Two jailed for roles in 'racist-fuelled' disorder

Stuart Randall, left, and William Riley have been jailed for their part in the disorder in Hull

A man with grandchildren of mixed heritage is one of two men who were jailed at Hull Crown Court earlier for their part in "racist-fuelled" violent disorder in the city.

During the unrest on 3 August, police officers were attacked with missiles, a hotel on Ferensway was targeted and cars were damaged.

Stuart Randall, 55, of Jervis Road, Hull, who admitted two counts of racially aggravated criminal damage, two counts of burglary, criminal damage to two shops and violent disorder, was handed a three-year jail term and a five-year criminal behaviour order.

William Riley, 64, of St Aidans Way, Hull, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and violent disorder and was jailed for 18 months.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans said Randall, a father-of-three, used a sledgehammer to smash up two black cars in an open garage belonging to a foreign national while the terrified owner cowered inside fearing for his life.

The owner barricaded himself inside with his two children - a seven-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl who has autism.

Randall struck the Specsavers window "about 10 times" during the disorder, which was "so out of character for him", the court heard

The 55-year-old "danced" in front of a police line while waving a riot shield and smashed the front windows of two shops, said Mr Evans.

He was "acting in an aggressive and intimidating manner" at the front of a crowd confronting police officers, who had formed a protective line against the hotel, the court heard.

Judge John Thackray KC heard Randall had gone into the city centre to attend a vigil for three children killed in Southport.

The court heard the defendant, who has alcohol dependency, "accepted a can of cider" and "that's when things spiralled out of control".

He was also captured on Jameson Street looting the Lush store and shattering the front window of the Specsavers shop after striking it about 10 ten times, before doing the same with a fire extinguisher at Holland & Barrett.

Other footage showed him throwing a long metal bar missile on Spring Bank and pushing a bin towards officers on Ferensway.

Bins were set alight during the violent disorder in Hull on 3 August

His defence barrister, Hannah Turner, said he was “ashamed and disgusted” with his behaviour and was deeply remorseful.

“He has a very diverse family. He has grandchildren from Polish heritage and Indian heritage. He adores his grandchildren," she said.

"They will stick by him anyway they can.”

She said it was "so out of character for him" and said her client "can’t grasp that it’s him in the footage".

Ms Turner added: "In his words, he was playing the idiot."

Judge Thackray also heard Riley, who runs a scaffolding business, punched a police officer in the jaw as he was trying to detain him and handed out eggs for people to throw during the unrest.

Mr Evans said the 64-year-old was "prominent at the front of a group who were confronting a police line, acting aggressively and throwing missiles".

"He rushed at the officer and adopted a fighting stance," Mr Evans said.

Michael Forrest, his defence barrister, said Riley was of good character having raised thousands of pounds for veterans' charities and was a "valuable member of the community".

Passing sentence, Judge Thackray told him: "This is a massive fall from grace for you."