Boy, 12, more involved in disorder than anyone - judge

Disorder broke out in Manchester on 3 August

A 12-year-old boy has admitted throwing a missile at a police van and taking part in two separate incidents of disorder in Manchester.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder at a youth court hearing in Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

It heard he was part of a group that gathered on 31 July outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Newton Heath, then was "filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop" in Manchester city centre on 3 August.

Remanding him ahead of sentencing at the court on 2 September, District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was the first she had dealt with of a person "attending both incidents".

'Very serious'

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon told the court the boy had joined a group outside the Holiday Inn in Newton Heath on 31 July and was "seen in footage handing a rock to another youth during the disorder" and taking part in an attack on a bus.

She said he was subsequently "filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop" on 3 August and was "also seen to throw a missile at a police van".

Defending the boy, Natasha McGarr said he was "very sorry" and "absolutely ashamed".

The judge said the case was "very serious".

"He's more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant I've seen coming through these courts, adult or child," she added.

He was remanded to local authority accommodation ahead of sentencing.

At the same court, Lynden Parker, 26, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

District Judge Joanne Hirst said Parker's "thuggish conduct" had "inflamed the crowd and frightened people seeking refuge in this country" after he was seen throwing a missile towards the Holiday Inn on 31 July.

He was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on 19 August.

Laurence Dunkerley, 37, of Old Road, Failsworth, pleaded not guilty to a charge of violent disorder from the disturbances on 31 July.

He was remanded into custody and will appear at Manchester Crown Court on 2 September for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

James Cooper, 34, also denied a charge of violent disorder over the disturbances on 31 July.

Cooper, of Reedsdale Road, Manchester, was bailed and will also appear at Manchester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 2 September.

'Don't care'

Also in the same court, Nevey Smith pleaded guilty to violent disorder after throwing water over police while with a child in a pram, also outside the the hotel in Newton Heath on 31 July.

The 21-year-old from Oldham was released on bail and will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on 19 August.

Tracy Pearson, 53, and Michelle Jibson, 45, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Ms Kenyon told the court that the women, both of Kingsbridge Road, Manchester, had been “agitators” during the disturbances where items were thrown and racist abuse was directed towards the hotel.

After being remanded into custody, Pearson shouted over the judge: "Don’t care. Freedom of speech is gone. Joke."

'Shameful, racist actions'

In the same court, Graham Brookes pleaded guilty to violent disorder after he was seen to "throw a plastic pint of liquid towards officers" on 3 August that "appeared to have been aimed at a group of Asian males".

The judge said Brookes had admitted "provocative and quite shameful, racist actions".

The 42-year-old was remanded into custody and will also be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on 19 August.

Thomas Ward, 35, of Colliery Street, Manchester, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and exposure at the same incident, having admitted throwing missiles and exposing his genitals at police.

He was also remanded in custody to be sentenced at the same court on 19 August.

Niall Charnock, 31, admitted throwing a missile at police during "shameful disorder" in Bolton town centre on 4 August.

He was caught on social media footage breaking through a police barricade and throwing something at officers.

Earlier, a 16-year-old boy denied taking part in "mass civil unrest" in Bolton.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of violent disorder at a youth court hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

The boy was bailed and will appear at the same court on 28 August.

Disorder broke out in towns and cities across England following the fatal stabbings of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar at a Taylor Swift-themed event on 29 July.

Downing Street said rioters could be released from prison after serving 40% of their sentence, as part of the early release scheme.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said the early release scheme will be based on the sentence convicted criminals have been given and that there would be "no specific exclusion for the rioters".