1 week Ago By [email protected] (Sue Kirby)
A teenager who volunteered with a charity helping refugees shouted racially aggravated abuse at the summer riot in Hartlepool . Evan Wilkins-Doyle appeared before Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced after admitting to a charge of violent disorder on the night of rioting in the town on July 31. Rachel Masters prosecuting, told the court crowds has gathered following social media posts about protests and by 8pm the mood had turned violent.
She said the defendant was part of the crowd and showed the court CCTV footage of him standing on a wall addressing others. His speech included "Islam is getting further and further into our f****** country", "don't let them take our land off us" "step forward, step forward". Ms Masters said he was trying to surge the crowd forward.
The prosecutor said Wilkins-Doyle, 19, of The Spinney, Hartlepool, had handed himself in to the police and said he had gone because he thought it was going to be a peaceful protest. Stephen Constantine, defending, told the sentencing hearing that the teenager is of previously good character and has spent a lot of his time doing good in the local community and helping others. He said Wilkins-Doyle had even volunteered for a charity with his mum helping refugees.
"The defendant made a speech, or whatever it can be called, for about 20 second and got off the wall," the court heard. "You could be forgiven for not understanding why he climbed on that wall and said the things he said. What he said was clearly entirely at odds with the way he has presented himself throughout the rest of his life.
It is impossible to explain it." He said his clients' family members are all astonished and the defendant has said he is "disgusted" and "ashamed" by his actions. Mr Constantine said: "Those are the words he used to describe himself and he is at a loss as to explain why he acted in such a way.
"This type of behaviour is alien to him and his family." The barrister said it is something his client never wants to repeat or put his family through again. Judge Francis Laird said Wilkins-Doyle had suffered heartache following the death of his step-father and disappointment in being medically discharged from the army and unable to pursue the careers he wanted.
He said: "The combination of these factors did affect you greatly." He said he found the words he used on that evening did make the crime racially aggravated. But, he took into account all the positive things he had been told about him and his early guilty plea and sentenced him to 14 months in prison.
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