Three men and a teenage boy have pleaded guilty to causing violent disorder in Plymouth on Monday after a 'peaceful' protest turned into rioting.

The four appeared at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court this morning (Wednesday, August 7) where they admitted offences under Section 2 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Appearing back at the court again tomorrow (Thursday, August 8) to be sentenced will be:

  • Daniel McGuire, aged 45, of Crescent Avenue, Plymouth.
  • Michael Williams, aged 51, of Blacklands Close, Sparkwell.
  • Lucas Ormond Skeaping, aged 29, of Warran Lane, Tavistock.
  • A 17-year-old boy from Plymouth will appear on September 5 to be sentenced.

In a statement on Monday evening Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Specialist officers were deployed to the Guildhall in the city centre at around 3.30pm [Monday].

"During the evening, we saw levels of violence across the city and several officers sustained minor injuries as a result.

"A number of members of the public were also injured, with two conveyed to hospital.

"Our approach to this operation was to enable peaceful protests, but people who were intent on committing public order or criminal offences, have and will be dealt with robustly. This is the style of policing that we have delivered and what our communities expect.

"Violence will not be tolerated, hate will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work with our partners to keep the people of Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly safe and reduce anti-social behaviour.”

An additional two people appeared at court in Plymouth today and pleaded not guilty to charges.

Paul Braidwood, aged 44, of Ward Place, Plymouth has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Truro Crown Court on September 2. 

A second 17-year-old boy, also from Plymouth, has been released on conditional court bail.

Elsewhere in the country, a rioter in Southport has become the first person to receive a prison sentence on a violent disorder charge, after being jailed for three years for his part in violence that broke out in Merseyside.

The unrest followed the killing of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on July 29.

Derek Drummond, 58, was part of the subsequent violent disorder by members of the public on July 30.

The Press Association has reported that he was one of three men to be jailed at Liverpool Crown Court today (Wednesday) alongside Declan Geiran and Liam James Riley, who were sentenced to 30 months and 20 months in prison respectively, after they admitted violent disorder following riots in Liverpool city centre.

Drummond, of Pool Street, Liverpool, previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.

Riley, of Walton Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool, and Geiran, of Kelso Road, Liverpool, both pleaded guilty to violent disorder, with Geiran also admitting to arson of a police vehicle.