More rioters are being jailed across the country – including a couple who became involved in disorder after an afternoon bingo session.
Former postmaster and school governor Steven Mailen, 54, and his partner Ryan Sheers, 29, were each handed a prison sentence of two years and two months at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday.
Mailen, of Arch Court, Hartlepool, was described as “one of the main instigators” of a large-scale disturbance in Murray Street in Hartlepool on July 31.
Sheers, of Powlett Road, Hartlepool, was bitten on the hip by a police dog during the incident.
A judge said Mailen and Sheers were “at the very forefront of the mob”, and tried to push their way through a police cordon, with Mailen taunting officers and encouraging others to use violence towards them.
Elsewhere, two men were jailed in Liverpool for two years and eight months after admitting violent disorder.
John O’Malley, 43, was identified from footage of the violence in St Luke’s Road in Southport on July 30, with the sentencing judge telling him: “There’s very clear footage showing the developing disorder and you were at the front of what was essentially a baying mob.”
William Morgan, 69, of Walton, Liverpool, was jailed for his part in unrest in which police were attacked and a library was set on fire.
He admitted violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon – a cosh – in County Road in Liverpool on Saturday night, and Judge Andrew Menary KC said: “Your advancing years plainly did not prevent you from playing an active part in a disturbance on County Road.”
Liverpool Crown Court is also due to host the sentencing of Adam and Ellis Wharton, who face jail for burgling a library in the Walton area of the city after it was set on fire.
In Manchester, a man pleaded guilty to violent disorder after admitting throwing bricks at police during disturbances outside a hotel in the city which was being used to house asylum seekers.
Paul Smith, 21, pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning and was remanded in custody after he was seen throwing “what appeared to be a glass beer bottle” during disorder outside the Holiday Inn hotel on July 31.
Steven Miller, 38, who is also charged with violent disorder in connection with the same incident, gave no indication of plea.
Three other men are also due to appear at the same court on Thursday.
Three men are also due to be sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court for violent disorder in the Devon city.
One of the trio, Michael Williams, 51, was jailed for 32 months and another, Daniel McGuire, 45, was jailed for 26 months after they admitted the charge.
A third man, Lucas Ormond Skeaping, 29, was jailed for 18 months after he knocked a 17-year-old off his bike and was caught on his own GoPro camera throwing a full 500ml bottle of Coca Cola and a rock that had first been thrown from elsewhere.
McGuire was “seen to repeatedly spit at the police” while Williams was spotted “fighting and kicking another male” and was found with a stone in his jogging bottoms when he was arrested.
Victoria Cook, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS South West, said: “The substantial sentences handed down today should send a chilling message to those arrested, those sat in cells ahead of their court hearing and those still waiting for a knock from the police.”
At Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, an 18-year-old man has admitted being part of a group who violently rocked a police van during rioting in Rotherham.
Kenzie Roughley, of Barnsley Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was filmed punching and kicking a South Yorkshire Police CCTV van as hundreds of people battled with officers outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.
A 31-year-old man, Levi Fishlock, denied violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life at the same court after he was accused of putting wood into a bin which was already burning and helping to push it against the building, as well as throwing missiles at police.
Alfie Conway, 19, also denied violent disorder but a 16-year-old boy admitted the same charge.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said one man is accused of violent disorder after alleged participation at two different protests.
Christopher Clayton, 66, is accused of participating in violent disorder in both Liverpool and Rotherham as well as possession of an offensive weapon.
He is due to appear at Leeds District Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The CPS said two further suspects had been charged with stirring up racial hatred.
Tyler Kay, 26, of Northampton, has been charged with publishing written material to stir up racial hatred and will appear at Northampton Magistrates’ Court, and Mark Heath, 45, of Lincolnshire, has been charged with publishing material to stir up racial hatred.
A man has also been charged following an investigation into the alleged posting of content online encouraging violence against police officers and promoting public disorder, Cumbria Police said.
Stuart Burns, 41, of Carlisle, has been charged with two counts of an offence under Section 127 of the Communications Act and is due to appear at North Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.
Court appearances linked to rioting across the country are also expected in Hull, Stratford, Sheffield and South Tyneside magistrates’ courts.
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