Riot burglar given a beating earlier than courtroom look points three phrases to guage
A man who broke into a library wearing a balaclava during the weekend’s riots said “nice one lad” as he was led to the cells.
Adam Wharton, 28 and of Selwyn Street in Walton, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning (August 5) after he was charged with burglary in relation to serious disorder on Saturday night.
Wharton, who was brought into the dock wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit, pleaded guilty to the charge put before him. His case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court for sentence on August 29.
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Before the proceedings started, the court heard from Wharton’s solicitor Isaac Mirza who said the defendant had been “attacked in the cells” prior to appearing. Mr Mirza said the defendant had “a bloodied nose and an injury to his eye.”
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Wharton’s charge comes in relation to the violent disorder in Liverpool and around the country over the weekend. A planned protest at the Pier Head on Saturday afternoon turned violent, with Merseyside Police forced to use riot gear after people were seen throwing bricks and debris at officers.
Scenes later spilled onto County Road in Walton, with rioters causing major damage in what police described as “serious violent disorder”. Chaos, violence and destruction followed as looters targeted businesses, bins were used to start fires and the Spellow Library and Community Hub was set alight, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk described the chaos to the court, saying: “Officers were dealing with large scale violent disorder. Officers dealt with arson, throwing bricks and glass. A police helicopter observed a male entering Spellow Hub Library, which had previously been burnt out and looted.”
He revealed that one man was nabbed inside the library with a computer monitor and continued: “Outside, the police found this defendant. He was wearing a balaclava and appeared to be profusely sweating. The crown says this defendant was acting as a lookout.”
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The prosecutor informed the court that the offence has a starting point of one year behind bars. It emerged that Wharton has a rap sheet with 16 previous convictions for 26 offences, including robbery and burglary.
Defence solicitor Mr Mirza confirmed there would be no plea for bail. When the defendant asked, “Am I allowed to speak? ” District Judge Timothy Boswell instructed Mr Mirza to have a word with his client before addressing him directly.
He told the defendant: “Mr Wharton, I am committing your case for sentence to the crown court. It will be up to the crown court to decide what the right sentence is.”
After a question about getting a pre-sentence report sorted, the defendant quipped “nice one lad” as he was escorted to the cells.
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