MULHOLLAND: LIFEGUARD JAILED FOR FONE WORLD LOOTING

A lifeguard who joined looters as they ransacked a phone shop during the riots was jailed for 13 months today (thurs).

As Aaron Mulholland, 30, was led from the dock his relatives hurled abuse at the judge, yelling: ‘That’s what you get for having good character,’ and: ‘You get less for rape!’

Mulholland had drunkenly followed looters into Fone World in Camberwell Church Street, south London, after leaving a nearby pub in the early hours of August 9, the third day of the unrest.

Inner London Crown Court heard he was caught by police crawling out of the store, which suffered £25,000 of losses, beneath forced security shutters.

Mulholland, who has no previous convictions, was empty handed.

Paul Rattigan, prosecuting, said: ‘One of the officers told him to stop but he ran away.

‘He was chased but was detained a short distance away.’

Mulholland said: ‘I ran because I was scared.’

The following morning once sober, he apologised to police for any trouble he caused, and was said to be remorseful, and ashamed for letting his family down.

The court heard a series of family tragedies had led him to develop a drink problem.

Passing sentence Judge Robert Fraser said though he was sure drink played a role: ‘You chose to go in.

‘You were intent on looting and you thought it was an opportunity too good to miss.

‘It is particularly tragic as you are a man of previous good character and members of your family are here to witness you being sentenced to a term of imprisonment for the first time.

‘There is another side of you but in cases of this kind good character carries less weight.’

The yelling from the public gallery continued as Mulholland, who showed no reaction, was led away, with one man shouting: ‘What a rip off.’

Another said: ‘Stay strong, love you bruv.’

Just a few minutes earlier the same judge jailed father-of-one Ian Blaize, 27, for 14 months for his role in looting at Argos, Ruislip, in the early hours of the same day.

Blaize, who has convictions for 15 offences going back to 2000, including attempted theft, taking a vehicle without consent, criminal damage and possession of a bladed article, stole a £250 Xbox from the Victoria Road store.

Mr Rattigan said when police went to the store they saw Blaize and another man walking away.

‘Blaize was holding something large underneath his arm,’ he said.

‘The officer shouted for the two males to stop and they both ran off in different directions.

‘Blaize dropped the item and it was subsequently found in a nearby garden.

‘It was a brand new Xbox in its packaging.’

Blaize was arrested nearby with black gloves in his pocket and told police: ‘You can just bail me, you know who I am.

‘I admit it but the door was open. It’s not a burglary it’s just a theft.’

The court heard that Blaize, who has been in a relationship for seven years and has a 21-month-old son, had not been in trouble for some time.

He claimed his involvement was a ‘moment of madness’ and asked for mercy.

Judge Fraser said: ‘You must have known very well how widespread the disorder was and devastation it had already caused.

‘Your partner has highlighted better aspects of you.

‘But my clear focus has to be public protection.

‘You have shown genuine remorse and this is a tragedy for members of your family having to witnes you being sentenced to custody.’

The judge left the room as Blaize’s girlfriend collapsed sobbing in the public gallery as she heard his fate and another family member pleaded as she comforted her: ‘Paedophiles get less.

‘There was no rioting in Ruislip.

‘Take my house and let the boy out on tag.’

Blaize, of Regina Road, Southall, west London and Mulholland, of Stacy Path, Camberwell, admitted separate counts of burglary.

ends