Pair launched wheelie bin at police during Bolton disorder

Marcus Foster, 24, and Stephen Barrow, 54, had both been on Nelson Square on Bradshawgate on August 4 amid “grotesque, racist, far-right” inspired disturbances across the country.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Foster had been seen with a group of men around the square in front of a group of police in riot gear.

Prosecutor Duncan Wilcock said: “He had an object in his hand, and he threw that object towards the line of police officers attempting to disperse the protesters.”

 Mr Wilcock said this “narrowly” missed the head of a mounted officer.

Disturbances broke out on Bradshawgate (Image: Phil Taylor)

Both Foster and Barrow, who appeared before the court via video-link from prison, were then seen to push a “large wheelie bin full of rubbish” towards the line of officers.

Mr Wilcock said an officer tried to stop the bin with his foot before more came forward to help him.

Both Foster and Barrow had been “wearing disguises” on that day in Bolton

In the days after the outbreak of violence police began to trawl through CCTV footage to find the identity of the people involved.

Foster was arrested on Wednesday, August 7 after video footage caught him throwing a “missile” at police while Barrow was arrested at his home in St Helens on Saturday August 10.

Mr Wilcock said: “The officer commented at that stage that he didn’t seem surprised by the officer’s attendance.”

Police and demonstrators on Victoria Square (Image: Phil Taylor)

Having been identified, both were brought before the courts and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Foster, who has 16 previous convictions for 33 offences including dangerous driving, assault, possession of a knife and attempted wounding with intent, confessed to violent disorder.

Barrow, who has 21 previous convictions for 25 offences including affray and football related public order offences, admitted to the same crime.

Mr Wilcock read out a community impact statement from Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry of Greater Manchester Police.

He said that the protests had apparently been sparked by the horrific recent stabbings in Southport and were promoted by “groups identified as far-right in regards to their ideology.”

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

The statement said that Muslim, Jewish and other communities across Greater Manchester had been deeply alarmed by the disturbances, with many people fearing to go to town centres.

Muslim officers had been fearful about going out to work while police staff of all backgrounds had been put under huge stress, while firefighters had had to work overtime.

The statement said: “The unprecedent levels of violence my officers have experienced is unacceptable.”

Isabelle Haddad, defending Barrow, of Dilloway Street, St Helens, said that he had earned credit for his guilty plea and was remorseful for his actions.

She said: “He tells me he regrets what he did that day and he assures me he is not part of any far right group.”

Ms Haddad said that Barrow had now lost his job but accepted he had “only himself to blame.”

Niamh McGinty, defending Foster, of Oswald Street, Chorlton, said he also deserved credit for pleading guilty and that he was “realistic” about his fate.

She said: “He essentially maintains he was in the was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Ms McGinty told the court that Foster, a would-be professional boxer, accepted he was involved in “an appalling display of violence towards police who were only trying to de-escalate matters.”

But she said Foster had told her: “it was not racist motivation from his perspective.”

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The Honorary Recorder for Bolton Judge Martin Walsh accepted that both had earned credit for their guilty pleas.

But he reminded the court of their “utterly misguided and totally unjustified” actions after protests broke out after the tragic events in Southport.

Addressing the men, Judge Walsh said: “Each of you were part of a mob that was intent on carrying out serious violent disorder.”

He added: “The context within which the incident of violent disorder occurred is also a seriously aggravating feature and cannot be ignored.

“Much of the violence was motivated by those seeking to promote a grotesque, racist, far-right political agenda.”

Judge Walsh jailed Foster for three years and Barrow for 28 months.