Trio jailed over violent disorder in city centre

Daniel McGuire, Michael Williams and Lucas Ormond Skeaping all admitted disorder offences

Three people charged with causing violent disorder in Plymouth city centre have been jailed.

Daniel McGuire, 45, of Crescent Avenue, Plymouth, Lucas Ormond Skeaping, 29, of Warran Lane, Tavistock and Michael Williams, 51, of Blacklands Close, Sparkwell, were sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court.

The trio were among six arrested after groups of protesters clashed on Royal Parade and outside the Guildhall on Monday evening in the latest in a series of incidents across the UK following the killing of three girls in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

McGuire was jailed for two years and two months, Williams was jailed for two years and eight months, and Skeaping was jailed for one year and six months.

'Added oxygen'

McGuire and Williams were aligned with a far-right protest, while Skeaping was aligned with an anti-fascist protest, the court heard.

It was shown police body-worn footage that showed McGuire spitting on police and goading them with abuse.

Williams was seen in separate footage launching into a torrent of racist and homophobic abuse while he was being arrested.

Groups of protesters clashed on Royal Parade and outside the Guildhall

Sentencing McGuire and Williams, Judge Robert Linford said they "added oxygen to the fire of disorder".

"The word is going to go out from this court that we don’t want you behaving in this way," he said.

"If you come here and do this you are going inside and you are going inside for a considerable period of time."

CCTV footage played in court showed Skeaping using a motorbike helmet to knock a man off his bike.

Separate footage also showed him throwing a stone and a bottle.

Sentencing Skeaping, Judge Linford said: "You did not come into the city looking for a fight, you came here to protest and to do so peacefully.

"But things rapidly deteriorated. The tension was ramped up and missiles started to be thrown."

Guy Andreas Sullivan, 43, was jailed after breaking into a Tesco Express while the disorder was taking place

A fourth man, Guy Andreas Sullivan, was jailed for one year and four months after admitting stealing alcohol worth £281 from a Tesco Express while disorder was taking place nearby.

CCTV footage played in court showed Sullivan using a brick to break a glass door to gain entry to the shop before filling up a shopping basket with bottles of alcohol.

Judge Linford said the 43-year-old broke into the shop while "part of this city was in the grip of large-scale public disorder".

"Your burglary took place during the disorder that was going around you and you exploited it," he said.

CCTV footage showed Sullivan using a brick to break a glass door to gain entry to the shop

'Acted disgracefully'

Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said the force would be making further arrests "in the coming days".

"We do not accept violent disorder on our streets and I think the judge proved that," she said.

"Violence like we saw on Monday night will not be tolerated."

Janine Davies, deputy chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service South West, said the sentences were "substantial".

"These men acted disgracefully during the collective disorder and committed violent attacks," she said.