Britain’s crackdown over the riots sparked by the killing of three girls in Southport continued today – as more harsh sentences were handed out to thugs at the centre of the violence.
Police have arrested 483 rioters relating to violent disorder following the knife rampage which claimed the lives of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
The violence has been stirred up by false claims, spread by a Russian-linked website, that the triple murder suspect was an asylum seeker called Ali Al-Shakati who arrived in the UK on a small boat and was ‘on the MI6 watchlist’.
Civil unrest first erupted outside a mosque in Southport last Tuesday and spread across other parts of Britain in the days after.
Sir Keir Starmer has warned that rioters will ‘face the full force of the law’ and many have been charged and sentenced this week.
looks back at the violent flashpoints on Britain’s streets that has seen thugs put behind bars for a total of more than 25 years so far.
Liam Ryan – part of an angry mob who attacked a black man
Liam Ryan, 28, sobbed in court as he pleaded guilty to violent disorder after travelling from West Yorkshire to Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens to ‘play an active role in the disorder’.
Prosecutor Laura Peers said social media footage showed ‘a black male being confronted by a large group of white males’, adding that Ryan could be seen ‘aiming a punch towards the male involved’.
The shocking footage shows the victim being punched to the ground and kicked in the head.
Ms Peers said: ‘Ryan was seen on the footage aiming a punch towards the male involved.’
Ryan, who was shaking as he wiped tears away with a tissue, was remanded in custody for sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on August 14.
Ryan Sheers – goaded police officers before he was bitten by a police dog
Ryan Sheers, who yelled ‘I pay your wages’ at embattled officers before a police dog bit him on the backside , wept in court as he was jailed for more than two years today.
The 28-year-old and his boyfriend Steven Mailen, 54, had spent the day at the bingo together before walking into the middle of the disorder that rocked Hartlepool on July 31.
Each received sentences of two years and two months in prison by a judge who told them the public were ‘rightly outraged by the behaviour seen on the streets of this country.’
At Teesside Crown Court, Sheers burst into tears when the length of the term was announced. He and Mailen, both from Hartlepool, had pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder and had been warned to expect jail but it still came as a shock.
Prosecutor Rachel Master said Sheers and Mailen were at the front of a crowd of people goading a line of police officers with shields and batons.
She said: ‘Over the course of 10 minutes Mailen goaded officers and used gestures and language that officers perceived to be inciting the crowd to use violence against the police.
‘He continued shouting abuse and refused to step back when asked.
‘An officer feared for his safety and that of his colleagues and struck the defendant to the leg with an extendable baton.’
At that point Sheers saw a ‘red mist’ and stepped in to defend his partner.
He was captured on video waving a finger at police officers and shouting at them: ‘I pay your wages.’ He also refused to step back and a police dog was deployed which latched itself onto his buttock, almost dragging off his shorts.
Ms Masters said: ‘This had the effect of dispersing the crowd.’
However in the melee as the dog had hold of Sheers, Mailen ran forward again and kicked a police constable repeatedly on the shins. It eventually took three officers to overpower and arrest him.
Nigel Soppitt, defending, said that both men rejected right wing ideology and as a same sex couple in Hartlepool had been the subject of prejudice.
The pair got involved in the rioting, he said, after their post-bingo lager ran out and they left home to go to the local shop, discovering there were some 200-300 people out on the streets.
Of Mailen – a care worker who is a former school governor and postmaster – he said: ‘He has no time at all for Far Right ideology.
He is in a relationship with Mr Sheers and has grown up in Hartlepool where they have suffered themselves a great deal of prejudice.’
He said that on his arrest Sheers immediately admitted to officers his behaviour had been ‘aggressive and disgusting’ and that he felt genuine remorse for his actions.
Cleveland’s Chief Constable Mark Webster sat in court throughout the proceedings flanked by some of his officers.
He issued a statement read by Ms Masters which said the damage caused in the rioting across Cleveland had amounted to an estimated £300,000 with 16 officers reporting injuries in a list that was still growing.
