Woman and three men jailed over 'shocking' riots in Ayrshire

A house on Heathfield Road was targeted with fire during the rioting

A woman and three men have been jailed after police were attacked during three nights of violence and vandalism in Ayrshire communities.

Riot police, dog handlers and a helicopter were deployed after officers were targeted with bricks and rocks in Auchinleck and Cumnock in November 2023.

Jenna Bryce, 31, was jailed for five years and lorry driver Christopher Turnbull, 35, was jailed for four. Terrence Taylor, 36, was jailed for five years and John Gordon, 45, for six.

Judge Norman McFadyen told the High Court in Edinburgh that they were part of "shocking disorder."

East Ayrshire Council assessed the bill for damage caused to local authority owned property at £195,027.

The court heard that there was a suspicion in the community that certain houses were being used by drug dealers who had come into the area.

Bryce posted on social media that she wanted as many people as possible to "get the boys out from Lambfair Gardens in Auchinleck" on 24 November.

Multiple videos were later circulated showing a crowd throwing objects at a door and shouting.

Police were initially called to a large crowd gathering on Old Avenue in Auchinleck

One man, Robert Marshall, was attacked by a crowd outside his home in Well Road, Auchinleck, after he went to confront them.

He tripped and fell and was hit on the head with a weapon that he believed was a blunt machete.

Mr Marshall was taken to hospital and cuts to his head were closed with surgical glue.

The following day police went to Old Avenue and found an 80 strong mob in the street with Bryce, Turnbull and Taylor at the front.

The crowd became increasingly hostile towards the police and began throwing rocks, fireworks and bottles at officers.

They then began targeting other addresses which were vandalised.

'Utterly ashamed'

Police attended another property in Auchinleck where a man was assaulted but were forced to retreat as a crowd hurled projectiles at them.

A blockade was set up to stop officers accessing a block and police vehicles were attacked with bricks.

Prosecutor David McDonald said: "Police then heard of further planned disorder due to take place at Walker Court in Cumnock, on 26 November.

Bryce was said to have been encouraging this on social media, and further violence broke out as fireworks were set off and windows smashed.

She was arrested on November 27 and interviewed, where she accepted making Facebook posts but said she wasn't the only one.

Mr McDonald said: "She told the police that she thought this would be a display of local unity to show these people that they weren't welcome, and that the younger members of the group got out of hand."