Nearly five years ago, the Limeside estate in Oldham became a scene of racially-charged violent disorder when two groups clashed on a May afternoon.

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was campaigning ahead of the European elections as he was standing as a candidate in the North West.

The English Defence League founder visited Oldham as part of his campaigning on Saturday, May 18, 2019.

This visit led to a large-scale disturbance in the area which lasted for around two hours before the crowds eventually dispersed.

Now, nearly five years later, 25 men have all been sentenced for their roles in the violent disorder that day. 

Dozens involved in violent disorder

Tommy Robinson's supporters had gathered on Seventh Avenue, Limeside, with many congregated around the street's roundabout.

However, dozens of other people, largely made up of Asian-British men, arrived on Seventh Avenue, where they were met with a row of police officers who were separating the two groups.

During the fracas, which involved 80 to 100 men, a number of objects were thrown and damage was caused to police vehicles.

Objects thrown included eggs, stones, bricks, bottles, scissors, door handles and paving slabs, with some of the items used as missiles having been brought to the scene while others were taken from residents’ bins.

Some of those involved carried crowbars and paving slabs and racist taunts and slurs were exchanged.

Police at the scene were unable to contain the disorder and had missiles thrown at them and racial abuse directed at them.

Several people were struck by the items being thrown and one police officer was hit on the head by a brick, while another was hit by a firework.

During the violence, a woman was punched in the head while trying to separate two people before she was escorted away by police carrying riot shields.

Eventually, the crowds died down and the violent disorder came to an end.

However, 25 men deemed to have broken the law have now been punished for their actions.

Sentencings

The sentencings took place at Minshull Street Crown Court over four separate hearings between January last year and last week.

On January 13, 2023, six men were sentenced by Judge Bernadette Baxter:

  • Mikhail Ahmed, 23, of Cummings Street, Oldham, received nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work
  • Luke Tucker, 23, of Napier Street East, Oldham, received nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work
  • Jayden Mack, 21, of Parkfield Avenue, Oldham, received nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work
  • Dillan Simpson, of South Croft, Oldham, received nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work
  • Kieran Edwards, 29, of Hollins Road, Oldham, received 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work
  • Dean Coleman, 36, of Bury New Road, Heywood, received nine months in prison

After not attending on January 13, Matthew Henry was sentenced four days later on January 17, when he received nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also sentenced to four days in prison for his Bail Act offence when he failed to turn up at the prior hearing.

On Monday, April 8, the second round of sentencings took place before Judge Baxter:

  • Mubasher Khan, 32, of Worcester Street, Oldham, received nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months
  • Majid Khan, 34, also of Worcester Street, had a warrant for his arrest issued
  • Kamran Ali, 31, of Savoy Street, Oldham, received 10 months in prison, suspended for 12 months
  • Faraz Ahmed, 36, of Frederick Street, Oldham, received three years and three months in prison for an arson charge as well as 12 months for the violent disorder, bringing his total time in custody to four years and three months
  • Salman Ahmed, 25, Tamworth Street, Oldham, received 10 months in prison, suspended for 12 months
  • Mohammed Zeeshan Khan, 25, of Cotton Mill Crescent, Oldham, received 10 months in prison, suspended for 12 months
  • Hadir Ali, 29, of Lee Street, Oldham, was serving a sentence for separate offending at the time of the sentence and was given an extra seven months in custody

A week later, on Monday, April 15, a further seven men were sentenced by Judge Baxter:

  • Zeeshauan Khan, 21, of Worcester Street, Oldham, received nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months
  • Amaan Khan, 23, of Chester Street, Oldham, received nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months
  • Atiq Urrehman, 32, of Edilmon Road, Crumpsall, received nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months
  • Milad Sarwar, 24, of Coniston Avenue, Oldham, received nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months
  • Mohammed Rahman, 36, of Stockfield Road, Chadderton, received nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work
  • Mohammed Ahmed, 32, of Bankside Close, Oldham, received eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months
  • Rameez Ahmed, 32, of Ronald Street, Oldham, received nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work

Two days later, on Wednesday, April 17, Judge Matthew Corbett-Jones sentenced the last four men:

  • Abdul Nazir, 31, of Hardy Street, Oldham, received a conditional discharge of 24 months
  • Amaan Ulhaq, 23, of Frederick Street, Oldham, received a community order of 12 months, ordering him to attend 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement
  • Anwar Hussion, 26, of Melbourne Street, Chadderton, received a community order of 12 months, requiring him to attend 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work
  • Haroon Hussain, of Essex Street, Halifax, received 23 months in prison suspended for two years, and must attend 19 sessions of a thinking skills programme, 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was sentenced for violent disorder as well as possession of cannabis and two counts of racial harassment relating to a separate incident which took place in Bradford on January 2, 2022