Rioter who punched Good Samaritan and threw fireworks finally jailed

A man who punched a Good Samaritan and threw fireworks during the 2024 riots in Stoke-on-Trent has finally been jailed.

Mohammad Ammar caused trouble across Hanley between 12.25pm to around 5pm on August 3, 2024.

While wearing a a balaclava and bucket hat, Ammar chucked fireworks and rocks as chaos broke out across the city centre.

Now, the 23-year-old of Havelock Place, Shelton has been jailed for 28 months, reports Stoke-on-TrentLive.

Matthew Ness, prosecuting, told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court: "The defendant is seen on CCTV at the front of the counter-protest group who were approaching the main group of protesters on Trinity Street.

"They later moved out to Town Road where there were serious outbreaks outside the Salahuddin Mosque car park around 1.45pm. He seemed to launch a firework at protesters towards the police line.

"Bricks and rubble were also thrown which was caught on drone footage in Mayer Street. Around 2pm he’s seen in Potteries Way with a large brick in his hand which he launched in the direction of protesters and police officers.

"Around 3.20pm the group gathered in Town Road and ran at the opposing protest group An older male in that protest group was hit in the head by a projectile and received a serious injury.

"The defendant punched one of the people who were assisting with the injured man on the floor, and he chased another individual out of shot whilst others from his group attacked other members of the protest group."

In mitigation,Matthew Wyatt told the court: "Mr Ammar expresses his deepest remorse.

"He has watched the CCTV footage multiple times and is truly ashamed. In the 21 months since the offending a lot has changed.

"He was 21 years old at the time of the offending and immaturity played its part.”

Ammar admitted to violent disorder at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

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Judge Richard McConaghy said: "You wore a face covering. You were seen with a firework which was lit and thrown and you were caught on footage throwing multiple missiles towards the opposing group, but that meant towards the police line and on at least two occasions, across the main road with traffic on it.

"You were pleased with what you were doing, you raised your hands in the air and were condoning the group.

"You ran through the centre of the shopping area, and you stood and watched a man be attacked and then ran from it without stopping to help him. In your search for violence you ran around the streets and ran out in front of cars.

"At one moment you were in the area where a man was attacked with a brick and had a bleed to the brain, and your reaction was to attack one of those assisting that seriously injured man on the ground."

The judge continued: "Later on you were seen at the police line with your face covering off and lied to officers saying you needed to get past them.

"Yours was persistent violence, I’m yet to see a case of somebody who acted as poorly as you did during that day.

"This was a detrimental impact on the community and there was a serious level of distress and disruption caused.

"There is no realistic remorse from you, you should be ashamed."