First three Hull rioters jailed for 'ugly disorder'

Andrew Stewart, Brandon Kirkwood and Christopher Douglas are the first three rioters in Hull to be sentenced

The first three people convicted for their part in the violence and disorder in Hull have been jailed.

Hull Crown Court heard police officers were attacked when missiles were thrown at them, shops were looted and a hotel housing asylum seekers was targeted during the violence in the Ferensway, Jameson Street and Spring Bank areas on Saturday.

Andrew Stewart, 37, of Anlaby Road, Hull, and Brandon Kirkwood, 20, of Downing Grove, Hull, have each been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Christopher Douglas, 35, of Avenues Court, Hull, was jailed for two years and eight months.

Sentencing them, Judge Mark Bury said all three were involved in a "malevolent nature of violence".

He said the "ugly violence" in the city and other parts of the UK occurred following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport, and the killings were "used as an excuse for mindless acts of violence".

All three had pleaded guilty to violent disorder at previous Hull Magistrates Court hearings.

Shops were looted in the mass disorder in Hull on Saturday, the court heard

The court heard racial chants and slurs were used during the mass disorder, which started in the afternoon and carried on into the evening.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans said projectiles had been thrown at police, and smoke bombs and pyrotechnics had been set off.

One police officer needed four stiches to his face and was "scarred for life" but "remarkably" came back on duty later in the evening, Mr Evans said.

The judge said Douglas, a military veteran who completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan, was at the "front and centre" of the disorder while Stewart "clearly targeted individuals of the hotel".

He said Kirkwood, who had pushed a large bin at a line of officers, had "to some extent been swept up" by the unrest but was at the "front" of a mob.

"This was violent disorder of the very worst kind," said the judge.

Eight windows of the hotel were smashed and there were further incidents of "frightening disorder" at a garage off Spring Bank where cars were attacked including a BMW, with its occupants – Romanian nationals – left terrified and forced to take refuge in the hotel.

In video of the disorder shown in court, Douglas could be seen, in front of a big crowd, wearing a light grey hooded tracksuit with a Union flag under his face and hurling missiles at a line of police officers.

At one stage, he waved a police riot shield above his head, Mr Evans said.

Douglas was also caught on CCTV shouting verbal abuse and behaving aggressively as part of a large group.

For Douglas, John Dunning said his client was diagnosed with PTSD and epilepsy following his stint in the Army and had also suffered personal tragedy.

Cars were set alight and damaged during the disorder on Saturday

Mr Evans said Kirkwood was caught on CCTV at the front of a mob confronting police and shouting abuse.

When he was arrested on Wednesday, Kirkwood told police “I was rioting and just pushed a bin”.

Benjamin Donnell, for Kirkwood, said his client was meeting friends for food when he got "swept up" in the violence.

He said the 20-year-old was "disgusted" with himself and had lost his job with an underfloor-heating business.

Following the sentencing, Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin, of Humberside Police, said the jail terms for the "hooligans" were "a warning to anyone else contemplating causing further disorder on our streets".

He added: "All three of these violent thugs were on a mission to cause fear and disruption last weekend.

"Stewart was seen catapulting a large, ignited bin, as well as hurling missiles towards police officers."

ACC McLoughlin said there had been more than 50 arrests so far, with 17 people charged.