He said: ‘As the Chief Constable of Cleveland I can attest the level of aggression and violence officers faced and the damage to the community and property is unprecedented.’
Judge Francis Laird, KC, said that Sheers and Mailen had been ‘at the very forefront of the mob.’
He said: ‘You chose to take part in what was organised and large scale public disorder.
‘In that disorder police officers were attacked and there was large scale damage to property. Members of the public were forced to endure the devastation and chaos caused in their communities.
‘The public are rightly outraged by this behaviour on the streets of this country. For this scale of aggressive offending only a custodial sentence can be justified.’
Daniel McGuire – knocked over by a riot shield after spitting on police
The 45-year-old who spat at police and threatened to punch an officer during protests in Plymouth has been jailed for 26 months.
Daniel McGuire, of Crescent Avenue, Plymouth, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a charge of violent disorder relating to the incident on Monday.
Judge Robert Linford, sentencing McGuire at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday, said the defendant had been drunk and returned after police asked him to leave.
He said McGuire was ‘seen to repeatedly spit at the police’ and video footage showed him ‘swearing and threatening to punch the police’.
Feleena Grosvenor, for McGuire, said that the defendant was ‘sorry for spitting and he was so ashamed during his interview he could barely watch the video’. She said he had sustained a broken arm.
During the video, he is seen goading police officers before one armed with a shield knocks him to the ground.
Cole Stewart – wailed ‘I’m a child’ after hurling bricks at police
The 18-year-old who was seen ‘celebrating’ after launching bricks at police officers during a ‘vile and destructive’ riot.
Stewart was cheered on as he hurled missiles at riot police who had been deployed to a violent protest in Darlington, County Durham, on Monday evening.
Shocking CCTV shows the teenager repeatedly throwing bricks and other objects near North Lodge Park, with one of them striking an officer.
The teenager wailed ‘I’m a child’ as he was pinned to the ground by police and arrested at the scene. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ahead of being sentenced on Friday.
Heather Blair, prosecuting, said an officer ‘felt a sharp blow to his wrist’ from an object believed to be thrown by Stewart, who was then seen ‘celebrating with his arms in the air’. Durham Police said he engaged in ‘vile and destructive behaviour’.
Derek Drummond – attacked a police officer in front of a mosque
Derek Drummond, screamed ‘s***houses’ at officers as they tried to put on their protective gear during a riot in Southport last Tuesday before attacking one male PC as he tried to protect his colleagues.
The 58-year-old haulier, who called himself a ‘fool’ while handing himself in to police and has since lost his job, was sentenced at a fast-tracked hearing at Liverpool Crown Court alongside two other local men who took part in a riot in the city centre on Saturday.
The judge, Andrew Menary KC, said Drummond was part of a ‘large and unlawful mob’ who had ‘effectively hijacked’ Southport’s grief as part of the disorder.
Drummond was caught on camera punching Merseyside police officer Thomas Ball during the riot outside Southport mosque. He was also seen throwing bricks a police as part of a riot, in which more than 50 officers were injured.
Kenzie Roughley – part of a mob that attacked a police van
The 18-year-old has admitted being part of a group who left a police community support officer (PCSO) fearing for his life as they violently rocked a police van during the rioting in Rotherham.
Footage of the CCTV van being rocked from side to side, with its rooftop mast swinging alarmingly, was one of many dramatic images of Sunday’s violence outside a Holiday Inn Express housing more than 200 asylum seekers.
A neighbour of Kenzie Roughley, of Barnsley Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, contacted police with video footage of him punching and kicking the vehicle, and his fingerprints were later found on the bodywork, Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday.
Prosecutor Simon Walton said the PCSO inside the vehicle ‘described fearing for his life’.
The officer got into the driver’s seat and managed to drive it away.
Roughley yawned in the glass-fronted dock as he confirmed his details and pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder.
The court heard how despite only recently turning 18, the defendant has previous convictions for assaulting an emergency worker and racially aggravated harassment.
