Yahoo News Dad misses Stoke City game to hurl missiles near Hanley mosque - now he's jailed
Dad Dominic Cartwright hurled missiles towards a mosque and was up for a fight at the 'forefront' of the Hanley riots. The 34-year-old says he had only gone to Hanley after finishing his night shift to have a drink in Wetherspoons and watch Stoke City.
But he instead endured the 'worst day of his life' after becoming caught up in the August 3 riots. Now Cartwright, of Shawport Avenue, Bradwell, has been jailed for 28 months after admitting violent disorder.
Fiona Cortese, prosecuting, said: "On the video footage he shouts and eggs on the other side of the protest to have a fight. He is present when the crowd shouts ‘You’re all protecting nonces’. There were a number of people sitting in the road obstructing vehicles and Mr Cartwright was one of them. Some footage shows Mr Cartwright in the area of the mosque and he is seen to be throwing missiles. He picks up and throws something from the road and throws another item as he walks off with other protesters and is then ushered away from that area. He is captured on other footage causing issues for police. When a protester pushed back Mr Cartwright demonstrated and goaded for a fight.”
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Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Cartwright has 34 offences on his criminal record. But he had never been behind bars - until now.
Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said: “Mr Cartwright is disgusted, ashamed, and embarrassed by his offences on August 3. This has been the worst experience of his life.
“He has spent time in custody wisely and he has received an enhanced status eminently. There are letters from his mum, his son, his ex-partner who is the mother of his child, his friends, his little brother, his sisters, an offer of employment, and from his landlord. The fact they have all put pen to paper shows high regard for Mr Cartwright.
“On August 3 Mr Cartwright had finished working a night shift, so he went to Wetherspoons in Hanley to meet friends. The plan was to watch the Stoke City match but he was told by a police liaison officer that something was happening in Hanley so he decided to stay around.
"He accepts he was highly intoxicated and knows this is an aggravating feature, but the reason for his drinking was because in March he lost his grandmother and after years assisting his grandmother he couldn't cope with that because he was not there when she passed away and he carries guilt. He is having bereavement therapy and has been drinking as a result of this.
“On the day in question Mr Cartwright really didn't want to be on this earth anymore, and he was so drunk he didn't know what he was doing. His position now whilst in custody is completely different; he’s sober, he is engaging with prison authorities offering programmes, and he is going to apply to a different prison because Dovegate doesn't offer the courses he’d like to do, such as construction work.
“He is adamant that on his release he will never trouble the justice system again. He has shown he can be a law-abiding member of society and he will continue to do so, and he will continue being a good father to his son, and a good son to his parents.”
Judge Graeme Smith accepted Cartwright 'has shown remorse'.
He added: "This has had a significant impact on your family, you have taken positive steps in custody, and you had grief for your grandmother. I sentence you to 28 months imprisonment.”
