A couple who joined a protest outside a hotel where asylum seekers are staying was jailed | World news

A couple who joined a protest outside a hotel after the shootings in Southport because they were “unhappy that their tax dollars are being spent on housing asylum seekers” have been jailed for 21 months. Colin Stonehouse, 36, and David Kirkbride, 28, turned up at the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth on August 4 wearing matching initials T-shirts and joined a crowd of hundreds of protesters who caused almost £100,000 worth of damage. hotel. The pair spent around an hour at the scene, where others hurled rockets, including fireworks, a firebomb, bricks, chunks of concrete and lampposts, at Staffordshire police who tried to protect staff and residents of the hotel. Prosecutor Daniel Moore told Stafford Crown Court on Thursday that the pair arrived at the hotel at around 6.30pm and were caught on CCTV and by police officers in the crowd. Stonehouse was seen shouting abuse at the police and raising his hands while Kirkbride restrained him. Mr Moore said the pair were “actively encouraging people to come forward” to police and Kirkbride was seen laughing as the fireworks went off, chanting and asking police about his tax spending on those in the hotel. Stonehouse also shouted, “We don’t pay for those fools over there.” When they were arrested, Kirkbride said he did not believe he had done anything wrong but admitted his actions could be perceived as racist and denied the Southport stabbing had influenced his decision to visit the scene. Stonehouse told police he wanted to “get his point across”, that he was “unhappy” that his tax dollars were being spent on asylum seekers, but left when a hotel window was smashed and fireworks were set off. Both pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct at a previous court hearing. Mark Moore, defending Kirkbride and Stonehouse, said the pair had shown “incredible naiveté” when they got involved in the disorder, not realizing their behavior amounted to violent disorder and making no attempt to conceal their identities. He told the court: “They have both spent four long months in custody awaiting their fate. They are considered model prisoners. “They made a stupid decision to protest, and they got carried away by it. They have paid the price and will pay the price. “There’s no doubt they won’t be coming back before any court again.” Jailing them, Judge John Edwards said the couple, who live together in Wilnecote, Tamworth, had attended the rally out of “inappropriate curiosity” after hearing about the protest in the pub, but should have gone home rather than “loudly expressing their thoughts and encourage violence.” . He said the incident outside the hotel was an excuse for “senseless lawlessness” and said it involved “criminals who do not represent the decent people of Tamworth”. Addressing Kirkbride, who wiped away tears in the dock, and Stonehouse, who sat with his head in his hands throughout the hearing, the judge said: “How is it that seemingly intelligent, mature, hard-working people end up in the dock in the Crown Court I can’t judge after this shameful incident. “You both surely regret the day you decided to visit the Holiday Inn out of misplaced curiosity.” You had both been there for a while and neither of you needed to go or stay there. “It would have been easier if you had just gone home, but you didn’t. You were both an integral part of this disorder. “While your personal roles were not the most serious I have ever encountered, it would be wrong and misleading to view your actions in a vacuum, as violence feeds on itself. “This was a planned and coordinated action and you were both part of it. “There needs to be a clear message that any involvement in violence of this nature cannot be tolerated.” Judge Edwards told the pair they must serve at least half of their 21-month prison terms and imposed a criminal behavior order banning them from visiting the Holiday Inn Express in Tamurth or any other establishment where they are believed to be asylum seekers