Dad who lost job in Covid and turned to monkey dust jailed for Hanley riots

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Dad-of-four James Watkins has 'lost everything again' - after fighting back from losing his job in Covid, becoming addicted to monkey dust, and ending up on the streets. The 35-year-old has been drug-free for more than a year.

But he is now behind bars after being a 'continuous presence' at the August 3 Hanley riots. He was verbally abusive, gesturing, and wielded a bottle after being struck by a police shield.

Now Watkins, of Sherwin Road, Stanfield, has been jailed for three years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after admitting a charge of violent disorder.

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Prosecutor Dylan Wagg said: "He shouted ‘come on then’ to try to raise more angst. He pulled out a half empty VK glass bottle from his bag and said to someone else ‘get a lighter out of your bag’, and there was a fear he may have used it as a missile towards officers. He also said to an officer ‘you hit me again, I’m hitting you with' [the bottle].”

The court heard Watkins had been drinking in Hanley when the riots broke out.

Jason Holt, mitigating, said: "He says he holds no right-wing beliefs but he accepts that, through curiosity, he got involved and deeply regrets following the protesters. His outburst, where he takes out the bottle, was in response to being hit with a shield. He was under the influence of alcohol. He overreacted and he is quite ashamed, and ashamed for good reason.

“He is proud of the fact he has been able to sort himself out and now he is in a position where he could lose everything again. Feelings were high because of things that had been seen and said in the media, and everyone wanted to have their say, and this simply wasn’t the way to go about it.”

Judge Sally Hancox was handed letters which provided a more positive side to Watkins' character.

She said: "It is my sincere hope that this is the James Watkins that emerges from prison in the future.”

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