Middlesbrough rioter was 'instigator' of violent disorder

Matthew Putson was caught on video footage verbally abusing officers as protesters making their way towards Middlesbrough town centre turned violent.

The 27-year-old was described as one of the main instigators of the violence before climbing up a set of traffic lights and becoming involved in a torrent of racial abuse.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said: “The defendant came to the attention of the officer as being part of a group making racial comments. He has then approached the officer and shouted abuse at them including calling them sex offenders.

“He appeared to be angry. As the officer continued to watch the defendant, he ran towards him and kicked him to the leg. As the officer had leg pads on this caused him no injury.

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

“The defendant then punches the officer to the right hand and a number of other people grab hold of the defendant and pull him away to prevent the officer from arresting him.”

Miss Masters said later in the day, Putson was spotted throwing bricks and bottles at officers for around an hour and it was the officer’s perception that he was one of the main instigators of the violence.

The defendant had previous convictions for robbery, weapons offences, violence, criminal damage and public order offences on his record.

Matthew Putson (Image: Cleveland Police)

Putson, of Palmer Street, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker following his behaviour on August 4 this year.

Gary Wood, mitigating, said his client had spent the vast majority of his adult life behind bars.

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

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He added: “He has expressed shame about his involvement and he insists that he didn’t set out to become involved in the violence that day.”

Judge Francis Laird KC sentenced Putson to a total of two years and eight months for both offences.

“The group which you were a part were shouting insults about Asian people. You shouted abuse at police officers and then you ran towards a police officer and kicked him to the leg and punched him the hand,” he said.

“You were also observed to be throwing bottles and bricks towards police officers over the course of an hour.”