Michael McDougall was convicted of blasting popular Tipu Sultan to death from point-blank range with a sawn-off shotgun at his shop in South Shields

Gunned down Tipu Sultan’s murderer must serve at least 34 years behind bars after a jury convicted him of killing the popular takeaway boss.

Michael McDougall blasted the 32-year-old dad-of-two in the neck from point-blank range with a sawn-off shotgun at his shop in South Shields, in front of his dad.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday found McDougall guilty of murder, while co-accused Michael Mullen was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

McDougall was jailed for life with a minimum of 34 years, while Mullen was locked up for 12 years.

McDougall, 47, was told by trial judge Mrs Justice Thirwall to stop shaking his head at the jury after they convicted him.

And after finding out he will be an old man before he has any chance of freedom, the remorseless killer asked the judge: “Can you not suspend mine for 12 months please?”

Sentencing him, Mrs Justice Thirlwall said: “In early April last year you got hold of a sawn-off shotgun and you were going to use it to kill a man.

“What reason you had for that, I don’t know, I doubt you will ever say. You planned the killing and recruited Mullen as your getaway driver.

“The killing took place at 10pm. Very young teenagers were out playing, a lot on their bikes, playing team tig. Some were scarcely feet away.

“What they witnessed will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

“He had no prospect of withstanding that lethal attack. He died at the scene. His father, who was standing close to his son when he was shot, witnessed his killing.

“No words can adequately describe the terror and horror he experienced.”

The judge said Mullen was recruited as getaway driver by older, more heavily convicted criminal, McDougall, for what he thought was a robbery and was unaware McDougall was armed with a shotgun.

The judge told Mullen: “You did not intend Tipu Sultan to be shot and killed or caused any serious injury and you believed you were assisting a violent criminal in the commission of a robbery.”

Tipu was cleaning at his Herbs and Spice shop in South Shields when his killer came to the back door one night last April.

No clear motive for the attack had been established but prosecutors said it had the hallmarks of a targeted killing.

Mahsum Sultan, Tipi’s brother, read a victim impact statement to the court on behalf of the family.

He said: “The violent way Tipu was taken away from us has changed our lives beyond recognition.

“Our family is now broken and the pain felt by his loss can’t be put into words.

“No children should ever lose their father at the age of seven and two years old.

“Tipu’s death has put a great emotional strain on our family.

“Our parents no longer sleep properly, Tipu is constantly on their minds.

“My father will never get over the trauma of his son being murdered in front of him but he carries on for the sake of his family.

“My family depended on Tipu for everything, my mother is now always anxious.

“Tipu was not only the provider for his family but the protector of his family and children.

“Tipu lived for his children and was a wonderful father. His daughter was his princess.

“Knowing Tipu will never see his children grow up is really hard to bear.”

McDougall, of Hylton Avenue, South Shields, was found guilty of murder and two counts of possessing a firearm with intent.

Mullen, 25, of Hawthorne Avenue, South Shields, was found not guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, not guilty of possessing a firearm with intent and not guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

After the case, Mahsum added in a statement on behalf of the family: “We will always remember Tipu as the wonderful father, son, brother and husband he was.

“We all talk about Tipu to his children every day and they will always know how much he loved them and cared for them. It brings us all some happiness to be around the children who have their father’s looks and personality.

“As a family, we would all like to thank all the witnesses that have come forward in this case, in particular the young witnesses who gave evidence. We know this must have been very difficult for you all but we are hugely grateful for your contribution to today’s verdict.

“We have been praying for justice and today we welcome the outcome. It brings a small amount of closure and peace of mind to help us move on with our lives.”

Det Ch Insp John Bent said: “We are pleased with today’s verdict. These men will behind bars for a very long time for the cold and brutal murder of a much loved member of the community.

“Our thoughts remain with Tipu’s family at this time. I hope that today’s verdict brings some justice to them however they have lost a much loved brother, son, husband and father and they have to live with that for the rest of their lives.”

Supt Sarah Pitt added: “The tragic death of Tipu Sultan had a significant impact for the people of Sunderland and South Shields and the Bangladeshi community here. We work closely with our communities to ensure their concerns and issues are listened to and action taken to help reassure our residents.

“I want to thank the Bangladeshi community in Sunderland and South Shields for their dignity and patience throughout this investigation and I hope today’s outcome helps bring some solace and closure for them.”
Newcastle Chronicle

Three people have admitted a religiously aggravated assault at a mosque in Totterdown.

Mark Bennett, 48, and his wife Alison Bennett, 46, both of Spruce Way in Patchway, appeared alongside Angelina Swailes, 31, of West Town Avenue, Brislington at Bristol Crown Court today.

They pleaded guilty to throwing Bacon sandwiches at elderly worshipers as they entered Jamia Mosque, in January.

A trial was supposed to begin today but the three defendants changed their plea last minute.

Kevin Shaun Crehan, 34, of Stockwood Crescent, Knowle has already pleaded guilty to the charges at Bristol Magistrates Court on February 17.

The trio were released on unconditional bail, ahead of being sentenced later this week.

Bristol Post

Midfielder Steven Kerr, 31, was arrested at a rally following clashes between pro and anti-refugee groups

Footballer Steven Kerr could face jail for hurling abuse at a refugee demo

Midfielder Steven Kerr was arrested following clashes between pro and anti-refugee groups in Monkton, Ayrshire.

The 31-year-old was detained at the rally on Sunday, November 15, the Daily Record reported .

Kerr, known as “Kerso”, has played for Ayrshire Junior sides Craigmark, Lugar, Ardrossan and Whitletts Victoria.

It came just hours after the Paris attacks which left 130 people dead and following Prime Minister David Cameron ’s pledge that Britain would receive 1000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees before Christmas.

Tempers flared in Monkton’s Main Street when members of the Scottish Defence League and pro-refugee demonstrators clashed over refugees being granted emergency accommodation at a local hotel.

Delivery driver Kerr – a member of the Ayr Protestant Boys’ Flute Band – was arrested and charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

He was due to go on trial at Ayr Sheriff Court this week but struck a deal with prosecutors which saw him admit to shouting a single racist remark during the incident.

Sheriff Carole Cunningham deferred sentence for reports.

Kerr will be back in the dock next month.

Daily Mirror

Mathew Burton, pictured outside Grimsby magistrates court.

