First sentence for riot following Sunderland disorder

The first person to be convicted of riot following the recent disorder across the UK has been sentenced today at Newcastle Crown Court. 

Kieran Usher, 32, of Bramwell Road, Hendon, was sentenced to four years and four months' imprisonment after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to a charge of riot, in relation to his role in the Sunderland disorder on 2 August.

Usher had been captured on CCTV, initially donning a face-covering before encouraging others to participate in violence and throwing a missile at nearby police. He was later captured on camera again as part of a large mob throwing missiles at attending officers. 

Christopher Atkinson, Head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS North East, said: “Kieran Usher played a pivotal role in the events that last month blighted the city of Sunderland. 

“The significant sentence that he now faces appropriately reflects the severity of his actions, which saw him co-ordinate with at least twenty other people to rain missiles onto attending police officers in the course of their duties to protect the public.

“Despite the aggression they faced that evening, Northumbria Police have provided us with hours of evidential material. This has been instrumental in identifying those responsible for these shameful events, enabling us to clearly illustrate to the courts the specific role that each person played.

“The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to work alongside our criminal justice partners to ensure that anyone threatening the communities we serve are swiftly brought to justice for their actions.”