Britain’s crackdown over the riots sparked by the killing of three girls in Southport continued today – as thugs including a bingo fan bitten on the backside by a police dog, and a grandfather who was part of a mob that torched a library were jailed.
Ryan Sheers, who yelled ‘I pay your wages’ at embattled officers before a police dog nipped him, wept in court as he was jailed for more than two years today.
The 28-year-old and his boyfriend Steven Mailen, 54, had spent the day at the bingo together before walking into the middle of the disorder that rocked Hartlepool on July 31.
Each received sentences of two years and two months in prison by a judge who told them the public were ‘rightly outraged by the behaviour seen on the streets of this country.’
Elsewhere, two rioters who were both ‘at the forefront’ of violent disorder across Britain last week were jailed for a total of more than five years.
Britain’s oldest rioter William Nelson Morgan, 69, and gas fitter John O’Malley, 43, were jailed for two years and eight months each in the first televised sentencing of the riots.
Morgan, a semi-retired welder, was armed with a wooden cosh as he took to the streets with a group of about 100 thugs who damaged businesses and buildings and threw missiles at police on County Road, Liverpool, on Saturday night. They also set fire to a library.
He was sentenced alongside O’Malley who rioted outside a mosque in Southport last Tuesday in a crowd of 1,000 people, was told that he was ‘at the front of what was essentially a baying mob’.
Three men who took part in the riots in Plymouth, including one who was floored by police after ‘spitting on officers and shields’, were also jailed today for a total of more than six years.
Some cases have been fast-tracked through the courts as the government looks to send a message to anyone involved in the civil unrest. As the rioters were being jailed, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called another emergency COBRA meeting.
The riots first started outside a mosque in Southport last Tuesday, near to where three girls were killed by a knifeman at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. But civil unrest spread across the country over false speculation online that the teenage suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a boat.
It comes as:
Ryan Sheers, 28, and his boyfriend Steven Mailen, 54, were jailed for two years and two months
Sheers (left) and Mailen (right) seen dancing and shouting at police officers during the disorder
The viral video shows a police dog biting Sheers on the hip during the altercation
Gas fitter John O’Malley and Britain’s oldest rioter William Nelson Morgan (pictured), 69, were jailed for a total of more than five years today
Far-right thugs launch items at police during a violent protest in Southport after three girls were killed
Morgan was part of a group of around 100 people who set fire to bins and buildings, threw bricks and damaged a community hub and a library (pictured) containing a food bank in County Road, Walton
Shocking scenes on County Road, Walton, where a Liverpool library was set on fire during riots
Sentencing, Judge Andrew Menary KC said there was very serious mob violence taking place and ‘each of you were at the forefront’
Sentencing O’Malley and Morgan, Judge Andrew Menary KC said there was very serious mob violence taking place and ‘each of you were at the forefront’. He added: ‘Quite what they were protesting about remains a mystery to many’.
The judge told O’Malley: ‘You were part of a crowd using obviously racist and religiously intolerant language that was demonstrating quite deliberately outside a mosque, and you were an active and persistent participant.’
O’Malley has a conviction from 2006 for excess alcohol and a conviction from 2023 for assault by beating.
Morgan, who had no previous convictions, was told by the judge that his ‘advancing years’ did not stop him playing an ‘active part’ as part of a group ‘running amok’.
When the rioters clashed with police, ‘you were seen at the front of the mob holding in your hand… a small truncheon’, the judge continued.
‘I am sure you had [the weapon] with you to cause injury if the opportunity should arise.’ He told the court how he arrested arrest ‘with such force’ that it took three officers to detain him.
‘I think it is very sad indeed to see someone of your age and character in the dock of a Crown Court,’ he added.
Body-worn footage showed the widower telling officers to get off him as they attempted to arrest him.
At one point he said ‘I’m f****** 70’ and an officer responded: ‘Well, why are you at a f****** riot?’
Defending both men, Paul Lewis said: ‘As they stand before you after a period of reflection, they both now recognise there is no grievance that can be properly addressed by mob rule.’
He said Morgan accepted he acted in drink and was ‘disinhibited by the presence of a large crowd’. He added: ‘Both men wish to profoundly apologise.’
It comes as dozens more far-right thugs are humbled as they face charges and sentencing.
Daniel McGuire (pictured), 45, was jailed for 26 months after ‘spitting on officers and shields’ despite being told to stop
Daniel McGuire is knocked to the ground by riot police in Pymouth. He was jailed today
Dozens of rioters are facing Britain’s justice system following the civil unrest that has broken out
At Teesside Crown Court, Sheers burst into tears when the length of the term was announced. He and Mailen, both from Hartlepool, had pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder and had been warned to expect jail but it still came as a shock.
