A 15-year-old boy, accompanied by his mother, appeared in court to admit throwing a paving slab at a member of the public during the Liverpool riots on Saturday. He was among numerous individuals facing charges related to the recent UK-wide riots. Courts in cities such as Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bristol, and Leeds have been handling these cases. The hearings follow the first group’s court appearance on Monday.
ENGLAND – LIVERPOOL | RIOTS
LOOTING-FIRES SET-POLICE ATTACKED- All over the UK as over 45 planned/permit protests and multiple aggressive Agitator groups pic.twitter.com/WgrzpyKr2y— MəanL¡LMə♡₩ (@MeanLILMeoW) August 4, 2024
In a separate case, a Leeds man was convicted of inciting racial hatred through Facebook posts about attacking a hotel housing asylum seekers. This marks the first online post conviction linked to the riots.
The 15-year-old involved in the Liverpool disorder on Saturday night was identified via CCTV and a TikTok video. Prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court detailed that the boy had thrown a recently dislocated paving slab at a member of the public. On bail and prohibited from entering the city centre, he will be sentenced on 17 September.
The riots erupted after the stabbing deaths of three girls in Southport, fuelled by false online claims that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker from Wales.
In another case, Dylan Carey, 26, from Hindley, Greater Manchester, admitted his involvement in the Southport riot. Arrested at Southport train station, Carey was seen on social media throwing a water bottle and kicking a police van. During his court appearance, Carey and a woman in the public gallery exchanged kisses.
Teesside Magistrates’ Court saw 28 suspects charged with violent disorder and other offences related to a Middlesbrough riot on Sunday. James Bullock, 20, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, accused of pushing a burning wheelie bin at police. Prosecutor John Garside noted Bullock wore gloves and a balaclava during the incident. Ashley Ferguson, 33, also denied violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon, accused of damaging property with a wooden pole. He remains in custody until his 27 August crown court appearance.
Rotherham witnessed some of the weekend’s most severe scenes outside a hotel for asylum seekers. Rioters smashed windows and set fires with children inside. Joshua Simpson, a 25-year-old self-employed builder, became the first person convicted for assaulting an emergency worker during the disorder. Simpson, who admitted kicking a riot shield, will be sentenced on 27 August. Christopher Rodgers, 38, and Liam Grey, 20, denied violent disorder charges in connection with the same event. A 17-year-old boy also faced charges but did not enter a plea.
Eight individuals were charged over the weekend disturbances in Nottingham city centre. The accused, seven men and one woman aged between 18 and 46, face various charges, including weapon offences and assaulting an emergency worker. Ashley Harris, 36, was set to appear in court in Bristol for violent disorder in the city centre on Saturday.
In Bolton, Greater Manchester, a riot on Sunday led to charges against two men and two teenagers. Dominic Stanbridge, 30, from Buckshaw, faced violent disorder charges, while James Nelson, 18, from Horwich, was charged with criminal damage. Two 16-year-old boys were charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon, respectively.
Jordan Parlour, 28, pleaded guilty to posting Facebook messages advocating an attack on a Leeds hotel housing asylum seekers. The hotel manager put the building on lockdown, and at least one window was broken. Parlour, from Seacroft, Leeds, was convicted of using threatening words or behaviour to stir up racial hatred and will be sentenced on 9 August.
Cheshire police arrested a 32-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment after public reports about a Snapchat post encouraging action outside a hotel. Both have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
In Blackpool, three men admitted to participating in violence at Preston Magistrates’ Court. Roger Haywood, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting two emergency workers and will be sentenced on 4 September. Chalmers-Millington, 18, admitted to a racially aggravated public order offence and was restricted from entering Blackpool promenade. Ben Smith, 32, was remanded after admitting possession of a metal pole and will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on 16 September.