A SELF-PROCLAIMED EDL member who racially abused two Grimsby shop workers and smashed in a window walked free from court – because his co-accused “had not faced the right charge”.

Mathew Burton, of Durban Road, Grimsby, pleaded guilty to racially abusing Kanaganayagan Thirumurugan and Kanaganayagam Thirukumaran at Today’s Local Store, in Victoria Street, on Wednesday, September 30, 2015.

He was also charged with causing £500 of criminal damage to the shop window.

Grimsby Magistrates’ Court heard that Burton racially abused and taunted the two victims.

The court heard the 27-year-old shouted racist abuse before saying “get out of the country. I am a member of the EDL.

“I will close your shop.”

CCTV footage from the shop was seized by police.

The complainant served Burton despite being abused and did not retaliate, Karen Tunicliffe, prosecuting, said.

Having left the shop after buying a packet of cigarettes, Burton then returned with Nathan Meadows, who was wearing a jumper with EDL on the back.

The pair started to become aggressive as they waited at the back of a queue, with Meadows shouting “I will brick your face and smash your face up”.

Meadows spat on the floor and then appeared to spit towards the man behind the counter, before pushing items off the counter, the court heard.

Meadows then threw and landed seven or eight punches.

They left the store and Meadows was seen to lash out at the window of a passing bus.

The two of them then caused the glass to shatter on the shop’s window.

Meadows, 27, of Convamore Road, was given a 12-month conditional discharge at an earlier hearing, having been charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.

Two other charges were dismissed after no evidence was offered.

Burton originally pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea before the case went to trial.

He carried out the offence while on bail for motoring offences, the prosecution said.

Mark McNeil, mitigating, said his client accepted what he did was unacceptable, adding that drink had impinged his decision making.

“He accepts he is easily led and often falls to peer pressure in a need to impress others,” he said.

He added: “I am not belittling the nature of the offence, but I am somewhat confused the co-accused was sentenced in the manner he was.

“One would say the co-accused was more culpable. He seems to be the main protagonist and yet he walked away with a conditional discharge.”

Deputy district judge Derek French described Burton’s behaviour as “absolutely despicable”.

“There is no way the charge against the co-accused was the right charge,” he added.

“If the co-accused did not go into custody then you shouldn’t either.

“You have been very fortunate today, you should have gone to prison.”

He was handed a six-month sentence, suspended for 12 months and was given 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the complainant, £500 to repair the window, an £80 victims’ surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Grimsby Telegraph

Soldiers targeted “naïve, trusting and innocent” pair during a drunken night out from Army camp at Sennybridge in the Brecon Beacons

John Ward, 19 and Jason Ferguson

Two soldiers who beat up a pair of disabled teenagers “for entertainment” have been jailed for at total of more than 15 years.

Jason Ferguson, 18, and John Ward, 19, targeted the vulnerable youngsters and taunted them with jibes of “spastic” and “mongol”.

Their two victims, a 16-year-old deaf boy with autism and his 18-year-old autistic friend, met the pair on a night out near their Army base and initially believed the soldiers were being friendly, a court heard.

But the “naïve, trusting and innocent” pair were lured into a dark alley and beaten up for fun.

Sue Ferrier, prosecuting, told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court: “What happened beggars belief.

“They were unlucky enough to cross the paths of these men who had been drinking all night and were heavily intoxicated.

“Their two victims were targeted. They were identified because of their particular vulnerabilities.

“They led sheltered lives. They were particularly naive. They did not appreciate they were being lined up with what was to follow – a brutal and sadistic attack.”

The soldiers were on a night out from their Army camp at Sennybridge in the Brecon Beacons when they saw the “vulnerable” pair walking home together.

A court heard they began targeting the pair for verbal abuse filming the insults on one of their phones. The court heard then soldiers then took one of their mobile phones to lead them into the alley.

The youngest boy of 16 was beaten and kicked unconscious by Ferguson as his friend was held back by Ward.

Miss Ferrier described it as a “shocking and sustained beating” which left him in a coma for three days.

Then his older autistic friend of 18 was then punched, kicked and hit with a terracotta pot from a nearby house.

But he managed to escape home to get help – leaving a trail of blood on the street as he fled.

The soldiers burned their clothing in woodland before heading back to camp after the attack in July of last year. Cowardly Ferguson hid under a truck when military police began looking for him.

One of the victims is deaf and the other is described as a “caring young man” who spends a lot of time indoors on his XBox and struggles to mix with people because he is autistic.

Ferguson, of Leyland, Lancashire, admitted two counts of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Jeremy Jenkins, defending, said he had had a wretched upbringing and had been abandoned by his drug addicted parents.

“On entry to the army at age 16 he seemed to have attained a degree of maturity,” he said.

Ward, of Oakley, Fife, admitted wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding.

John Ryan, defending, said had it not been for Ferguson he would not have done what he did.

He said: “He has brought shame on the Army and apologises for that.”

Ferguson was sentenced to eight years in a young offender institution for eight years and eight months and Ward for seven years at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.

Judge Daniel Williams told them: “You saw those boys as entertainment and you saw their differences as reason to torment and bully them and beat them unconscious.

“Ferguson asked if one was Down syndrome. He has Asperger’s and that was enough for him to be labelled as a mongol.

“Ward was complicit. You said that you could see a good fight between Ferguson and the spastic.

“With him unconscious he was no fun anymore so you turned your attention to his friend. It was a chilling and sadistic attack.

“There was gratuitous degradation. Miraculously, there was no long term physical injury.”

Daily Telegraph

HATE filled Nazi nut Michael Cowen strutted the streets as a tattooed hardman…

But today the Sunday Sun exposes him as nothing but a vile paedophile.

A worshipper of Hitler and the far right, the hulking 43-year-old strutted around as a henchman for extreme organisations.

His North home was a sickening shrine to the Nazis with displays of Swastikas, an SS flag and even a cannister of Zyklon B – the cyanide gas used to kill millions.

But behind this swaggering macho image hid his other horribly twisted obsession – a hateful passion for the abuse of little boys and girls.

For Cowen had a horrifying picture library of tens of thousands of indecent images of youngsters stored on his computers.

The secret stash of shame was discovered after he ordered extremist CDs by racist “Blood and Honour” rock groups.

Undercover officers intercepted them on their way to Cowen’s home in Losh Terrace, Walker in Newcastle’s East End.

The disks included bands with names like Ethnic Cleansing and Hate Crime, and featured tracks such as “Freezer Full of ****** Heads”, “Multicultural Take Over” and “Make Them Die Slowly”.

Also in the stash were CD sleeves, with pictures of human remains, beaten and battered bodies, and people who appeared to have been shot, as well as swastikas.

Accepting the delivery on December 7, 2009, Cowen asked the undercover officer about sending the packages on to Germany.

Shortly afterwards, police with a warrant searched his home and seized the CDs. They also found 11,000 MP3 tracks on his computer of similar songs, and the Nazi memorabilia.

But chillingly, they also uncovered thousands of child porn images on Cowen’s computer, hard drive, USB sticks and memory card, mainly of young boys.

The 17,058 pictures and 215 videos featured boys as young as six and included images classed as level five – the most serious level.

Investigations revealed during 2009, Cowen used filesharing software and a social network sites to contact other perverts and up and download images of children, including some he made himself.

Dubbing himself “Spaceapple” or “Derek” he offered to swap pictures and videos and discussed sinister fantasies including “snuffing out” boys – killing them in a sexual way and filming it.

He uploaded a total of 626 indecent images and seven videos.

In interviews with police, Cowen – who has a tattoo of the number 88, which represents the alphabet placing of HH for Heil Hitler – said he was a National Front member and enjoyed the music of white supremacist bands.

He described himself as a “white nation soldier” and said a friend in Germany had asked him to order the CDs, which he planned to send on.

At first he denied the child porn charges – even accusing one of his victims of downloading the images.

But he was caught out by one of the pictures, where he was visible as the photographer, reflected in a mirror.

At Newcastle Crown Court, Cowen admitted possessing racially inflammatory audio recordings and written material, 13 counts of making and four counts of possessing indecent images of children between November and December 2009, and 11 counts of distributing indecent images of children in April 2009.

Defending, Mark Saunders said Cowen was “socially isolated” and had been involved in the far right movement since he was at school.

Judge Paul Sloan QC told him: “You have a long involvement with extreme right-wing and neo Nazi groups. You have admitted acting as a henchman for a group.

“The racially inflammatory CDs and written material which were delivered to your home address are of a particularly vile and offensive nature.

“The indecent images were of young children aged six years old and up, and predominantly of boys. It is clear that some of the victims were being subjected to truly awful sexual abuse. These offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence is justified.”

Cowen was jailed for 12 months for the racist material and three years for the child porn charges, to run consecutively making a total of four years behind bars.

After the hearing Det Chief Insp Dave Anderson, said: “There is no place for such extreme views which spread hatred in our communities and we’ll continue to investigate and prosecute anyone involved in such activity in an effort to bring them to justice.”

And Det Sgt Chris Wilson, added: “During the execution of a search warrant at Cowen’s house computer equipment was seized and analysed which uncovered child pornography offences. He was subsequently charged with making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children after thousands of images and videos were recovered.

“Offending of this nature is taken very seriously and I’m pleased such a dangerous man as Cowen has been jailed for his crimes.”

NEIGHBOURS described Cowen as a loner who tended to keep himself to himself.

But they were shocked to discover what went on behind the closed curtains of his terraced home.

Meanwhile, relatives of the 43-year-old said they have totally disowned him because of the shame he has brought on their family.

“The police were here for about three days when they came to arrest him,” said Nicola Farrier-Carr, who lives just a few doors away from where the pervert lurked.

“At first people though it was for racism – he tried to play it down, he was being targeted. But then my sister was warned by social services to keep away from him, and we realised it was something much worse. I stopped letting my kids play anywhere out of my sight.”

The 24-year-old mum, who has a two-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, added: “We very rarely saw him – you might see him going to the shop or something but that was about it. He was quiet and kept to himself.”

Now, all that remains to hint at the sinister goings-on within Cowen’s modest end-of-terrace house is a solitary St George’s flag sticker in a window.

But the emotional impact will last much longer. Much of Cowen’s family has already disowned him.

“We are totally shocked and disgusted,” said one family member, who the Sunday Sun agreed not to name. “We had no idea what he was like, he lied to us all about it, and we all feel so angry.

“He has never apologised to anyone about what he did. Prison is the best place for him.”

Newcastle Chronicle

David Craig Burnie posted the image on Facebook as he was carted off by police

David Burnie takes a selfie in the back of a police car

A convicted knife attacker gloatingly took a selfie in the back of a police car as he was carted off by officers.

David Craig Burnie joked on Facebook about his latest brush with the law three years after being jailed for stabbing a man in the neck.

Burnie snapped a picture of police on the street before taking a selfie from inside the vehicle which he posted on Facebook.

He captioned the image saying “Ooooh sh*****t” and later responded to friends asking what had happened saying “No comment” – the Daily Post understands that he was not under arrest at the time.

North Wales Police refused to comment on the incident

Burnie has only recently been released from prison after being sentenced in 2013 for five and a half years after stabbing Wayne Reginald Hodrien in the neck.

His victim Wayne Reginald Hodrien suffered two tears to the jugular vein in the left side of his neck during the incident on Plas Madoc Estate at Acrefair, outside Wrexham, in August 2012.

The victim had to undergo surgery to the stab wound and the experience had left him suffering nightmares, sleepless nights, anxiety and he had lost his confidence.

Daily Post

Further details can be found here

A man stabbed to the neck received life-threatening injuries following scenes in a North Wales village which were today compared to television’s “Shameless” programme.

David Craig Burnie, was jailed for five and a half years.

A man stabbed to the neck received life-threatening injuries following scenes in a North Wales village which were today compared to television’s “Shameless” programme.

Victim Wayne Reginald Hodrien suffered two tears to the jugular vein in the left side of his neck.

The knifeman, David Craig Burnie, was today jailed for five and a half years.

He admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after an earlier charge of attempted murder was dropped.

Mold Crown Court heard that all parties were under the influence of something and it would never be known precisely what sparked off the violence on the Plas Madoc Estate at Acrefair outside Acrefair, one evening last August.

But following a confrontation at Alwen on the estate, Burnie, 23, went into his home, re-emerged with a knife, and later claimed it was to simply frighten off those who had gathered outside the house.

However, during a fight with Mr Hodrien, Burnie stabbed him to the neck.

In court, it was claimed by defending barrister Robert Parry-Jones that but for the seriousness of the injury the scene would fit into the Channel Four programme “Shameless”.

He said: “It was an appalling situation that occurred that day.”

Judge Niclas Parry told Burnie: “It could have been murder.”

The judge said that once again a person had taken a knife out onto the streets of North Wales to resolve a violent confrontation.

“Once again, a loss of life could have occurred in North Wales because of knife-crime,” he said.

Burnie, he said, had a knife when he was out of control of his senses because of drink.

There had already been a violent confrontation, the defendant did fear for his own personal safety but he could have remained in the house where he had retreated.

“But you chose to come out having collected a knife,” Judge Parry told him.

Outside the violence escalated, the knife was “inevitable used”.

“You used it to stab your victim in the neck. It was life threatening at the time.”

The defendant, he said, had previous convictions for an offensive weapon, two assaults and making a threat to kill.

The judge said that he accepted there was an element of provocation. The greatest mitigation was his guilty plea.

The court heard how the incident happened after the defendant and his girlfriend Claire Hiscock – who had since died – had been to register the birth of their baby.

They spent some time drinking in Wrexham and then returned on the bus to Acrefair.

It was a confused picture about what then took place but Wyn Lloyd Jones prosecuting, said that there appeared to be a number of people in the street, angry about various issues, who appeared drunk or under the influence of something.

The defendant had been involved in a confrontation, went into his house, got the knife, returned outside and was involved in a fight with Mr Hodrien. It was then that he lunged at him with the knife and stabbed him to the left side of his neck.

Mr Hodrien did not want to involve the police, initially said that he had fallen, he was taken to hospital where the wound was cleaned and he discharged himself against medical advice.

But police later returned him to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to the stab wound which involved two tears of the left jugular. The experience had left him suffering nightmares, sleepless nights, anxiety and he had lost confidence.

Burnie initially claimed that he had been defending himself but in his basis of plea said that at the time his belief was that he and his girlfriend were about to be attacked. He picked up the knife to frighten off those who came to his house, not to use it. But he accepted that the knife was used after blows were exchanged.

Robert Parry-Jones, defending, said: “We will never really know what happened.” Everyone was affected by something, whether drugs or alcohol.

Burnie did not go out looking for trouble, he did not start it, he did not go out to cause an injury. His perception was that those on the estate did not like him and did not like his girlfriend.

“She is now unfortunately deceased. She took her life. He is devastated about that,” Mr Parry-Jones said.

The defendant had made a serious attempt at his own life since the incident.

That night a group of people gathered outside his home and after what had occurred he knew it was not “for a cosy chat”.

The barrister said: “No one comes out of this with any credit at all. Burnie did not start it, he reacted, and he very much regrets the way that he did react.”

Daily Post

THIS drug-dealing family from hell who kidnapped and held a man hostage are today behind bars.

The Callisons brought fear to the streets peddling heroin and terrorising neighbours with their anti-social behaviour.

Now the grandmother, mother and two sons have been locked up for a total of more than 23 years for the kidnap and drugs offences.

They bundled their victim into a BMW, drove him to a friend’s to show off, stabbed him with a knife, and threatened him with a knuckleduster and sword.

Isaac Callison, 23, had already been charged with heroin dealing along with his gran, 63-year-old Billie Callison.

But when former associate Eddie Lowdon borrowed and subsequently damaged Isaac Callison’s car the family sunk to new depths and hatched a plot to get money from his parents.

Isaac, his brother Shane, their mother Tracy and a friend Alan Knowles bundled Mr Lowdon into a car, stabbed and beat him before ringing his parents demanding money as he begged for mercy.

Jailing them, Recorder Stubbs said: “This involved the brutal detention and beating and the use of him as a hostage to extract money from his parents. It must be every parents’ nightmare to receive a call trying to extort money from them while threats are made and they could hear their son crying for help in the background. No mercy was shown to him and these offences are so serious only custody can be justified.”

The kidnap of Mr Lowdon took place in February this year at a time when he had an association with the family.

Having returned Isaac Callison’s car damaged, the heroin dealer summoned his violent, steroid-fuelled brother, Shane, to mete out revenge.

Robin Patton, prosecuting at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “Fifteen to 20 minutes later Shane Callison, Tracy Callison and Alan Knowles arrived and said Isaac wanted payment.

“Shane Callison, who had brought a knuckleduster, punched Mr Lowdon in the face. He then took out a knife and stabbed him with it in the top of his right thigh, in the groin. He was then handcuffed by Shane Callison who continued to kick and punch him. He said he had taken two days of steroids and had not been training.

“Then Tracy Callison came in with a very long box. Shane Callison said it was a shotgun, saying it would kill an elephant and if he didn’t get the money he was going to get it.”

A BMW convertible then had a big bag draped over the back seat and Mr Lowdon was bundled into the car.

Shane Callison stopped off at a former girlfriend’s house to show off his hostage and pick up a sword, which he threatened Mr Lowdon with.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Lowdon said: “I was frightened I’m now scared to go out of the house. I keep getting flashbacks and fear for my children. I was threatened with my family being harmed, I thought I was dead.”

Isaac Callison and Billie Callison, both of Napier Road, Swalwell, Gateshead, both admitted possession with intent to supply heroin after £1,500 of the drug was found at their home last August. Isaac also admitted kidnap and was jailed for seven and a half years,

Billie Callison was jailed for 18 months for the drugs offence.

Shane Callison, 21, of Park Terrace, Swalwell, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to blackmail, kidnap and grievous bodily harm and was locked up for seven and a half years.

Tracy Callison, 44, of June Avenue, Winlaton, Gateshead, admitted kidnap and was jailed for four years.

Alan Knowles, 28, of Napier Road, Swalwell, Gateshead, admitted kidnap and blackmail and was jailed for three years.

Today residents living in Napier Road said they were delighted the culprits had been locked up.

Pensioner Patricia Kinghorn, 72, a grandmother-of-two, said: “It is very worrying to think that drug dealers were living in the street and I’m glad they have now been locked up.

“Police would often visit their house and we used to be concerned for the youngsters living in the area. I think most people here will be glad to see the back of them.”