Prosecutor Rachel Master said Sheers and Mailen were at the front of a crowd of people goading a line of police officers with shields and batons.
She said: ‘Over the course of 10 minutes Mailen goaded officers and used gestures and language that officers perceived to be inciting the crowd to use violence against the police.
‘He continued shouting abuse and refused to step back when asked.
‘An officer feared for his safety and that of his colleagues and struck the defendant to the leg with an extendable baton.’
At that point Sheers saw a ‘red mist’ and stepped in to defend his partner.
He was captured on video waving a finger at police officers and shouting at them: ‘I pay your wages.’ He also refused to step back and a police dog was deployed which latched itself onto his buttock, almost dragging off his shorts.
Ms Masters said: ‘This had the effect of dispersing the crowd.’
However in the melee as the dog had hold of Sheers, Mailen ran forward again and kicked a police constable repeatedly on the shins. It eventually took three officers to overpower and arrest him.
Nigel Soppitt, defending, said that both men rejected right wing ideology and as a same sex couple in Hartlepool had been the subject of prejudice.
The pair got involved in the rioting, he said, after their post-bingo lager ran out and they left home to go to the local shop, discovering there were some 200-300 people out on the streets.
Of Mailen – a care worker who is a former school governor and postmaster – he said: ‘He has no time at all for Far Right ideology.
He is in a relationship with Mr Sheers and has grown up in Hartlepool where they have suffered themselves a great deal of prejudice.’
He said that on his arrest Sheers immediately admitted to officers his behaviour had been ‘aggressive and disgusting’ and that he felt genuine remorse for his actions.
Cleveland’s Chief Constable Mark Webster sat in court throughout the proceedings flanked by some of his officers.
He issued a statement read by Ms Masters which said the damage caused in the rioting across Cleveland had amounted to an estimated £300,000 with 16 officers reporting injuries in a list that was still growing.
He said: ‘As the Chief Constable of Cleveland I can attest the level of aggression and violence officers faced and the damage to the community and property is unprecedented.’
Judge Francis Laird, KC, said that Sheers and Mailen had been ‘at the very forefront of the mob.’
He said: ‘You chose to take part in what was organised and large scale public disorder.
‘In that disorder police officers were attacked and there was large scale damage to property. Members of the public were forced to endure the devastation and chaos caused in their communities.
‘The public are rightly outraged by this behaviour on the streets of this country. For this scale of aggressive offending only a custodial sentence can be justified.’
Three men who took part in the riots in Plymouth were also jailed today for a total of more than six years.
A fourth man was also jailed for raiding a store while police tried to quell the violent demonstration in the Devon city centre on Monday night.
Grey-haired Daniel McGuire, 45, of Plymouth, balding Michael Williams, 51, of Sparkwell, Devon, and Lucas Ormond Skeaping, 29, of Tavistock, Devon, had all admitted violent disorder during Monday night’s violence between far-right protesters and anti fascist counterparts from a counter rally.
McGuire – with a distinctive facial tattoo – was jailed for 26 months, Williams for 32 months and anti fascist supporter Skeaping for 18 months.
Judge Robert Linford said people intent on causing violence in the city will face long jail terms saying: ‘We don’t want you.’
Another teen who celebrated his 18th birthday by joining a far right hate mob and attacking police has been jailed for a year and eight months.
On his arrest, after being involved in two consecutive nights of violence, Bobby Shirbon told police: “It’s OK, everybody else is doing it.”
In jailing Shirbon, Judge Francis Laird, KC, told him: “What is particularly troubling is that July 31st was your 18th birthday, a day that should have been joyous and cause for celebration.
“But it ended up with you confronting police officers as part of an ugly, aggressive and violent mob.”
Teesside Crown Court heard the violence involved up to 300 people whipped up by social media posts giving the addresses of asylum seekers living in the centre of the town.
Rachel Master, prosecuting, said: “It was observed that Shirbon was present at the scene with another man.
“He was part of a group throwing bottles, wooden planks, plastic bottles and housebricks and the defendant was seen to smash windows and cause damage.”
Shirbon, who admitted two counts of violent disorder, evaded arrest on July 31 and was out again the next night, hurling beer bottles at a police van while dressed in a balaclava.
Ms Masters said: “He was arrested and found to be in possession of a balaclava and told he was being arrested because witnesses had seen him throw a beer bottle at the police van.
“He replied to police “it’s OK everybody else is doing it.”
Earlier, we reported how an 18-year-old who was seen ‘celebrating’ after launching bricks at police officers during a ‘vile and destructive’ riot is also among dozens of far-right thugs who are facing justice this week.
Cole Stewart was cheered on as he hurled missiles at riot police who had been deployed to a violent protest in Darlington, County Durham, on Monday evening.
