Two boys sentenced for rioting outside hotel

The Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth was targeted in the disorder

Two boys have been sentenced for rioting outside a hotel used by asylum seekers – actions that were part of widespread disorder seen in the UK last summer.

The pair, aged 14 and 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in January to their role in violence outside a Holiday Inn in Tamworth, Staffordshire, on 4 August.

A judge told the older boy his actions were "fuelled by hatred for those who didn't look like you or sound like you".

The 14-year-old was given a 12-month community sentence and the 17-year old - who had thrown a beer can, injuring a police officer - given a 16-month custodial sentence, half of which will be spent in detention and half in the community.

Despite her injuries, the officer stayed on duty, the court heard, having been shown video of the missile striking her while the 17-year-old was near police front lines.

"I feared for my life," she said. "I have two children who are my world. I feared with the violence I encountered my children would be left without a mother."

Further video footage showed both teenagers as part of a group at the side of the hotel where a window was smashed before a fire was started inside.

The 17-year-old could also be seen ripping out a car park barrier, with the help of others, to use as a weapon.

The prosecution said the teen had told police during an interview that he was "embarrassed and sorry" for ripping out the barrier and ramming it at officers.

He took part in the worst violence, the prosecution argued, adding he also used a tree branch to ram officers, and had instigated the ripping out of the car park barrier.

'Fuelled by hatred'

District Judge Kevin Grego told the older of the two boys: "Your actions were fuelled by hatred for those who didn't look like you or sound like you - I would be failing in my public duty if I didn't impose a custodial sentence.

"I have to consider the welfare of the child before me and counter balance that against the gravity of the offence," he added.

In addition to the 17-year-old's 16-month sentence for rioting - the most serious of public order offences - he was given a four-month sentence for assaulting a police officer, to run concurrently.

High-profile pockets of disorder broke out in areas of England and Northern Ireland last summer in the wake of the killings of three children at a dance class in Southport. Social media posts at the time had erroneously stated a man suspected of the knife attacks was an illegal migrant.

The elder boy's defence lawyer Mr Harpreet Jhawar said his behaviour last August was "an isolated, unprecedented event" and that the teenager's parents did not recognise those actions.

"The young man is not the one you've seen on the video today," Mr Jhawar said.

The teenager expressed regret, remorse and had experienced low mood since the incident, Mr Jhawar told the court.

He added the events had also had an affect on the teenager's physical and mental health.

Neither boy had previous convictions, the court was told.

The Staffordshire force has arrested more than 240 suspects so far in connection with violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth, and a total of 91 people have so far been charged.

In addition to the two boys, 58 others have been sentenced.