Tears, denials and excuses: a week in court amid far-right riots in England

Queen Elizabeth II law courts in Liverpool. The cases this week provided a glimpse into what police faced during the violent disorder. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

There were teenagers and pensioners. Some with a string of convictions and others with none. There were hardened criminals and baby-faced schoolboys, some with the support of parents and others without.

“He’s a pain in the arse,” said one defendant’s longsuffering dad. The father of another told reporters his teenage son was “a moron”.