Man admits attacking police officer in disorder

Andrew Townley was remanded into custody after pleading guilty to two charges

A man accused of assaulting a female police officer during unrest in Stoke-on-Trent has pleaded guilty to two charges.

Andrew Townley, 45, of Hanley, admitted violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday.

He was remanded into custody to reappear at the court for sentencing on 20 September.

Staffordshire Police said officers were hit and pelted with missiles during clashes in Hanley on 3 August amid widespread disorder in the UK.

The force has arrested more than 70 people and charged 30 following the disorder in the city and in Tamworth the following day.

Riots and anti-immigration protests took place in the country at the start of August.

The unrest followed the fatal stabbings of three girls in Southport in July and was fuelled by false online rumours online that the suspect in the killings was an asylum seeker.