Men jailed for their part in riots at anti-racism rally
POLICE officers, horses, dogs and members of the public were injured during a riot caused by thugs demonstrating against a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest.
Members of a counter-demonstration chose to go to Grey’s Monument in Newcastle city centre at the same time as the planned show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement and some came prepared for a violent showdown.
A barrage of bottles, cans and smoke grenades were thrown while around 1,000 people gathered and 180 police officers were verbally abused as they tried to keep the two groups apart. Several Northumbria
Police officers, animals and members of the public were hurt.
Now three of those responsible – children’s football coach Christopher Bone, then-council worker Craig Hornsby and ex-joiner Neil Drummond – have been sentenced for violent disorder at Newcastle
Crown Court. Around 30 people have pleaded guilty and are to be sentenced in the coming days.
The court heard there was a peaceful demonstration planned in support of Black Lives Matter on Saturday, June 13, 2020.
However, police were told a group called the North East Front Line Patriots, along with Hell’s Angels, veterans and some with a history of football violence, were to hold a counter-demonstration at the same time in the same place.
The counter-protesters claimed to be there to protect Grey’s Monument from anarchists but a judge said it was the counter-protesters who were responsible for the bulk of the violence, which they started and continued. Despite repeated warnings by police to disperse, a hardcore of 50 to 60 remained for hours.
Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said: objects thrown in the disorder included glass bottles, metal cans and smoke grenades.
Bone was present in the area from that morning and was seen to throw a can which appeared to strike a senior police officer. He was later seen picking up a plastic bag and throwing it and its contents at the police line, striking an officer.
Hornsby threw a bottle towards the police line. He then threw a further three bottles at the police and Black Lives Matter group.
Drummond was with a group of protesters chanting and shouting towards the Black Lives Matter group and took part in a racist song. He was also seen ranting at police.
Bone, 46, of Affleck Street Gateshead, Hornsby, 52, of Wordsworth Close, Hexham, and Drummond, 65, of Audley Road, South Gosforth, Newcastle, all admitted violent disorder. Bone was jailed by Judge Edward Bindloss for 29 months, Hornsby got 38 months and Drummond got two years suspended for two years (on medical grounds) with a one-month curfew.