One of the “leading” troublemakers during notorious scenes of mass disorder in Hull deliberately set fire to a car – leaving it “engulfed in flames” – during a frightening day of violence in August.
Father-of-six Tony Mulchinock smashed the window of a car that was parked at one of the worst scenes of trouble – a garage – and he set light to it during “12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence”, Hull Crown Court heard.
Mulchinock, 35, of Stroud Crescent West, Bransholme, Hull, admitted offences of violent disorder and arson on August 3. He was the latest in a whole series of troublemakers to be brought before the court in custody in the months since the outbreak of violence that day.
The court was shown CCTV pictures of a large mob outside the Royal Hotel in Ferensway, Hull, where asylum seekers were being housed at the time. Police formed a protective line outside the hotel but came under attack from troublemakers gathering there.
Mulchinock was there throughout the day and he was shown being aggressive towards police officers and kicking a police car. He was later seen outside a garage. He leaned inside a silver VW Passat car and set it alight. The car was completely destroyed by fire.
The blaze was started while people, including children, shut themselves inside the garage in fear for their safety. Threats to kill them were made, the court heard.
Billy Torbett, mitigating, said that Mulchinock pleaded guilty at an early stage and he was realistic that he faced a prison sentence. “He understands just how his actions have contributed to such mass-scale disorder and upset within Hull,” said Mr Torbett.
“He maintains that he was there by chance. He had initially got the bus from Bransholme into town to meet his friend. He saw a commotion regarding the protests and walked past to place his Saturday bet at William Hill.
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“He states that he wasn’t part of the riots and the disorderly conduct at the very outset. He accepts, quite frankly, that when he was struck by an officer with a truncheon for a second time, he lost his head.
“At this point, he proceeded to kick the door of a police vehicle and his involvement escalated. He then set fire to a vehicle, which had already been significantly damaged.
“But he maintains that he did not have any involvement in arranging the riot and, when he first arrived in the city centre that day, he was not at the forefront of the disorder.
“Clearly, upon arriving in the city centre and witnessing such chaos, he should have made the obvious decision to go home. Irrespective of how he became involved, the simple fact remains that he did become involved.
“His behaviour was unacceptable, which he knows, and he is significantly remorseful. He wishes to apologise to the police and to the courts for making everyone’s life difficult.”
Mulchinock had a conviction for wounding, dating back 20 years from when he was a 15-year-old youth, but he had no previous convictions involving the police or racially aggravated offences, said Mr Torbett.
Mulchinock started work at the age of 16 and worked in industrial jobs.
His last employment was doing packing work in a warehouse three-and-a-half years ago. “This employment was lost due to him being homeless and living on the streets,” said Mr Torbett. Mulchinock has been in custody on remand since September 25.
Judge John Thackray KC condemned the scenes of violence and said that Mulchinock played a “very prominent role” in the trouble. It formed part of “12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence” which caused immeasurable harm.
“You used a lighter to set fire to the vehicle, which was engulfed in flames,” said Judge Thackray. Mulchinock was present in the crowd outside the Royal Hotel, he was prominent confronting police and he played a leading role in the attack that included violence and aggressive behaviour.
He damaged a police car and he was very prominent in encouraging others at the garage. He set fire to the VW Passat and he was in the area close by to a BMW when it was attacked by a “baying mob”. The offences were racially aggravated.
Mulchinock was jailed for three years and nine months.