Two Cheshire men jailed for facebook riot messages

By Natasia Moore

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Two men have been jailed from Cheshire for inciting disorder via social networking sites.

The pair, who appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, were arrested last week following incidents of violent disorder in London and other cities across the UK.

Jordan Blackshaw, 20, of Vale Road in Marston near Northwich, was sentenced to 4 years behind bars.

Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, of Richmond Avenue, Warrington, was sentenced to 4 years behind bars.

During the sentencing the Recorder of Chester Elgin Edwards praised the swift actions of Cheshire Police and said he hoped the sentences would act as a deterrent to others.

Assistant Chief Constable Phil Thompson said:

"If we cast our minds back just a few days to last week and recall the way in which technology was used to spread incitement and bring people together to commit acts of criminality it is easy to understand the four year sentences that were handed down in court today.

"In Cheshire, we quickly recognised the impact of the situation on our communities and the way in which social media was being used to promote and incite behaviour that would strike fear in to the hearts of our communities.

"From the offset Cheshire Constabulary adopted a robust policing approach using the information coming into the organisation to move quickly and effectively against any person whose behaviour was likely to encourage criminality. Officers took swift action against those people who have been using Facebook and other social media sites to incite disorder.

"The sentences passed down today recognise how technology can be abused to incite criminal activity and sends a strong message to potential troublemakers about the extent to which ordinary people value safety and order in their lives and their communities. Anyone who seeks to undermine that will face the full force of the law.”