Dad-of-two Mick Reckton, 61, added: “I think it’s great they’ve been locked up because they made people’s lives a misery and it was horrible having the Callison family live in the street.”

Newcastle Chronicle

ON the second anniversary of violent St George’s Day clashes which saw thugs bring Brighton to a standstill, The Argus can reveal some of the main perpetrators have been spared jail.

The March for England clashes cost an estimated £1 million in policing, and it has taken nearly two years for the participants to have their day in court.

But the Argus can reveal that that of the five men and two women who were convicted of violent disorder after trials at Hove Crown Court last month, all were handed suspended sentences.

More than 1,300 officers policed the far-right march, which culminated in shop fronts bring smashed and glasses and chairs hurled between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators in the city centre.

Policing the protest cost more than £500,000 while retired detective Graham Cox estimated at least as much again would have been spent since in court and police time, and questioned the sentences handed down.

He added: “Ultimately we do live in a free country and people should be allowed to demonstrate providing they don’t break the law.

“I don’t think you can put a price on free speech providing they are acting lawfully.

“So I don’t think banning marches is the correct approach and this is the price we have to pay for it.”

He added: “The [suspended] sentences seems on the lenient side to me.

“I know you cannot always send everyone to prison, but I suspect some of the people who have investigated might be a little bit disappointed with how much the courts have backed them up.”

The violence broke out outside the Dorset pub at the corner of Gardner Street and North Lane after the parade had ended on April 28, 2014.

A team of six officers spent three months studying CCTV to identify those involved in the violence, and detectives have travelled the country to make arrests.

Detective Superintendent Carwyn Hughes said: “This was terrifying for those people in the area and we ensured the resources necessary to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

“We will always prosecute where protests become an excuse for a fight.”

Organisers of the far-right March for England said they would not return to Brighton in 2015 and nothing has been announced for this year.

However, one group is organising an event at the Level to celebrate the lack of a March for England, while far-right group Pie and Mash Squad told The Argus it planned to come to the city but refused to say more to “lefty journalists”.

Police are laying on extra resources in case of trouble.

Brighton and Hove chief superintendent Nev Kemp said: “Should we become aware that any group wants to exercise their right to lawful protest, we will of course be happy to liaise with them and the local community to try and facilitate a peaceful protest.”

IT WAS SHOCKING AND WE FELT UNSAFE

THE trouble started almost as soon as the far-right demonstrators got off the train into Brighton on the morning of April 27 two years ago.

Police had taken few chances, moving the parade from the city centre to the seafront and putting 1,325 officers on duty along with horse and dogs.

But shouts of “scum” and worse filled the air as the far-right group of around 200, many swathed in St George’s cross flags, made its way down Queens Road, taunted by counter-demonstrators, many covering their faces with black scarves.

Punching the air and shouting back, the March for England group was tightly controlled by police as it moved on to the seafront with many of the shops around shuttered for the morning and the usual weekend pleasure-seekers out of sight.

Tension ratcheted up as the group went on to the seafront, with flares thrown by some of the hundreds of counter-demonstrators, police horses helping to keep the two sides separate – and bystanders filming the action on their phones.

Yet the parade on the seafront passed off without serious violence and it was only when the marchers started heading back towards the railway station that police had bigger worries.

Groups started filtering off into the city centre, ending up drinking at The Dorset pub in Gardner Street, where the burst of violence that led to two-week trials two years later kicked off.

Witness Alice Johnson had been having a coffee with a friend and remembered: “Some groups from the march were having a drink outside The Dorset and then a group of guys who had their hoods up came from the other direction towards them.

“There was a bit of a stand off and then they were sort of shouting at each other but no one was really taking the first step. I don’t remember who threw something first but they started throwing glasses at each other and then the guys outside the pub started throwing the outdoor furniture.

“Everyone got out of the way and we were behind a dumpster – we could not really get past.

“It was a bit shocking and interesting at first – and then we felt unsafe. People threw chairs and things that caused lots of damage and a few of the shopfronts were smashed. “It was quite shocking for a while.”

As well as the damage to surrounding shops, many traders complained of thousands of pound in lost revenue due to the disruption to the city.

Two police officers were assaulted as people blocked the road to the station along Queens Road and Surrey Street.

They were knocked to the floor and had items thrown at them.

In the years since, there has been a huge police effort to track down those involved in the fighting, with weeks spent sifting through CCTV and officers travelling up and down the country making arrests.

In August of that year a case heard in magistrates court against Richard Kemp, then 39, from Halifax in Yorkshire, was thrown out of court after officers gave different accounts of what he had been doing with a chair. Magistrates said there was no case to answer due to inconsistencies in the evidence.

In between there have been calls from some quarters to have the march banned, although in the end it was the organisers themselves who have so far not held the parade here again.

Many believe they picked Brighton in the first place partly due to the town’s “lefty” reputation and some suggest the shift from the Green council last year may have dampened that attraction.

Witness Ms Johnson said of the latest convictions: “I hope that maybe they have reconsidered their behaviour.”

14 IN COURT IN CONNECTION WITH DISORDER

Fourteen people appeared at Hove Crown Court in two trials charged with violent disorder.

On Wednesday, February 17, six of them were found guilty and on Tuesday, March 21, one more person was found guilty. Seven were found not guilty.

Craig Wells, 34, of Connell Drive, Brighton; Alan Titterton, 50, of Wordsworth Avenue, Sheffield; Lorna Marcham, 31, of Norwich Drive, Brighton; Andrew Gill, 42, of Sixhills Street, Grimsby; Graham Clark, 52, of Belgrave Road, Margate, Kent; and Scott Banks, 21, of Acacia Road, Doncaster, were all given a two-year suspended sentence.

Tracey Parsons, 50, of David Stoddart Gardens, Swindon, was given a one-year suspended sentence.

Gavin Pidwell, 30, of Glynde, Lewes; Michael Woodhouse, 49, of Baden Road, Brighton; Jack Woodhouse, 19, of Baden Road, Brighton; Gareth Cooper, 34, of Burton Avenue, Doncaster; Richard Walker, 47, of Hillside Lane, Henfield; Ian Crossland, 42, of Hollinsend Road, Sheffield; and Stephen Caudwell, 54, of Angleton Close, Sheffield, were all found not guilty.

