London: Two men who attempted to use social networking site to incite riots during last week’s unprecedented civil disorder in London were both jailed for four years on Tuesday, police said.
Jordan Blackshaw, 20, from Cheshire and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, from Warrington, both in northwest England, were imprisoned after setting up pages on social networking site calling for unrest in their home towns.
Blackshaw’s page, “Smash Down Northwich Town”, encouraged people to gather “behind maccies” — believed to be the McDonald’s restaurant in Northwich town centre — last Tuesday.
Sutcliffe-Keenan’s creation, “Let’s Have a Riot in Latchford”, called for people to riot the following day.
“The sentences passed down today recognise how technology can be abused to incite criminal activity and sends a strong message to potential troublemakers,” Phil Thompson, Cheshire Police Assistant Chief Constable, said.
“Anyone who seeks to undermine that will face the full force of the law.”
Five people were killed during a four-day frenzy of looting and arson which swept through London and other major English cities.
Prosecutor Martin McRobb said the pages created “significant panic and revulsion” amongst local people. “Jordan Blackshaw and Perry Sutcliffe independently and from the safety of their homes may have thought that it would be acceptable to set up a Facebook page to incite others to take part in disorders in Cheshire,” he said. “They were wrong.”
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription