A man who wore an England football shirt bearing his father’s No. 1 and led an “angry and intimidating” mob through Blackpool during a wave of violent unrest across the country has been sentenced to prison.
A court heard that on August 3, Roger Haywood asked a group to follow him to various locations in the seaside resort, including the Cenotaph and the Tower.
Haywood repeatedly verbally abused officers when many families were in the area, Lancashire Police said. He attacked officers during his arrest.
Roger Haywood was wearing an England football shirt when he was arrested. Photos: Lancashire Police/PA
The 41-year-old was part of a group that confronted police in a shopping district. Unrest.
Haywood’s involvement included attempting to raise the shutters of a shop and assaulting a member of a security team, Preston Crown Court was told.
He was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Friday after previously pleading guilty to two counts of assault on an emergency medical worker and violent disorder.
A video posted on social media by Lancashire Police shows the man being arrested wearing an England shirt with the words “Dad 1” printed on the back.
He was also filmed telling a police officer: “I promise you – look at them here (he points to a crowd behind). The odds are 10 to one. We’ll easily overrun you.”
Haywood was seen at the front of an “ugly and intimidating scene”, along with a man knocking over a sign and another person carrying a chair and banging on a rope barrier while another person kicked it, the court heard.
Haywood with police officers during the riots in Blackpool. Image: PA
Judge Robert Altham told Haywood: “They repeatedly approached the police line, pointed their fingers at them and ignored their numerous requests to move away.”
“You were next seen leading a large group along the promenade, some carrying flags and others with their faces covered.
“You were right at the front and raised your hands above your head to wave to them. You were clearly in the lead.”
Lancashire Assistant Chief Constable Phil Davies welcomed the conviction, saying: “Haywood not only chose violence himself, but actively encouraged others to use violence.”
Read more:
Teacher injured in Southport back in hospital
Missing student not seen for a week
Stay up to date with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Tap here
Across the country, security forces continue to pursue those suspected of involvement in the unrest that has taken place in cities across England and Northern Ireland as part of the riots. fatal knife attacks on three children in Southport.
According to the Ministry of Justice, as of Thursday, August 15, a total of 460 people appeared before the district courts on charges related to the riots.
At least 72 people under the age of 18 are said to have been charged, including a 13-year-old girl who pleaded guilty to threats of unlawful violence outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Aldershot, Hampshire.
Among the defendants, who are under 18 years of age, are two 12-year-old boys, both of whom have pleaded guilty to violent disturbance of public order.
The oldest person to be charged so far is 69-year-old William Morgan from Walton in Liverpool.
