Rioter who attacked police at two protests jailed

Ashley Wilkinson said he formed extreme views based on misinformation online

A self-confessed conspiracy theorist who attacked police officers at two different riots within three days has been jailed for six years.

Ashley Wilkinson, 35, wore an England flag as he threw missiles at officers in Hartlepool, then hurled items including a beer keg at police in Sunderland, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He was arrested several days later at a Newcastle protest with items including goggles, lighters, fishing wire, ball bearings and cannabis in his backpack, the court heard.

Wilkinson, who claimed he formed anti-Islamic views after watching "misinformation" online, initially denied any involvement in the attacks but eventually admitted rioting and violent disorder.

The protests were organised in the wake of the Southport attack, with crowds gathering in Hartlepool on 31 July after addresses linked to asylum seekers were published online, the court heard.

Wilkinson had his face covered and was draped in a St George's flag when he repeatedly threw missiles at a line of police officers and wielded a baton towards them, prosecutor Omar Ahmad said.

Ashley Wilkinson was caught on camera at the protest in Hartlepool

On 2 August he went to Sunderland and joined protests there, the court heard.

Footage was shown in court of Wilkinson throwing a metal fence and beer keg towards officers in Keel Square, and then hurling a brick at police who were guarding a mosque in Hylton Road, the court heard.

He was arrested on 10 August trying to go to another protest, Mr Ahmad said, with concerning items found in his backpack - although he was not charged with an offence over them.

Ashley Wilkinson wore an England flag as he attacked police

In statements read to the court, the chief constables of Cleveland and Northumbria Police said officers had faced unprecedented levels of violent and aggression and communities had been badly damaged by the riots.

Nineteen officers were injured in Hartlepool and four in Sunderland, with the two protests costing the forces more than £2m in total, the court heard.

The court heard Wilkinson, previously of St James Street South in Murton, County Durham, but now of no fixed abode, had 24 previous convictions for 59 offences including for dishonesty, criminal drug and drugs.

'Consumed by misinformation'

In mitigation, Tony Cornberg said Wilkinson had mental health issues and a chronic lack of sleep which led to him spending hours watching videos online, sometimes for days at a time.

Wilkinson was exposed to right-wing "misinformation" and developed strong views about Islam based on "limited" knowledge, Mr Cornberg said.

He said Wilkinson believed there was a conspiracy of secrecy, cover-ups and "betrayal of the British people" but now "clearly sees things very differently".

The court heard Wilkinson had been involved in the Prevent programme while being held on remand in HMP Durham and spent time talking to the prison's imam, which had radically changed his opinions.

Judge Tim Gittins said Wilkinson had been at the "frontline" at both protests and was part of a group who had "brought shame" on Sunderland and Hartlepool during an "orgy of mindless violence".

The judge said every act inflamed and encouraged others and the violence caused "severe disruption".

He accepted Wilkinson was "consumed by misinformation" and had been "led astray" rather than being a leader, but that did not justify his actions.