He drove past a baying mob and parked in front of watching cops before grabbing a bottle of beer and joining in

A man was driving past a baying mob outside a hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers when he parked up, grabbed a bottle of beer and joined them.

Laurence Dunkerley, 37, was captured on body-worn footage in a neon green t-shirt whilst swigging from the bottle. He and a group of males and youths were loitering in the middle of a busy road whilst others were hurling racist abuse towards the hotel and police.

As a bus drove up to the group he stood in front of it before tapping his bottle at the window as it drove past. When the Tactical Aid Unit arrived to move the group on, he became abusive.

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Manchester Crown Court heard that there was widespread disorder throughout the country, including Greater Manchester, after false information was spread online as to the attacker of three children who were killed in Southport in July.

As a result, a large group gathered outside the hotel on Oldham Road in Newton Heath, some of whom were wearing balaclavas. Initially, the gathering appeared peaceful but police were later deployed at around 6pm as it turned violent.

Missiles were thrown towards the hotel as well as racist chants of ‘Go home’, towards those inside the hotel. At one stage as residents returned to the hotel, water was thrown at them, the court heard. A bus was also attacked during the chaos.

“As for the defendant, he attended wearing a bright neon-coloured top,” prosecutor Kate Gaskell said.

“He was first seen leaning into a car, then taking something from the car. He then appears to stand in front of a yellow bus and use his beer bottle to tap the side window before it drops to the floor.”

When the police arrived they tried to move the group on, but Dunkerley could be seen to be abusive towards officers.

He was said to have five previous convictions for eight offences including for battery and criminal damage.

Michelle Brown, mitigating for Dunkerley, said he was diagnosed with psychosis following the death of his brother in 2016. She said he had been doing voluntary work to address his mental health issues since.

Of the offence, she said: “This appears to be a misguided attendance. He appears to wander on the outskirts, perhaps aimlessly.

“He was driving past and parked directly in front of the police. This is not a brazen attempt by him and he is not persistent. In his own words, this was a stupid mistake and out of character for him. He is embarrassed and wishes to move on from this.”

Sentencing, Judge John Potter said: “You attended the disorder knowing or believing it had been arranged. It was a deliberate act by you to attend and remain there.

“You and others were told to move on but you were obstructive and aggressive when they were simply trying to protect the public. I accept you did not directly cause damage or use violence towards another, but you did behave aggressively towards the police and tried to encourage others you were with and were part of a mob who did act violently.”

Dunkerley, of Marlborough Drive, was jailed for 25 months. He will serve half the term in prison before he will be released on licence.