Bare-chested dad-of-tree 'behaved like a wild animal' as he attacked bus and launched bricks at police

A father-of-three who ‘played a leading role’ in mob violence that erupted in north Manchester following the deaths of three young girls in Southport told a court he had ‘no explanation’ for why took part in the sickening disorder.

Joshua Stokes was described as ‘behaving like a wild animal’ as he repeatedly hurled bricks at police and tried to kick in the door of a passing bus in Newton Heath on July 31, Manchester Crown Court heard. CCTV played in court showed a bare-chested Stokes taking a ‘running leap’ at the bus doors before kicking them three times.

The bus driver, who was injured after being assaulted by another member of the mob, said the attack left him terrified.

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Police footage also showed Stokes, 25, smashing a brick into smaller pieces to be thrown at police, then a short while later repeatedly hurling bricks at officers. When he was arrested on a nearby street, he was said to be holding two pint glasses in his outstretched arms.

As police forced him to the floor he swung one of those glasses into the side of a Pc, causing it to shatter. The officer wasn’t injured. The court heard as he was arrested Stokes shouted: “You’re letting them take our kids. Protect our kids.”

Stokes had three previous convictions for four offences, including a section 18 wounding for which he was jailed for four years.

During the disorder, which took place outside a Holiday Inn on Oldham Road which was housing asylum seekers, including families and children, racist chants were heard and bricks and bottles were hurled at police and the hotel. A resident of the hotel was injured after he was hit by flying glass.

Manchester Crown Court