UK riots latest news: Woman, 53, jailed for Facebook message saying ‘blow the mosque up with the adults in it’

A woman who has been jailed for a Facebook comment saying “Blow the mosques up with the adults in it” told officers “there are a lot of people saying”

Julie Sweeney, 53, sent the comment on August 3 to a local community Facebook group from her home in Church Lawton, Cheshire, which was later reported to the police.

 Upon her arrest she told officers: “I’m not being rude but there are a lot of people saying it.”

John Keane, defending, said: “She accepts it was stupid. This was a single comment on a single day.

“She lives a quiet, sheltered life in Cheshire and has not troubled the courts in her long life. Her character references show she lives a kind and compassionate lifestyle. She has been primary carer for her husband since 2015.

“This conduct is firmly out of character for her and she has shown genuine remorse.

“This offence was committed on her computer in the safety of her own home and unfortunately pressing ‘send’ for her is going to have dire consequences.”

Jess Phillips has admitted she made a “mistake” with how she phrased a social media post about masked men confronting a journalist during the riots last week.

Footage from Sky News showed one of the broadcaster’s reporters being approached by hooded and masked men in Ms Phillips’ Birmingham Yardley constituency during a period of disorder in the city.

At the time of the video being released, the Home Office minister responded to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by Reform UK MP Richard Tice which suggested what he called “pro Gaza masked folk” in the video were subject to a different standard of policing than the rioters.

“These people came to this location because it has been spread that racists were coming to attack them”, she replied.

“This misinformation was spread entirely to create this content. Don’t spread it Mr Tice!”

In the period since the unrest, Ms Phillips has faced criticism from shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat, and his rival for the Conservative leadership James Cleverly, a former home secretary.

Asked about her remarks on Wednesday, she is reported by broadcasters to have said: “I think I almost certainly could have phrased it better.”

Ms Phillips added she was “explaining why those people have gone” in her post, adding: “That’s because of a campaign of misinformation about far-right protests.”

Elliott Wragg, 23, was jailed for two years and four months by Judge Richardson.

Wragg was one of a large “mob” of around 70 to 100 people who were throwing a range of items at a small group of 10 police officers outside the Holiday Express hotel in Rotherham, the court heard.

Dale Harris, defending, said his client said he had “no racist views” and his actions were “wholly out of character”.

Wragg, of Assembly Way, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder at an earlier hearing.

A painter and decorator who employs three people will lose his business due to his “stupidity” after he was filmed at the disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Billy Pemberton, 31, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday after he admitted violent disorder in relation to the rioting outside the Holiday Inn Express.

But his sentencing was adjourned until Thursday at 10.30am after the court ran out of time.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, heard how Pemberton was part of a group which was throwing missiles at a small group of “cornered” police outside the hotel, but there was no evidence he threw anything at the officers himself.

He said he was also spotted in a group which was chanting “who the f*** is Allah?”.

Pemberton has admitted picking up a police baton, dropped by an officer, and taking it away from the scene.

Gordon Stables, defending, said his client is “utterly dejected and remorseful” and facing losing his business due to the inevitable prison sentence.

Stuart Bolton might have been smiling when he was pictured following his arrest – but he might not be now after he was jailed for two years and eight months.

The 38-year-old drove more than 50 miles from his home in New Holland, North Lincolnshire, to hurl racist abuse at police during the Rotherham rioting.

Bolton, who runs a ground-working business, screamedabuse and goading a line of police officers protecting the Holiday Express hotel that housed asylum seekers.

The judge also confiscated the Mercedes car Bolton used to drive to Rotherham, after hearing he was disqualified from driving and had no insurance, and banned him from driving for three years.

Today we’ve heard how there have been more than 1,000 arrests in connection with the nationwide violent disorder, with 575 people charged.

As you can see, many of those charged are now going before the courts with sentences being handed out by judges and magistrates.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council, which represents police forces, has praised the work of police officers in bringing people to justice.

