Climbing up scaffolding, storming Sainsbury's and trying to smash a window... all 'a bit of fun'

A thug who ‘randomly’ attacked shops and climbed up scaffolding thought his crimes were ‘a bit of fun’, a judge said.

Daylan Burgess, 20, has been jailed for his role in large-scale disorder which broke out in Piccadilly Gardens. Far-right activists had organised a demonstration for August 3 after three young girls died in Southport.

There was a large police presence as officers tried to keep the far-right group and counter protesters away from each other. Burgess’s lawyer said the defendant had ‘no understanding’ of the issues behind the demonstration, as he was jailed for 16 months.

READ MORE: Incredible aerial footage shows the true scale of Levenshulme fire with huge plumes of smoke billowing from blaze

Manchester Crown Court heard that Burgess, who had his face covered, was caught on camera having climbed to the top of some scaffolding in Piccadilly Gardens. He climbed back down and joined a ‘mob’ which had then moved down Mosley Street.

The store was looted, as innocent members of the public tried to do their shopping. Burgess, of Regent Square, Salford, stormed into the store with others and caused damage by knocking items from shelves.

Shortly after, he picked up a ‘large road sign’ and launched it at the window of a vape shop further down the street, as others also attacked it. Burgess was identified from footage where his face covering had slipped. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

“You later remarked you thought doing this amounted to having a bit of fun,” Judge John Potter said of the defendant. Speaking of the incident in Sainsbury’s, he added: “Customers and staff in the shop were terrified as over £300 worth of damage was caused.”

Defending, Michael Johnson appealed for the judge to spare Burgess from being sent to prison, noting he has been diagnosed with ADHD and autism. “He is suggestive, immature, and prone to acting upon impulse,” Mr Johnson said. “He was a follower and not a leader on that day.

“He has no interest and in fact no understanding of any of the controversies that may have played a part in these events. He simply went along with it for reasons that he cannot really explain.”

But the judge ruled that Burgess’ actions warranted an immediate prison sentence. He told the defendant: “Your willingness to view violence and then cause damage, randomly, to two shops in a group shows, in my judgement, you pose a danger to the public.”