A man who wore a balaclava and brought a crate of beer to a disturbance outside a hotel, believed to be housing asylum seekers, has been sentenced to prison. Ryan Leckey, 24, was part of a large demonstration outside the hotel in Newton Heath, Manchester, on July 31. During the incident, he was spotted throwing an object at the building while others hurled insults at the residents and the police. Later, Leckey was seen celebrating in a nearby pub after taking off his balaclava, as seen on CCTV footage presented in Manchester Crown Court.
Alongside Leckey, 42-year-old Darren Butler was also involved in the chaos, with reports of him threatening a police officer and making aggressive remarks during the disturbance. Both Leckey and Butler pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder and received custodial sentences as a consequence. The unrest stemmed from false online claims about tragic incidents in Southport, which led to demonstrations spreading across the country.
Prosecutor Kate Gaskell described the scene outside the hotel, highlighting racist remarks and the throwing of items like eggs, bottles, and bricks. Leckey, a business owner from Newton Heath, was captured on police bodycam carrying a large box of beer and throwing objects towards the hotel before removing his balaclava and celebrating at a pub. In contrast, Butler from Oldham, who has a history of previous convictions, was filmed confronting officers with aggressive language during the incident.
During the court proceedings, both defendants expressed remorse for their actions. Leckey’s defence lawyer highlighted his client’s regret and family’s disappointment, while Butler, acknowledging his previous criminal record, admitted his disgust with himself for participating in the violence. The judge, Alan Conrad KC, emphasised the need for serious consequences for such behaviour to maintain order in society and handed down sentences of 16 months for Leckey and 17 months for Butler, with both serving half their terms in prison before being released on licence.