Mosques welcome UK’s swift justice against rioters as courts impose jail terms

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office says Britain still on high alert

Stacey Vint, 34, left, has been jailed for 20 months for her involvement in riots in Middlesbrough. Right: A car burns after it was set alight by the far-right during a demonstration in the town. PA

After a week of fear following riots outside his mosque, Najabat Ramzan breathed a sigh of relief on Monday as those responsible were locked up.

Hundreds of people had clashed with police as they tried to attack the Jamia Masjid Al Madinah mosque in Middlesbrough during the riots, when the faithful joined forces with the police to protect it from attack.

Those responsible for the violence are among more than 700 people who have been arrested across the UK and, on Monday, they began to appear before the courts to face heavy sentences for their roles in the riots when mosques and hostels for asylum seeker were attacked.

Mr Ramzan told The National they were really pleased the police and courts were taking action against the perpetrators so quickly.

“We still have security and a police presence in the area around the mosque and we've told the police we are really happy with what is happening,” he said.

“We are really pleased with the way the government is dealing with the rioters and we are seeing them being brought before the courts so quickly, so it sends a message that this will not be tolerated.

“Since the incidents last week, we have had a quiet and peaceful weekend and we are hoping everything is going back to normal.”

Mr Ramzan has spoken about how rioters attacked the mosque last Sunday and said it had endured isolated attacks last week.

On Monday, Thomas Rogers, 22, was jailed for 26 months for throwing rocks at police officers who were protecting the Middlesbrough mosque. He was seen on CCTV celebrating after hitting an officer.

In another case, Stacey Vint, 34, was jailed for 20 months after she was filmed throwing a wheelie bin at police officers near the mosque before she fell over.

Judge Francis Laird KC told her the impact on the community will take “a long time to repair”.

“Many homes, cars and business premises suffered considerable damage,” he said.

“Residents, many who have lived in their homes for decades, expressed fear at going out of their own homes into the streets.”

Rioter Cole Stewart, 18, was given 18 months' detention in a young offenders’ institution after he joined a 30-strong mob outside a mosque in Darlington, 25km away, and threw a rock which hit a police officer.

Teesside Crown Court heard the group were chanting racist and far-right slogans.

Police had formed a line separating the protesters from a group of about 60 Asian men who had gathered outside the mosque to protect it when they were attacked.

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers.

“You chose to take part in an organised act of public disorder, indeed you were at the forefront of it,” Mr Laird said.

“Your offence was racially-aggravated. The purpose was to cause trouble outside a mosque. You threw missiles.”

Courts across England and Northern Ireland began sentencing offenders on Monday, and a 12-year-old became the youngest convicted over the disorder after he participated in two riots in Manchester where he attacked a hostel and a bus he believed was carrying asylum seekers.

Also in Greater Manchester, a 16-year-old admitted throwing an object towards mounted police during disorder in Bolton, Lancashire.

Video showed him holding up the shutters of a convenience store while others looted it.

In a statement read to the court, the shop owner said he believed he was targeted because of racism.

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was “a very serious matter”.

Dylan Carey, 26, was jailed for 18 months for repeatedly kicking a police van and hurling a bottle and a tin of paint at the vehicle as police formed a barrier to protect Southport's mosque from being attacked.

He had earlier attended a vigil in the town in memory of three young girls who were stabbed to death while attending a Taylor Swift dance class.

Reports falsely identifying their attacker as a Muslim asylum seeker triggered the unrest across the UK, which has been blamed on the far-right.

“You were an active and persistent participant,” said Judge Dennis Watson KC.

“Those who choose to take part in mob violence can expect to receive significant sentences. The violence which was directed at the mosque and its community was racially aggravated.

“Violence was also directed at the police who were performing a difficult and dangerous task.”

In Belfast, the first person appeared in court charged with possessing far-right material.

Officers allegedly found an Ulster Volunteer Force flag, badges and picture, a Loyalist Volunteer Force flag, an Ulster Freedom Fighters snood, two Britain First hats and a key tag, and a British National Party DVD at his home along with 100 copies of an unnamed publication which made references to the UK’s “immigration crisis”.

Damage caused by riots in the UK – in pictures

Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised fast-track arrests and even raised the possibility of night courts to make sure that rioters and people inciting violence online would face the “full force of the law”.

On Monday, his representative said: “We welcome that there has been a de-escalation this weekend. But we're certainly not complacent and remain on high alert.

“We also recognise that the job is not done until people feel safe in their communities, but thanks to the work of our police officers, prosecutors and judiciary, we have seen a swift response from the justice system,” she added.

“Within a matter of days, we've seen criminals involved arrested, charged, sentenced and behind bars.”

Officials blamed the violence on far-right agitators and opportunists accused of using the tragedy to further their anti-immigration, anti-Muslim agenda.