UK Riots Latest: Woman, 53, Jailed For Facebook Message Saying ‘blow The Mosque Up With The Adults In It’

NewsUKCrimeJulie Sweeney jailed for 15 months for the threatening Facebook comment

Bodycam footage shows man pelting objects at police amid riots, resulting in jail sentence

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A woman has been jailed for 15 months after admitting to posting a threatening Facebook message encouraging people to blow up a mosque.

Julie Sweeney, 53, commented on a photograph on a local Facebook community group showing a number of people cleaning up the aftermath of the Southport riot.

She wrote on August 3: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. Don’t protect the mosques. Blow the mosques up with the adults in it.”

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

She was sentenced on the day a number of offenders involved in the far-right riots to be jailed.

Earlier, several rioters were jailed for an “utterly terrifying” attack on a hotel in Rotherham being used to house asylum seekers.

The Holiday Inn Express was belted with rocks and debris as rioters tried to set it on fire with people inside on 4 August.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said 1,024 people had been arrested and 575 charged following days of violence across England and Northern Ireland.

Elsewhere, Home Office minister Jess Phillips has said she made a “mistake” in a response to a video showing masked me confronting a reporter during the unrest.

1723646994‘There are a lot of people saying it,’ says woman jailed for Facebook comment about blowing up mosquesA 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.”

(Cheshire Police)Athena Stavrou14 August 2024 15:49

1723671600Father-to-be jailed for shouting racial slursA father-to-be who live-streamed himself shouting racial slurs during riots in Sunderland has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for violent disorder.

Reece Greenwood, 31, posted footage on Facebook of himself “actively encouraging” the rioters and “verbally abusing police officers repeatedly”.

He shouted encouragement as others threw missiles at officers and could be heard making racial and religious remarks, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

A judge was told scenes of people throwing rocks and readying beer kegs to throw seemed to buoy Greenwood, and he was heard laughing on the footage. He also filmed a mob vandalising a police vehicle.

Alex Ross14 August 2024 22:40

1723668000Teenager among six people arrested by Staffordshire PoliceStaffordshire Police have arrested five men and a teenage boy in connection with the violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth.

The force said four men, aged 30, 31, 45 and 54, and a 17-year-old boy, all from Stoke-on-Trent, and a 25-year-old man, from Burton, have all been detained on suspicion of violent disorder.

They are all in custody being questioned by detectives.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Ellison said: “We continue to take swift and decisive action – 40 arrested and nine charged – a total which continues to rise.

“We are working hard to identify perpetrators so please check our website and social media channels to see how you can help, whether it is providing information or sharing appeals – we’re grateful for your support.”

Alex Ross14 August 2024 21:40

1723664400Man brandished stick at anti-racism demoA 30-year-old man has been jailed for four-and-a-half months after he was caught on CCTV brandishing a stick at anti-racist demonstrators.

Footage shown to Sheffield Crown Court showed masked Curtis Coulson waving a stick in front of a woman who appeared to be filming him outside Sheffield City Hall on Sunday August 4, before others from the demonstration advanced towards him.

Coulson is already subject to a football banning order after he was convicted of throwing missiles at a match, the court heard, and he told police he found the mask in his pocket after last wearing his jacket at a football match in Serbia.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, heard how Coulson had gone to the City Hall after reading about a planned “pro-UK” march.

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said the defendant went to was then attacked with a placard by anti-racist demonstrators and it was the stick from this placard he was brandishing in response.

Judge Richardson told the defendant: “This form of public disorder is outrageous”.

Curtis Coulson was jailed for four-and-a-half months (South Yorkshire Police/PA Wire)Alex Ross14 August 2024 20:40

1723664143Jess Phillips admits ‘mistake’ over social media post during disorderJess 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.”

Alex Ross14 August 2024 20:35

1723660800Man who was part of a large mob in Sheffield jailedElliott 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.

Elliott Wragg, 23, threw objects at police while in a large group during rioting in Rotherham (South Yorkshire Police/PA Wire)Alex Ross14 August 2024 19:40

1723660412Painter and decorator cornered police outside hotelA 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.

The violence outside Holiday Expresss in Rotherham (Getty Images)Alex Ross14 August 2024 19:33

1723657200Convict smiles for the cameraStuart 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.

Stuart Bolton was jailed for two years and eight months (South Yorkshire Police/PA Wire)Alex Ross14 August 2024 18:40

1723653600More people still to be charged – CPSToday 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.”

Alex Ross14 August 2024 17:40

1723652400Teenager jailed for throwing a vape, brick and scaffolding pole at police officers 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.

Alex Ross14 August 2024 17:20