Brighton Argus

One of Sutton’s most wanted violent offenders was arrested this week after an undercover crime blitz led the borough’s top cop.

Christopher Brett, of Carshalton Road, Sutton, was arrested after Borough Commander Guy Ferguson launched a massive undercover operation to “disrupt and catch criminals”.

Dozens of plain-clothed officers, from Sutton’s Wanted Offender Team, flooded the High Street on Tuesday searching for outstanding suspects.

One officer spotted Brett, who was oblivious to the police presence around him, casually walking through the High Street.

The surprised 29-year-old was arrested on the spot and was held in custody until he appeared at Sutton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

He was ordered to return on November 24 while probation reports were organised.

Borough Commander Guy Ferguson said: “This was a good result and criminals be warned: these impromptu operations will be repeated over the coming weeks and months.

“Sutton is a low crime borough and a safe borough and we are determined to keep it that way.”

Brett was wanted by police after he dodged a separate magistrates’ court hearing in September.

Despite being absent from court that day, he was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm to a 41-year-old man at a Carshalton party in May.

Supt Phil Willis, the officer leading Operation Holly, said: “The arrest of this wanted man was a good piece of police work and showed that officers have a good knowledge of outstanding suspects and are committed to catching offenders.”

The impromptu police operation coincided with the launch of Operation Holly to disrupt criminal activity and keep Sutton safe during the festive party season.

Sutton Guardian

Dave Russell. Rotherham 2014.

Far-right pirate radio jock David Russell has promised to stay off the airwaves.

The father-of-two – who has been a member of the English Defence League – was arrested after his illegal station Motive8 hi-jacked the 90.4 FM frequency.

A judge heard how the DJ was operating legally when he broadcast over the internet – but two years ago he started transmitting over the airwaves – breaching the Wireless Telegraphy Act.

Now Russell, 45, of Mickleburgh Hill, Herne Bay, has told Judge Heather Norton he only did it so one of his sons had “street cred”.

He appeared at Canterbury Crown Court without a lawyer and pleaded guilty to breaching the 2006 Act by illegally running Motive8 from his home at the time in Lawrence Gardens, Herne Bay.

Russell, a full-time carer known as Davey J and Boss Man, said: “I made a mistake and it won’t happen again.”

Prosecutor Warwick Tatford said that broadcasting without a licence was a criminal offence.

“Those who hijack FM frequencies, pirate radio stations, are interfering with transmission and reception of signals by properly regulated stations, which pay for their licences,” he said.

“It may also cause dangerous disruption to transmissions on which the emergency services rely.”

He said Russell had been running Motive8 for five years – mostly over the internet – but in August 2013 it began branding 90.4FM in its advertising.

Officers from Ofcom raided his home in Herne Bay in December 2014, where they discovered Russell had been broadcasting via an iPhone to a transmitter in the roof.

Russell, who has 11,000 Facebook followers, agreed that some of his equipment, including a mixer, a transmitter, an iPhone and two advertising fliers be confiscated.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge but was not made to pay any of Ofcom’s £11,159 investigation costs.

As he left the dock, the judge told him: “Internet only please, Mr Russell. Whether you agree with the law or not, it’s there and has to be obeyed.”

Russell replied: “Without doubt.”

After the raid Russell told his followers that 14 police officers and five Ofcom officials came to his house while he was in bed.

He added later: “This has all but wiped me out. It was overkill. This is not a big outfit, but it’s something we have to suffer. We are not earning money out of it.

“I might just get a slap on the wrist and get the kit back, most of which is my disabled son’s. But this has been an attempt to silence us.”

Kent Online

Darren Brindley sparked a mass brawl by headbutting an Everton fan and arming himself with a crutch at a pub near St James’ Park

A notorious hooligan has been jailed and banned from going anywhere near football matches after fighting with rival fans in a pub close to St James’ Park.

Darren Brindley headbutted an Everton fan then armed himself with a crutch as an ugly brawl blew up on Boxing Day.

A court heard the 44-year-old has a long list of previous convictions for violence and has been banned from attending sporting events in the past.

He went to the Black Bull, on Barrack Road, as Newcastle lost 1-0 to Everton on December 26.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he got into an altercation with an Everton fan who was in the pub having been kicked out of St James’ Park.

Brindley, who claimed he was called a “Geordie b******”, headbutted the man, sparking a fight with other fans of the Merseyside club.

The violence then spilled outside and Brindley armed himself with a crutch belonging to an Everton fan, which he swung around violently.

Now he has been jailed for more than two years after admitting affray and he was also given a six year football banning order.

Recorder Jo Kidd, at Newcastle Crown Court, told him: “The complainant approached you, extended an arm around your waist and your immediate reaction to that was disproportionate, aggressive and violent, for you immediately turned and launched into headbutting him, an act of extreme aggression.

“Thereafter and perhaps unsurprisingly the other people who were his friends then began to fight with you.

“At some point between being in the bar and getting on to the street you took a crutch from another man in the pub.

“You decided to go into a public street armed with that in a heightened state of aggression and then launch an attack with that item on the people outside.

“That behaviour was not you acting in self defence, it was wholly out of hand and unnecessary.

“It’s clear you were not content to stay in the doorway, you pursued a number of those men across the road, still holding the crutch and you were brandishing it about.

“Whatever part the other supporters played, that presented to members of the public a scene of out of control violence that would have been terrifying to anybody in that location.

“Members of the public are entitled to be able to attend football matches without having to come across such acts of aggression and public disorder.

“You caused the public concern and terror, it was a large scale public disturbance.

“Your list of previous convictions makes unhappy reading and demonstrates a long and extensive record of violence and public disorder, including public disorder within the context of sporting events.”

The court heard Brindley, of Bolingbroke Street, Heaton, Newcastle, went to the Black Bull around 7pm on Boxing Day.

He had already had around six pints and said he was there to meet his cousin.

As he passed one of the Everton fans, there was an exchange in which Brindley claims he was called a “Geordie b******”.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch said: “The man continued in conversation with the defendant and had his arm around Mr Brindley’s back.

“At that point the defendant instigates the violence by the use of a headbutt.

“There is then a fight and Mr Brindley fell back on to some benches and the complainant was thrown out of the pub.”

Brindley went outside to square up to the man then came back in.

