Eight men and two youths appeared in court
14:36, 18 Jul 2023
Five men who have admitted their roles in the violent scenes outside the Knowsley Suites hotel were told they are "at significant risk" of going to prison.
Ten people, including two 15-year-old boys, appeared in court today facing charges in relation to the widespread disorder outside the hotel, in Ribblers Lane in Kirkby, on February 10. The violence followed a protest outside the hotel, which was sparked by rumours of alleged incidents involving asylum seekers housed at the site, which circulated widely on social media.
A line of police officers deployed to keep the peace were forced back when members of the crowd threw glass bottles, which resulted in a riot van being left unguarded. The vehicle was then set on fire and burnt out, and equipment was stolen from inside. A line of officers holding riot shields were left facing a crowd of around 100 people, many of whom had their faces covered.
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Five force vehicles were damaged overall at a total cost of £83,684, with the destroyed Mercedes transporter riot van accounting for £64,000 of this sum.
Today eight adults and one youth appeared in Liverpool Crown Court, while the other youth, who cannot be named, was handed a 12 month referral order at Liverpool Youth Court after admitting violent disorder. That court heard the boy, from Kirkby, had struck the windscreen of a police vehicle with a stick.
Five of the men appearing in Crown Court today have now pleaded guilty to violent disorder, one has yet to enter a plea and two men have pleaded not guilty. The first 15-year-old boy, from the Kirkby area, also pleaded not guilty.
Liam Jones, 25, and Christopher Shelley, 44, pleaded guilty to the charge today, while Harry Boynton, 19; John Tippler, 59, and Warren Cullen, 20, confirmed they had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. The men were granted bail with conditions not to enter the grounds of the hotel or set foot in Ribblers Lane, and pre-sentence reports were ordered for Shelley and Jones.
Another man, Jonjo O'Donoghue, 20, of Stanley Street, Liverpool City Centre, was not asked to enter a plea to the charge today.
Judge Denis Watson, KC, told the men who had admitted their participation in the disorder: "Do not read into the fact that I have granted bail and ordered pre-sentence reports that any community resolution will follow.
"I warn you, you face a prison sentence or sentence of detention given the admission of the offence you face. But rather than pre-judge the sentence passed I just say the court will obtain further information. All options remain open and you are at significant risk of immediate custody."
Paul Lafferty, 42, of Quarry Green in Northwood, Kirkby and Thomas Mills, 46, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty and were also granted bail. Two youths were also due in court today but did not appear due to a "mix up" with the dates, they will appear at a future hearing.
A trial is due to take place on January 2 next year.
Earlier this year Jarad Skeete, 19, of Irwell Close in Aigburth, was handed three years detention in a young offenders' institution after admitting violent disorder. During his sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Martyn Walsh, prosecuting, said Skeete had thrown between 15 and 20 lit fireworks at police.
One officer, PC Paul Grimes was hit on the leg by a firework which exploded. The teenager was also seen "holding aloft" a bag of white powder, which he later told police was ketamine, and "snorting" a quantity from his hand.
Another officer, PC John Thompson, was hit on the right foot by an object thrown by the defendant. He suffered minor injuries to this foot and his left arm while in attendance.
The court was told Skeete shouted at officers: "Why are you protecting scumbags? You big gang of d***heads. I'll have you, I'll have you. Look at her with the little camera, you little snitch.
"What are you going to do you silly little sausage? Go and arrest those nonces. We're just trying to protect a kid. Hey you, fat a**e."
Tippler, of St Kevin's Drive, Northwood; Shelley, of Delfby Crescent, Southdene; Cullen, of James Holt Avenue, Kirkby; Boynton, of Sherdley Walk, Kirkby and Liam Jones, of Birkin Close, Kirkby, were all told their sentence will take place at the conclusion of the trial of the other defendants in January.
Judge Watson confirmed that eight further defendants were due to appear in Liverpool Magistrates' Court next week in relation to the same incident.