John Honey admits looting and BMW damage in Hull riot

Honey was caught on CCTV pulling open the passenger door of the BMW car

A man has admitted looting three stores and his part in attacking a car with three Romanian men inside during riots in Hull.

John Honey, of Park Grove, Hull, pleaded guilty to violent disorder, racially aggravated criminal damage of a BMW and damaging nine other cars. He also admitted three charges of burglary at Lush, O2 and Shoezone in Jameson Street on 3 August.

Hull Crown Court heard claims the 25-year-old had asked a prison probation officer if he "wanted his autograph" because he was "famous" and "all over social media".

Prosecutors said Honey, who wore a "distinctive" England flag T-shirt at the time of the unrest, "played a prominent role" in the violence and disorder.

Honey is due to be sentenced at Hull Crown Court on Friday

The unrest began when rioters gathered outside a hotel known to house asylum seekers and subjected police to a "barrage of verbal and physical threats" while chanting racist slogans, the court heard.

Footage played in court showed Honey at the front of a group throwing a missile at officers and pushing a large wheelie bin at them.

Another video showed him pulling open the passenger door of the BMW as a man inside tried to close it to protect himself.

Judge John Thackray KC was told the three occupants were forced to flee the vehicle, which was near a garage that also came under attack.

He heard the men fled to a nearby hotel after getting out of the car with their hands raised in a gesture of surrender.

The court heard the driver feared for his life after more than 100 "angry" men tried to drag him from the car, punched him in the head and attempted to strike him with a metal bar.

A statement by a garage worker, which was read out in court, said he locked himself inside the premises with the shutters down as a group of men attacked the business, damaging cars and setting one on fire.

Prosecutor Jeremey Evans said the worker heard shouts of "open the door, I'll kill you" before hearing explosions and seeing black smoke coming through the shutters.

He managed to escape through a back exit and hid in a nearby garden for about 40 minutes, the court was told.

John Honey, 25, was filmed looting several shops during the disorder in Hull city centre on 3 August

Other footage played in court showed Honey looting the Lush store, taking one of their branded bags and walking around the shop filling it with products.

Judge Thackray KC heard a staff member at HMP Hull was told Honey "went into Greggs to have a drink as the pepper spray made him thirsty".

The prison worker said he was an "over-confident individual who presented with no remorse", the court heard.

However, the court heard the 25-year-old was "genuinely remorseful" and wanted to be sentenced on that basis.

Judge John Thackray KC told Honey he would be sentenced on Friday and would receive a reduced sentence "if you are genuinely remorseful".

He also heard about £40,000 worth of stock had been stolen from the O2 store in Hull.

Another rioter, Daniel Mennell, 36, of Belmont Street, Hull, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He is due to be sentenced on 23 August at the same court.

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