UK riots latest news: Boy, 15, in court for disorder along with Southport ‘ringleader’ who threw bricks at police

A 15-year-old boy has become the first person to be charged with riot, a more serious offence than than violent disorder.

The teenager was charged in relation to disorder in Sunderland on 2 August, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Gale Gilchrist, chief crown prosecutor for CPS North East, said: “The boy, from Sunderland, will appear at South Tyneside Youth Court today, where he will be asked to enter a plea.

“This defendant is one of a number of individuals who we expect will be charged with riot, and as these are live proceedings we remind all concerned that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

On Wednesday, Judge John Thackray KC, the Recorder of Hull, encouraged prosecutors to consider charging offenders who played central roles in the recent disorder in parts of the UK with rioting, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

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.

Phil Hoban, 48, was a prominent figure in an anti-immigration demonstration in the centre of Leeds on Saturday 3 August, where he could be seen shouting at hundreds of rival protesters and leading the chanting.

The anti-immigration demo 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 that carried out sting operations against men who made contact with fake profiles of teenage girls they set up online.

The group’s activities resulted in prosecutions, including that of Irish TV producer Kieran Creaven who was jailed in 2018 after he was tricked by Predator Exposure into flying from Dublin to Leeds to meet a “girl” he had groomed on Facebook with hundreds of messages.

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.

Hoban, of Northcote Crescent, Leeds, was jailed on Thursday after previously admitting causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

Footage showed a Sky News reporter being approached by hooded and masked men in Ms Phillips’ Birmingham Yardley constituency during a period of disorder in the city, with one man swearing and making rude gestures at the camera.

A man with a knife later attacked a Sky News van as the TV crew attempted to leave the area after being told they were not welcome, reporter Becky Johnson said at the time.

Read the full article from Millie Cooke here:

An 18-year-old man has denied using threatening behaviour during a protest in Nottingham city centre.

Owen Lawrence, of Orchard Street in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, pleaded not guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court to a charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence in Long Row, Nottingham, on August 3.

District Judge Sunil Khanna set a trial date for November 29 at the same court.

He granted Lawrence bail until this date with the conditions that he does not enter Nottingham city centre except in limited circumstances and not to be in a group of more than three people in a public place.

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 on Thursday afternoon at Manchester Crown Court.

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.”

A father has pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in Nottingham when his partner was arrested during a protest.

Kevin Musgrave, 37, admitted grabbing the officer’s arm during the incident on August 3 when his partner Victoria Gray, who was handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on August 7 for pushing a police officer and spitting on another at a protest, was arrested.

Musgrave also admitted during a hearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court to spitting in a police vehicle.

The self-employed roofer was charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.

District Judge Sunil Khanna gave Musgrave, of High Lane East in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, a 12-week sentence suspended for 12 months with 100 unpaid hours of work.

Judge Khanna said: “Had you been part of the main group, I would have sent you straight to prison.”

Several more people have been charged over the violent disorder seen around the country following the Southport stabbings, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Paul Dixon, 35, has been charged with using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke violence, and possession of a Class B controlled drug, and will appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

Tyler Pottinger, 24, has been charged with racially/religiously aggravated harassment/alarm/distress by words/writing and using threatening words or behaviour, and will appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court.

Mitchell Hanley, 36, has been charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

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.”

As of Wednesday, 372 adults have been charged, along with at least 65 people under the age of 18, in the wake of riots following the murder of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside.

The Crown Prosecution Service said 69 adults have been sentenced, with 64 sent to prison as a result.

The riots have not spread north of the border, despite rumours of planned protests.

Read the full article here:

Two women have admitted violent disorder relating to unrest in Bristol on August 3.

Elly-Jayne Cox, 33, of Bishopsworth, Bristol and Lisa Bishop, 38, of Lawrence Weston, Bristol, appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder and were remanded into custody by District Judge Joanna Dickens.

They will appear before Bristol Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced.