Rioter pushed burning bin towards police cordon after violence erupted at Middlesbrough protest

Paul Smith was jailed for 22 months following violent disorder in Middlesbrough

A rioter pushed a bin towards a police cordon after violence erupted at a far-right protest.

Paul Smith, 24, was locked up for 22 months at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, following riots in Middlesbrough on Sunday, August 4. The court heard Smith was seen on Ayresome Street among a group of males who were trying to set alight a Biffa bin.

The Middlesbrough defendant was seen with a lighter before pushing the bin into the police cordon. A second bin, a household wheelie bin, was also set alight and pushed into the police cordon.

The St Catherine’s Court defendant was jailed for 22 months for violent disorder. Teesside Live previously reported how protestors stormed Middlesbrough town centre in August after a week of violence across the country in protests organised by far-right and anti-immigration groups.

Cars were torched, windows were smashed and police were attacked in the shameful violence. In recent weeks, countless rioters have been jailed on Teesside with police still tracing suspects.

Following the troubles, Cleveland Police launched an investigation to identify individuals suspected of being involved. Codenamed Operation Acorn is led by detectives in the force’s homicide and major enquiry team.

Gazette Live