A so-called patriot who played a part in the UK riots chaos will likely go down in history for all the wrong reasons.
Dubbed Hull’s “thickest criminal,” John Honey decided to wear the most distinctive shirt he could find when he set about on his rampage. After a string of images appeared on social media of the 25-year-old in his various different stages of looting, he quickly went viral as comedy memes did the rounds.
One picture of him leaving Greggs with a handful of baked treats was captioned: “Taking the country back one gingerbread man at a time.”
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Another wrote: “I want to take my country back’.. What by looting some gingerbread men from Greggs, some bath bombs from Lush and a screen protector from O2?
(Image: @ErikaMorris79/X)
“Yep that’ll do it. Honestly the brains of some people in this country.”
While one wrote: “Is this Hull’s thickest criminal?”
But undeterred by being a laughing stock, the cocky crim allegedly bragged about being “famous” while in prison, and offered to give out autographs.
He was described as being “over confident and jovial” while on remand for his antics in Hull on August 3. He said he stopped at Greggs for a drink because police pepper spray had made him thirsty.
But today, he was brought down a few pegs when he was locked up for 56 months for his part in the terrifying large-scale disturbance and looting.
He was also involved in a highly-publicised racially motivated incident where a BMW car was severely damaged, Hull Crown Court was told.
Footage of the BMW incident showed Honey pulling the passenger door open as a man inside tried to close it to protect himself.
Three Romanian occupants of the car got out with their hands raised in a gesture of surrender and fled the angry mob to a nearby hotel.
Honey, 25, of Park Grove, off Princes Avenue, west Hull, pleaded guilty to six offences including three counts of burglary involving a break-in at the Lush shop on Jameson Street, as well as raids on the nearby Shoezone and O2 shops.
He also confessed to causing criminal damage to nine vehicles.
(Image: X)
It came after “mass public disorder” erupted in Hull city centre, with several fights breaking out near the Royal Hotel and mosque.
A garage and tyre business was targeted, fireworks were thrown, police were bombarded with threats and rubbish bins were torched as racist chants filled the air.
The Lush store had to close its doors at 3pm for staff safety after it was “ransacked”, causing “utter devastation”. The damage at the nearby Shoezone store was estimated at £320,000. Around £40,000 worth of stock was stolen from the O2 shop.
Honey was a key player in the violent and public disorder, easily identifiable on CCTV in his distinctive white top bearing the cross of St George.
(Image: PA)
He was at the forefront of the group that confronted police outside the hotel and trashed street furniture before using it as projectiles.
Honey, who has previous convictions, including knife possession told the court he was truly remorseful for his “disgraceful” behaviour.
After hearing that Honey had developmental issues due to his “difficult start in life”, Judge John Thackray KC said his alleged comment about autographs “does not have the significance it would otherwise have”.
The judge told Honey: “I’m not going to hear any evidence about comments which you may or may not have made in the prison setting. I’m not going to give them any relevance. If your defence say that there is now genuine remorse, I’ll accept that submission.”
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