Cole Stewart (pictured) pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ahead of sentencing on Friday
Stewart was filmed launching bricks at police officers, with one hitting a PC in Darlington
Stewart wailed ‘I’m a child’ when he was pinned to the floor and arrested by officers who intervened
The teenager, pictured with a huge brick in his hand, is among dozens of rioters facing justice
Derek Drummond was jailed for three years after punching a police officer in the face during a riot in Southport last Tuesday. It is seen in the video below
Liam Riley, 40, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after he admitted violent disorder and racially aggravated behaviour, while Declan Geiran, 29, (right) received 30 months for setting fire to a police van and sending a malicious communication
Shocking CCTV shows the teenager repeatedly throwing bricks and other objects near North Lodge Park, with one of them striking an officer.
The teenager wailed ‘I’m a child’ as he was pinned to the ground by police and arrested at the scene. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ahead of being sentenced on Friday.
Heather Blair, prosecuting, said an officer ‘felt a sharp blow to his wrist’ from an object believed to be thrown by Stewart, who was then seen ‘celebrating with his arms in the air’. Durham Police said he engaged in ‘vile and destructive behaviour’.
Brandon Welch was also charged with violent disorder after he allegedly used racist language and encouraged people to smash up property while live-streaming the Darlington riot on TikTok. The 18-year-old did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Teesside Crown Court on August 28.
As the charges continue to roll in today, another rioter was remanded in custody following an investigation into the alleged posting online of content encouraging violence against police officers and promoting public disorder.
Stuart Burns, 41, of Briar Bank, Carlisle, has been charged with two counts of an offence under Section 127 of the Communications Act. He will appear at North Cumbria Magistrates’ Court today.
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.
The Met Police also made ten more arrests last night over violent disorder at a protest in Whitehall on Wednesday. Protesters launched bottles and fireworks at police outside Downing Street.
Yesterday, one rioter shook and cried in the dock as he admitted punching a black man while another yob who was knocked to the ground by a police shield admitted to ‘spitting on officers’.
Liam Ryan, 28, sobbed in court as he pleaded guilty to violent disorder after travelling from West Yorkshire to Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens to ‘play an active role in the disorder’.
Prosecutor Laura Peers said social media footage showed ‘a black male being confronted by a large group of white males’, adding that Ryan could be seen ‘aiming a punch towards the male involved’.
After the three men were jailed in Liverpool, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘This is the swift action we’re taking. If you provoke violent disorder on our streets or online, you will face the full force of the law.’
One case of alleged terrorism is ‘actively under consideration’ following widespread disorder across the country, the Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson has said.
And Julie Sweeney, 53, was remanded in custody after appearing in court accused of sending a threatening message suggesting blowing up ‘a mosque with adults inside’.
Derek Drummond, screamed ‘s***houses’ at officers as they tried to put on their protective gear during a riot in Southport last Tuesday before attacking one male PC as he tried to protect his colleagues.
The 58-year-old haulier, who called himself a ‘fool’ while handing himself in to police and has since lost his job, was sentenced at a fast-tracked hearing at Liverpool Crown Court alongside two other local men who took part in a riot in the city centre on Saturday.
Liam Riley, 40, was emotionless as he was sentenced to 20 months in prison after admitting violent disorder and racially aggravated behaviour, while Declan Geiran, 29, received 30 months for setting fire to a police van and sending a malicious communication.
The trio were the first to be jailed for violent disorder during the riots.
Dozens more riot suspects will go through the courts in expedited hearings this week.
The total number of arrests made relating to violent disorder following the Southport killings now stands at 483, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said.
The policing body also confirmed today that 149 charges had been brought so far, with the figure set to ‘continue to rise significantly’.
National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman Gavin Stephens said: ‘Officers and police staff are working flat out to progress investigations, acting on the mountain of intelligence and evidence gathered over the last week to secure convictions.’
He added: ‘We must not underestimate the physical and mental impact on officers facing the violent scenes from the past week. The criminal justice system is recognising the gravity of these offences to put those responsible behind bars.’
Andrew Phillips, David Green, Shaun Holt and Liam Ryan have appeared in court over alleged rioting offences. Ryan is seen in the video below
A police officer is seen with blood pouring from a head wound amid a riot in Southport on Tuesday
Drummond, Riley and Geiran were involved in riots near Southport Mosque last Tuesday following the vigil in the town for three girls who were fatally stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
Elsewhere, Aaron Johnson admitted using racist language on a live stream he broadcast to ‘millions of people’ from outside a hotel in Stockport thought to contain asylum seekers at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor Laura Peers said Johnson ‘became aggressive to members of staff’ at the hotel, adding that he told them ‘he would smash their face in’.
