson was caught on CCTV throwing a brick at police on St Marks Road during the Sunderland disorder, and was later filmed throwing a beer barrel and a fence support at police officers in Keel Square, as part of a larger group. Wilkinson was also identified as being a part of a mob who hurled missiles at police in Hartlepool.

Christopher Atkinson, Head of the Complex Casework Unit at CPS North East said: “Wilkinson played an active role in the disorder in Hartlepool and Sunderland. At each of these events, he was captured on camera carrying a distinctive black backpack on CCTV footage.

“At a further planned event in Newcastle, Wilkinson was recognised by an officer who had been involved in the policing of the Sunderland disorder. When stopped and searched, Wilkinson’s backpack was found to contain a ‘riot kit,’ comprising of fishing wire, firelighters, ball bearings, goggles and a face covering.

“It is clear that Wilkinson was not simply swept up in these events in the heat of the moment, but that he attended them with a clear intent of becoming actively involved. While it is fortunate that the planned event in Newcastle passed largely without incident, the disorder in Sunderland and Hartlepool both resulted in a number of police injuries, with significant damage caused to properties and businesses.

“The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to work alongside our criminal justice partners to ensure that anyone threatening the communities we serve is brought to justice for their actions.”

The Chronicle

Man admits starting fire at asylum hotel riot

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November 8, 2024
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A man has admitted starting a fire during rioting at a hotel where more than 200 asylum seekers were staying.

Mason Lowe, 27, was part of the violent disorder that erupted outside Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, near Rotherham, on 4 August.

More than 60 police officers were injured as rioters smashed windows and set fires around the building.

Lowe of Lowfield Road, Bolton-upon-Dearne, pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to arson with intent to endanger life, having previously admitted a charge of violent disorder.

He has been remanded in custody to appear in court on 24 January for sentencing.

BBC News

‘Excited’ rioter egged on mob shouting ‘howay boys push forward’

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November 7, 2024
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An “excited” rioter was heard encouraging others to participate in disorder shouting ‘howay boys push forward’ after violence erupted on the streets of Middlesbrough.

South Bank’s Christopher Sharp was captured on police camera footage egging on fellow rioters to surge towards officers during the Middlesbrough riots on Sunday, August 4. Teesside Crown Court heard Sharp – on licence at the time – gathered with others who were trying to set fire to a bin during a far-right protest.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Mr Ahmad said the 34-year-old defendant was captured at around 4pm egging on others. He said: “The defendant was identified from footage. He was seen speaking to other individuals gathered facing the police line on Linthorpe Road at the junction of Ayresome Street.

“The defendant was walking with the crowd shouting ‘howay boys push forward’. He was seen running to a back lane before emerging and seconds later other individuals also emerged and were pushing a red industrial style bin.

“The defendant walked alongside them putting his hand to his mouth and appeared to shout to others in the crowd resulting in others approaching the bin as well. ”

Mr Ahmad said footage captured fellow rioters trying to ignite the bin before pushing it into the police line. The prosecutor said the riots caused “severe disruption and distress” and said officers faced an “unprecedented” level of aggression and many were assaulted.

Ms Ahmad said the defendant was arrested on August 28 and in police interview denied being involved in the disorder stating “the police were responsible for everything”.

The court heard the Middlesbrough Road defendant was on licence for burglary at the time of the incident. He was recalled to HMP Hull and appeared via videolink for sentence on Tuesday.

The court heard the defendant has a lengthy criminal record including violence, dishonesty, driving and drugs offences but admitted the violent disorder.

His barrister, Robert Mochrie, said Sharp did not involve himself in the riots because of a “strong political view” but that the disorder was on his doorstep and he allowed himself to become “excited” by the situation.

He added: “He for less than a second put his hand on a bin as it was being pushed by others. There is no suggestion he charged at the police or threatened violence at the police. This is a case of lending his voice to what was going on around him.”

Mr Mocherie said Sharp’s involvement in the riots falls at the bottom of the offending spectrum and asked for credit for his guilty plea.

