Mum who took baby in pram to Manchester riot sentenced

A mother who took her baby to a riot has been told she was “misguided, naive and immature” by a judge.

Nevey Smith, 21, of West Street, Oldham, joined a mob outside the Holiday Inn in Newton Heath, Manchester, on 31 July while pushing her 20-month old son in a pram.

Smith, who had thrown water at police who were trying to keep the peace, admitted violent disorder and was given a community order at Manchester Crown Court.

A mob had been throwing bottles, bricks and eggs at the hotel during nationwide unrest after three girls were stabbed at a holiday club in Southport on 29 July.

Judge Patrick Field KC told Smith that she had a “lot to learn” and “quite a lot of growing up to do”.

He said: “You chose to join (the disorder) notwithstanding that you had your 20-month-old child in a pushchair.

“What on earth were you thinking? I doubt you had his safety in mind.”

He said that her role was “minimal and peripheral” as she had not been involved in throwing bricks or encouraging others to do so.

The protest at the hotel was part of a wave of disorder which swept across the country in the aftermath of a knife attack in Southport in which three children were killed.

Daniel Calder, defending, told the court that Smith had not set out to attend the protest on the day, and had been passing the riot when she “foolishly” got involved.

He said that Smith had not expressed discriminatory views and did not know what an asylum seeker is.

Smith was handed a community order and made to attend reviews at a women’s problem-solving court, and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Her mother, Vanessa Smith, 42, was also at the protest and admitted violent disorder.

She will be sentenced on Thursday.

Judge Patrick Field previously warned the grandmother that “all sentencing options” would be open to her, including “a custodial sentence”.