A man has confessed to throwing a missile at police during the “shameful disorder” that gripped Bolton town centre last week. Niall Charnock, 31, was brought before Manchester Magistrates Court on the morning of Monday August 12, just over a week after the violent scenes that broke out on Sunday August 4. Prosecutor Tess Kenyon told the court that Charnock had been “actively involved” in the disturbances and social media footage had shown him breaking through a police barricade.
Ms Kenyon said: “He was captured on further footage throwing a missile at an officer.” Charnock, of Edward Street, Farnworth , is one of several people from the borough to have been involved in the chaotic scenes that unfolded around Victoria Square and Bradshawgate. The disorder broke out on Sunday August 4 (Image: Phil Taylor) He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was remanded into custody by District Judge Joanne Hirst who told him he had been part of “shameful disorder” in Bolton town centre.
Charnock will be brought before Bolton Crown Court on Monday, August 19 to learn his fate. Disturbances were widespread not only in Bolton that Sunday but also in Manchester the day before and across the whole country that week. In Bolton protesters gathered at Victoria Square in support of a self-styled “Enough is Enough: Take Back Our Country” rally, while counter-protesters gathered on the other side.
A stand-off ensued that afternoon both at Victoria Square and at a second interfac.