Sentencing, Judge Francis Laird KC described the atmosphere on Sunday, August 4, as “aggressive and angry” and said police were forced to form a line preventing marchers from entering Clarendon Road. He said: “Violence erupted, missiles were thrown, bins were set a light, damage was caused to police vehicles and residential homes and public buildings. The university and the courts were particular targets.

“Your actions were caught on camera, you were seen to stand in front of the police line and encourage other participants to surge forward.” Judge Francis Laird KC sentenced the defendant to two-and-a-half-years in prison.

Gazette Live

Rioter who pushed burning bin at police jailed

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November 7, 2024
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A man who pushed a flaming bin at police officers during a riot has been jailed.

Christopher Sharp, 36, admitted violent disorder in Middlesbrough on 4 August where he told others to “push forward” at police.

Cleveland Police said he was in a large group of people at the junction of Ayresome Street and Linthorpe Road and helped push a large bin, which was then set alight, into the crowd.

Sharp, of Middlesbrough Road in South Bank, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison at Teesside Crown Court.

BBC News

Jail for racist who stopped drivers during disorder to ask if they were ‘white’

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November 6, 2024
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Jake Wray, 23, admitted violent disorder after stopping cars, trying to set a hatchback alight and pushing flaming wheelie bins at police.

The behaviour of a racist yob who stopped drivers during the summer riots to check if they were “white” or “English” was “disgraceful”, a judge said.

Jake Wray, 23, of Seaton Street, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 38 months after admitting violent disorder in the town on August 4, including trying to set a car on fire, making racist chants and pushing a flaming wheelie bins into police lines.

He was serving a 24-week suspended sentence for spitting at a police officer and carrying a knife at the time.

Judge Richard Bennett, sentencing at Teesside Crown Court, told Wray: “(Your) behaviour was disgraceful and in no way reflects the values of the decent people of Middlesbrough.”

The judge said Wray’s offending was violent, “overtly racist” and included arson that day.

Wray, wearing a distinctive red top and an England flag around his shoulders, stopped cars at a junction in the town centre and was caught on mobile phone footage asking drivers about the colour of their skin.

On the clip which was played in court, while he stood blocking traffic, Wray could be heard asking: “Are you white, are you English?”

The judge said the incident was so shocking it was played on the national TV news.

Further clips showed him setting fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards police lines and helicopter video captured him interfering with a red hatchback which minutes later burst into flames.

Wray told police that he was merely stopping cars to warn drivers, but he no longer stood by that account.

Judge Bennett said: “You were clearly enjoying the attention and power of being masked during a frightening event for those drivers.”

A clip was played in court of Wray, with his England flag over his mouth as a mask, approaching a police video operator and shouting: “You can stick you chicken tikka up your arse. Tee-Tee-Teessiders.”

Harry Crowson, defending, said Wray initially denied the racial motive for stopping the cars “out of embarrassment and shame”.

Mr Crowson said the defendant had repeatedly watched the clips in court over several hearings, adding: “In the cold light of day, he doesn’t even believe the things that came out of his mouth that day.

“He is quite appalled by it.”

Wray’s partner and her mother have also been jailed for violent disorder.

The independent

Man who armed hotel rioters with missiles jailed

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November 6, 2024
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A man who drove a pick-up truck laden with debris to a hotel housing asylum seekers and allowed rioters to use its load as missiles has been jailed.

Jake Turton parked a red Ford Ranger near the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August, with panels of wood later hurled at police officers by others present.

Sheffield Crown Court heard the panels were also used as fuel for bin fires burning at the scene, with police and hotel workers “fearing for their lives” during the disorder.

Turton, 38, of Darfield, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder and was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

Asylum seekers and hotel staff were trapped in the upper floors of the hotel as rioters smashed windows and set fire to bins that were used to block doors at the building, the sentencing heard.

More than 50 police officers were injured, the court heard, with police horses and dogs also suffering injuries.

