Jamie Latham, 38, from Stockton, was jailed for 33 months for his part in violent disorder in Middlesbrough. He was arrested by officers as he landed at Newcastle Airport from a flight from Alicante, after two years on the run.
Latham was wanted after leading a march along Linthrope Road before kicking and punching police officers. Police said he then fled the country and is believed to have travelled to various countries in Europe.
Social Media Mocks 'Turkey Teeth'
When Cleveland Police posted his grinning mugshot online, social media users joked about his teeth, with one saying: "He obviously fled to Turkey judging by that smile." Another user commented: "Those teeth made him stand out like a sore thumb, he could have evaded capture if it wasn’t for those teeth!"
A third remarked: "He's been to Turkey, nice job giving him a welcome home party!" Several users also commented on his tan, with one saying: "Been to tan-tastic as well by the looks of it." Another joked: "He should take more care with his skin in the sun."
Arrest and Conviction
Cleveland Police said Latham was wanted on suspicion of violent disorder and was arrested in June after they were tipped off he was travelling back to the UK. He returned from the Costa Blanca nearly two years after the riots took place.
Footage showed Latham repeatedly throwing right hooks at officers and kicking shields during the violence. He was caught on camera hitting one police officer in the face. Another officer was kicked and stamped on by a crowd after being dragged to the ground.
Judge's Sentencing Remarks
Latham had 11 convictions on his criminal record, including spitting at and charging towards fans at football matches and assaulting an emergency worker, police said. Judge Richard Bennett described Latham as one of the "main agitators in ugly and violent disorder" and jailed him for 33 months.
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Sutherland said the level of violence faced by officers in the summer of 2024 was unprecedented. He added that assaulting police officers was completely unacceptable.
