Authorities in the United Kingdom have begun the trial of participants in the UK riots and some of them have been convicted, the BBC has reported.
The riot, which broke out last week after the fatal stabbing of three young girls at a dance class in the seaside town of Southport, in the north of England, has been followed by the worst unrest the UK has seen in over a decade.
The violence in towns and cities across England and in Northern Ireland has been fuelled by misinformation online, the far-right and anti-immigration sentiment.
Communities have responded with a series of rallies against the riots, with thousands gathering on Wednesday 7 August.
As of 4:00 pm on Monday, at least 15 suspected rioters had appeared in court for trial, including a young boy and the wife of a Conservative Party councillor. At least five of the suspects have been sentenced.
PREMIUM TIMES summarizes some of the trials as reported by the BBC.
Man bags two years jail term for role in riot outside hotel
The Sheffield Crown Court sentenced a 41-year-old man identified as Ricky Hardman to two years and eight months in prison for his role in the riot outside a Rotherham hotel where asylum seekers stay.
The judge was told that Mr Hardman was arrested by the police when a picture of him wielding a piece of wood appeared in a national newspaper on 4 August.
A clip played in court shows that the defendant was part of a group that attacked a police dog van outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.
Court sentences man who punched police officers
The Bournemouth Crown Court sentenced Jason Francis to two years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to punching a police officer at a protest in Weymouth.
The police said the 38-year-old was seen moving towards a police line pushing and kicking out at officers – before assaulting one officer in the face.
Man bags one-year jail term after barrelling into police
The Southampton Crown Court sentenced Ryan Wheatley, who “barrelled into” a police officer during a night of protests, to a jail term of one year.
Judge Christopher Parker, who presided over the case, said it was clear the 40-year-old man “intended to cause or threaten violence”.
He was reportedly arrested in Southampton on Wednesday during a riot.
