Veteran who threw missiles at police jailed

Image source, Northumbria Police

Image caption, Crawthorne was filmed shouting, gesticulating and threw objects at the police during disorder in Sunderland on 2 August

An Iraq War veteran who threw missiles at police while he was intoxicated on drink and cocaine during disorder in Sunderland has been jailed for 26 months.

Philip Crawthorne, 38, of Southend Road, Sunderland, was filmed shouting and gesticulating.

He also threw a beer can and something he picked up from the ground at officers, who were wearing protective gear and carrying riot shields.

The defendant, who admitted violent disorder at a previous hearing, was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court by Judge Paul Sloan KC.

The court heard Crawthorne had joined the Army and served in Iraq when he was 18, before being medically discharged at 20.

The court was told he had previous convictions, including one for racially abusing people on a bus in 2023.

Sophie Allinson-Howells, defending, said Crawthorne was remorseful and could remember very little of the evening.

"He was under the influence and is routinely under the influence," she said.

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