Man who ‘took delight’ in throwing bricks at police jailed

A man who appeared to “take delight” in throwing bricks at police outside a hotel which housed asylum seekers has been jailed for two years and 10 months.

Paul Smith, 21, of Keynsham Road, Manchester, was sentenced after pleading guilty to violent disorder during the riot outside the Holiday Inn in Newton Heath on 31 July.

Smith was seen throwing bricks and a glass bottle towards police officers and vehicles in footage shown to Manchester Crown Court.

Janet Potter of the Crown Prosecution Service said the sentence “sends another message” that offenders who took part in riots would be “rapidly dealt with”.

‘Ugly events’

Smith was tracked down after Greater Manchester Police reviewed CCTV and body worn camera footage of the riot where a group of men tried to storm the hotel and attack asylum seekers.

Prosecutor Philip Hall said Smith was “smiling, and appears to be taking some delight from the event” in the footage.

Ms Potter said he had been jailed for his part in the “ugly events of that evening”, and added “justice was coming” for others involved in the disorder.

The court also imposed a seven-year criminal behaviour order on Smith.

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man from Bury, was also jailed at the same court for carrying out a “spinning kick” against a shop window.

Oliver Chapman, 23, of Duke Street, Radcliffe, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for violent disorder.

During a police interview, Chapman admitted kicking a shop front, saying: “I’d done a silly spinning kick to it.”

Judge John Potter told Chapman that he had taken part in an “incident of lawlessness” and “violently kicked a glass door”.

BBC News