Man fled country after attacking police in riot

A football hooligan who fled the country after leading attacks on police during one of the 2024 summer riots has been jailed for almost three years.

Jamie Latham was arrested at Newcastle Airport after returning from Spain almost two years after his involvement in disorder in Middlesbrough, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Footage showed him leading a charge and repeatedly kicking and throwing punches at officers during the violence, one of a number of national riots which erupted after the murders of three schoolgirls in Southport.

Latham, 38, of Stockton, whose criminal record included multiple offences at football matches for which he was banned from games, admitted violent disorder.

Some 1,000 people attended what was advertised as a "peaceful protest" in Middlesbrough, with a march heading off down Linthorpe Road towards the town centre, prosecutor Emma Atkinson said.

The gathering, on 4 August, had been arranged via social media several days after a similar protest turned violent in Hartlepool, the court heard, with other incidents occurring elsewhere in the country.

As the group reached Clarendon Road, the atmosphere "became heated" amid shouts from the crowd of "take our country back", with police officers forming a line to stop people getting down the street, the court heard.

Over the following hours, missiles were thrown at police officers, buildings and cars were damaged and bins were set on fire, Atkinson said.

On Borough Road, Latham, who had his tracksuit hood up and face partially covered, shouted at others to charge at a line of police officers, the court heard.

He was caught on camera running at officers, kicking their shields and throwing punches beyond the line, hitting one officer in the face, Atkinson said.

During the melee, one police officer was kicked and stamped on by a crowd after falling to the ground, the court heard.

The attackers then ran away, with Latham boarding a flight the following day, the court heard.

The cost of the policing operation, which would be funded by taxpayers, was said to be about £630,000 at the time, while 14 police vehicles were damaged beyond repair and other public buildings had to make repairs, Atkinson said.

The court heard Latham had 11 offences on his criminal record including several for shouting, swearing, goading, spitting at and charging towards rival fans at football matches.

He also had convictions for assaulting an emergency worker and breaching an order banning him from attending football games, Atkinson said.

In mitigation, Latham claimed he had gone to Dubai for work and only returned to the UK in June, via Alicante, when he found out police wanted to speak to him.

Judge Richard Bennett said Latham had "sought to evade justice" and came back after almost two years, "no doubt hoping" police had forgotten about him or would overlook his re-entry.

"They had not forgotten you and were waiting for you," the judge told Latham, adding: "Now you will face the consequences of your behaviour."

He said Latham played a "leading role" in the "ugly and violent disorder" and was "one of the main agitators".

Latham was jailed for two years and nine months, but was told he would serve no more than 40% before being released on licence.

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