Sentencing for rioter who looted Lush while wearing England top delayed over claims he offered officer his autograph

13 August 2024, 18:30 | Updated: 13 August 2024, 20:57

The sentencing for a man filmed looting shops while wearing an England flag top during riots in Hull has been delayed over claims he asked a probation officer “if he wanted his autograph”.

John Honey, 25, took to Hull city centre on August 3 before looting Lush, the O2 store and Shoezone.

He pleaded guilty to all three counts of burglary and the racially aggravated criminal damage of a BMW and nine other cars.

The 25-year-old "played a prominent role" in the 12 hours of violence and unrest that gripped the city, prosecutors said.

Judge John Thackray KC, the Recorder of Hull, revealed he had received a letter from a member of staff at HMP Hull claiming they were conducting an assessment with Honey and that he had asked "if I wanted his autograph as he is famous and is all over social media".

The letter claimed he was an "over-confident individual" who "presented with no remorse".

The case was adjourned until Friday for further statements to be taken.

Hull was the scene of mass unrest as far-right riots erupted in the wake of the killing of three young girls in Southport.

At least 33 people were arrested during a violent riot that saw a number of shops and a hotel targeted.

11 officers were injured in the riots, Humberside Police said. In a recent update, police called on anyone with information regarding the riots to come forward.

An update read: “A further seven people have been charged with offences relating to the disorder in Hull City Centre on Saturday 3 August.

“We continue to appeal to anyone who has any information, dashcam, or mobile footage relating to any of the disorder, to please call us on 101 quoting Operation Executive.

“Information can also be passed directly to the investigation team and will be dealt with in the strictest confidence through the Major Incident Public Portal.”

This comes as a 13-year-old girl has been convicted for threatening unlawful violence outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Aldershot during the disorder sparked by the Southport murders.

The youth pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Tuesday following a protest outside Potters International Hotel on July 31.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted threatening unlawful violence that would cause a person to fear for his or her personal safety while with three or more other people in the Hampshire town.

The girl, who sat with her parents throughout the short hearing, will be sentenced on 30 September at the same court.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said she was seen punching and kicking the entrance to the hotel.

Thomas Power, a senior crown prosecutor, said: "This alarming incident will have caused genuine fear amongst people who were being targeted by these thugs - and it is particularly distressing to learn that such a young girl participated in this violent disorder.

"Large scale public unrest is never acceptable and the Crown Prosecution Service will not hesitate to respond swiftly and robustly to uphold law and order."