Thug draped in St George's flag who screamed 'let's have it' before pelting police with bricks and... (original) (raw)

A thug draped in a St George's flag who kicked out at riot police and smashed trollies into officers is among the latest rioters convicted over the violence on Britain's streets.

John Kirtley, 26, of Sunderland, was caught on camera as violence erupted when far-right demonstrations turned to chaos.

Today the thug admitted violent disorder in connection with his role in the protests, with dramatic footage showing Kirtley forcefully hurling trolleys at officers.

The rioter was caught on camera throwing bricks and a beer keg towards police officers who were protecting a mosque, South Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard.

He also shouted 'England till I die' as he waved a flare.

It comes as a 13-year-old girl became the youngest known female rioter to be convicted today following anti-immigration protests as a result of the Southport stabbings.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted violent disorder in Aldershot outside a hotel two days after the attack in Merseyside - having punched and kicked the entrance to the building.

John Kirtley, 26, was caught on camera violently pushing shopping trolleys at officers

Kirtley has been convicted of violent disorder at South Tyneside Magistrates court

Footage shows Kirtley kicking out at frontline officers during the chaos

Accompanied by her mother and step-father, the court heard she would be looking at two years in jail if she were an adult.

Today, in the youth court at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court, Hants, the nervous-looking girl from Aldershot fidgeted in her chair as she was spoken to.

She spoke quietly and only did so to confirm her name, address and plead guilty to violent disorder.

The court heard the offence took place during a protest at Potters International Hotel in Aldershot on July 31.

The teenager admitted 'using or threatening unlawful violence' when present together with others which 'would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his or her personal safety'.

Prosecutor Kerry Richardson told the court that if the girl had been an adult, she would be looking at two years in custody due to the 'serious nature' of events.

District Judge Tim Pattinson warned her she would be committing an offence if she did not attend the next court hearing and ordered her to 'cooperate' with probation.

She was granted unconditional bail ahead of being sentenced on September 30.

Thomas Power, a Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Wessex, said after today's hearing: 'This alarming incident will have caused genuine fear amongst people who were being targeted by these thugs – and it is particularly distressing to learn that such a young girl participated in this violent disorder.

Today Kirtley admitted violent disorder in connection with his role in the protests, with dramatic footage showing Kirtley forcefully hurling trolleys at officers

Protesters are seen outside Potters International Hotel in Aldershot on August 4

The crowds gathered as part of what were described as 'Enough Is Enough' demonstrations

'Large scale public unrest is never acceptable and the Crown Prosecution Service will not hesitate to respond swiftly and robustly to uphold law and order.

'We will continue working with our partners in policing and the wider criminal justice system to make sure those who bring violence and panic to our communities face the consequences of their actions.'

Five men also appeared in court charged with using or threatening unlawful violence following a protest at the Aldershot hotel housing asylum seekers.

Kieron Marney, 25, of Ash, Clive Patfield, 60, of Farnham, Alby Brannan, 18, of Ash, Jamie Lee Turvey, 34, of Farnborough, and Cameron Bowling, 40, of Farnborough, gave no indication of plea to the alleged offence on July 31 at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

District Judge Tim Pattinson said their cases were too serious to be dealt with at magistrates' court and they would next appear at Winchester Crown Court on September 4.

They were granted bail with conditions not to attend or loiter at any accommodation occupied by asylum seekers and not to go to Potters International Hotel or its grounds.

Elsewhere, a man who looted cosmetics chain Lush during riots in Hull has pleaded guilty to violent disorder, burglary and racially aggravated criminal damage.

John Honey, 25, admitted three charges of burglary at Lush, the O2 store and Shoezone in the city on August 3.

Kieron Marney, 25, is pictured outside Basingstoke Magistrates Court in Hampshire after appearing charged with using or threatening unlawful violence following a protest

Alby Brannan, 18, also appeared at the court and likewise made no indication of plea

Fellow defendant Jamie Lee Turvey, 34, outside Basingstoke Magistrates Court today

He also pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated criminal damage of a BMW and damaging nine other cars.

Judge John Thackray KC, the Recorder of Hull, said he hoped to be able to sentence Honey later on Tuesday.

Jack Fowler, 24, of Beaumont Terrace, Newcastle, also admitted the charge at the same court as Kirtley. Both will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court later this month.

Police say the pair were identified when images and footage of the disorder were shared with police, which included shocking scenes of Kirtley kicking out at frontline officers.

After officers issued a public appeal to locate Kirtley he handed himself in at Southwick Police Station on Sunday.

Meanwhile James Aspin, 34, of Briardale Road, Blyth, appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court in Bedlington yesterday, charged with one count of distributing a recording to stir religious hatred.