Although Turton did not physically attack anyone himself, Judge Sarah Wright said a custodial sentence was inevitable due to the seriousness of the “terrifying incident”.

“You were part of a violent mob that descended, spreading hate, and you allowed people to arm themselves in major civil unrest which left police and the hotel workers fearing for their lives,” the judge told Turton.

The defendant claimed he had driven to the riot to “have a nosy”, the court heard, but text messages found on his phone discussed attending the scene and calling it “brill”.

In a statement read to court, a senior police officer called the disorder the “worst violence he had ever faced” because of the “extreme malice” shown.

Prosecutor Alisha Kaye said: “You openly allowed people to take panels of wood from your truck, so you acted in joint enterprise with hostility to those seeking asylum.”

Turton was cleared of a charge of taking a vehicle without consent.

Judge Wright told him: “This incident damaged the reputation of Rotherham and of South Yorkshire.

“It was a terrifying ordeal for the ordinary, decent citizens of the area, so your part in it has to be punished severely in order to protect the public.”

More than 60 men have been jailed so far for their parts in the disorder outside the hotel.

BBC News

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

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November 6, 2024
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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

Hull rioter with an ‘appalling catalogue’ of other horrific offences is jailed

By
November 5, 2024
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Sonny Brewitt threw a plank of wood at police during the Hull city centre disorder in August but also admitted a string of other crimes

A violent troublemaker who played an “active” role during “12 hours of racist hate-fuelled mob violence” in Hull city centre – and also had an “appalling catalogue” of other nasty offences – has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Sonny Brewitt was at the front of the frightening disturbances, including the targeting of a garage where cowering children and others had to take refuge. In separate offences, he made his ex-girlfriend’s life a misery by repeatedly harassing her and he was also involved in a callous burglary, Hull Crown Court heard.

Brewitt, 22, of College Grove, off Preston Road, east Hull, admitted violent disorder, racially aggravated criminal damage and stealing a wallet on August 3.

He also admitted separate earlier offences of stalking his ex-girlfriend between July and December last year, breaching a restraining order and assaulting a nurse. He admitted a separate burglary offence on July 14.

Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said that bare-chested Brewitt was holding a plank of wood during the disturbances in Hull city centre and he threw it at a line of police officers in Ferensway, Hull. They were forming a protective guard outside the Royal Hotel, which was understood to be housing asylum seekers at the time.

Brewitt was one of the leaders in the confrontation and he was one of the first to get involved in trouble at a garage in Milky Way, off Spring Bank. Seven people, including children, had to pull down the shutters and lock themselves inside the garage. There were shouts by others of “Open the door. I’ll kill you.”

Vehicles were damaged outside while the group cowered inside the main garage. They feared for their safety. Brewitt went up to the shutters and started shaking them. He was part of a mob that surrounded a BMW car with three terrified Romanian occupants inside. He leaned in and stole a wallet.

The stalking offence happened when Brewitt breached a restraining order that had been imposed by Hull magistrates on January 5, 2022, banning him from contacting his ex-girlfriend.

On July 26 last year, he approached her and shouted aggressively at her before grabbing a pram. He followed her, became more aggressive and punched her in the face before pushing her off a fence.

He tried to take her mobile phone from her and pushed her into a bush. She shouted “Get off me”. A nurse saw what was happening and she said that she was going to call the police. Brewitt became aggressive towards her and assaulted her.

In November, Brewitt sent voicemails to his ex-girlfriend, including saying “I’m on my way” and, on another occasion, he went to her home. He also sent a text message to her, pretending to be “Paul from Clough Road custody” and giving a fake crime number.

During a telephone call to the phone number that sent the text, the woman realised that the voice was not the supposed police officer but Brewitt.

The burglary offence happened when Brewitt and an accomplice raided a house in Kilnsea Grove, near Preston Road, east Hull. A TV was stolen from the living room as well as a firestick and a sound bar.

