Four men on trial during summer riot in Middlesbrough

Joseph MacKenzie, Anthony Brown, Kaleb Peacock-Lighfoot and Christopher Howard were charged after rioting swept through Middlesbrough in August.

Teesside Crown Court heard how all four men were caught on CCTV or online footage at the forefront of the protest when it descended into a violent riot.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, showed jurors clips of the four men that were captured throughout the day when thousands of people took to the streets of the town.

Violent disorder spreading through Middlesbrough in August (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

She said: “He (MacKenzie) was observed to be to be the forefront of the disorder, chanting expletives and throwing missiles at officers.

“His behaviour was caught on CCTV.”

Miss Masters showed the jury footage of all four men accused of being involved in the disorder.

She said Brown was also accused of assaulting an emergency worker when he confronted a police officer before picking up his bike and swinging it at him and hitting him across the shoulder.

Dealing with Peacock-Lighfoot, Miss Masters said he was at the forefront of the disorder and regularly placed himself in front of the police lines.

She said in police interview he denied taking part in the violence and only wore a face covering to protect his identity as he was a private person.

And finally, Howard was shown to be shouting abuse at officers, acted aggressively and encouraged others to rush the police lines.

Summing up the prosecution opening, she said: “The evidence given by police officers alongside video footage, shows the defendants' participation in the march and demonstrates they are all guilty of the offences they are charged with.

“They all accept attending the protest but deny taking part in the disorder. We submit that they actively undertook violence.”

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Mackenzie, 28, of Skeldale Grove, Darlington; 38-year-old Brown, of Windsor Road, Middlesbrough; Peacock-Lightfoot, 20, of Dixon Grove, Middlesbrough; and 42-year-old Howard, of Huntley Close, Middlesbrough; all deny violent disorder from August 4.

A fifth defendant, Ethan Bowes, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon on the day of the trial.

The 19-year-old, of Woodhouse Road, Guisborough, will be sentenced on January 14 next year and was remanded in custody while a pre-sentence report was completed.

The trial of the other four defendants continues.