Thug faces years in jail as he is first to be convicted of riot in summer violence after being part... (original) (raw)

A mask-wearing 32-year-old man who joined a missile-hurling mob attacking police officers in Sunderland last month faces up to 10 years in jail after becoming the first person in the UK to admit a charge of riot.

Kieran Usher, from Hendon, Sunderland, was captured on CCTV wearing a face covering as he gestured towards officers and the crowds in the city centre to 'encourage violence' on August 2, a previous court hearing was told.

The unrest was one of a series of riots in the UK sparked by the fatal stabbings of three young girls in Southport on 29 July.

Usher appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to admit the charge of riot and was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on September 27.

The maximum punishment for a riot charge is 10 years imprisonment.

He was also seen on camera as part of a large mob throwing missiles at officers.

Kieran Usher, 32, from Hendon, Sunderland, has become the first person in the UK to admit a charge of riot

Sophie Allinson Howells, defending, told Judge Tim Gittens that Usher had learning difficulties and asked for time to allow his GP records to be accessed.

The judge told Usher: 'You have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence.

'You will receive a lot of credit for entering a guilty plea today.'

After the hearing, Christopher Atkinson, Head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS North East, said: 'It is clear from the evidence in this case that Usher played an active role in the mob violence that unfolded on the streets of Sunderland.

'He was filmed working with a group of at least 20 other people to rain missiles onto attending police officers.

'The co-ordinated and unlawful violence carried out by the group in this incident, the severity of which forced police to temporarily retreat from the assault, made a charge of riot wholly appropriate in this case.

'The events of that evening also created immeasurable fear for Sunderland residents, with significant damage caused to local businesses.

'We would like to praise the response of Northumbria Police, who effectively tackled the immediate situation while also securing key evidence to help us build robust cases against the perpetrators of this violence.

Usher, wearing a Union Jack flag on his back, is seen on August 2 signalling to police and was later seen on CCTV throwing missiles at officers

Usher now faces a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment after admitting a charge of riot. Pictured: Protesters gathering in Sunderland on 2 August

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

At South Tyneside Magistrates' Court last month, District Judge Zoe Passfield watched a series of video clips and said they showed he had 'a willingness to engage in large-scale disorder'.

Riot carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and is a more serious charge than violent disorder, which most other defendants from the recent nationwide trouble have faced.

Usher was the first adult to be charged with riot, following a 15-year-old boy, also from Sunderland, having had his violent disorder charge upgraded to riot.

The disorder in Sunderland saw hundreds gather for a march through the city centre which then splintered off towards a mosque where officers in riot gear who were protecting it came under sustained attack.

Trouble continued late into the evening, with more attacks on police in the city centre, including having beer barrels thrown at them, fire extinguishers set off in their faces, a car set on fire, a vape shop being looted and a Citizens' Advice Bureau being torched.

Yobs also tried to rip out gravestones from Sunderland's historic Minster to break up and use as missiles.

Usher's admittance of the riot charge comes after a judge called last month for those who played a key role in the UK riots to be charged with offences that carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years instead of five.

Flames erupted beside Sunderland police station during the riots breaking out on August 2

Police are seen responding in Sunderland amid disorder after the Southport stabbings

Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson, of Northumbria Police, said anyone involved in the Sunderland riots on August 2 could face 'really serious charges'

Judge John Thackray KC said prosecutors should look at charging people with riot instead of violent disorder after imprisoning a man who kicked a female police officer to the ground during violence in Hull.

The Recorder of Hull made the remarks after jailing Connor Whiteley, 26, for three years for playing a 'prominent role' in the 'racist, hate-fuelled mob violence' that unfolded in the city on August 3.

A person is guilty of riot if intending to use violence or being aware their conduct may be violent.

Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson, of Northumbria Police, previously said: 'I hope this sends a really strong message that, no matter how old you are, if you took part in the recent appalling events in Sunderland, you will face really serious charges.

'Our investigations team are doing a fantastic job trawling through the hours and hours of footage and intelligence we have from that night.

'I would like to thank the public who have continued to supply us with images, video and information to help us build that evidential picture.

'The team have worked amazingly quickly, with our criminal justice partners, to arrest those responsible and bring them before the courts.

'However, as that evidence picture continues to build, if it becomes apparent that an individual may have been involved in further criminality, they will be brought before the courts again and charged with the most serious offence possible.

'Our communities and my officers, staff and volunteers, suffered horrendously that night and those responsible need to be held fully to account.'

Other towns and cities where violence broke out include Manchester, Bolton, Rotherham, Nottingham and Bristol.