He is still under youth justice supervision following the latter offence, the court heard.
District Judge James Gould refused Roughley bail and remanded him in custody to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday.
Roughley was one of four people who appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning in connection with the Rotherham incident, which saw rioters enter the hotel through a smashed-in fire door and try to set it alight using a burning bin.
Over the course of this week, the court has heard how police estimated 500 people attended at the hotel, with around 100 actively taking part in the violence.
William Nelson Morgan – part of a mob which torched a library
Britain’s oldest rioter William Nelson Morgan, 69, and gas fitter John O’Malley, 43, were jailed for two years and eight months each in the first televised sentencing of the riots.
Morgan, a semi-retired welder, was armed with a wooden cosh as he took to the streets with a group of about 100 thugs who damaged businesses and buildings and threw missiles at police on County Road, Liverpool, on Saturday night.
Morgan, who had no previous convictions, was told by the judge that his ‘advancing years’ did not stop him playing an ‘active part’ as part of a group ‘running amok’.
When the rioters clashed with police, ‘you were seen at the front of the mob holding in your hand… a small truncheon’, the judge continued.
‘I am sure you had [the weapon] with you to cause injury if the opportunity should arise.’ He told the court how he arrested arrest ‘with such force’ that it took three officers to detain him.
‘I think it is very sad indeed to see someone of your age and character in the dock of a Crown Court,’ he added.
Body-worn footage showed the widower telling officers to get off him as they attempted to arrest him.
At one point he said ‘I’m f****** 70’ and an officer responded: ‘Well, why are you at a f****** riot?’
Aaron Johnson – incited violence on a live stream
Aaron Johnson admitted using racist language on a live stream he broadcast to ‘millions of people’ from outside a hotel in Stockport thought to contain asylum seekers at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor Laura Peers said Johnson ‘became aggressive to members of staff’ at the hotel, adding that he told them ‘he would smash their face in’.
Ms Peers added that ‘within the stream he repeatedly refers to migrants in a derogatory manner’ and used racist language.
Johnson was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on August 21.
Shehraz Sarwar – accused of carrying a sharpened bat
A man accused of carrying an ‘offensive weapon’ during an anti-EDL gathering in Bordesley Green has denied the offence claiming it was a ‘religious staff’.
Shehraz Sarwar was captured on Sky television footage of the events in Belchers Lane on Monday, August 5, holding a ‘wooden stick with cord wrapped around it’, Birmingham Magistrates’ Court was told.
The 46-year-old has accepted it was him but has insisted it was a religious item which he was ‘well known’ for carrying around the area for the last 11 years.
The court also heard he had been previously jailed for a public order offence in 2016 after shouting ‘religious remarks’ on a plane as it was landing and ‘referring to the plane potentially exploding’.
Sarwar, from Saltley, formally denied the charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place without authority or reasonable excuse during a 20-minute hearing yesterday.
The case was adjourned for trial on September 23. Sarwar was remanded into custody after having an application for bail refused by district judge David Murray.
Andrew Ball, defending, identified the issue in the case and said: ‘He says he has carried this item for more than 11 years.’
Christopher Clayton – accused of possession of swords and knuckle dusters
A man accused of participating in two riots over the past week has been remanded into custody at Leeds Magistrates’ Court.
Christopher Clayton, 66, is accused of violent disorder in Liverpool on Saturday and outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham on Sunday.
He is also accused of possession of offensive weapons in a private place – namely swords and knuckle dusters, a court official said.
Clayton, of Station Cottages, Wakefield, will next appear before Leeds Crown Court on August 15.
Derek Drummond, 58, of Pool Street, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after punching a police officer in the face during a riot in Southport. He said he was a ‘fool’ when turned himself into police, before being jailed for three years.
Liam Riley, 40, of Walton Road, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and racially aggravated behaviour after being seen draped himself in a St George’s flag throwing rocks and bricks at the police during a riot in its city centre over the weekend. The 40-year-old fell when he tried to run away from officers who chased after him and has now been jailed for 20 months.