Ms Peers added that ‘within the stream he repeatedly refers to migrants in a derogatory manner’ and used racist language.
Johnson was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on August 21.
Elsewhere, a man has been charged with possessing a wooden stick as a weapon during a gathering in Birmingham.
TV coverage of the large gathering on Monday night led to claims on social media that someone was armed with a sword near a roundabout in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham.
Aaron Johnson (pictured) admitted using racist language on a live stream he broadcast to ‘millions of people’ from outside a hotel in Stockport thought to contain asylum seekers. He is seen in the video below
James Nelson, 18, was jailed for two months yesterday after pleading guilty to causing criminal damage during unrest in Bolton on Sunday
Another man involved in the Bolton riot, 28-year-old Liam Powell, avoided jail as he was given a 12-month community order which will be in place until August 2025. Police said he admitted being in possession of cocaine
A number of counter-protesters gathered in the area after social media rumours of a far-right march being staged there.
A man filmed by Sky News allegedly carrying a sharpened bat at a counter-protest in Birmingham on Monday denied possession of an offensive weapon.
Shehraz Sarwar, 46, pleaded not guilty at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court to possessing the ‘wooden stick with a cord wrapped around it’. He told the court it was a ‘religious staff’. Mr Sarwar faces trial on September 23.
Also in the West Midlands, Davina O’Shaughnessy, from Sandwell, pleaded not guilty to one count of racially aggravated threatening behaviour and not guilty to two counts of threatening behaviour at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court.
The 45-year-old is due to appear for trial at Walsall Magistrates’ Court on September 13.
In Sheffield, Jake Turton, 38, of Barnsley, appeared in the city’s magistrates’ court charged with violent disorder and driving a motor vehicle without its owner’s consent. He denied the charges and was remanded in custody.
In Hartlepool, a man who was allegedly seen ‘milling around’ and watching a boy set a police car on fire during riots appeared in court.
Anthony Calvert, 29, of Sandbanks Drive, Hartlepool, denied a charge of violent disorder during the hearing at Teesside Magistrates Court.
He said he told the boy he was going to ‘get himself in trouble for that’, the court heard. He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on August 28.
The court appearances come as thousands of peaceful anti-racism demonstrators appeared to quash fears of further violent disorder on Wednesday night, despite the threat of more than 100 planned protests.
Lucas Skeaping, 29, of Tavistock, Devon, admitted violent disorder over the riot in Plymouth
Matthew Wilson, 31, of Parrock Street, Lancashire, and Alex Fraser of Oldham Road, Manchester, who have been charged with racially aggravated assaults and public order offences following protests in Manchester at the weekend. Both were remanded in custody
In many towns and cities shops were boarded up over fears of further rioting after a week of violent disorder which started in Southport, Merseyside, on July 30, but in most places, planned anti-immigration protests failed to materialise.
More of those arrested in the unrest of the past week will appear on court on Thursday, including some likely to be jailed on live television.
Three men were jailed on Wednesday for up to three years after admitting violent disorder following riots in Liverpool city centre.
On Wednesday evening, large numbers of counter-protesters gathered in areas including Walthamstow, east London, Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool and Sheffield.
According to Stand Up to Racism, an estimated 25,000 people took to the streets to take a stand – they said – against racism and violence.
A police dog bites a masked protester in Plymouth during clashes on Monday
A masked rioter runs in front of a bonfire in the middle of the road in Rotherham on Sunday
This included around 8,000 in Walthamstow, 7,000 in Bristol and 2,000 in Liverpool. Similar numbers were seen in Brighton and Newcastle, the group said.
In Walthamstow the crowd were chanting ‘Whose streets? Our streets’ and ‘Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here’.
Mahmood Faez told the PA news agency: ‘It fills our hearts. Regardless of race, religion, sexuality, this sends a strong message to racists that they are not wanted and they are not needed here.’
Officers were understood to be preparing to respond to more than 100 planned protests and potentially around 30 more counter-protests on Wednesday, with gatherings anticipated in 41 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales.
One police source said it was ‘probably going to be the busiest day of the week, into the evening’.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark said: ‘I’m really pleased with how it went. We put thousands of officers on the streets and I think the show of force from the police and frankly, the show of unity from communities together defeated the challenges that we’ve seen.’
He also told the BBC the Met had been carrying out ‘dawn raids’ on Thursday morning, searching for the most violent in the Whitehall protests and violence last week’, about 70% of whom have criminal backgrounds.
‘We’ve got criminal damage, violence, weapons offences, football banning orders. These are criminal thugs,’ Sir Mark said.
‘Any suggestion that they’re patriots, or they’ve got a cause that they’re protesting about is nonsense, and frankly, most of them are going to be charged with violent disorder and most of them are going to be going to prison for a few years.’