Chief Constable BJ Harrington said: “While the situation seems to have stabilised over the last few days, I know it will leave an imprint on our communities and on our officers for years to come and I’d like to thank them once again for their continued support.”

Kris Venkatasami, chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service South East, said: “This week our prosecutors have continued to work round-the-clock to authorise charges speedily and secure convictions for those involved in the ugly disorder and violence we have seen.

“We expect this number to grow as we continue to authorise more charges – and it is likely that we will see some of the most serious offences coming through the system in due course.

“Our close joint working with police forces across the country has allowed us to respond quickly to violent unrest to maintain public order and see swift justice served – and we will continue to make sure that those causing disruption in our communities, and inciting violence and hate online, face the consequences of their actions.”

A teenager filmed waving from the top of an overturned car and looting fire extinguishers from a vandalised business during riots in Sunderland has been detained for two years.

Riley Adey, 19, was part of a group that attacked police during a “protest that soon turned to widespread violence” in the city on August 2.

He was filmed repeatedly throwing missiles at officers, including a vape, a brick and a scaffolding pole, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Adey, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was also seen standing and waving on top of an overturned vehicle after it had been set alight, and taking two fire extinguishers from a damaged building.

Mark Bowen, 40, of no fixed address, has been jailed for 25 months at Bristol Crown Court after admitting violent disorder in the city on August 3.

Prosecuting, Robert Yates told how Bowen was heard shouting at police: “Shame on you, you horrible c****, I hope it’s your f****** kids next mate”.

Bodycam footage played to the court showed officers being pelted by objects as protesters screamed “we want our country back”.

Mr Yates said a small number of officers on bicycles were in “genuine fear” as they tried to keep the anti-immigration protesters from entering the Mercure Hotel, which is used to house asylum seekers.

Bowen, who said he had consumed up to 10 pints of cider, claimed in police interview that he did not have social media and believed he was joining in with a “football celebration”.

Representing Bowen, Giles Nelson said his client was homeless, did not have social media and was “mortified” to hear of the comments he had made to police.

Judge Moira Macmillan, referring to the comments Bowen made to officers, told him: “It was a despicable thing for you to say.”

A man who took part in the disorder at Whitehall on the evening of July 31 has been sentenced to 14 months in prison.

Former milkman David Probert, 50, of Hertfordshire, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to one charge of violent disorder.

Footage played to the court showed Probert repeatedly lunging and charging at police who were attempting to diffuse the situation.

He was one of the more than 100 people to be arrested after protesters clashed with police officers during a demonstration.

A statement read out in court on behalf of Probert claimed he attended the protest after being left “very upset” by the murder of three girls in Southport on July 29.

The court also heard that he had recently been diagnosed with autism and suffered from a number of mental health issues.

Sentencing, Judge Benedict Kelleher told the defendant: “Violent protest cannot be tolerated. Those who engage in such violence can expect to receive serious sentences to punish and deter people from taking part in similar behaviour.”

Sentencing, Judge Steven Everett told Julie Sweeney: “You should have been looking at the news and media with horror like every right-minded person. Instead you chose to take part in stirring up hatred.

“You were part of a Facebook account which had 5,100 members. You had a big audience. You threatened a mosque, wherever it was. It truly was a terrible threat.

“So-called keyboard warriors like you must learn to take responsibility for your disgusting and inflammatory language. The timing was extremely important. You made that awful comment in a particularly social climate that we have all been going through.

“You had an impressionable audience and potentially a vulnerable audience. Your comment was recklessly made rather than intentionally but appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody.”

He said he took into account Sweeney’s previous good character and a “heart-rending letter” from her husband but went on: “In circumstances such as these, even people like you need to go to prison because a message must go out that if you do these terrible acts the court will say to you ‘you must go to prison’. I’m afraid that’s what I have to say to you today.”

Sweeney, who appeared in court via a videolink from HMP Styal, replied: “Thank you your honour.”