Man, 21, armed himself with piece of wood during protest

He found the makeshift weapon in garden

- Sentinel Reporter

A MAN who picked up a piece of wood as a riot gripped Hanley has been jailed.

Kenneth Fern, aged 21, held it as he walked towards counter-protesters near a mosque in Town Road on August 3 last year.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he did not throw anything towards the rival group or the police and there was no evidence of him making any racial comments. But the judge said there was religious hostility during the disturbance which was an aggravating feature.

Now Fern has been jailed for 27 months. Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said Fern was captured on CCTV getting close to the police line. Miss Cortese said: "He took issue with not being able to go on his way and argued with the police officer.