Frances Read
Reporting from Snaresbrook Crown Court

Image source, Dartford Labour

Ricky Jones has pleaded not guilty to the charge of encouraging violent disorder in connection with comments at a London protest.

The suspended Labour Dartford Borough councillor appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court via video link from Wormwood Scrubs this morning.

He sat during the hearing, listening intently, and wearing a T-shirt.

Image source, Getty Images

Many of those who have been previously sentenced in relation to the unrest have been charged with violent disorder.

It it an offence under section 2 of the Public Order Act 1986, and the sentence can vary from a community order to a maximum of five years in custody depending on the circumstances.

In order for the defendant to be found guilty, the prosecution has to prove that three or more people, present together, use or threaten unlawful violence against a person or property, and that the group's behaviour would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety.

Oli Constable
Reporting from Sheffield Crown Court

At Sheffield Crown Court, the only people in the room so far are half a dozen journalists and the clerk.

It’s expected to be an important day, with Thomas Birley, of Swinton, appearing having previously pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder and one of arson with intent to endanger life.

The latter carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The sentencing for the 27-year-old is set to start in the next few minutes, and following a BBC request to have a camera in the court, the remarks from the judge will be filmed.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police/Dartford Labour

Ricky Jones, a former Labour councillor will appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court via video link charged with inciting violent disorder.

It is alleged that the 57-year-old addressed an anti-fascist protest in Walthamstow and used a microphone to say “we need to cut their throats and get rid of them” when speaking about “disgusting Nazi fascists”.

Jones has not yet entered a plea and is due to appear at Crown Court later today.

Thomas Birley, 27, of Rowms Lane, Swinton, Rotherham, is due to be sentenced after he admitted to arson with intent to endanger life, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

He was accused of stoking the fire in the bin that was pushed against an exit at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August.

Keith Edwards, 81, of Kinglake Place, The Meadows, Nottingham, is charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence.

The accusation relates to an incident at a protest in Nottingham city centre on 3 August.

Image source, Handout

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event in July. Eight more children and two adults were injured.

Later that day, police said they had arrested a 17-year-old from a village nearby and that they were not treating the incident as terror-related.

Almost immediately after the attack, social media posts falsely speculated that the suspect was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a boat in 2023, with an incorrect name being widely circulated. There were also unfounded rumours that he was Muslim.

In fact, the suspect was born in Wales to Rwandan parents.

The following evening, more than a thousand people attended a vigil for the victims in Southport. Later on, violence broke out in the town and developed into a riot.

The day after, violent protests in London, Hartlepool and Manchester broke out, which police linked to Southport. More then took place throughout the week – with many targeting mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.

• Read more about how the violence spread

Welcome to our live coverage as more sentencings take place today related to riots which broke out in parts of the UK last month.

The disorder followed the stabbing of three young girls at a dance class in Southport in July.

Among those being sentenced is Thomas Birley, 27, of of Rowms Lane, Swinton, who is accused of taking part in violent riots outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Rotherham.

A judge has previously described his case as "unquestionably" the most serious to come before him in relation to the incident.

Birley, who has admitted violent disorder, possessing an offensive weapon and arson with intent to endanger life, will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court later.

We'll also be following the case of former Labour councillor Ricky Jones, who is in court accused of inciting violent disorder at a protest in Walthamstow, east London, among others. Stay with us for more.