Four men deny violent disorder during riot

Four men accused of taking part in violent disorder were not intent on engaging in a "peaceful protest", a court has heard.

Kaleb Peacock-Lightfoot, 20, Joseph McKenzie, 28, Anthony Brown, 38, and Christopher Howard, 42, appeared at Teesside Crown Court after previously pleading not guilty to several alleged offences in Middlesbrough.

On 4 August, unrest spread from an afternoon protest at the town's cenotaph and was described by officers at the time as "staggering".

The trial is expected to last for five days.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, told the jury none of the accused were in the town to "engage in a peaceful protest".

She said Mr McKenzie, of Skeldale Grove in Darlington, who faces a charge of violent disorder, had been seen to "be at the forefront" of the unrest, shouting expletives and throwing missiles at police.

The court was shown CCTV footage allegedly showing Mr McKenzie on Linthrope Road as disorder continued to unfold.

Ms Masters told jurors that Mr Brown, of Windsor Road in Middlesbrough, had assaulted a police officer who had been brought onto the front line to help manage the disorder.

He is accused of one count of violent disorder and a second count of assaulting an emergency worker.

It was alleged Mr Brown stood in front of the officer and refused to move before picking up a bicycle which hit the officer on his shoulder.

Jurors were also told how Mr Peacock-Lightfoot, of Dixon Grove in Middlesbrough, faced a charge of violent disorder and that "actions prior to arrest were captured on CCTV".

Ms Masters said Mr Peacock-Lightfoot was at the "forefront of the disorder and placed himself directly in front" of officers.

She said during a police interview he "accepted having gone to the protest but stated he didn't participate in any violence", but added he was wearing a face covering.

Mr Peacock-Lightfoot told police he was wearing a face covering because "he knew people would be taking videos and he was a private person and didn't want to be seen," Ms Masters said.

The fourth defendant, Mr Howard, of Huntley Close in Middlesbrough, is also accused of violent disorder and Ms Masters said he had been seen by police officers in the Parliament Road area of the town.

She said said Mr Howard had joined in "kicking" the shield of an officer but denied being involved in "any of the violence".

The trial continues.

Earlier, another man, Ethan Bowes, 19, from Guisborough, changed his pleas to guilty after initially denying violent disorder, use of threatening or unlawful violence and possession of an offensive weapon. He will be sentenced on 14 January.

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