A 19-year-old beauty student has avoided jail after joining a riot outside a migrant hotel in Manchester while dressed in a yellow cocktail dress and handing out eggs. Destiny Waugh was branded “extremely stupid” by the judge for her role in the unrest, which took place outside the Holiday Inn on Oldham Road, Newton Heath, on July 31.
Waugh, of Risbury Walk, Manchester, purchased two cartons of eggs from a nearby Shell Garage during the protest. Manchester Crown Court heard that the eggs were later used as “missiles” by a group of teenage boys, escalating the violent confrontation with police.
Waugh was sentenced to 16 months in a young offenders’ institute, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to violent disorder. She was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, attend 10 rehabilitation activity days, and pay £150 in costs.
During the riot, bricks, bottles, and eggs were hurled at police and the hotel, which housed asylum seekers. Although Waugh did not engage in direct violence, she was seen handing the eggs to the group, aiding and abetting their actions, the court was told.
Footage played in court showed Waugh buying the eggs and returning to the protest with them in a white carrier bag. CCTV images of her in the yellow dress were circulated by police, prompting her to turn herself in on September 7.
Prosecutor Gavin Howie said: “She approaches a group of boys and hands them the eggs, which were used as missiles and launched towards police officers. This is a classic case of aiding and abetting – delivering the ammunition into their hands.”
In her defence, Ms. Verity Quaite described Waugh as “incredibly foolish” and said that she felt “disgusted with herself” for her actions. The court was also told that she had no previous convictions and works part-time as a cleaner while studying beauty therapy.
Judge Alan Conrad QC condemned the wider context of the riot, referencing the far-right protests that swept the country following misinformation related to the tragic Southport murders. The incident had prompted hate-filled demonstrations, including attacks on police and the targeting of migrant accommodations.
Sentencing Waugh, Judge Conrad said: “You purchased eggs which you passed on to youths for them to be used as missiles. There is no evidence you did anything further. After you handed them over, you left the scene. You were extremely stupid in acting as you did.”
