A couple has been jailed for their involvement in the Hanley riots, where they participated in violent and disruptive behavior. Ciaran Lockett, 34, was sentenced to 32 months in prison, while his partner, Deana Evans, 32, received a 20-month sentence at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Lockett was accused of chanting, participating in a sit-down protest, obstructing a police van in the city center, and throwing a bottle at the police. Evans, meanwhile, filmed the incident, shouted, and chanted slogans alongside him.
The riots took place on August 3 against a backdrop of tensions following the deaths of three girls in Southport. According to Prosecutor Dylan Wagg, what began as “so-called peaceful protests” devolved into “violent enterprises causing havoc for members of the public and the police.” He described the scene as involving both far-right protesters and counter-protesters separated by a police line.
During the protest, Lockett and Evans were heard shouting offensive slogans such as “You are all protecting nonces” and “We want our country back” in Cheapside. Lockett was also seen pacing and moving through a police cordon at Cannon Place while Evans recorded the events.
Both attempted to block a police van on Broad Street, with Lockett appearing to take the lead in that action and participating in a sit-down protest near the old library.
The disturbance escalated to Town Road, where there were plans by Muslim leaders to convert St John’s Church into a mosque. Lockett was seen throwing objects toward a mosque on Town Road while continuing to shout and gesture. Evans recorded these actions and was struck by an item, sustaining a head injury that required treatment.
The pair was arrested on August 22, during which Evans assaulted a police officer by elbowing him. Lockett, a scaffolder from Fletcher Bank, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Evans, from Poplar Court, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to both violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.
Their defense attorney, Steve Hennessy, argued that while the situation became threatening and involved violence, categorizing the entire protest as unlawful was an overstatement. “A large part of the chanting was directed at the police,” Hennessy stated, adding that both Lockett and Evans “deeply regret” their actions, claiming they intended to attend a peaceful protest but got caught up in the chaos.
The court also heard that both defendants had experienced homelessness and had overcome drug addictions prior to the incident.
The english have become despised remnants of the past in a new Muslim caliphate. I excpect Sharia to become the official law of the land within 5 years.
What a sad ending to a fromer great, freedom loving people, especially when their own police and military are vigorously aiding the transition. Britain may still exist for the moment, but itis no longer Great.