Mr Bunch said: “He returned back to the premises and took a crutch belonging to one of the Everton fans and came out and was brandishing it about.

“There was a brawl and he was swinging the crutch.”

Police then arrived on the scene and found Brindley injured but he claimed he had fallen over and refused to go to hospital.

Mr Bunch said: “The defendant was identified from CCTV.

“He is well known to officers employed as spotters in the football disorder unit and he was recognised from the footage.”

When he was arrested a month later he said “You mean when I was assaulted”.

He told police he had been out drinking and said comments had been made to him by the Everton supporters which made him feel threatened.

Brindley, who has 71 previous convictions, admitted affray and was jailed for 26 months and was given the football banning order.

Geoff Smith, defending, said: “There was a football match going on but he was going to the Black Bull near St James’ Park to see his cousin.

“There was more than one violent person in that pub that evening.

“He didn’t go there to become involved in violence. Mr Brindley’s instructions are he entered the pub with the best will in the world to see family members and he was called a Geordie b****** by the complainant. He was being abused and felt threatened.

“He was waving the crutch around at a large number of men from the Merseyside area but it was used in a defensive manner and no-one suffered injury as a consequence.

“His record doesn’t relate to football violence for the last ten years.

“He has two children with his partner and the most difficult part of what has happened to him is being separated from his partner, children and grandchild.”

Newcastle Chronicle

A RIOTER charged with violent disorder during the January 30 Dover protests had to be removed from the dock when he started shouting messages to his blonde girlfriend.

Judge Adele Williams gave thug Aaron Buttress, 26, short shrift when he appeared in front of her at Canterbury Crown Court today.

Buttress ,of Clarendon Road, Dover, had already pleaded guilty and as his defence counsel Natasha Spreadborough rose to speak he started shouting to the public gallery.

Dressed in jeans and a polo shirt he decided to defy the court by saying: “Love you. Come and see me.”

When he was reprimanded by the judge he said: “How am I disrespecting the court?”

He then swore at her. At that point he was removed by two Gurkha security officers.

Also appearing today was Peter Atkinson from Liverpool who admitted grievous bodily harm with intent over a live link and Roy Price from London who admits violent conduct and having a weapon containing a noxious liquid. He also admits possession of cannabis.

Price was remanded in custody as was Buttress. They are among 31 people due to appear at the crown court.

All three cases will be heard on May 16.

Dover Express

Peter Atkinson will be sentenced later this month

A Wirral man arrested as trouble flared at an extremist rally has admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Peter Atkinson was one of 17 people questioned by police after violence erupted between right-wing and anti-fascist protesters on the south coast.

Last week the 46-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge of GBH in a hearing at Canterbury Crown Court .

Five people were injured when rival protesters clashed during the rally in Dover, organised by right wing protesters, on January 30.

Smoke bombs were let off and bricks hurled as hundreds of far right demonstrators were met by anti-fascist groups.

The protests are thought to have included demonstrators who had links to the North West Infidels – the right wing group that caused chaos on the steps of St George’s Hall earlier this year.

Seven people were arrested during the clashes, among them Atkinson, of Brunswick Mews in Birkenhead.

Last week a handful of those arrested by Kent Police over the demonstrations had their cases heard in Canterbury where Atkinson admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He will be sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court later this month.

Liverpool Echo

Kristopher Allan sent indecent messages and photos to the young girl, who he also had “sexual contact” with

Far-right thug Kristopher Allan was convicted of having sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl

A race hate thug who joined in vile chants branding Allah a paedophile at far-right marches has been revealed as a child sex fiend.

Kristopher Allan was part of the far-right group Scottish Defence League who shouted “f*** off refugees” and “Allah is a paedo” at a poorly-attended protest march in Edinburgh last October.

The Islamophobe last week admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards his ex at her Edinburgh home.

He was sentenced to a community payback order with two years’ supervision and a 30-month non-harassment order.

According to the Daily Record , he was also ordered to attend a programme for men who have abused their partners.

But now it has emerged that lowlife Allan has a conviction for sending indecent messages and photos and having sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl at his home 10 years ago.

Allan admitted the offence in 2007 and was given a two-year probation order and had his name added to the sex offenders’ register for the same period.

Allan at a recent SDL demo

Allan was caught covering his face at the march

He was banned from having any contact with under-16s and ordered to carry out offence-focused work to address his sexual offending.

A source said: “This guy goes to rallies to sound off about Muslim paedophiles. He’s a hypocrite.”

Though Allan, of Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, was wearing a Union flag mask and hood at the rally in October, he has been identified by a source by his distinctive arm tattoo.

Just three months later, he was arrested for causing fear or alarm to his partner by shouting and swearing and making threats of violence to a police officer.

A source said of his ex: “Her trust is shattered – she had no idea about his past. He has no shame.”

Allan could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

A neighbour said he had not been seen for weeks.

Daily Mirror

Alan Raine, 39, of Percival Street, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on April 9. He was fined £80 and was told to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30, compensation of £100 and costs of £85.

Sunderland Echo

Brendan Rycroft was caught with drugs after officers searched his home.

A man was caught hiding cannabis and cocaine in his kitchen cupboard after police came to search his house for drugs.

Brendan Rycroft was found in possession of the drugs after officers turned up at his home on St Francis Hall, Wilmslow.

He admitted that he was addicted to cannabis after they found a stash of the drug in his kitchen cupboard, as well as a bag of cocaine, magistrates were told.

The 35-year-old admitted possession of cocaine and cannabis at a hearing at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (March 12).

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, told the hearing: “Officers executed a search warrant under the misuse of drugs act at Mr Rycroft’s home address.

“A quantity of cannabis was found in a kitchen cupboard and a snap bag was found containing some white powder.

“Tests later revealed that it was cocaine.

“When asked he said that he bought the cocaine for £50 just for personal use.

“He told officers that he has a serious cannabis addiction and has used it for about 18 years, since he was 16.

“He said he suffers from anxiety and depression and a number of issues and that he no longer goes to doctors as when he does they make him seek counselling. Instead he self medicates using cannabis.

“He said that he is not a drug dealer he just smokes a hell of a lot of weed.”

Ruth Oakes, defending Rycroft, told magistrates that he had only been caught with a small amount of cocaine.

She said: “What the police found after searching the property was actually just dust in a small snap bag.

