Middlesbrough rioter failed to set an wheelie bin alight

Michael Stevenson caught on video footage among a group of people confronting the police as they marched through the streets of Middlesbrough.

The 34-year-old was captured trying unsuccessfully to ignite the red bin with his lighter, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said up to 1,000 people gathered at the Cenotaph before heading towards the town centre along Linthorpe Road before violence erupted.

The court heard how Stevenson only got involved as he had a gripe with police from several years earlier.

She said: “The defendant’s involvement was captured on footage recorded by a member of the public and later published on social media.

“He, along with a number of others, attempted to set a large wheelie bin on fire which they attempted to push towards police officers.”

The aftermath of the violent disorder in Middlesbrough (Image: The Northern Echo, Contributor)

A police officer heard Stevenson shouting out abuse in an attempt to provoke them to head towards the Linthorpe Road area.

Miss Masters said Stevenson was arrested four days later when he was spoken to about another incident and the officer searched for footage on Youtube for footage of the rioting and identified the defendant.

Cleveland Police officers facing down rioters in Middlesbrough (Image: The Northern Echo)

She added: “In police interview, he accepted he had been present and had tried to set the wheelie bin on fire. He said his lighter had failed and the bin hadn’t caught fire.

“He claimed his motivation for doing it was that the police had attended his home address five years previously and he reacted in retaliation.”

The defendant, who continually interrupted proceedings, said he was only at the scene for around 20 minutes before leaving as he had hurt his leg.

At one point, he shouted out: “I just saw red.”

Michael Stevenson (Image: Cleveland Police)

Stevenson, of Newport Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the rioting on August 4.

Car damaged during the violent disorder in Middlesbrough (Image: The Northern Echo, Contributor)

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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Gary Wood, mitigating, said his client had struggled with mental health issues throughout his life and had pleaded guilty to the offence at the earliest opportunity.

Judge Francis Laird KC jailed Stevenson for two years and two months for his role in the disorder.

“This was a largescale incident, involving largescale acts of violence towards people and property,” he said.

“You chose to get involved in the largescale disorder.”