Ex-solider repeatedly charged at police in Hartlepool riot

Joel Bishop, who had never been in trouble before, was recorded attacking the officers in the Lothian Road area of the town while wearing a t-shirt with his name on the back.

The 27-year-old father of two was arrested when he returned home from working around the country as an HGV driver.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Bishop was heard calling the officers ‘black c****’ as he repeatedly charged at them during the large-scale disorder.

Police under attack during rioting in Hartlepool (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said police were able to recover three short pieces of footage which captured Bishop moving towards the police before hurling the wood and rocks at their riot shields.

She added: “The defendant can be seen in the Lothian Road area of Hartlepool on three occasions picking up items and throwing them directly at police officers.”

Joel Bishop (Image: Cleveland Police)

Bishop, of Tweed Walk, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and two charges of possession of an offensive weapon – the plank and the rocks - following the rioting on July 31.

Rod Hunt, mitigating, said his client had an unblemished record during his five years of military service and had been in work for all but one-week of his adult life before becoming involved in the riot.

He said Bishop acted out of character after making a discovery about his father which could have ‘temporarily unhinged his thinking’.

“When he lost control of his temper, which quite clearly he did, it was so out of character that one struggles to find any rational explanation,” he added.

“Why he took up with this demonstration, which has nothing to do with him or any causes he espouses, seems to be that he was just there letting steam in a wholly inappropriate and criminal way.”

Crowds of protesters gathered in Hartlepool before rioting broke out (Image: Northern Echo)

He added: “He wasn’t wearing a disguise, he actually had a shirt with his name on the back, wherever the camera went he could be seen.

“If he planned to be some undercover anarchist, one could hardly think of a worse way to about it.”

Sentencing Bishop to 18 months in prison, Judge Francis Laird KC said: “I have watched the footage of the incident including what you did. Your behaviour, and the behaviour of others around you, was disgraceful.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

• Mother-of-six who threw brick at police during riot branded 'truly disgraceful'
• Mother and daughter in court following widespread trouble in the region

• Woman starved Labrador to death while living in 'disgusting conditions'

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. To get access to our latest offer Click here.

“The disorder was widespread, it involved large scale acts of violence both towards people and property.

“There was planning over social media and the incident involved persisted and sustained unlawful activity.”

He added: “The author of your pre-sentence report considered your remorse to be genuine. From what I have read about you, it seems you are a man of positive good character prior to July 31.

“It is very difficult to understand why you got involved.”