Football hooligan jailed for violence at protest
A FOOTBALL hooligan who took part in a violent city centre protest against Black Lives Matter supporters has been jailed.
Grandfather Michael Maylia, who was one of a number of Newcastle United fans jailed after a bar brawl in Burnley in 2019, was among those to get involved in criminal activity at Grey’s Monument, in Newcastle.
In ugly scenes, police came under attack from a number of people and officers, horses and dogs were injured as missiles were thrown, including bottles, cans and smoke grenades.
Several people have already been locked up for their part in the violent disorder – all but one of whom were from the “counterprotesting” group.
Some of them were affiliated with the far right, Hells Angels, or football hooligans, with one also involved in the Burnley violence alongside Maylia.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Maylia was initially well-behaved but from around 2pm on June 13, 2020, the atmosphere changed. Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said Maylia appeared to be looking for an opportunity to throw a can of alcohol, on CCTV footage.
He said: “He hurled the can in the direction of the Black Lives Matter protesters and a police officer jumped out of the way of it. As the can left his hand he pulled his hood over his head to try to conceal his appearance.
“He later left the scene and beckoned the group to go with him and he appears to be acting as a leader.
“He moved through a number of shoppers to an area where some Black Lives Matter supporters, who were also behaving unlawfully, were located to confront them.”
When stopped by police and told to move back, the group responded with physical and verbal resistance. Mr Perks added: “The defendant can be seen at the front refusing to leave, surging towards the police and acting in a threatening manner.”
When the police dog section moved in, Maylia remained at the front of the group, shouting and swearing at officers.
He also refused to leave when the mounted section moved in and surged forward to try to disrupt police tactics.
Maylia, who was unsteady on his feet, was also seen recording the disorder on his phone and then posed for a picture before leaving, the court heard.
He had 56 previous convictions, including assaults and public order and the violent disorder at Burnley, for which he was jailed for 19 months.
Maylia, 55, of Coniston, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for
25 months for the Newcastle matter.
Stephen Jenkins was seen drinking alcohol and gesturing aggressively. At one point police pushed a man, who fell on Jenkins, causing him to stagger back. He regained his composure then threw a can of alcohol at police, which hit an officer and caused fluid to spill out on him.
At a later stage he was pushed to the ground by police and ignored attempts to calm him down and resisted efforts to clear the area.
He was said to appear highly intoxicated as he argued and remonstrated with officers.
Jenkins, 64, of Redmond Square, Redhouse, Sunderland, also admitted violent disorder and was jailed for 26 months.