South Shields man jailed for his part in Sunderland riots back in court for racially abusing police officer

Dean Groenewald, 33, was caged for 26 weeks in August last year for throwing a brick towards police during a day of disturbance earlier that month.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder, with his actions being part of pockets of violence nationally which followed the murders of three children in Southport, Merseyside.

Groenewald, of Devonshire Street, Simonside, South Shields, was freed on licence but returned to crime on Thursday, August 7 of this year, a court heard.

After being detained for a stop search in Sunderland, he abused one policeman and kicked out towards his face, prosecutor John Garside said.

He also swore in calling another officer, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.

Groenewald pleaded guilty to charges of obstructing police, causing harassment, alarm or distress, assaulting a constable and racially aggravated harassment.

District Judge Zoe Passfield jailed him for 22 weeks but suspended the sentence for a year.

She told him: “All of these offences are made more serious because at that time you were on licence for the serious offence of violent disorder, which I see arose in Sunderland in August last year.”

In a victim statement, the officer who avoided the kick said he feared the situation with Groenewald would have worsened had his colleague not been present.

The officer racially abused said in his statement that Groenewald’s words had caused him upset.

Summarising his statement, Mr Garside added: “Despite having good intentions, he comes across people like the defendant who think it’s ok to treat officers with racial language to offend”.

Emily Baker Harrington, defending, said: “He pleaded guilty at different stages in the proceedings. He does accept full responsibility and culpability for his actions.

“He is remorseful and does regret his behaviour. The racial comment, he can’t describe why or justify why.

“I would submit that it’s out of character. I can’t go behind his previous convictions, but there’s nothing for racism.

“Post-trauma and thinking skills – these are areas that have contributed to his constant appearances at court.

“He’s on licence for another year and has been recalled twice on that sentence.

“He has his own accommodation and has an appointment with a dependency and recovery service around drug misuse.

“He is currently working with the Probation Service and is benefitting from its support.”

Judge Passfield handed Groenewald the 22-week suspended sentence for the charge of assaulting a constable.

For his racial abuse, he was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, with no separate penalty on the other matters.

He must also pay each officer £50 compensation, and there were £300 court costs.