Summary
More people are appearing in courts in Sheffield, Teesside, Liverpool, Manchester and Winchester in relation to recent unrest across parts of the UK
Thomas Birley, 27, from Rotherham, pleads guilty to arson with intent to endanger life, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon after a riot outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manvers on 4 August
Former soldier Peter Beard, 43, from Brampton Bierlow is jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting to pushing at a line of police with riot shields as they tried to protect the same hotel
Violence broke out across parts of the UK after three girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport on 29 July
Live Reporting
Edited by Jacqueline Howard, Nadia Ragozhina and Sophie Abdulla
Man remanded in custody after judge 'staggered' he had been bailedpublished at 13:32 British Summer Time
13:32 BST
A man who is alleged to have thrown a fire extinguisher, chairs and fencing at police officers guarding a Rotherham hotel housing asylum seekers has had his bail revoked.
Morgan Hardy, 29, of Melton High Street, Rotherham was arrested following the rioting outside the Holiday Inn Express, at Manvers, which left 58 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured, and saw attempts to storm the building and set it on fire.
He appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on bail and pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, but was remanded in custody after Judge Richardson said he was "staggered" he had been granted bail by a magistrates court last week.
Man admits arson with intent to endanger life after riot outside Manvers hotelpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time
13:02 BST
A 27-year-old man has pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.
Thomas Birley, of Rowms Lane, Swinton, Rotherham, is accused of stoking the fire in the bin that was pushed against an exit at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manvers on 4 August.
He was also accused of throwing items at the police and squaring up to officers with riot shields while brandishing a police baton.
Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told the court the case was, so far, "unquestionably the most serious" in relation to the disorder in Rotherham.
"This is a crime which carries a life sentence.
"I rule nothing in and rule nothing out," Richardson adds.
Birley is due to be sentenced on 6 September.
Image source, South Yorkshire PoliceThree more charged with violent disorder by Staffordshire Policepublished at 12:25 British Summer Time
12:25 BST
Three more people have been charged over the unrest in Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent.
Tommy McQuaker, 28, of Amington, Tamworth, has been charged with violent disorder and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Martin Carter, 36, of Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent and Aimie Holliwell, 37, Rugeley, Staffordshire, have both been charged with violent disorder.
All three will be held in custody until their next court appearance.
Former soldier jailed for two-and-a-half yearspublished at 12:07 British Summer Time
12:07 BST
Image source, South Yorkshire PolicePeter Beard, 43, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years after pushing aggressively at a line of police as they tried to protect a hotel housing asylum seekers.
The father-of-three, of Becknoll Road, Brampton Bierlow, was filmed by body-worn cameras at the front of a mob confronting police outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham.
Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said he was "astonished" Beard had become involved.
He told the court: "You have been, I'm told, on the receiving end of attacks by those indulging in public disorder in war zones.
"You know what it is like to be under attack and, yet, there you were attacking a police officer who was doing his duty.
"You have been, so to speak, a victim yourself and here you are falling for sentence as a perpetrator."
Bradford man who 'aimed a punch' at black man during disorder facing sentencingpublished at 11:49 British Summer Time
11:49 BST
Image source, Greater Manchester PoliceAnother man facing sentencing over his actions during disturbances in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre on 3 August is Liam Ryan, 28, of Thirkleby Royd, Clayton.
Ryan admitted violent disorder and pleaded guilty after the prosecution said he played an "active role in the disorder".
Prosecutor Laura Peers said a "large group of far-right protesters" were seen engaging in an "altercation with one black male", which was filmed by members of the group and uploaded on social media.
Peers said: "Ryan was seen on the footage aiming a punch towards the male involved."
Man who threw stones at police jailed for 18 monthspublished at 11:36 British Summer Time
11:36 BSTBreaking
Jake Lowther, of Abrams Fold, Banks, 20, has just been sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders' institute, after throwing stones at police during disorder in Southport.
Judge Neil Flewitt KC said footage of the incident showed Lowther picking up two pieces of brick or stone from a broken wall and throwing them towards police, with one hitting a riot shield.