Brewitt was identified from CCTV pictures. The occupier was devastated by what happened because she had known Brewitt for years.

Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that Brewitt admitted playing an “active” role in the city centre disturbances and it was an escalation in his criminal behaviour from earlier offences.

“His life has clearly spiralled out of control,” said Mr Shipley. “There is no getting over that. This will be his first custodial sentence.”

Brewitt was immature, easily manipulated and prone to boredom and recklessness. He had struggled with the breakdown of his previous relationship with his girlfriend as they had a child together.

Judge John Thackray KC said that Brewitt committed an “appalling catalogue” of offences. He was part of “12 hours of racist hate-fuelled mob violence” in Hull city centre and “utterly deplorable” behaviour.

Brewitt was jailed for a total of five-and-a-half years. It included two years for the city centre violence offences, a consecutive 18 months for breaching the restraining order and a consecutive two years for burglary. He was given a five-year restraining order.

Hull Daily Mail

Rioter pushed burning bin towards police cordon after violence erupted at Middlesbrough protest

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November 5, 2024
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Paul Smith was jailed for 22 months following violent disorder in Middlesbrough

A rioter pushed a bin towards a police cordon after violence erupted at a far-right protest.

Paul Smith, 24, was locked up for 22 months at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, following riots in Middlesbrough on Sunday, August 4. The court heard Smith was seen on Ayresome Street among a group of males who were trying to set alight a Biffa bin.

The Middlesbrough defendant was seen with a lighter before pushing the bin into the police cordon. A second bin, a household wheelie bin, was also set alight and pushed into the police cordon.

The St Catherine’s Court defendant was jailed for 22 months for violent disorder. Teesside Live previously reported how protestors stormed Middlesbrough town centre in August after a week of violence across the country in protests organised by far-right and anti-immigration groups.

Cars were torched, windows were smashed and police were attacked in the shameful violence. In recent weeks, countless rioters have been jailed on Teesside with police still tracing suspects.

Following the troubles, Cleveland Police launched an investigation to identify individuals suspected of being involved. Codenamed Operation Acorn is led by detectives in the force’s homicide and major enquiry team.

Gazette Live

Rioter jailed for police office attack

By
November 5, 2024
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A rioter who attacked a police station with metal poles during disorder has been jailed for three years and four months.

Brian Gilby, 27, was part of a mob which targeted the police office on Waterloo Place, Sunderland, during widespread mayhem on 2 August, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Gilby, of Hendon Burn Avenue in Sunderland, also looted a vape shop, prosecutors said.

He admitted rioting with judge Tim Gittins saying he had brought “shame on the city”.

‘Abhorrent behaviour’

Hundreds of people were involved in disorder which broke out across the city after anti-immigration protests turned violent, prosecutor Michael Bunch said.

Police officers were repeatedly attacked with missiles, with four needing hospital treatment.

Businesses were also looted, vehicles damaged and windows smashed, during the unrest.

Gilby was seen on CCTV at the forefront of a group attacking a police office with metal poles and passing weapons to others to use, Mr Bunch said.

He also wielded a fire extinguisher at the building while a neighbouring citizens’ advice office burned after being set alight by rioters which was an “irony”, judge Gittins said.

Gilby then went to a looted vape shop and helped himself to as many products as his “tracksuit bottoms could hold”, the judge said, adding that there was “no legitimacy” for the “abhorrent behaviour”.

‘Encouraged others’

In mitigation, Nick Lane said Gilby had been celebrating a friend’s birthday and was “drawn” into the disorder after “stumbling” across it.

He said the father-of-three, who had missed important family milestones while on remand, was “deeply embarrassed and ashamed” by his actions.

Judge Gittins said he was part of an “orgy of mindless destruction” which “shocked, appalled” and caused fear to “right-thinking” people.

He said those present “inflamed” others to take part in the disorder.

The judge said he acknowledged jailing Gilby would have an affect on his family but told him: “You weren’t thinking of them when you took part in this disgraceful behaviour.”

BBC News