A man cried in court as he and his partner admitted joining in the disorder that broke out in Hartlepool on Wednesday night.
Steven Mailen, 54, of Elliott Street, Hartlepool, and Ryan Sheers, 28, of Powlett Street, each admitted a single charge of violent disorder during a series of hearings for seven defendants at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
Paul Doney, prosecuting, said around 200 people gathered on Wednesday in the town centre and police were deployed to maintain order.
The march moved towards mosques and a community centre, Mr Doney said, and officers came under attack from bricks, eggs and other weapons.
Disorder lasted for several hours and a police car was torched, the prosecution said.
Mailen was “constantly in the face of officers” and was gesticulating towards them, shouting, until he was struck on the leg by an officer’s extendable baton.
His partner Sheers, who wept during the hearing, was then bitten on the hip by a police dog, the court heard.
He had been trying to push through the police cordon, shouting and refusing to move away.
The defendants, who have no previous convictions, were granted bail by District Judge Helen Cousins to appear before Teesside Crown Court for sentencing on September 2.
Sheers, formerly a McDonalds worker, was emotional and said: “Thank you judge, thank you.”
The pair covered their faces as they left court.
When asked why they got involved, Sheers replied: “Didn’t get involved in nothing.”
Asked about his actions, he replied: “We didn’t smash no town up.”
Asked if they regretted getting involved, he said: “We didn’t get involved.”
Asked why they pleaded guilty, Sheers said: “Wrong place, wrong time, sir.”
Five other defendants were remanded in custody to appear before the same court on the same day.
Anthony Allen, 42, of Ormesby Road, Hartlepool, was charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.
James Elliott, 41, of Raby Road, Hartlepool, was with him in the dock, charged with violent disorder.
Peter Clark, 47, of no fixed address, appearing separately, was charged with violent disorder and exposure after allegedly showing his buttocks and genitalia to police.
No pleas were entered to any of the charges.
John Barton, 33, of Duke Street, Hartlepool, and Dylan Wiley, 28, of St Catherine’s Court, appeared in the dock together at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, charged with violent disorder.
Wiley is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a plank of wood.
Mr Doney, prosecuting, said Barton threw bricks at the police and was arrested after he was bitten by a police dog.
The prosecution said Wylie was caught on body-worn camera footage throwing missiles, shouting at police and threatening to hit them with a large piece of wood.
They denied the charges.