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A teenager who marked his 18th birthday by joining a far-right hate mob and attacking police officers during violent disturbances in Hartlepool has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison. Bobby Shirbon, of Hartlepool, was involved in two consecutive nights of violence on July 31 and August 1, following the killing of three young girls in Southport.
Shirbon, who was seen hurling objects at police and causing damage to property, told officers upon his arrest, “It’s OK, everybody else is doing it.” His actions, which took place on the night of his 18th birthday, have been condemned by Judge Francis Laird, KC, who described Shirbon’s behaviour as “particularly troubling.
Speaking at Teesside Crown Court, Judge Laird told Shirbon, “What is particularly troubling is that July 31st was your 18th birthday, a day that should have been joyous and cause for celebration. But it ended up with you confronting police officers as part of an ugly, aggressive, and violent mob.
The court heard that the violence in Hartlepool, which involved up to 300 people, was incited by social media posts sharing the addresses of asylum seekers living in the town centre. Shirbon was observed throwing bottles, wooden planks, and house bricks, and was seen smashing windows. He evaded arrest on July 31 but returned the following night, where he was caught hurling beer bottles at a police van while wearing a balaclava.
Rachel Master, prosecuting, detailed Shirbon’s involvement in the disorder, stating, “He was part of a group throwing bottles, wooden planks, plastic bottles, and house bricks, and the defendant was seen to smash windows and cause damage.
Michael Cahill, mitigating, described Shirbon as a “very young man, a care leaver” who had not previously been in trouble with the law. Cahill explained that Shirbon had spent the earlier part of his birthday at a bingo hall with his family before being drawn into the violence after seeing social media posts about the disturbance.
Shirbon’s sentencing follows a wave of rioting across Britain in the wake of the Southport stabbings, which have led to numerous arrests and fast-tracked court cases. In Hartlepool alone, several individuals have already been sentenced, including Ryan Sheers, who received more than two years in prison after being convicted of violent disorder.
Far-right thugs are believed to have orchestrated the riots following the spread of false information on social media regarding the identity of the Southport stabbing suspect. The suspect, Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old from Cardiff, has been charged with the murders of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, as well as 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
The violence in Hartlepool and other towns across the UK has prompted a swift response from law enforcement and government officials. As rioters continue to be sentenced, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called another emergency COBRA meeting to address the ongoing unrest.
The government has also issued warnings to social media companies to remove violent content that could incite further riots, while urging the public to refrain from spreading misinformation online. As the situation continues to unfold, authorities are working to restore order and hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
