Wrexham man jailed for his part in Caia Park protest

Thomas Clarke, of St David's Crescent in Wrexham, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Friday.

The 25-year-old had previously admitted violent disorder, criminal damage and sending an offensive message.

David Mainstone, prosecuting, told the court the incident, which happened on April 11, came about after a group of people believed a convicted sex offender was staying at the property.

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What began at around 8pm as a group of around 30 people holding signs stating "get the nonces out" quickly escalated as people streamed the incident on social media.

Before long, hundreds of people filled the street and began shouting, some even throwing missiles at the property in question and at police.

There was one group within the crowd who appeared the "most vocal," Mr Mainstone said - and this group included Clarke.

He encouraged others to take action, the court heard, and at one point took up a piece of wood and smashed a car windscreen.

As the situation unfolded, many other people damaged vehicles and the home - with one youth seen smashing at the door of the property with a bat.

Eventually, members of the family in the house were escorted out under police protection.

One of them received a cut to the leg after a bottle was thrown and another fell and dislocated a shoulder.

After they left, it took until 1am for the crowd to disperse - by which time most if not all of the windows of the house had been smashed and cars in the driveway were left dented with broken windows.

The scene of the incident

Six police vehicles were damaged, costing almost £3,500 to repair - and the incident as a whole cost the public purse £62,000 given the large scale police response, which included a helicopter on scene.

Mr Mainstone said the defendant was "party to the overall incident and jointly responsible for what occurred," with him having been present from the early stages.

And the court heard the person the protest was aimed at was never at the property that night.

The night after the incident Clarke was streaming a video of himself outside the property of "another suspected sex offender."

He invited others to join him and repeated messages encouraging people to 'get nonces out of the park now.'

When he was arrested and his phone was checked, it was discovered there was a photo of the front door of the property from the April 11 incident - suggesting a degree of planning.

He also admitted having gone to the property prior to the large incident and damaged a fence.

Thomas Clarke. Image: North Wales Police

Mr Mainstone read victim impact statements from the family members who were escorted out by police that night.

They told of a terrifying experience which caused them flashbacks and made them never want to return to Wrexham "ever again."

Those concerned now live out of the area and have lost jobs and friends following the protest.

They rely on foodbanks and remain scared of the repercussions of people finding out who they are and the incident starting again, the court heard.

Philip Tully, defending, said while his client admitted being involved in the situation with others, he asked that Clarke was not made to "carry the can" for the whole group.

He continued: "He has lost his employment due to his conduct and expressed genuine remorse.

"He accepts what he did was wrong and that he deserves to be punished."

Judge Timothy Petts told the defendant: "There is no place in this country for vigilante justice.

"What you did was motivated by hatred towards a convicted sex offender and by extension his family.

"That is intolerable.

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"Significant distress was caused to the family.

"The person you were targeting was not there.

"You bear a high degree of responsibility for what happened that night - you were clearly one of the ringleaders - encouraging others, retrieving bricks and smashing a window.

The Judge handed down a sentence of three years and two months in jail for the violent disorder, with no separate penalty on the other charges.

Clarke was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting named members of the family affected by the incident.

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