Rioter jailed for police office attack

Brian Gilby was part of a mob which smashed up a police office during unrest

A rioter who attacked a police station with metal poles during disorder has been jailed for three years and four months.

Brian Gilby, 27, was part of a mob which targeted the police office on Waterloo Place, Sunderland, during widespread mayhem on 2 August, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Gilby, of Hendon Burn Avenue in Sunderland, also looted a vape shop, prosecutors said.

He admitted rioting with judge Tim Gittins saying he had brought "shame on the city".

'Abhorrent behaviour'

Hundreds of people were involved in disorder which broke out across the city after anti-immigration protests turned violent, prosecutor Michael Bunch said.

Police officers were repeatedly attacked with missiles, with four needing hospital treatment.

Businesses were also looted, vehicles damaged and windows smashed, during the unrest.

Gilby was seen on CCTV at the forefront of a group attacking a police office with metal poles and passing weapons to others to use, Mr Bunch said.

He also wielded a fire extinguisher at the building while a neighbouring citizens' advice office burned after being set alight by rioters which was an "irony", judge Gittins said.

Gilby then went to a looted vape shop and helped himself to as many products as his "tracksuit bottoms could hold", the judge said, adding that there was "no legitimacy" for the "abhorrent behaviour".

Gilby was part of a group that targeted a police office next to a burning citizens' advice bureau

In mitigation, Nick Lane said Gilby had been celebrating a friend's birthday and was "drawn" into the disorder after "stumbling" across it.

He said the father-of-three, who had missed important family milestones while on remand, was "deeply embarrassed and ashamed" by his actions.

Judge Gittins said he was part of an "orgy of mindless destruction" which "shocked, appalled" and caused fear to "right-thinking" people.

He said those present "inflamed" others to take part in the disorder.

The judge said he acknowledged jailing Gilby would have an effect on his family but told him: "You weren't thinking of them when you took part in this disgraceful behaviour."