Women who stole fake Crocs during Hull riot admit offences

Two young women who went viral after they were caught on video with stolen fake Crocs from a Shoezone during far-right riots in Hull have admitted their offences.

Elizabete Zvirgzdina, 18, and Lucy Houghton, 19, both admitted handling stolen shoes that had been taken from the nearby Shoezone shop after a break-in there.

Hull Crown Court heard that shoes, which had been taken from the raided store in Jameson Street, were put on the pavement outside the shop and both Zvirgzdina and Houghton picked them up and stole them.

Zvirgzdina, 18, of Westbrook Road, Gilberdyke, also admitted burglary at a Lush store and O2 shop, as well as a separate offence of possessing cannabis on August 5.

Specsavers, Lush, Shoezone and Sainsburys were just some of the retailers targeted by looters who took advantage of the unrest in places such as Hull, Middlesbrough, Rotherham and Manchester.

It came after tensions fuelled by misinformation boiled over on Britain's streets following the mass stabbing in Southport which left three girls dead. 

Brazen thieves could be seen smashing windows, setting a Shoezone store alight and ripping wine, shoes, and phones from shop shelves.

The two teenagers appeared before the court for sentence after pleading guilty to the offences at earlier hearings before a deputy district judge at Hull Magistrates' Court.

Their cases were adjourned because there were no pre-sentence reports on either of the women. Their barristers asked for reports to be ordered so that the probation service could provide further details on the background to the women's involvement in the offences.

Both were put on bail for their appearances in court and it was extended until the next hearing.

Judge Mark Bury told them that all sentencing options would be available to the court next time, when a decision would be made on whether a custodial sentence would be imposed.

Both women had previously appeared before Hull Magistrates' Court on November 11, when they had been allowed unconditional bail.

In August, high street retailer Lush said its staff were 'devastated' after the company's branch in Hull was targeted.

Video footage shows looters filling their baskets and carrier bags full of goods before rushing out of the store.

Photographs highlight the aftermath of the ransacking, as glass and colourful debris scattered the shop floor on Jameson Street.

Meanwhile in Middlesbrough, at Iceland, looters could be seen ducking under store shutters to grab Friji milkshakes.

Video footage shared widely on social media shows a group of masked boys on bikes standing around as they kick through the glass windows of the shop front.

Onlookers can be heard egging them on and shouting: 'Get me something', 'get me some pink gin'.

The person recording can be heard laughing and shouting: 'He's got Frijis! He's got a round of Frijis'.

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In Liverpool, a shameless yob squealed 'get the phones! Get the phones!' as a group surrounded and battered their way into a phone repair and vape shop in the city centre.

Leader of Hull City Council, Mike Ross, said at the time: 'The looting and rioting that took place in our city will not be tolerated and the Council is working with the police who will bring those to justice.

'Our thanks goes to the selfless volunteers who cleaned the streets in the wake of Saturday's violence. They are what Hull is all about. They make me proud of our great city.

'The disorder and looting of the weekend doesn't represent us – Hull is a friendly and welcoming city.

'Now, we ask our residents to help bring calm and kindness to the city, to support our traders affected in the city centre and show our local businesses all the love and support they can. Hull is open, Hull is tolerant, and Hull is united.

'We will move on from Saturday's events and my thanks go to all those who helped us through it.'

Keir Starmer also 'guarantee[d]' that people fuelling the chaos in person or online 'will regret taking part in this disorder'.

He said in an evening address on the evening of the riots: 'People in this country have a right to be safe and yet we've seen Muslim communities targeted, attacks on mosques, other minority communities singled out, Nazi salutes in the street, attacks on the police, and wanton violence.

'So no, I won't shy away from calling it what it is: far-right thuggery. To those who feel targeted because of the colour of your skin or your faith, I know how frightening this must be.

'I want you to know that this violent mob does not represent our country, and we will bring them to justice.

'Our police deserve out support, as they tackle any and all violent disorder that flares up

'Whatever the apparent cause or motivation, we make no distinction - crime is crime, and this government will tackle it.'

His statement came as rioters set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Horrifying scenes showed groups throwing bricks of concrete in the direction of the hotel and fires set outside, near doors.

Objects and pieces of wood were flung at officers who had lined up in front of the building with at least one cop in riot gear being carried away by their colleagues.