Five men, including three who threw bricks and other missiles at a mosque, have been jailed for taking part in violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent.
James Watkins, 35, Andrew Townley, 45, Ashley Morris, 31, Lee Grocott, 48, and Jarrod Hollinshead, 26, each took part in a riot in the city on August 3, which was organised in response to a stabbing in Southport on July 29 that left three girls dead.
Morris, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Grocott, of Stoke-on-Trent, and Hollinshead, of no fixed address, were each caught on CCTV and police body-worn cameras throwing missiles including stones and bricks at the Darul Falah mosque in Town Road, Hanley, Staffordshire.
All five, who all have previous convictions, were jailed for a mixture of violent disorder, affray and assault, with their sentences ranging from two-and-a-half to three years.
Stoke-on-Trents MPs came together at the time of the riots which swept across the country to condemn the protests in their area, describing the participants as far-right extremists.
Five men, including Ashley Morris (pictured), 31, have been jailed for taking part in violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent on August 3
Judge Sally Hancox said: On August 3, the city of Stoke was the location for unlawful disorder, at a time when the city centre would have been busy with people going about their lawful business. Weapons were brandished, missiles were thrown and a number of people were injured
Morris, as well as Lee Grocott (left), 48, and Jarrod Hollinshead (right), 26, were each caught on CCTV and police body-worn cameras throwing missiles including stones and bricks at the Darul Falah mosque in Town Road, Hanley, Staffordshire
Judge Sally Hancox commended each of the defendants for entering guilty pleas to the charges they faced at Stoke Crown Court.
She said: On August 3, the city of Stoke was the location for unlawful disorder, at a time when the city centre would have been busy with people going about their lawful business.
Weapons were brandished, missiles were thrown and a number of people were injured. The police were simply trying to do their job to protect all civilians.
Officers placed themselves in harms way to keep the community safe.
The court heard Grocott stood on a bench being verbally abusive towards a group of peaceful protesters near Hanley Town Hall.
Prosecutor Dylan Wagg said he was clapping and shouting "paedos" towards those protesting.
Mr Wagg said Grocott told police when he was arrested at his home on September 9, that he had attended to protest illegal immigration and the state of the country, and admitted shouting offensive anti-Islamic remarks but denied he said anything racist, and likened it to football chanting.
The 48-year-old was jailed for 32 months for violent disorder, as Judge Sally Hancox acknowledged his genuine remorse at his involvement.
Morris picked up a brick from the ground and threw it towards the mosque after heading into town with a curiosity to see what was going on, after he finished work and tried to go to a shop that was closed because of the disorder, his barrister Stuart Muldoon told the court on Tuesday.
The father of three young sons was also the victim of a hammer attack at the protest, which left him with six stitches in his head and a broken nose.
Mr Muldoon said: Ashley Morris does not hold right-wing views or beliefs. When he woke up on August 3 he had no intention of becoming involved in any protest. He admits he got caught up.
He feels immense guilt and shame about the position he is in and the position he has put his family in, as they have also become victims of his offending.
Morris lost his job as a groundworker as a result of being held in custody after his arrest, the court was told.
He was also topless for parts of the protest, as he had taken his shirt off to use as a bandage for an injured woman, Mr Muldoon said.
Morris was imprisoned for 30 months for violent disorder by the judge, who said letters in support of him made it clear he was somebody who is well thought of and is a good family man, adding: This other side to you makes what you involved yourself in all the sadder.
Morris, a father of three, was also the victim of a hammer attack on the day, which left him with six stitches in his head and a broken nose
Hollinshead, who has been homeless for more than a decade and does not own a phone or a computer, took part in the protest hours after leaving the citys magistrates court over an unrelated offence.
The court was told by his barrister, Debbie Leadbeater, that he had been told about a protest when he went to the library to use the computer to email his family, only to find it was closed.
He said he initially thought it was going to be a parade, with bands and music, and was encouraged to join because there would be free beer, but realised it was a protest when he saw bricks being thrown.
He was caught on camera saying words to the effect of f*** all of you and was taken to the ground by police when he threw a brick.
