London

Authorities in the United Kingdom have charged the first adult with rioting in connection with the recent nationwide anti-immigration protests which turned violent. Crown Prosecution Service said 32-year-old Kieran Usher wouldn’t be the only individual to be charged with the crime that carries a maximum of 10 years in jail, double that of violent disorder.

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Earlier on Friday (Aug 16), the Hull Crown Court sentenced two men to jail for “racist violence”. A 25-year-old named John Honey was jailed for four years and eight months after pleading guilty to violent disorder, committing racially aggravated criminal damage during an incident involving a BMW, as well as damaging nine other cars.

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48-year-old David Wilkinson was sentenced to six years in prison on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder, racially aggravated criminal damage and attempted arson.

Before that, two men and a woman were jailed for violent disorder at a protest in Plymouth on August 5. Kerry Gove, 34, Andrew Ball, 49, and Grant Braidwood, 40 had also pleaded guilty to the charge earlier.

A man named Roger Haywood was sentenced to 30 months in prison for causing disorder in Blackpool, England. According to the judge presiding over his case, Haywood led an "angry" mob through the seaside town in Lancashire - throwing missiles at police officers and injuring a security guard at a shopping centre.

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As per data from the Ministry of Justice, around 460 people have been detained for causing violent disorder, and at least 99 of them have already been sentenced. 

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According to the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), the violent unrest that erupted after the Southport attack and spread throughout the nation left 277 police officers wounded.

Some officers had to be hospitalised as they sustained serious injuries like fractures and broken bones.

"Officers do not go to work to be assaulted or attacked and it is completely unacceptable,” said one spokesperson.

“Such events have a very real impact on our workforce in terms of wellbeing and psychological damage, and we know that significant issues related to PTSD can come years later,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)