Individual Sentenced for Assault on Bus Driver During Manchester Riot

An individual has received a jail sentence for perpetrating a “violent and unprovoked attack” against a bus driver amidst a riot in Manchester. Jack Cregan, aged 32, informed law enforcement that he was engaged in criminal activity in Derbyshire when the violent disorder occurred on Oldham Road in Newton Heath on 31 July, asserting that they had apprehended the incorrect person. However, video recordings discovered on his mobile phone, which he had concealed but left in vibrate mode, demonstrated his presence at the scene. His sentence was two and a half years. Examination of the mobile phone confirmed that Cregan, residing at Argyll Close, Failsworth, was present on Oldham Road during the disturbance. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) stated that the device was discovered taped beneath a kitchen cabinet at his residence, having been left on vibrate, with GMP commenting that “all it took was one phone call to unravel his lies.” The police force further noted that, to date, 20 individuals have been sentenced in connection with the disorder in Newton Heath. Separately, Colin Brown, 37 years old, received a sentence of two years and four months in prison for his involvement in a riot that occurred in Piccadilly Gardens within the city on 3 August. Brown admitted guilt to charges of violent disorder and robbery. GMP reported that he was a member of the group that broke through metal barriers, yelled at and provoked other protest groups, and took a scarf by pulling it from an individual’s face. The force also indicated that he was involved with a group that assaulted a man. Detective Chief Inspector Jill Billington stated that officers are dedicated to safeguarding communities and are persisting in their investigations into individuals implicated in “deplorable and unnecessary violence.”