Mother and daughter jailed for joining Middlesbrough disorder while walking family dog
Amanda Walton and Megan Davison, who both admitted violent disorder, walked a chow chow during the march. Walton was caught on CCTV throwing a missile, while Davison was seen jumping up and down on a car's roof.
Monday 23 September 2024 23:22, UK
A mother and daughter who took part in disorder that broke out in Middlesbrough while they were walking the family dog have been jailed.
Amanda Walton, 51, was caught on CCTV throwing a missile, damaging a car wing mirror and rummaging through a bin, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Megan Davison, 24, was seen jumping up and down on a car's roof, assisting in smashing windows, sticking a finger up at a police officer and walking away from a shop while "concealing items", said Rachel Masters, prosecuting.
Walton brought her chow chow to the march on 4 August, the court heard, and video showed both women holding the animal's lead at times.
The pair admitted violent disorder at a previous hearing and Walton was jailed for 22 months and Davison 20 months by Judge Francis Laird KC.
Davison's partner, Jake Wray, is awaiting sentence after admitting the same offence after he stopped cars at a junction to ask drivers if they were "white" or "English". He will be sentenced next week.
Police were investigating 250 crimes where people suffered damage to property or public buildings were vandalised on 4 August, the court heard.
Jon Harley, defending Davison, said she had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs the night before following a break-up and was still intoxicated during the march.
"She allowed herself to be swept up and behaved in a very stupid manner," he said.
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Gary Wood, defending Walton, said she was at the protest out of concern for her daughter.
"She hadn't planned to be involved, in fact she is present in the street with her dog," he said.
The judge accepted neither woman was motivated by racist ideology and both were remorseful.
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The seriousness of the disorder, set against other outbreaks of trouble elsewhere in the country, meant neither sentence could be suspended, Judge Laird said.
But he gave both women credit for pleading guilty, which reduced their jail terms.