Hull riot: First three jailed, officer scarred for life & £340,000 cost
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Three men who took part in “totally repugnant” scenes of violence in Hull that left a police officer scarred for life have been jailed for a total of seven years and eight months.
Andrew Stewart, 37, Christopher Douglas, 35, and 20-year-old Brandon Kirkwood, were all “front and central” to the disturbances that broke out in the city centre on Saturday, August 3, Hull Crown Court heard.
They are the first three people to be sentenced for their part in the Hull violence, in which a rampaging mob of up to a thousand attacked police and property, looted shops, set fire to cars, and targeted a hotel housing asylum seekers.
The hotel was pelted with a variety of missiles, which smashed eight windows, although staff had placed tables against the windows to stop the projectiles harming anyone inside.
In his sentencing remarks, His Honour Judge Mark Bury said: “I’m satisfied that but for the police much more damage to that hotel would have been caused and the occupants injured, or worse.”
HOLDING THE LINE: Police outside the Royal Hotel
Douglas, a former soldier, had a Union Jack under his grey top, which he pulled up to cover his face. He was one of the most prominent figures outside the hotel, goading police, throwing missiles, shouting abuse and at one point stealing a riot shield which he “triumphantly” waved above his head “to the obvious delight of the crowd”, Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said.
Mr Evans said Douglas was “at the frontline of officers, offering violence and projecting missiles at them”.
In CCTV footage played to the court by Mr Evans, Douglas was also seen pushing police and throwing a bag of refuse at them.
John Dunning, for Douglas, told the judge: “Your honour has seen what Mr Douglas has done. Perhaps I can tell you something about the man himself.”
Mr Dunning said: “He said his particular upset about the Royal Hotel was not the people who were there per se but the fact he couldn’t go there himself.
JAILED: Christopher Douglas. Two years and eight months
“He was homeless from the age of 12 until 17 when he joined the army. He was a gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery and served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. As a result of that service he was diagnosed with PTSD and he was discharged.
“He was physically wounded as well but the main concern is the ongoing mental health problems he has had from PTSD for which he didn’t receive treatment until relatively recently. He also has epilepsy as a result of the discharge of artillery.”
Douglas was homeless again after leaving the army, only securing accommodation “not that long ago”, Mr Dunning said.
He had also had to cope with the rape and murder of his mother in Glasgow, after which his father “took his own life not being able to cope”.
Douglas had earlier admitted violent disorder and possession of cannabis, which was found when he was arrested at his home in Avenues Court, west Hull. He had previous convictions “of some age”, including possession of an offensive weapon in 2007.
TROPHY: Christopher Douglas ‘triumphantly’ waving a riot shield
There was a racially aggravated element to his offending, the judge found. He was jailed for two years and eight months and made subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order for five years, which will come into effect on his release from prison.
Kirkwood, of Downing Grove, east Hull, was seen on CCTV in a black hooded jacket shouting abuse and pushing a large refuse bin at the line of police. He also threw missiles at police, including an egg.
When he was arrested on August 7 he was asked by a relative what he had done, and replied: “I was rioting. Then I just pushed a bin.”
Benjamin Donnell, for Kirkwood, said he had not attended the earlier protest but had gone into town to get food and was “swept up in the violence”. “He’s disgusted with the manner he behaved in that day. He’s very remorseful and can’t really come up with an explanation.”
Kirkwood had been working for Kingspan making underfloor heating but “knows he’s lost that job”.
JAILED: Brandon Kirkwood. Two years and six months
He had 13 previous convictions, mainly for dishonesty offences. He admitted violent disorder and was jailed for two years and six months.
Stewart, of Anlaby Road, west Hull, was seen outside one of the looted shops and made “full admissions” in interview, including using racial abuse. He was so frank he “admitted things which at that time the police could not otherwise prove”.
He was seen pushing a burning bin at police and also threw bottles and stones.
Stewart, who has learning difficulties, was told by the judge: “Your early life has been difficult, but you’re not stupid, Mr Stewart. You must have realised from the outset that this was wholly, wholly out of order.”
Stewart admitted violent disorder and was jailed for two years and six months. Described as “isolated and with few friends”, he said “See you later, lads” as he was escorted from the dock.
Today’s hearing also revealed for the first time the ongoing human and material cost of the violence, and the bravery of the police officers who stood in harm’s way to protect others.
Of the 86 officers deployed to the incident, which included colleagues from outside the Humberside Police area, 11 were injured. One of those, PC Daniel O’Sullivan, wrote a victim statement for the court, which was read out by Mr Evans.
The constable was in the police cordon near Costa Coffee in King Edward Street at about 12.45pm, which faced a mob of about 500 and came under a barrage of missiles, including smoke bombs, flares and other “pyrotechnics”.
This seemed to be “a trigger for the appalling violence that followed”, Mr Evans said
PC O’Sullivan said: “I felt a loud thud to the mouth which reverberated around my head. I felt punch-drunk, dizzy. I didn’t know what happened. I managed to stay on my feet and not lose consciousness.”
JAILED: Andrew Stewart. Two years and six months
He put his hand to his mouth and realised he was bleeding. Mr Evans said: “He was advised to retreat. He didn’t.”
PC O’Sullivan – who had been struck in the face with a traffic cone – was taken to hospital later, “much against his wishes”, and received four stitches for a face wound near his upper lip. Doctors told him he would be scarred for life. “It is therefore most remarkable that after treatment he returned to the frontline at 8.15pm to stand with his colleagues,” Mr Evans said.
The constable is still in pain and struggling to eat and drink because of the injury. He described himself as an “experienced officer” who had “never seen disorder of the like in this city before”.
Some officers suffered heat exhaustion, having to wear protective clothing for “several hours” on a hot day.
The cost so far to Humberside Police was £270,000, £17,000 to Hull City Council, and £13,664 to TransPennine Express, which had been forced to close Paragon Station. A total of £40,000 worth of goods were stolen from an O2 shop in Jameson Street.
There was a racial element to much of it, with crowds, some draped in St George flags, chanting: “England”, “F***the immigrants”, and “P*** c****, f*** off back home”, the court heard.
A group called “Hull Patriots” was among those at the start of the gathering in Queen Victoria Square at about noon. The atmosphere began to get ugly at about 12.30pm when people started trying to “antagonise” the police.
Sentencing the trio, Judge Bury told them: “You three and all of the others involved in this deplorable behaviour have in my view shamed this city.”
He said “right-minded and decent people” would find their behaviour “totally repugnant”.
“Those who participate in behaviour such as this must expect to receive severe sentences. These sentences must act as a deterrent.”
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