Lowther's lawyer, Stuart Mills, said his client had ADHD and had been "swept up in the moment".
The judge told the court: "There's no evidence your condition in anyway reduces your culpability."
Man who encouraged violence that 'shames us all' to be sentencedpublished at 11:22 British Summer Time
11:22 BST
We're expecting to find out the sentence of Warren Gilchrest today, who was convicted of "encouraging violence" during large-scale disorder in Manchester city centre on 3 August.
Gilchrest, 52, of North Road, Manchester, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, telling Judge Joanne Hirst: "I’m guilty miss, but I’m not sure what it means."
The prosecution said that a "large group of far-right protesters" had gathered in Piccadilly Gardens where Gilchrest was "filming, goading the crowd and encouraging violence" and "actively encouraging others" to assault a man as well as making "numerous racist or racially aggravated comments".
District Judge Hirst told Gilchrest he was involved in disorder "which shames us all".
Early release scheme to 'increase huge pressure' on probation servicepublished at 11:08 British Summer Time
11:08 BST
The early release of thousands of prisoners at the start of September will increase demands on a probation service that is already under "huge pressure" the chief inspector of probation has said.
Speaking this morning on the Today programme, Martin Jones said the announcement that some prisoners in England and Wales will be released after they have served 40% of their sentence, instead of 50%, would have an impact on the probation service's ability to support ex-prisoners' transitions into the community and help prevent reoffending.
Jones recognised that overcrowding in prisons forced the government to take action, and that eight weeks' notice gave the probation service a "fighting chance" to prepare, adding that he was impressed by efforts to meet the challenge.
He said that the biggest problem for probation officers was excessive case loads, and staffing levels will require urgent attention going forward.
Some prisoners to be released under emergency government planspublished at 10:56 British Summer Time
10:56 BST
Image source, Getty ImagesAs people are sentenced for their roles in recent violent disorder, a government plan is underway to release some prisoners from jails early. It's an emergency measure to ease prison overcrowding known as Operation Early Dawn.
Here's how it works:
- Defendants will only be summoned to a magistrates' court when a space in prison is ready for them
- This means court cases could be delayed, with people kept in police holding cells or released on bail while they await trial
- Ongoing trials in the Crown Court will not be directly impacted, the government says
- It also says anyone who "poses a risk to the public" will not be bailed and the police's ability to arrest criminals will not be affected
- Prisons in the North East and Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and East and West Midlands will be affected
- Operation Early Dawn will be kept under "constant review" and will be activated and deactivated as needed, the government says
You can read more about the plans here.
Who are the rioters and what jail sentences have they received?published at 10:35 British Summer Time
10:35 BST
Hundreds of people are appearing in court after being charged with a variety of offences during the violent disorder at the end of July and beginning of August.
The violence, in towns and cities across England and in Northern Ireland, was fuelled by misinformation online, the far-right and anti-immigration sentiment.
People have been found guilty of online offences such as inciting and stirring racial hatred, violent disorder and assaulting emergency service workers.
Those sentenced include a man who used racist slurs and shouted at a police dog, and another man who threw missiles at police protecting a hotel housing asylum seekers.
You can read a rundown of the sentences so far here.
What we are expecting todaypublished at 10:15 British Summer Time
10:15 BST
More people are due in court this morning to be sentenced for their role in the violent unrest that began just over three weeks ago.
In Manchester:
- Warren Gilchrest, 52, of North Road, Manchester, for 'encouraging violence' during disorder in the city
- Liam Ryan, 28, of Thirkleby Royd, Bradford, West Yorkshire, for violent disorder after aiming a punch at a black man in the city centre
- Aaron Johnson, 32, of Criterion Street, North Reddish, for inciting racial hatred on a live stream outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Stockport
In Hampshire:
- Perrie Fisher, 29, of Hillside Road, Farnham, for violent disorder in Aldershot outside a hotel housing asylum seekers
In Liverpool:
- Jake Lowther, 20, of Banks, Lancashire, Thomas Whitehead, 53, of Southport, Daniel Carrigan, 41, of Liverpool, Luke Moran, 38, of Birkdale and Nicholas Sinclair, 38, of Birkdale, for violent disorder following riots in Southport
We'll be following the sentencings throughout today, so stay with us.
