A pram-pushing mum, a balaclava-wearing ‘introvert’ and a man who flashed his penis to female police officers are the latest defendants to appear in court after widespread rioting across the UK.
Nevey Smith, 21, of West Street, Oldham, brought her infant child to a riot in a pushchair and was caught throwing a liquid at police officers trying to maintain order at Newton Heath, Manchester on July 31.
Judge Patrick Field KC warned Smith, who previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder, that she could still face jail before releasing her on bail until sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on September 23.
Hundreds of people have so far been charged over unrest that broke out after three girls were stabbed at a holiday club in Southport on July 29, apparently fuelled by false information spread about the alleged killer on social media.
Those who appeared in court on Monday include Tom Sedbury, 29, who brought a bag of knives to an anti-racism demonstration in Walthamstow, east London, on August 7.
In a police interview he told officers he had been on his way to a friend’s house when he saw the protest and kept his balaclava on because he did not wish to be caught on camera because he is an introvert.
He admitted five counts of possessing knives as well as obstructing a police officer, and will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on October 2.
Mother Kelly Wildego, 41, from Greenwich, south-east London, was given a four-month suspended sentence after she charged at police officers and called them “f****** c****” during a demonstration in Whitehall.
Inner London Crown Court heard that she had thrown foul-mouthed abuse at the police and rushed towards them “without explanation” after most of the violence had subsided at around 8.45pm on July 31.
She was given a suspended sentence for assaulting an emergency worker because she is a full-time carer for her son.A mother and daughter wept as they appeared in court together charged with violent disorder following widespread trouble in Middlesbrough.
Grandmother Amanda Walton, 52, of Ashling Way, Middlesbrough, and Megan Davison, a 24-year-old mother of two, were remanded in custody following a hearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
Walton, who was walking her dog, is accused of throwing a stone at a building as a baying mob made its way along Parliament Road on August 4.
She is also accused of damaging a car wing mirror.
Walton was with her daughter, who was said to have repeatedly jumped on the roof of the same parked car.
No pleas were entered during the hearing.
District Judge Marie Mallon remanded both in custody to appear before Teesside Crown Court on August 29.
Meanwhile, Davison’s partner, Jake Wray, who lives with her at Seaton Street, Middlesbrough, appeared in a neighbouring courtroom charged with violent disorder and arson with intent.
Wray is accused of stopping cars to ask if the driver was white or English during the disorder in Middlesbrough.
The 23-year-old is also accused of setting a wheelie bin alight during the trouble in the town centre.
Mother-of-six Donna Conniff, 40, was sentenced to two years for violent disorder after she also threw a brick and a rock at officers in Murray Street, Hartlepool on July 31.
Conniff, of Alford Court in Hartlepool, Co Durham, was seen handing a brick to a boy and encouraging him to do the same.
Judge Francis Laird KC told her: ‘Your behaviour and the behaviour of others around you was truly disgraceful.’
Father of five Thomas Ward, 35, of Colliery Street, Manchester, was jailed for 32 months after waving his penis at female police officers during disorder in Manchester.
He admitted violent disorder and exposure last week at Manchester Magistrates’ Court after admitting he had joined the far-right demonstration after having ‘a couple of drinks’.
Ward was seen in social media footage stamping on fencing and throwing a plank of wood towards police officers in Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre on August 3.
Ward, appearing via video link from HMP Birmingham, also deliberately targeted female police officers, reaching inside his shorts, taking out his penis and waving it at them, Manchester Crown Court heard on Monday as he was sentenced.
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