Hull rioter jailed after handing himself in to police

A man who took part in scenes of "mass stupidity" during disturbances in Hull city centre in August got carried away with a "group mentality" and has now been jailed.

Father-of-three Leon Armstrong was later shown a social media post about the police trying to find more of the people who took part in the "12 hours of mob violence" and he handed himself in the next day, Hull Crown Court heard.

Armstrong, 33, of Holderness Road, east Hull, admitted violent disorder on August 3.

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The court heard that Armstrong was present in several places when disturbances broke out in Hull city centre, including in Ferensway, where there was a police line outside the Royal Hotel to protect asylum seekers being housed there.

He was also in Queen Victoria Square and Jameson Street, where a group lunged forward towards police and he encouraged another person to grab the shields of officers.

Armstrong played a leading role in the trouble and his behaviour was motivated by racial hostility, the court heard.

He had a long history of crime, including offences of wounding, assault causing actual bodily harm, assault, possessing weapons, threatening behaviour, criminal damage, harassment, racially aggravated disorder and possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said it was a serious incident but Armstrong cooperated with the police investigation and handed himself in.

"A post was put on a social media site showing further people that the police wanted to find," said Mr Robinson. "A friend pointed out that he was on that and, the very next day, he handed himself in at the police station and he made admissions during interview.

"His apologies and expression of regret are genuine because he handed himself in. There was cooperation and there were expressions of regret.

"Little useful can be said about why he was there. He went to attend a protest. It didn't turn out to be what he thought it would be but, rather than leave, he got caught up in a group mentality."

Armstrong was most recently before a court in 2022 and he had got himself a job, training as a dock worker and gaining qualifications. "He has been doing that for two years and it gave him a purpose," said Mr Robinson. "He had just started to sort himself out.

"He enjoyed the work. He has lost that job, of course. It is sad that, when he has managed to sort himself out, he got involved in this mass stupidity. He has paid a penalty already.

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"He accepts that there will be further punishment to come in terms of the sentence to be imposed. He was not one of the more heavily involved individuals."

Judge John Thackray KC told Armstrong: "Your offending formed part of 12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence. During those 12 hours of mob violence, immeasurable harm was caused to this city and to people. Huge financial costs were caused to the city and to businesses."

There was "utterly deplorable public disorder" involving huge numbers of people, racist chanting and determined attacks upon the police.

"You were close by when missiles were being thrown at police officers who were there to protect asylum seekers," said Judge Thackray. "Your history of previous convictions goes back many years, with relevant offences of violence and damage."

Armstrong, who was already in custody on remand, was jailed for two years and eight months.