Rioters plead guilty to violent disorder charges

Leanne Hodgson, Josh Kellett and Andrew Smith were remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month

Two men and a woman involved in rioting in Sunderland on Friday have pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Leanne Hodgson, 43, of Holborn Road, Sunderland, and Josh Kellett, 29, of Southcroft, Washington, admitted the offence at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.

Andrew Smith, 41, of High Street East in Sunderland, also admitted the same offence at Newcastle Crown Court.

All three will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court next month.

During the disturbance Hodgson was filmed pushing a large bin towards a line of police officers.

She denied taking part in the original march but said she had been out drinking and became involved in the disorder when the pub closed, the court heard.

Hodgson was described in court as having been "very drunk and angry" at the time and was later arrested at her home address.

Leanne Hodgson was arrested at her home address

The court heard how the defendant had a "long-running alcohol problem".

John Garside, prosecuting, said there had been "a large crowd cheering and joining in" as Hodgson pushed the bin at officers.

District judge Zoe Passfield said Hodgson chose to involve herself in the riot.

"This was large-scale mob violence which resulted in fear to the public and damage to local businesses," the judge said.

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'Too serious'

Earlier, South Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard video footage taken during the riot showed Kellet throwing a stone towards police officers while part of a large group.

He was wearing a balaclava at the time but police identified him by his "distinctive tattoos".

A district judge said Kellett's case was "too serious" for magistrates to deal with and he was remanded in custody until sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court.

Police made a number of arrests at various suspects' home addresses

Appearing at South Tyneside Magistrate's Court, a 27-year-old man, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary after admitting stealing vapes from a shop damaged during the riots, but pleaded not guilty to violent disorder.

A 48-year old man appearing at the same court pleaded not guilty to violent disorder.

A 31-year-old man, again at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court, was charged with the same offence but did not indicate a plea.

All six defendants have been remanded in custody for hearings at Newcastle Crown Court on 2 September.

Members of the community were out in Sunderland cleaning up after the violence

Det Ch Insp Graeme Barr, of Northumbria Police’s major investigation team, said all three individuals "should be ashamed of their actions".

"We will continue to pursue every investigative avenue in order to bring justice against those involved, and further activity is planned."