More thugs face court in wake of violent scenes

Children among accused after sickening incidents

- JOSEPH TIMAN

TWO more thugs have admitted their involvement in a sickening mob attack on a black man during violent scenes in Piccadilly Gardens after ‘protesters’ flooded into Manchester city centre.

A teenager has also pleaded guilty to violent disorder having been accused of confronting cops, breaking through a barrier and snatching beer from someone leaving a shop.

Large-scale disruption hit the city centre last Saturday following a demonstration dubbed ‘Enough is Enough’. Counter-protesters also gathered as tensions flared.

So far, 16 people have admitted their part in ugly scenes in the city centre; disorder outside a hotel in Newton Heath; and trouble in Bolton. More appeared before District Judge Lucy Hogarth yesterday.

Kane Kelly, 23, of Woodford Road, Failsworth, Oldham, and Daniel Hanslip, 33, of Central Avenue, Shipley, West Yorks, were remanded into custody after admitting their guilt in relation to the attack in Piccadilly Gardens by dozens of thugs.

Prosecutor Karen Saffman said members of the mob shouted ‘kill him’ and ‘stamp on his f*****g face’.

District Judge Hogarth described the incident as a ‘racially aggravated assault’.

The court heard Hanslip was seen throwing security fencing before joining a ‘melee’ alongside Kelly.

Kelly appeared to join the ‘group assault’, the court heard. Ms Saffman said the two men were identified in footage from the incident.

Both men will be sentenced at the Crown court on August 16.

No application for bail was made for Kelly, who has no previous convictions.