Hull riots: Six jailed for more than 19 years

DAVID WILKINSON: Six years

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

A man who played a “prominent” role in the Hull riots has been jailed for six years – believed to be the longest sentence yet passed on anyone convicted of their involvement in widescale disorder that flared across England and Northern Ireland following a stabbing atrocity in Southport on July 29.

David Wilkinson, 48, was part of a “ baying mob” that attacked a BMW near Spring Bank in Hull on August 3 that left its three Romanian occupants fearing for their lives.

Wilkinson, of Lorraine Street, east Hull, who damaged the car’s windscreeen, also tried to set fire to a bin on top of a pile of tyres set up as a barricade outside a garage close to where the BMW was attacked, Hull Crown Court heard.

JOHN HONEY: 56 months

He was also part of a large crowd confronting a police line in Ferensway, where he spat at officers, threw missiles at them, and used a “nunchuck-type” weapon to strike an officer’s riot shield. Wilkinson also pushed two large refuse bins towards the police line.

Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said in interview Wilkinson said he had gone to the city centre to “observe” but “agreed with the protests” and the “ideology of not allowing immigrants into the country”.

Wilkinson, who had 72 previous offences on his record, admitted racially aggravated criminal damage, violent disorder, and attempted arson and was jailed for a total of six years.

He was one of six men sentenced today for their part in the disorder in the city, who between them were locked up for a total of 19 years and six months.

STEVEN LOVE: 40 months

Among them was 25-year-old John Honey, who has become one of the most notorious of the Hull rioters after appearing in much of the footage that surfaced on social media in a distinctive St George cross shirt.

Judge John Thackray KC, the Recorder of Hull, told Honey he was “front and centre of everything”.

Honey, of Park Grove, west Hull, was part of the mob in Ferensway, throwing missiles at police, attacking the BMW and looting shops in Jameson Street.

The judge said of the BMW incident: “It’s clear to me from the CCTV that you, Wilkinson, and you, John Honey, were intending to create a high risk of injury to the passengers because you were doing your best to assist others in exposing the occupants to the wrath of the baying mob.

“Indeed, you, John Honey, were yanking at the passenger door as they attempted to keep it closed.”

TRAVIS WHITELOCK: Two years

In a further twist to the Honey case, it emerged he had previously been a police cadet and was recognised as such by one of the officers.

Honey admitted racially aggravated criminal damage, criminal damage, violent disorder, and three commercial burglaries and was jailed for a total of 56 months.

Steven Love, 41, of Middleton Street, west Hull, was only out of prison on licence for two offences of affray and one of dangerous driving when he took part in the violence. As well as “hurling” a blue wheelie bin at police in Ferensway he also charged at them and threw missiles.

Love, who had 49 previous offences on his record, appeared in the dock on crutches as a result of being bitten by a police dog, an injury for which he needed a skin graft. Love admitted violent disorder and was jailed for 40 months.

Lorry driver John Nunan, 36, cried in the dock during mitigation by his barrister Michael Forrest, and again when he was sentenced. This was in marked contrast to his behaviour on the footage, in which he was seen picking up a police riot shield and mockingly crouched behind it to throw what appeared to be a glass bottle.

COREY HOLLOWAY: 18 months

He threw “multiple missiles” and also pushed a bin at police.

Nunan, of Hermes Close, east Hull, admitted violent disorder and was jailed for two years.

Travis Whitelock, 23, of Brisbane Street, west Hull, also played a prominent role. At times covering his face with a grey balaclava, he threw missiles, pushed a burning bin at police and kicked a moving police van.

Whitelock, who had nine previous offences on his record, admitted violent disorder and was jailed for two years.

Corey Holloway, will spend his 21st birthday next week in a Young Offenders’ Institution after being sentenced to 18 months in custody.

Holloway, of Belmont Street, Scunthorpe, was “violent and aggressive” towards police, threw a traffic cone at them and also “propelled a refuse container towards police officers”. He admitted violent disorder.