THE Warrington man jailed for four years for using a social networking site to incite disorder at the time of the riots will have to wait until next week to find out the result of his appeal against the sentence.
Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, aged 22, (pictured) of Richmond Avenue, Westy, was one of 10 people appearing at the Court of Appeal yesterday claiming the sentences imposed were disproportionate because they were too severe.
The riots were treated by the courts as unprecedented disorder, justifying a departure from normal sentencing guidelines.
The Lord Chief Justice and two other judges reserved judgement until next week after hearing the appeals.
They will have to decide if the sentences were justified and their decision is likely to be followed by other courts as more people involved in the riots appear before courts across the country.
Sutcliffe-Keenan was jailed by Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty.
The court heard he had set up a page called “Warrington riots” on Facebook in which he encouraged people to take part in disorder in the town.
No riots occurred, but as a result of Sutcliffe-Keenan actions, rumours spread throughout Warrington that gangs of youths were rioting in the town and some businesses closed, or prepared to close.
There were reports of trouble at Latchford, Orford Lane and other areas – all of which were false.
The appeal court heard that Sutcliffe-Keenan made his post as a joke, later thought better of it and removed it from the social networking site. But by that time more than 40 people had responded to it and he was later arrested.
THE Warrington man jailed for four years for using a social networking
site to incite disorder at the time of the riots will have to wait until next week to find out the result of his appeal against the sentence.Riot man waits for appeal result
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