Ms Leadbeater said Hollinshead was suggestible and had poor judgment, adding: He is autistic and has had an extremely difficult life and suffers with PTSD as a result.
His behaviour on August 3 is inexplicable and something he truly regrets.
He is a man who has nothing at all. He has always been on the streets with nothing and no-one at all caring for him.
He wants to take this as an opportunity to reset his life and use his time in custody to deal with the issues he has had throughout his life.
Hollinshead was given a sentence of 22 months for affray for his part in the disorder, as well as a 14-month sentence for his involvement in the burglary of an 87-year-old mans house in July.
Andrew Townley, 45, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, was given a 34-month sentence after he previously admitted violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker
James Watkins, 35, of Stoke-on-Trent, was given a 36-month sentence after he previously admitted violent disorder
Townley, of Hanley, who works in the building trade and was wearing a high-visibility jacket with the telephone number of his workplace on the back, was trying to get to his mothers home on the other side of the police cordon, and had no intention of being part of a protest, according to his barrister Jason Holt.
He was arrested at his workplace after trying to break through the police line.
He grabbed the shield of one of the officers, pushed her and continued to fuel the aggressive nature of the disorder along with large pockets of people.
Townley could be heard in footage saying you have got no chance against me, no chance, any of you, before he disappeared back into the crowd.
Mr Holt said Townleys presence at the protest was momentary, adding: His mother relies heavily on him for things like shopping. He was concerned about her welfare and was annoyed that he had been stopped from getting through the police line to get to her.
He acknowledges that he tried to walk through the police line, but when he was stopped he went back into the crowd and actually found another route through. He played no other part.
He states he has no right-wing involvement and was most upset by what he heard being said. He admits he should have removed himself from the situation.
His family have lived for over 100 years in Shelton, an area which is very multicultural, and he has no axe to grind with anyone he has lived with. He is most upset with his behaviour and how it has affected others.
He had no weapon and threw nothing, but he accepts his behaviour was totally out of order.
He is a hardworking man and is someone who volunteered at the cricket club and the local mosque.
Judge Hancox said the charity and community work Townley had done showed there was good in you, as she ordered him to serve 34 months for violent disorder, with an eight-month sentence for assaulting an emergency worker, to run concurrently.
Watkins, who Mr Wagg said had a continuous presence at the protest and was at the front of the police line, was also caught on body-worn camera footage standing on a bench being verbally abusive and gesturing with his hands.
He also pushed an officers riot shield and said f*** off you scumbag.
Mr Wagg said: He shouted come on then to try to raise more angst. He pulled out a half empty VK glass bottle from his bag and said to someone else get a lighter out of your bag, and there was a fear he may have used it as a missile towards officers.
He also said to an officer you hit me again, Im hitting you with [the bottle].
Mr Holt, also acting for Watkins, of Stoke-on-Trent, said the defendant got involved after drinking with a friend in the town centre.
He said: He says he holds no right-wing beliefs but he accepts that, through curiosity, he got involved and deeply regrets following the protesters.
His outburst, where he takes out the bottle, was in response to being hit with a shield. He was under the influence of alcohol.
He overreacted and he is quite ashamed, and ashamed for good reason.
He said Watkins, a father-of-four, had lost his job during the Covid pandemic, had become addicted to monkey dust (a drug also known as MDPV or Methylenedioxypyrovalerone) and became homeless.
He is now drug-free for more than a year, Mr Holt said, adding: He is proud of the fact he has been able to sort himself out and now he is in a position where he could lose everything again.
Feelings were high because of things that had been seen and said in the media, and everyone wanted to have their say, and this simply wasnt the way to go about it.
Jailing Watkins for 36 months for violent disorder, Judge Hancox acknowledged that letters of support painted a different side of his character, telling him: It is my sincere hope that this is the James Watkins that emerges from prison in the future.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Ellison said: Those involved in the senseless acts we’ve seen in Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth are being identified every day and brought before the courts.
More and more offenders will be sent to prison as our detectives continue to work tirelessly to review all the evidence we have.
I can assure local communities that decisive action is being taken against those involved. Some haven’t been arrested yet, but we are coming for them.