'We're protecting our kids…' rioter told he displayed 'extraordinary level of ignorance'

A rioter who launched vile abuse outside a hotel housing asylum seekers was told he displayed an ‘‘extraordinary level of ignorance’.

Steven Miller launched into a tirade aimed at an asylum seeker being escorted into the building, as well as a police officer. He was one of up to 70 people who attended the protest outside the hotel on Oldham Road in Newton Heath, after false information was posted online about the alleged perpetrator of the killing of three girls in Southport.

The disorder in north Manchester came after a Facebook post which read: "Let's get them out. "6pm today. Stand up and take note, because if you don't, no-one will."

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Police attended on July 31 as thugs launched missiles towards the building and officers, including bricks and bottles. A bus came under attack and the driver was injured. Others including 38-year-old Miller launched vile verbal abuse.

In footage played to the court, Miller could be heard calling an asylum seeker a ‘nonce’ and asked ‘why are you here?’ In another video, which police discovered on his mobile phone, Miller had filmed officers who were trying to move the mob away from Oldham Road.

Miller, of Devon Street, Farnworth, could be heard saying: “We’re peaceful. We’re protecting our kids, that’s all we’re doing, from these vile people.

“Take your uniform off and stand with us brother. What about your kids bruv?”

Sentencing, Judge Patrick Field KC told Miller that the asylum seekers were ‘vulnerable people’ who ‘probably deserved a bit of empathy from you rather than vile abuse’.

“The words you used not only displayed your own lack of tolerance, but an extraordinary level of ignorance too,” he said. Miller was jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

His barrister claimed Miller had been ‘failed rather spectacularly by the state’ while in care as a child, and said he had suffered mental health issues. Sarah Magill said Miller has a six-month-old baby, and that his partner is without him following his ‘incredibly stupid’ actions.

Two others who attended the protest were sentenced in separate hearings on Friday. The judge said that Conor Grange, 30, behaved ‘aggressively’ and his presence provided ‘encouragement’ to others. His barrister David Toal said Grange, of Church Street, Failsworth has a job and a family, and added that his month-long spell in prison on remand had provided a ‘short, sharp shock’.

He was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Regan Goodwin was seen picking up a brick, but he did not launch it and instead threw it to the ground.

The judge said he was an ‘active participant’ and at one stage appeared ‘rather pleased with yourself’. “One suspects you are not in quite such a self congratulatory mood now,” the judge added. His barrister Rob Kearney said Goodwin has a job and a young child with his partner.

“His mother and his partner don’t share the defendant’s sentiments, and have a particular view about his behaviour that day,” Mr Kearney said. Goodwin, 24, of Kennington Avenue, Newton Heath, was jailed for 12 months. Goodwin and Grange both pleaded guilty to violent disorder.