“He admitted that he is a heavy user of cannabis. He suffers from anxiety and depression and he self medicates with cannabis which he finds eases the symptoms. His last conviction was in March 2011 which was for an offence he committed in March 2010. It is about five years since he was last in court.”

Rycroft was fined £110 by the bench for the possession of cocaine offence, and £70 for possessing the cannabis.

He was also told that he must pay £85 costs to the court.

Macclesfield Express

South Yorkshire yobs have been fined for their behaviour on a train after a Britain First demonstration.

The men, all members of the self-named ‘South Yorkshire Casuals’ group, were fined at Barnsley Magistrates Court after they started chanting religiously offensive songs as they travelled between Leeds and Barnsley.

Dale Kelk, aged 33 of Woodhall Road, Darfield, Barnsley; Julian Jones, 42, of Ravenna Close, Kendray, Barnsley and Paul Collins, 35, of Lindsey Avenue, Parson Cross, Sheffield, were part of a larger group of men which had travelled from South Yorkshire intending to go to a Britain First demonstration in Dewsbury in January.

But the court heard that the group was intercepted at Leeds railway station by British Transport Police officers who were concerned about their behaviour.

They were advised against attending the demonstration and issued with dispersal notices banning them from the area .

The group was escorted back to South Yorkshire on a train by a number of British Transport Police officers.

The court heard the group began chanting and despite being asked by officers to quieten down, Kelk, Jones and Collins ‘persisted to display unacceptable behaviour’.

They were arrested as the train stopped at Barnsley station.

Kelk pleaded guilty to a public order offence and was fined £133 and ordered to pay £100 costs and a £20 victim surcharge

Jones and Collins both pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated public order, with Jones fined £120 and Collins £173.

Both were ordered to pay £300 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Inspector Granville Sellers, from British Transport Police, said: “The train was extremely busy and the behaviour of Kelk, Collins and Jones was very uncomfortable and distressing for the other passengers on board who should not have to be subjected to such abhorrent conduct.

“The policing of these demonstrations can be very challenging; however British Transport Police will not tolerate inappropriate and offensive behaviour or language on the rail network and we will always take positive action against anyone who demonstrates such unacceptable behaviour.”

Sheffield Star

Shaun Jones, who has a lengthy record of violence, was drunk and high on cocaine at the time. His defence said he was ‘frightened of custody’

A far-right thug bit off a man’s ear – after being confronted for gate-crashing an 18th birthday party buffet and helping himself to food.

Shaun Jones, 35, who has links to nationalist protest group ‘North West Infidels’, has been jailed for four years for the attack.

A Manchester Crown Court sentencing hearing was told he turned violent after he and his twin brother were told they couldn’t have any more sandwiches.

Trouble flared in the Royal Oak pub, at Barton Road, Eccles , after Shaun Jones’ twin, Daniel, went into a side room where food had been prepared for party guests.

After Daniel was spotted pinching food for himself and his brother, the host’s brother told them: “Touch those f***ing sandwiches again and I’ll smash your face in.”

The pair ignored him and went back and helped themselves to more nibbles.

A 62-year-old man, who was the event’s ‘official photographer’ then challenged Daniel, telling him: “It’s for a birthday, you shouldn’t be nicking the buffet.”

Daniel reported this to Shaun, who the court heard is the bigger of the pair and has a lengthy record for violence.

Drunk and high on cocaine, Shaun reacted by thumping the 62-year-old man in the head.

As the victim lay on the floor, Daniel punched him about the head and kicked him repeatedly in the backside.

When the victim got to his feet, still holding his pint, Shaun Jones gripped him in a bear hug and bit down on his right ear.

The attack left the victim’s ear ‘hanging by a thread’, prosecutor Rob Hall said.

At the time of the brutal assault, Shaun Jones was subject to a conditional discharge after shrieking racist abuse at locals at a protest against a mosque development in Bolton staged by North West Infidels.

He was also subject to a suspended sentence for beating his wife, was on bail for another offence of violence, and was due to appear at the magistrates three days afterwards.

Shaun Jones of Cromwell Road, Eccles, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the pub row at 9pm on May 30 last year.

His sentencing hearing was told his lengthy history of violence includes drunken and abusive offending, attacks on his wife, a police custody officer, and a pub landlord.

Bob Elias, defending, said Shaun Jones ran a successful removals business and was supported by his ‘long-suffering wife’ – with whom he enjoyed a holiday in Egypt shortly before being locked up.

“It was his brother filching food, he joins in stupidly”, Mr Elias added.

“He is frightened by what he did and the lack of control, his wife is frightened too, she knows how things can be when he’s drunk.

“He’s had an ultimatum from her, she is long-suffering, she has been abused by him in the past, but they are a couple and the most powerful influence over a rational human being is his partner.

“He’s not dangerous – he didn’t start this quarrel, he involved himself in his brother’s quarrel, and took matters into his own hands. He is in many ways a commendable hardworking man.

” He’s frightened of custody and the person he becomes when he’s drunk. It takes courage to realise you can be a Jekyll and Hyde character – that could cause the court to have a tincture of mercy.”

Daniel Jones, 35, of Anson Street, Eccles, admitted a public order offence for his part and was given a community order with unpaid work.

Defending the railway worker, who has previous convictions for drink driving and benefit fraud, Hunter Gray said: “His taking of the sandwich was not designed to be aggressive or provocative, it was only with the involvement of his brother who threw the first punch that the matter devolved into physical violence – but for that involvement it would have been no more than a scuffle at most.

“I suspect police would never have been involved at all had the matter ended there and then.”

The victim’s ear has since been repaired, although he suffers permanent scarring.

The court heard Shaun Jones breached his bail by using Facebook to apologise to the victim, who says his camera suffered £1000 of damage, but told court in a statement he had made peace with his attacker and did not wish to see him jailed.

Sending down Shaun Jones, Recorder Michael Duck QC said: “You were behaving on any interpretation in a pretty boorish fashion, you were seen to be taking food.

“(The victim) did his best to persuade you to try and desist. Anyone hearing the facts would be appalled – I’m told you have come to recognise the appalling havoc your use of alcohol has caused – this particular night was no exception.

“You know if you mix alcohol and cocaine you are potentially a very volatile man, you are physically a very big man, capable of causing considerable harm.”

Manchester Evening News