Judge gives blistering rebuke to disorderly pair

ANOTHER TWO RIOTERS JAILED

- CARL EVE

TWO more men who took part in the violent disorder in Plymouth city centre last week have all been jailed, with the sentencing Judge rounding on one of them claiming they were in no position to determine “who should or should not be in this country” having cost the public purse over the years.

John Cann, aged 51 of Patna Place, Plymouth and Ryan Bailey, aged 41 of no fixed abode, Plymouth, both pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday and appeared at Plymouth Crown Court on Tuesday where they heard their fate.

Cann and Bailey were first to appear to be sentenced, and prosecutor Lewis Aldous noted how Cann had been seen on police video footage on his mobility bike on the north side of Royal Parade, first bending down and picking up an item and throwing it at the counter-protesters. He was then shown later picking up firework and hurling it just before it went off. He told police during his interview following his arrest that he went into the city with a friend to view the protest, thinking it would “kick off because an immigrant had killed some girls”.

He insisted he held no animosity towards police and that his own nephew was an officer. He confirmed he was on medication, but had also been smoking cannabis. He told police he was not a racist and that he did light the firework with a cigarette he was smoking.

The court was told he had 26 convictions for 170 offences.

Mr Aldous said Bailey had been caught on camera picking up a can and throwing it with the contents spilling out and was heard shouting along with the chants of “refugees not welcome here”. During police interview he initially denied the offence, but later admitted hurling the can, saying that somebody had thrown it at him first.