More than two dozen people accused of taking part in violent disorder in England and Northern Ireland appeared in magistrates courts on Monday.
The charges included violent disorder, assault, arson and resisting police arrest. The youngest defendant on Monday was 14 years old; the oldest was 69. The majority were local to where the offences took place and most were remanded in custody to be dealt with by a crown court judge in several weeks’ time.
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said courts are on standby to ensure “swift justice” after the disorder of the past week.
In Belfast the deputy district judge Liam McStay described the violence as “absolutely disgraceful” and said the message had to be that those involved would “face the consequences”.
Four men aged between 34 and 53 appeared before him after disorder in the city. They were refused bail and had their cases adjourned until 2 September.
At Teesside magistrates court in Middlesbrough, two defendants appeared in separate hearings before the district judge Marie Mallon on charges of violent disorder in Hartlepool last Wednesday evening.
Both defendants were from Hartlepool. The court heard that Carl Holliday, 30, was allegedly carrying a large piece of metal sheeting that he threw towards police lines during the disturbances.
He was seen doing that four times in the space of seven minutes, the prosecutor Michael Embleton told the court.
David Smith, representing Holliday, who pleaded guilty, said the violence was not politically motivated but due to “drinking extremely heavily”. The defendant saw the disorder on the streets and he joined it, Smith said.
Tamsyn Cerr, 21, the mother of a one-year-old child whose birthday was on Monday, was accused of passing a paving slab, or roof tile, to someone who then allegedly threw it at police.
Cerr offered no plea. The judge remanded both defendants in custody until a crown court appearance on 2 September.
At Sheffield magistrates court, Curtis Coulson, 30, sobbed as he denied affray during disorder in the city at the weekend.
The alleged offence relates to an incident outside Sheffield City Hall on Sunday, in which he is said to have waved a stick at a woman in a threatening manner.
Coulson, of Sheffield, was refused bail and will go on trial at the same court on 20 September.
At South Tyneside magistrates court in South Shields, five local men aged between 27 and 48 and a local woman, 43, appeared on charges of violent disorder at Thursday’s unrest in Sunderland.
Josh Kellett, 29, of Washington in Tyne and Wear, admitted violent disorder and the court heard he was seen in footage throwing a stone towards police officers while part of a large group.
He was wearing a balaclava but was identified by his “distinctive tattoos”, the court heard.
Leanne Hodgson, 43, of Sunderland, pleaded guilty after being seen in footage pushing a large bin towards a police line. She had been out drinking and became involved in the disorder when the pub closed, the court heard.
The district judge Zoe Passfield told her: “This was large-scale mob violence which resulted in fear to the public and damage to local businesses. There is absolutely no justification for it. You chose to involve yourself in it.”
All were remanded in custody until 2 September.
The youngest defendant on Monday was a 14-year-old boy who admitted violent disorder during rioting in Liverpool on Saturday.
Liverpool magistrates court, sitting as a youth court, heard he was part of a group of young people setting off fireworks that exploded underneath a police carrier.
He was released on bail until 27 August, when he will be sentenced.
The oldest defendant was William Morgan, 69, who pleaded guilty at Liverpool magistrates court to violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
The court heard he was in a crowd throwing bricks towards police officers and had a wooden baton with him. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the crown court on 29 August.
In total, 11 people appeared at Liverpool magistrates court in connection with recent disorder.
At Manchester magistrates court, three men appeared in connection with violence in Bolton.
In Bristol, two men were bailed to appear before the city’s magistrates court on 5 September.
Adrian Croft, 45, of Holywell, Flintshire in Wales, was charged with a section 4 public order offence and possession of a class A drug. Damien Williams, 39, of Knowle in Bristol, was charged with a section 4 public order offence.
