'You got a problem with us English, bro?': Hooligan punched and kicked black man during sickening attack amid disorder in Manchester city centre - as crowds cheered

A man has admitted his involvement in 'shameful and frightening civil disorder' following an attack on a black man in Manchester city centre. Joseph Ley, 30, from Stockport, was one of a 'large group of white males who surrounded a black male' on August 3 in Piccadilly Gardens.

Ley hissed: "You got a problem with us English, bro?" He then grabbed the man, with both hands around his neck, and pushed him to the floor. He then punched the man in the face, Manchester Magistrates' Court heard.

"The complainant tried to stand up, this defendant forcefully kicked him to the left side of the face," prosecutor Robin Lynch said. Ley kicked the man again, knocking him to the floor. A crowd began to gather around to 'cheer and clap' before another man appeared to throw a metal fence towards the victim, which missed.

READ MORE: All the thugs who have pleaded guilty so far amid violent disorder in Greater Manchester

Ley kicked the man again before another man punched him. Others joined in the attack. "Kill him... stamp on his f***ing face," one person was heard saying.

The man was chased by members of the group as the crowd chanted: "Save our kids, save our kids." Police then surrounded the victim to protect him.

Ley was later arrested, with officers finding a baton at his house. He was said to have previous convictions for violence. Applying for bail, defence lawyer Simon Morton said his client handed himself into the police when he was aware they had been to his address. “He was cooperative and fully transparent,” he said.

Remanding him into custody, District Judge Joanne Hirst said: "This was shameful and frightening civil disorder in which a man was attacked by you due to his race."

Ley, of Hollywood Towers, will next appear