Man Is Charged and Man and Woman Are Arrested for Trying to Stir up Hatred With Snapchat and Facebook Posts

A man has been charged with trying to stir up racial hatred on Facebook during the riots, as dozens more face court today after a week of violence.

Jordan Parlour, 28, is accused of using threatening words or behaviour over a series of posts between Thursday and yesterday, and will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court today.

Two further people – a 32-year-old man and 34-year-old woman – have also been arrested by Cheshire Police accused of racially aggravated harassment with intent to cause fear and violence.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper yesterday hit out at ‘armchair thugs’ such as Tommy Robinson, who have been fanning the flames of tension on social media.

Far-right thugs are now plotting attacks on immigration lawyers, with a list of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies shared on a Telegram group with more than 14,000 alongside a call to attack them at a specific time tomorrow night.

Nearly fifty suspects are due to appear in court today charged with offences including violent disorder.

Six people are due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court following on Sunday outside a hotel housing migrants in Rotherham, which a mob tried to set alight.

Lee Crisp, 42, of Grimethorpe, Christopher Rodgers, 38, of Barnsley, and Liam Grey, 20, of Mexborough, have been charged with violent disorder alongside two teenagers who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Joshua Simpson, 26, of Lincoln, today became the first person to be convicted following the rioting in Rotherham after he admitted assaulting a police officer.

Cleveland Police said a total of 28 people are due to appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court charged with violent disorder and other offences following violence in Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Merseyside Police said Dylan Carey, 26, of Hindley, Greater Manchester, is listed to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court charged with violent disorder following violence in Southport last Tuesday.

The force said a 15-year-old boy from Liverpool is due to appear at the same court accused of violent disorder following further violence in the city centre on Saturday.

Elsewhere, eight people have been charged in connection with disturbances that broke out during protests in Nottingham city centre.

Nottinghamshire Police arrested 15 people at a protest in the city’s Old Market Square on Saturday, with one woman and seven men aged between 18 and 46 now charged with a variety of crimes, including public order, weapon offences and assaulting an emergency worker.

Another man, Ashley Harris, 36, of Kingswood, is due in court in Bristol charged in connection with violent disorder in the city centre on Saturday, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Meanwhile, three men from Blackpool have pleaded guilty to their part in violence across Lancashire on Saturday – including assaulting emergency workers and possession of a metal pole as an offensive weapon.

A spokeswoman for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said Roger Haywood, 41, Tyla Chalmers-Millington, 18, and Ben Smith, 32, admitted their part in the disorder at Preston Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The two people arrested by Cheshire Police were held over a Snapchat message allegedly encouraging members of the public to protest outside a hotel on Sunday, falsely claiming it was home to a number of asylum seekers.

They have been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

Chief Superintendent Jonathan Betts said: ‘As these arrests demonstrate, inciting violence online will not be tolerated in Cheshire and we will take robust action against all those involved in such activity.

‘These messages have been posted in order to cause hate and disorder in our communities. Anyone who is found to be encouraging such offences, be that online or in person, will be dealt with.’

{snip}