Dad-of-two Kallum Maddox has been jailed after he hurled missiles during the Hanley riots.
The 26-year-old was working in Hanley on the day of the unrest and saw people outside the town hall when he popped out for his morning break.
When he finished his shift at 1.30pm he went to the town centre to see what was happening. He was nearly struck by missiles so he picked up some and threw them back in retaliation.
He was not aware there was a mosque behind the counter-protesters and the prosecution accepted his actions were not racially motivated. But the judge said when the defendant did become involved he seemed to be enthusiastically involved, throwing a number of missiles and making obscene gestures.
Now Maddox has been jailed for 25 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. The violence erupted on August 3, 2024.
Prosecutor Bob Sastry said: “It began to turn violent. The police were attempting to keep the peace but were caught in the middle of the two groups. Missiles were thrown. Anything to hand was used as a missile. And the police line was charged. At 11.25am the defendant was outside the town hall. At 1.35pm he was running with others along Town Road towards the mosque car park.”
Maddox, of Macdonald Crescent, Meir, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. In his basis of plea, which was accepted by the crown prosecution service, he said he was at work from 9.30am to 1.30pm. On his break he became aware there was something going on in Hanley. He went to see what was going on. He saw people outside the town hall. He returned to work. After work he went to the town centre to see what was going on. He was nearly struck by missiles. He accepts he threw some in the direction of the other group in retaliation. He was not aware there was a mosque behind. At no times were his actions racially motivated.
Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Maddox is distraught as he is aware of the sentencing powers of the court and has seen the sentences handed down to others involved in the violent disorder.
Mr Muldoon said: “Him staying in Hanley town centre on that day is the worst mistake he could make in his life. Awaiting sentence has been difficult for him and his partner. He is at risk of receiving an immediate sentence of imprisonment. He knows the courts have passed deterrent sentences. He has not committed any further offences since. There has been that gap in time. His personal circumstances have changed somewhat since. He will comply with any order of the court that will allow him to keep his liberty. He is able to complete unpaid work.”
Judge Graeme Smith said: “In your case it has been said, and not challenged, there was no religious aggravation. You had not come to Hanley to get involved in any protest. You had come to work. You popped out at some point in the morning. It was only when you left work that you got involved.
“The footage does show you meeting up with others. I accept that was not prior arranged. But after you got involved you seemed to be enthusiastically involved. You threw a number of missiles. We do not know whether they hit anyone and you were making obscene gestures.”
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