Two more men were today (Friday, August 23) jailed for their involvement in the mass disorder in Sunderland city centre, earlier this month.
While not engaging in any violence, themselves, Jack Fowler and David Hann were seen actively encouraging others taking part in the scenes of confrontation against the police and destruction of property, arising out of an anti-immigration protest in the city on August 2.
Both had been drinking before becoming involved, following the protest, as widespread disorder ensued.
Fowler, 24, travelled with his fiancee, the mother of his young child, from his home in Newcastle, to film events, live-streaming them on the "front-line" facing the police in Keel Square and later near the city mosque in St Mark's Road.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court that Fowler was hooded, wearing a mask covering much of his face and carrying a St George's Cross flag.
At one stage he could be heard berating politicians for allowing mass immigration and telling police officers: "This is going to be constant, all summer, everywhere."
He beckoned others to confront the police line and joined in the far right-wing chant of: "Whose streets, our streets".
When arrested and interviewed the following day he denied taking part in any violence and claimed he was actually trying to discourage those involved in the trouble.
He said he then left Sunderland with his fiancee on the Metro to return home to Newcastle, when it got dark.
The court heard he has offences of violence and public disorder on his record, having served previous custodial sentences, including one for robbery.
Fowler, 24, of Beaumont Street, Newcastle, admitted a charge of violent disorder when he appeared before magistrates, who sent the case for sentence to the crown court.
Hann, 58, of Ryhope Street South, Sunderland, admitted a charge of causing religiously aggravated fear of violence.
He was seen in the area of the mosque at the forefront of protestors, and heard by officers berating Muslims and the Islamic religion in general, making slurs about Mohammed.
When arrested on August 15 he said he had set off to go to a social club in Sunderland on the evening of August 2 and claimed he was unaware of the planned protest.
He said he was complaining about the police tactics, pushing protestors in a certain direction, and wasting public money with their presence.
The court heard that in his Probation Service report he claimed to have previously been a member of the English Defence League, having gone on protest marches in the past.
Penny Hall, for Fowler, said he accepts presence and the encouragement of others, but his involvement amounted to speaking to police and joining in chants and waving at people to urge them to get closer to the front line.
But she said he also tried to discourage some of those taking part and ushered away his partner when she became involved in a disagreement with another woman.
Nick Murphy, for Hann, said he was also not directly taking part in any violence, but he admitted his client, "contributed to the febrile atmosphere" and was present at different locations, including outside the mosque, "over a reasonably short period".
Judge Paul Sloan, the Recorder of Newcastle, said "right-thinking" members of the communities in which both men live were left shocked at the shameful scenes witnessed in Sunderland that evening.
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"It's an unavoidable feature of mass disorder that each individual taking part, whatever the character on its own, influences others to act in a similar fashion.
"Those participating in mass disorder must expect severe sentences intended not only to punish but to deter others from copying their example."
He imposed a two-year prison sentence on Fowler and passed an eight-month sentence on Hann.
Judge Sloan said both sentences must be immediate in the circumstances of events in Sunderland that evening.
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