Yob punched man in the face during large-scale disorder in Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A yob punched a man in the face who had 'tried to gauge the crowd' during large-scale disorder in Manchester city centre. Lee Upton, 54, was caught on CCTV punching the man who had walked into a crowd of people in Piccadilly Gardens on August 3.

He was then 'taken out' by the police who were attempting to quell the violence. Upton, of Wythenshawe, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

He was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on August 22. READ MORE: 'Justice is coming': Prosecutors issue stark warning as first man jailed in Manchester over riots Prosecuting, Nicola Dunkerley said that Upton was seen throwing a punch towards a man who had entered the crowd. "This was a mixed race male who was trying to gauge protestors," she said. "The defendant comes and throws a punch at the male, then is taken out by police due to risk of enticing further violence." Mitigating, Rob Moussalli said Upton suffers from dementia and he was 'drunk' at the time. "He is remorseful about it," he added.

Upton, of Bailey Lane, was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court next week. "I assume you have seen a lot of publicity that has been reported for a number of people who have been sentenced in relation to the violent disorder - you are one of them," District Judge Jane Hamilton said. "Pictures from the CCTV show you were part of a large group of mostly males - and are alleged to have struck another gentleman in the face."