A Rossendale man has been refused bail after pleading not guilty to a charge of racially aggravated assault and a public order offence in Manchester city centre on Monday, August 5.

As he was being led away from the court, Matthew Wilson, of Parrock Street, Crawshawbooth, twice punched the glass separating the dock from the main court, and shouted ‘fat c***’ while raising his middle finger in the air.

District judge Jane Hamilton ordered Wilson to be returned to the court after a lunch break for a contempt of court hearing due to the outburst.

Asked by district Judge Jane Hamilton if he wanted to apologise or spend seven days in custody, Wilson took a long delay.

Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox.

Asked again, he responded: “Yeah, go on then,” which Judge Hamilton said would not suffice.

He then said: “I'm sorry for punching the glass, I just wish you would have seen the CCTV footage shown to me in the police station.

“I've done nothing... 35 days, I've got a home I need to maintain.”

He added that he had been 'involved in no riots'.

Follow The Bolton News on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and TikTok.

The 31-year-old, who turns 32 on Monday, is accused of disorder, while drinking at the Moon Under the Water pub on Deansgate.

Defending, duty solicitor David Philpott said Wilson denied his involvement in the incident, and argued he should be granted bail.

Prosecutor Laura Peers alleged Wilson and Alex Fraser, 20, made racist comments and “randomly” attacked an Asian man in Manchester city centre on Monday, and had boasted of their involvement in wider disorder.

She said Wilson should not be granted bail. District judge Jane Hamilton refused bail.

Fraser, of Leicester Road, Salford, also pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated assault and denied taking part in any wider disorder.

Speaking from the dock, the 20-year-old, who turns 21 on Sunday, said he ‘wasn’t even supposed to be in town’ on Monday, and that Mr Wilson was not his friend.

He added that it his birthday later this week.

District judge Jane Hamilton refused bail.

(Image: GMP)

She added: “In this heightened situation we are currently in with the disorder still ongoing and scheduled to be ongoing throughout this week, I have substantial grounds to believe you would reoffend if I granted you bail, so I am going to remand you in custody.”

Fraser appeared to be crying as he was led away from the court.

The pair were both remanded into custody and will appear at Manchester Crown Court on September 11.

It comes as tensions are inflamed across the country, with far-right-led riots sparked following the murder of three young girls in Southport.

So far, Greater Manchester Police have made at least 26 arrests as a result of the disorder.

Riots and protests have taken place in Sheffield, Manchester, Stoke, Leicester, Bristol, and other cities – with asylum-seekers targeted in towns including Staffordshire and Rotherham.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has promised more people will be brought before the courts throughout the week.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.