Declan Geiran, 29, of Kelso Road, Liverpool, was convicted of violent disorder and arson. The 29-year-old was seen setting fire to a police van outside ST George’s Hall in the city. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison after admitting to the offences and a separate charge of sending malicious communications.
Victoria Gray, 42, of West Hallam, Derbyshire, pushed police while carrying pepper spray during a violent confrontation in Nottingham was given a six-month suspended jail term and fined £200. She was sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court after she admitted two charges of assaulting an emergency worker, possession of a weapon and using threatening words or behaviour to stir up racial hatred.
James Nelson, 18, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage after he was seen smashing police cars during disorder in Bolton over the weekend while wearing a pink balaclava. He was sentenced to two months in prison.
Liam Powell, 28, of Hendon Court, Buckshaw Village, Chorley, pleaded guilty to being in possession of cocaine during a riot in Bolton. He was given a 12-month community order.
Shehraz Sarwar, 46, was filmed by Sky News allegedly carrying a sharpened bat at a counter-protest in Birmingham on Monday denied possession of an offensive weapon. He pleaded not guilty at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court to possessing the ‘wooden stick with a cord wrapped around it’. He told the court it was a ‘religious staff’. Mr Sarwar faces trial on September 23.
Aaron Johnson, 32, of Criterion Street, North Reddish, pleaded guilty to distributing images intended to stir up racial hatred. He was seen using racist language during a live-stream video he broadcast to ‘millions of people’ outside a hotel in Stockport thought to be housing asylum seekers. He will be sentenced on August 21.
Liam Ryan, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, wept in court as he pleaded guilty to violent disorder after travelling to Manchester to take part in a riot. Prosecutors said he was seen ‘aiming a punch’ towards a black man who had been confronted by a large group of white men. He is set to be sentenced in the week beginning August 12.
Phillip Prescott, 39, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Liverpool City Magistrates’ Court.
Lucas Ormond Skeaping, 29, of Warren Lane, Tavistock, admitted to violent disorder after pushing a 17-year-old boy off his bike and was caught on his own GoPro camera throwing a full bottle of Coca-Cola and a rock towards protesters in Plymouth on Monday, August 5. Ormond Skeaping was jailed for 18 months.
Daniel McGuire, 45, of Crescent Avenue, Plymouth, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was seen pushing up against police riot shields before ‘spitting on officers and shields’ during a riot in the city on Monday, August 5. McGuire was jailed for two years and two months.
Michael Williams, 51, of Blacklands Close, Sparkwell, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after he was seen kicking another man and found with a stone ‘tucked into his jogging bottoms’ during a riot in Plymouth on Monday, August 5. Williams was jailed for two years and eight months.
William Nelson Morgan, 69, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place after he was seen carrying a wooden baton and being part of a crowd of people who were throwing bricks at police in Liverpool. He will be sentenced on August 29.
John O’Malley, 43, of Cambridge Gardens in Southport, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being recognised by a member of the public on footage of the riot in Southport. He will be sentenced on August 29.
Adam Wharton, 28, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to burgling the Spellow Hub community centre with his brother amid the unrest in the city over the weekend. He swore at the district judge as he was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on August 29.
Ellis Wharton, 22, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to burgling the Spellow Hub community centre with his brother amid the unrest in the city over the weekend. He appeared in court with a black-eye after allegedly being assaulted in the court cells and will be sentenced on August 29.
A 14-year-old boy from Liverpool, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being seen in a group of youths who were shooting fireworks at police and members of the public in the city cente. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Charlie Bullock, 21, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being described as ‘the main instigator’ of a large group of people pushing against police during a riot in Darlington. He admitted to throwing stones and rocks at officers and will be sentenced on Friday, August 9.
Cole Stewart, 18, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after a riot in Darlington after being seen ‘celebrating’ after throwing an object which hit a police officer. He will be sentenced on Friday, August 9.
A 17-year-old boy from Plymouth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after throwing a traffic cone and a rock towards a large group of protesters. He will be sentenced on September 5.