Pakistan man linked to disinformation on Southport attack arrestedpublished at 10:10 British Summer Time
10:10 BST
Carrie Davies
Pakistan correspondentPolice officials in Pakistan have told the BBC that Farhan Asif, a Pakistani man linked to spreading false information thought to have fuelled riots in the UK has been arrested on suspicion of cyber terrorism.
Asif is linked to Channel3Now, a website which posted an article in the hours after the Southport attack giving a false name of the attacker and suggesting that he was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat last year.
The article was widely quoted in viral posts on social media.
Yesterday, police in Lahore had told the BBC that they had questioned Asif about the article.
An officer told the BBC that Asif said he had written the article based on information copied from a UK based social media account without verifying it and that he ran the website alone.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency have since taken up the case and will investigate whether anyone further is involved.
- Read more on that here
Update at 12:45 BST: This article originally reported that police inPakistan had told the BBC that Farhan Asif had been charged withcyber terrorism. The police have since confirmed he is under arrest but hasnot been charged and we have updated the post to make that clear.
Further sentencings due to start shortlypublished at 10:08 British Summer Time
10:08 BST
Jacqueline Howard
Live page editorSeveral more people are due to be sentenced this morning over the violent disorder that plagued much of the country in late July and early August.
So far, we've seen judges around the country hand down sentences ranging from several months to six years.
Among the cases on our radar today is a man who pleaded guilty to "encouraging violence" during disorder in Manchester, as well as another relating to a livestream broadcast online.
We have our team of correspondents and experts stationed, ready to analyse the cases as they happen.
More sentences to come as judge tells rioter the aim is to 'deter others'published at 18:18 British Summer Time 20 August
18:18 BST 20 August
Sam Hanco*ck
Live page editorSentences continue to be handed down in courts across the country, with a judge in Manchester earlier telling one rioter - as he was jailed for two years and two months - that "severe sentences are likely not just to punish you but also to deter others".
The Crown Prosecution Service says 494 people have now been charged in relation to the unrest, with more than 150 people already sentenced - most have been sent to jail.
If you want to read more about the sentences and, in some cases, see the faces of those jailed - use this BBC interactive tool. It has useful information, including who's been given longer sentences and for what offence.
We'll be back with more live coverage tomorrow, but if you want to read more on what happened today then head here.
This page was written by Suneil Asar and Gabriela Pomeroy, and it was edited by Johanna Chisholm and me.
A man who shouted at a police dog and others who used racist slurs among latest jailedpublished at 17:59 British Summer Time 20 August
17:59 BST 20 August
Before we pause our sentencings coverage for the day, here's a reminder of some of the latest people to be given prison time:
- David Jordan, 59, was jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder after he threw an object at police and was heard making racial slurs in front of a Holiday Inn, which was housing asylum seekers, in Tamworth
- Bradley McCarthy, 34, admitted to violent disorder after he shouted at a police dog and used racial slurs against counter-protesters during unrest in Bristol - he was jailed for 20 months.
- Liam Gray, 20, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after unrest outside another hotel housing asylum seekers, in Rotherham - his family claimed there isn't "a racist bone in his body" as he was sentenced to three years at a young offenders institution
- And Lee Crisp, 42, who was involved in the same action in Rotherham, was sentenced to three years and four months after also pleaded guilty to violent disorder. A judge said Crisp's behaviour was "truly dreadful"
Man who threw bricks at police jailed for two years and two monthspublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 20 August
17:21 BST 20 August
A mechanical engineer, who threw bricks at police during unrest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Newton Heath, Manchester, has been jailed for two years and two months.
Dane Freeman, 25, of Timson Street, Failsworth, had admitted violent disorder during the incident on 31 July.
Despite wearing a face mask, Freeman, who was later identified by distinctive tattoos on his arm, was captured on video among of mob of others smashing house bricks and then launching the fragments at police surrounding the hotel.
Judge Patrick Field KC, sentencing, said Freeman was another example of a young man who has little acquaintance with criminal proceedings but, in recent weeks, had become involved in unacceptable violence without any explanation.