Aspin pleaded guilty to the offence and was remanded in custody, he will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, August 19 for sentencing.

Honey is seen outside a Lush store in Hull on August 3

John Honey, 25, admitted three charges of burglary at Lush, the O2 store and Shoezone in Hull on August 3

Jack Fowler, 24, who has been convicted of violent disorder at South Tyneside Magistrates court

Police were made aware of content posted by Aspin last Friday gaining traction on TikTok, making hateful and threatening comments. He was arrested in the early hours of the Saturday morning, after being recognised by officers.

Det Chief Insp Graeme Barr, of Northumbria Police's Major Investigations Team, said: 'We are continuing to see great results following the persistent efforts of our officers.

'Our net is tightening all the time as we trawl through hundreds of hours of footage and intelligence to find those who have played any part in the region's recent disorder.

'The behaviour demonstrated by these men is certainly not welcome in our communities - and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure they are held accountable.

'Over the past week, we have seen a great show of community togetherness and the support for the Force has been truly heartwarming.

'We will continue to engage with communities to offer reassurance and gather intelligence to support our enquiries - and we welcome anyone who thinks they have anything useful to share to come forward.'

Meanwhile, four men - including one described as the 'least involved' a judge has seen - have been jailed for violent disorder during an anti-immigration protest in Plymouth.

Gary Harkness, 51, of North West Road, John Cann, 51, of Patna Place, Ryan Bailey, 41, of no fixed address, and Amer Walid, 24, of Central Park Towers, were sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on Tuesday.

Cann, Bailey and Harkness were handed three-year, 30-month and 12-month sentences respectively, while Walid, a counter-protester, was jailed for 20 months.

All four previously pleaded guilty at magistrates' court on Monday.

Gary Harkness, 51, was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on Tuesday and given 12 months for violent disorder during an anti-immigration protest in Plymouth

Amer Walid, 24, was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on Tuesday for 20 months for violent disorder as a counter-protester

Plymouth Crown Court today sentenced John Cann, 51, for three years for violent disorder during an anti-immigration protest in Plymouth

The same court gave Ryan Bailey, 41, 30 months for violent disorder during an anti-immigration protest in Plymouth

Harkness was described by Judge Robert Linford as being the 'least involved' in terms of 'direct violence' to come before him.

Handing out his sentence, Judge Linford said: 'Of the people I have thus far sentenced you are the person who provides me with the most difficulty because it cannot be levelled at you that you hit anyone, neither have you thrown anything, neither is it said that you spat at anybody.

'But it is accepted by you that you were a party to this disorder and I have to sentence you on the basis, and you also know that anyone party to it has to receive a custodial sentence."

He added: 'On August 5 this city was blighted by widespread disorder that was centred on the Royal Parade - there was one faction on one side and one faction on the other.

'You didn't attend this evening, I'm satisfied, with the intention of starting or being involved in any trouble.

'You didn't align yourself with either faction, but you became involved and as a consequence of that you have now pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

'Your plea accepts that you threatened unlawful violence and your conduct could lead people to fear for their safety.'

Harkness, who admitted having drunk heavily that day, was seen making lewd gestures and swearing during the evening and at another point pushes or is pushed by a police officer.

At one point in the trial, after watching body-worn camera footage from the event, the judge halted the hearing, seeming frustrated that Harkness was before him.

The case was adjourned while the judge spoke to the prosecution's Lewis Aldous.

Following the adjournment, Mr Aldous told the court that Harkness had effectively encouraged the disorder.

Police officers with dogs intervene after far-right protesters crossed to the side of anti-racism activists and clashed with the police at Guildhall Square in Plymouth on August 5

Police officers were seen detaining some far-right protesters after they tried to cross to the side of the opposing group in Plymouth on August 5

Sentences were today handed down to rioters convicted of carrying out violent disorder during an anti-immigration protest in Plymouth on Monday last week

The court also heard that Cann and Bailey had been involved in the far-right protest on August 5, while Walid had attended a counter-protest on the opposite side of the police barricade.

Video was shown to the court of Cann on a bike, launching a firework or flare towards the counter-protesters, as well as picking up objects from the floor and throwing them.

Mr Aldous told the court that Cann told police he thought the protest would 'kick off' because 'an immigrant had killed some girls' but insisted he was not racist.

Bailey was seen throwing a can and heard chanting along with others, saying: 'Immigrants not welcome here'.

Walid was seen throwing cans on four occasions back at the far-right side of the protest and surrounded by placards saying 'Love not hate'.

Sentencing Walid, Judge Linford accepted he had not entered the city 'looking for trouble' and that protesters had been throwing missiles and making 'deeply offensive racist chants'.