Joshua Simpson, 25, of no fixed abode but living in Cleethorpes, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker after kicking a police officer at a riot outside a Holiday Inn Express which was housing migrants in Rotherham. He will be sentenced on August 27.
Jordan Parlour, of Seacroft, Leeds, pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive language after urging far-right yobs to ‘smash the f***’ out of a Britannia Hotel in the city housing asylum seekers. The 28-year-old, who was unable to go out to the protest because he had a broken heel, will be sentenced on Friday, August 9.
Josh Kellett, of Southcroft, Washington, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being seen throwing a stone at police officers while wearing a balaclava in Sunderland. The 29-year-old, who was identified by his ‘distinctive tattoos’, will be sentenced on September 2.
Leanne Hodgson, of Holborn Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after she was filmed pushing a large bin towards police officers duiring violence in Sunderland. The 43-year-old, described as being ‘very drunk and angry’ will be sentenced on September 2.
Andrew Smith, 41, of High Street East, Sunderland, wept in court as he admitted violent disorder after throwing an object at officers before being bitten by a police dog during a riot in Sunderland. He will be sentenced on September 2.
Dylan Carey, of Castle Hill Road, Hindley, Wigan, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being filmed kicking a police van and throwing objects at it during a riot in Southport. The 26-year-old will be sentenced on August 12.
A 15-year-old boy also pleaded guilty to violent disorder after he was caught on video throwing a paving slab at a man’s head during a riot in Liverpool city centre.
Bradley Makin, 21, of Simonside Road, Springwell, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being seen encouraging people to take part in a riot in Sunderland over the weekend. The 21-year-old, who also admitted possession of cocaine and heroin, will be sentenced on Friday, August 9.
Andrew Stewart, 37, of Anlaby Road in Hull, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being seen throwing missiles at police and pushing a large burning waste bin towards officers. He will be sentenced on August 30.
Christopher Douglas, 35, of Avenues Court in Hull has been charged with violent disorder and possession of class B drugs. He has been remanded into custody to appear at Hull Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Stacey Vint, of Normanby Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after she was caught on camera attempting to push a burning waste bin towards police officers. In the process she fell over and was arrested by officers. The 34-year-old, who also admitted possession of cannabis, will be sentenced on August 28.
Tyla Chalmers-Millington, 18, of Langdale Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence during disorder in the town. He will be sentenced on September 4.
Ben Smith, 32, of Dickson Road, Blackpool, admitted to possession of an offensive weapon after being found carrying a metal pole during unrest over the weekend. He will be sentenced on September 16.
Roger Haywood, 41, of Yew Tree Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker during rioting in the north west at the weekend. He will be sentenced on September 4.
Carl Holliday, 30, of Tankerville Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after a riot in the town saw police attacked and cars set on fire over the weekend. He will be sentenced on September 2.
Gareth Rigby, 43, of Masefield Drive, Bolton, pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour after telling police officers to ‘f*** themselves during unrest in the town. He was fined £120.
Daniel Robinson, 37, of Lesley Street, Bolton, admitted possession of an offensive weapon after being seen carrying a hammer in Bolton town centre. He will be sentenced on September 2.
Matthew Edge, 34, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon after being found carrying a hammer at Bolton town hall, along with possession of a class B drug. He will be sentenced on September 2.
Thomas Rodgers, 22, of Wicklow Street, Middesbrough, pleaded guilty to unlawful violence and possession of an offensive weapon, namely rocks, during unrest in the town. He will be sentenced on August 27.
Jonathan Ambrose, 33, of Letitia House, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of cannabis during a riot in the town over the weekend. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Steven Mailen, 54, of Elliott Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after taking part in a riot in Hartlepool, The 54-year-old was seen shouting at police before being hit by an officer’s baton. He will be sentenced on September 2.
Ryan Sheers, 28, of Powlett Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being seen accompanying Mailen during the riot. He was bitten on the hip by a police dog during the unrest and will be sentenced on September 2.