Colin Stonehouse and David Kirkbride: Pair who joined Tamworth hotel protests following Southport stabbings jailed for 21 months

A pair who joined a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers after the Southport stabbings have each been jailed for 21 months.

Colin Stonehouse, 36, had his head in his hands while David Kirkbride, 28, wiped away tears as they were sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday.

The pair, who live together in Wilnecote, Tamworth, had both earlier pleaded guilty to violent disorder after attending demonstrations outside the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth, Staffordshire, last year.

Rioters smashed windows and started fires at the hotel on 4 August as part of a series of riots and unrest that broke out at a number of locations following the Southport stabbings.

The crowd of hundreds which gathered at the Holiday Inn Express caused nearly £100,000 worth of damage to the hotel.

Prosecutor Daniel Moore told Stafford Crown Court on Thursday that Stonehouse and Kirkbride had arrived at the building at around 6.30pm.

CCTV and police body-worn camera footage of the crowd captured Stonehouse shouting abuse at police and raising his arms while Kirkbride held him back.

Mr Moore said the pair were “actively encouraging people to move forward” towards the police and Kirkbride was seen laughing as a firework exploded.

Stonehouse was also heard to have shouted “we ain’t paying for them dickheads in there”.

During their arrest, Stonehouse told police he wanted to express that he was “unhappy” about taxes being spent on asylum seekers, but claimed he left when a hotel window was smashed and a firework was lit.

Mark Moore, defending the pair, said they “have both had four long months in custody awaiting their fate” and “made a stupid decision”.

Stonehouse and Kirkbridge were both handed a 21-month sentence in custody, of which they must serve at least half, and a criminal behaviour order banning them from going to establishments they believe house asylum seekers.

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Sentencing, Judge John Edwards said: “Whilst your individual roles weren’t the most serious that I have encountered, it would be wrong and misleading to look at your acts in a vacuum because violence feeds on itself.

“This was planned and coordinated conduct and you were both part of it. There must be a clear message that any involvement in violence of this nature cannot be tolerated.”

Disorder broke out across the UK after the deaths of three girls who were stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July.