A football hooligan who took part in a violent city centre protest against Black Lives Matter supporters has been jailed.
Grandfather Michael Maylia, who was one of a number of Newcastle United fans jailed after a bar brawl in Burnley in 2019, was among those to get involved in criminal activity at Grey's Monument, in Newcastle. In ugly scenes, police came under attack from a number of people and officers, horses and dogs were injured as missiles were thrown, including bottles, cans and smoke grenades.
Several yobs have already been locked up for their part in the shameful violent disorder - all but one of whom were from the "counter-protesting" group. Some of them were affiliated with the far right, Hells Angels, or football hooligans, with one also involved in the Burnley violence alongside Maylia.
Read more: Cheeky thug bares bottom to judge after being jailed for threatening to kill probation officers
Newcastle Crown Court heard Maylia was initially well-behaved but from around 2pm on June 13 2020, the atmosphere changed. Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said Maylia appeared to be looking for an opportunity to throw a can of alcohol, on CCTV footage.
He said: "He hurled the can in the direction of the Black Lives Matter protesters and a police officer jumped out of the way of it. As the can left his hand he pulled his hood over his head to try to conceal his appearance.
"He later left the scene and beckoned the group to go with him and he appears to be acting as a leader. He moved through a number of shoppers to an area where some Black Lives Matter supporters, who were also behaving unlawfully, were located to confront them."
When stopped by police and told to move back, the group responded with physical and verbal resistance. Mr Perks added: "The defendant can be seen at the front refusing to leave, surging towards the police and acting in a threatening manner.."
When the police dog section moved in, Maylia remained at the front of the group, shouting and swearing at officers. He also refused to leave when the mounted section moved in and surged forward to try to disrupt police tactics.
Maylia, who was unsteady on his feet, was also seen recording the disorder on his phone and then posed for a picture before leaving, the court heard.
He had 56 previous convictions, including assaults and public order and the violent disorder at Burnley, for which he was jailed for 19 months. Maylia, 55, of Coniston, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 25 months for the Newcastle matter.
Stephen Jenkins was seen drinking alcohol and gesturing aggressively. At one point police pushed a man, who fell on Jenkins, causing him to stagger back. He regained his composure then threw a can of alcohol at police, which hit an officer and caused fluid to spill out on him.
At a later stage he was pushed to the ground by police and ignored attempts to calm him down and resisted efforts to clear the area. He was said to appear highly intoxicated as he argued and remonstrated with officers.
Jenkins, 64, of Redmond Square, Redhouse, Sunderland, also admitted violent disorder and was jailed for 26 months.
Judge Edward Bindloss told the pair: "This is normally a public area of the city centre where families and children should be able to attend in confidence and safety.
"An element of a deterrent sentence is required given the scale and this disorder in a major city in the UK.
Lee Fish, for Maylia, said he did not set out to use violence that day and did not personally injure anyone. He added that alcohol was behind his criminal behaviour and that he had been providing care to family members.
Shada Mellor, for Jenkins, said it was "highly unlikely" he would have got involved had he not been drunk. She added that he is embarrassed, remorseful, regretful and ashamed. Miss Mellor said fork lift truck driver Jenkins had lost his job at the time due to the pandemic and was drinking to excess and isolated but he is now back working.
Read now:
- Sandyford pervert pensioner claimed child abuse images were downloaded for research
- Killingworth pervert claimed he downloaded indecent images accidentally with Marvel film
- Troubled Sunderland woman caused £30,000 of damage by setting fire to her own home
- South Shields robber held knife to terrified taxi driver's throat and threatened to kill him
- Elswick dealer caught selling drugs in city centre bar had cocktail of narcotics in underwear
