A rioter’s actions in Hartlepool and Sunderland sparked outrage, leading to a six-year prison sentence for violent disorder and riot participation.
Hartlepool: A guy named Ashley Wilkinson caused a real ruckus in two towns. He got caught up in riots in Hartlepool and then Sunderland, all within just three days.
Wilkinson, 35, was seen on video wearing a mask and throwing stuff at the police. He even had a St George’s flag with him, which a judge said he disgraced.
In court, it came out that he blamed his actions on “misinformation” from right-wing media. He said he got sucked into it while dealing with his mental health issues.
Things kicked off on July 31 when social media posts stirred up protests against asylum seekers in Hartlepool. By nightfall, it turned violent, and Wilkinson was right in the thick of it.
He was filmed charging at police and throwing heavy objects. The chaos continued in Sunderland, where he was part of a large group causing mayhem.
Wilkinson was arrested later with some odd items, but no charges were filed for those. He had a long criminal record and eventually admitted to his role in the riots.
He got a six-year sentence for his actions. The judge told him he brought shame to both towns and the flag he carried.
While in custody, he met with an Imam and expressed regret. His lawyer mentioned that he realized he had been misled by extremist views online.
The judge noted that Wilkinson had shown genuine remorse and struggled with mental health issues, worsened by cannabis use and online radicalization.