Five thugs, including three who threw bricks and other items at a mosque, have been jailed for taking part in violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent.
The court heard that Jarrod Hollinshead, Ashley Morris and Lee Grocott were each caught on CCTV and police body-worn camera throwing missiles including stones and bricks at the Darul Falah mosque in Town Road, Hanley, on August 3.
Hollinshead, 26, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment at Stoke Crown Court after he admitted affray at the riot, which was organised in response to a knife attack at a dance studio in Southport in July that left three girls dead, at an earlier hearing.
Hollinshead ran towards officers with a brick in his hand and threw it whilst shouting abusive words. He was arrested immediately afterwards.
Ashley Morris, 31, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after he admitted violent disorder at an earlier hearing.
Morris was seen on CCTV and bodyworn video repeatedly trying to get past officers who were policing the violent disorder.
Morris launched bricks and missiles at people in the area and challenged officers who were holding the line with shields.
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After being questioned about his involvement in custody, Morris was charged with the offence and sent to court.
Lee Grocott, 48, of Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 32 months behind bars after he previously admitted violent disorder.
Grocott was seen on footage launching missiles at people in the area and shouting aggressively at officers who were on the frontline trying to keep people safe.
Grocott was arrested after he was identified on evidential footage from the scene and charged with the offences.
Prosecutor Dylan 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.”
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.
Townley was seen on social media footage and body worn video challenging an officer who was trying to keep the crowds from breaking through the police lines in Hanley on 3 August.
Townley 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. He was quickly identified from the footage and charged with the offences.
James Watkins, 35, of Stoke-on-Trent, was given a 36-month sentence after he previously admitted violent disorder.
Watkins challenged members of the public to a fight and challenged officers on the frontline. He pushed an officer who was holding a shield, got a glass bottle out of his bag, and said “let’s play” before threatening to use the bottle as a weapon.
He repeatedly tried to incite violence and show acts of aggression against members of the public and the officers at the scene. He was arrested on August 27 and charged with the offences.
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.”
