Luke Sproxton – who says he didn’t understand what it was all about – has been disowned by his family
The latest Hull rioter to be jailed – after throwing objects towards the police and repeatedly acting in an “aggressive” way – has claimed that he did not realise what was going on and he assumed that it must be “something to do with football”. Luke Sproxton claimed that, when he arrived on the scenes of trouble, he “did not understand what this was all about” and that he “mindlessly got swept up in it”.
His family had “disowned him” and they were “disgusted” at his antics, Hull Crown Court heard. Sproxton, 51, of Plane Street, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, admitted an offence of violent disorder on August 3 last year.
Ben Hammersley, prosecuting, said that Sproxton was among the people who gathered outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway, where asylum seekers were being housed at the time. He was seen near the police cordon and CCTV pictures showed that he was there and later on Jameson Street between 1.42 and 3.16pm.
Sproxton was part of the crowd who approached the police cordon and he was shouting and gesticulating towards officers. In another incident, he pushed against a police riot shield and, in another, he was among those who picked up a large metal fence and threw it towards the police cordon.
In a later incident in Jameson Street, he kicked out and hit an officer’s riot shield. Sproxton was an “active and persistent participant” in the trouble and he incited others by gesticulating, said Mr Hammersley.
Sproxton was identified after a search of the national police database. He was arrested on October 9.
During police interview, he claimed that he had no idea what the protests were about and denied throwing anything. He claimed that he had taken no part in the violence and was simply watching what was happening.
He had convictions for 33 previous offences, including two of public disorder, between July 1992 and June 2022. Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that there were significant gaps in Sproxton’s previous offending and he pleaded guilty to the violent disorder offence.
“He is deeply remorseful,” said Miss Baggs. “He takes full responsibility for his actions and his role in this wider behaviour.”
Sproxton got caught up in the violence after getting off a bus and assuming that the trouble must be something to do with football. “He didn’t understand what this was all about and he got mindlessly swept up in it,” said Miss Baggs.
He had later been “completely disowned” by his family because of it. “They have been deeply disappointed and disgusted in him,” said Miss Baggs. Sproxton had an alcohol problem and he could not work because of physical health and mobility problems.
Judge John Thackray KC told Sproxton: “Your offending formed part of 12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence. During those 12 hours of mob violence, immeasurable harm was caused. Huge financial cost has been incurred.”
The trouble was “utterly deplorable public disorder involving huge numbers of people” as well as repeat racist chanting and a determined attack upon the police. Sproxton threw objects towards the police and was aggressive.
“You played a leading role,” said Judge Thackray. “It may be that you can be rehabilitated in the community. Ultimately, only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.”
Sproxton, who had been on bail, was jailed for 18 months.