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A man charged in connection with disorder in both Liverpool and Rotherham has had the South Yorkshire element of the case against him dropped.

Christopher Clayton admitted taking part in rioting in Liverpool on 3 August but denied charges relating to the violence which broke out at a Holiday Inn Express in Manvers the following day.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told Sheffield Crown Court as the 66-year-old was facing sentence for more serious matters in Liverpool, it would not be pursuing the other charges.

Clayton, of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said Clayton had filmed himself making disparaging remarks about police officers outside the hotel in South Yorkshire, but appeared to have left the scene before the situation erupted into major mob violence.

He said the CPS had “reviewed the situation” and decided to “offer no evidence” for the Rotherham charges of violent disorder and a racially aggravated public order offence.

Dozens of men have now been sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court following the hotel riot, which saw the building, housing more than 200 asylum seekers, besieged by people trying to set it on fire.

More than 50 police officers were injured, as well as police horses and dogs, and the asylum seekers and staff trapped in the hotel feared they would be burnt alive, a previous sentencing heard.

In Merseyside the total arrests made in relation to the riots so far stands at 136, with 94 people charged and 73 sentenced to a total of 156 years and six months in prison.

BBC News

Two men have appeared in court for their roles in recent violent disorder.

Philip Hoban, 48, was convicted at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after being charged with causing racially, religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress through words at disorder at Victoria Square in Leeds on 3 August.

Hoban, of Northcote Crescent, Leeds, will be sentenced at the city’s crown court on 15 August.

Meanwhile, Christopher Clayton, 66, also appeared before magistrates charged with two counts of violent disorder in Rotherham and Merseyside.

Mr Clayton, of Station Cottages, Wakefield, was also charged with seven offences of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of an article of police uniform.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Leeds Crown Court on 15 August.

West Yorkshire Police said it had made a total 20 arrests related to the disorder since 3 August.

The force said it would “use the investigative tools available to us to bring those involved in the recent disorder to justice”.

BBC News

Two men appeared in court in Leeds today after being charged as part of a continuing investigation into recent disorder in West Yorkshire.

Philip Hoban, 48, of Northcote Crescent in Leeds was convicted at Leeds Magistrates Court on Thursday (August 8), after being charged with causing racially and religiously aggravated harassment as well as alarm and distress through words.

Christopher Clayton, 66, of Station Cottages in Wakefield also appeared before court on Thursday charged with one offence of violent disorder in Rotherham and one offence of violent disorder in Merseyside.

He was also charged with seven offences of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of an article of police uniform.

The 66-year-old was remanded in custody and he, along with Hoban, will appear before Leeds Crown Court for sentencing on August 15.

West Yorkshire Police said it has made a total of 20 arrests since August 3, and that it will use “all the investigative tools available” to bring those involved in recent disorder to justice.

On Wednesday (August 7), five men aged between 16 and 31 were charged with offences including racially aggravated harassment, affray and intent to stir racial hatred.

Four of the men will appear before Leeds Crown court for sentencing on Friday (August 9) – with the 16-year-old male set to appear on September 4.

Yorkshire post