"This sort of behaviour will not and cannot be tolerated. Severe sentences are likely not just to punish you but also to deter others who might think they want to launch bricks at police officers because they are angry about something," Field told Freeman.
Pakistan police question man over misinformation following Southport attackpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 20 August
16:59 BST 20 August
Carrie Davies
Pakistan correspondentPolice in Pakistan have told the BBC that they've questioned a man connected to a website that spread false information thought to have fuelled riots in the UK.
Farhan Asif is connected to Channel3Now website. In the hours after the attack, it posted an article about the Southport attacker giving a false name and wrongly suggesting the attacker was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat last year. This article was then widely quoted in viral posts on X.
According to a police official, Asif said he had written the article himself based on information he copied from a UK based X account, creating an article without verification.
When the UK police issued a statement stating that this information was false, Asif said he deleted the story and posted an apology, but the damage had already been done.
- For context: The violence that broke out in England and Northern Ireland was triggered at the end of July by a stabbing attack in Southport, which left three young girls dead. Misinformation was then spread online about the attacker's identity, including unfounded claims that he was Muslim. You can read more on all that here.
Jailed father-of-one 'dreadful example' to young son, judge sayspublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 20 August
16:46 BST 20 August
Victoria Scheer
Reporting from Sheffield Crown CourtImage source, South Yorkshire PoliceA rioter - part of a mob who physically and verbally attacked police guarding a hotel housing asylum seekers - has been jailed.
David Chadwick, 36, was filmed picking up a large piece of wood which he threw at officers outside the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, Rotherham on 4 August.
On two occasions, the father-of-one also poured the contents of a can over a police officer who was attempting to drive a police dog van to safety. The van was later violently rocked from side to side, causing the two officers inside the vehicle to "fear for their lives".
The court heard Chadwick had a number of previous convictions, including Section 20 wounding, affray, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and battery.
In a letter to the court, Chadwick said he was "sorry" for his involvement in the riot, adding: "I have let myself down, I have let my family and friends down and I have let my whole community down."
Chadwick, of Furlong Road, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years and eight months imprisonment on Tuesday. He was also made the subject of a criminal behaviour order for 10 years.
Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Chadwick he was "a dreadful example" to his five-year-old son.
Sentences in Stafford and London after racist slurs used in riotspublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 20 August
16:31 BST 20 August
Image source, PA MediaTwo more convictions to bring you now.
A father has been jailed for 28 months after throwing a missile and shouting racist remarks during a protest in Tamworth.
David Jordan, 59, was charged with violent disorder after video footage showed him throwing an object towards a line of police in front of the Holiday Inn Express hotel in the Staffordshire town, where migrants were being housed, on 4 August.
The defendant, of Tamworth Road, Tamworth, could also be heard shouting towards the hotel and swearing at police officers.
And then at the Inner London Crown Court, a 28-year-old tree surgeon was jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder in Whitehall, London on 31 July.
Bradley Halton, 28, of Hounslow, west London, was filmed chanting offensive language and shouting racist remarks at police officers during the unrest.
He was arrested on 11 August and charged with violent disorder and racially/religiously aggravated harassment, the latter of which he was ordered to pay £400 for at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week.
Man who told officers 'let's go toe to toe' jailed for violent disorderpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 20 August
15:55 BST 20 August
Victoria Scheer
Reporting from Sheffield Crown CourtA man who threatened violence and cheered as missiles werethrown at police who were trying to protect a hotel that housed asylum seekershas been jailed.
Lee Crisp “actively encouraged” rioters who had gatheredoutside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August.
The 42-year-old factory worker told officers they should be“ashamed of themselves”, shouted “let’s go toe to toe” and made racistcomments.
At Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday, Crisp, of Mount Road,Grimethorpe, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to threeyears and four months imprisonment.
He was also made subject of a criminal behaviour order for10 years.
Passing the sentence, the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge JeremyRichardson KC, told Crisp his behaviour had been “truly dreadful”.
During his first appearance at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court,Crisp had claimed he accidentally got caught up in the riot when taking hismother for Sunday lunch.
