Disorder accused was caught on CCTV, trial hears

Trouble erupted in the Harehills area of Leeds on 18 July last year

A man who denies being part of a crowd which threw items at police during disorder in Leeds last year was spotted on CCTV footage from the scene, a court has been told.

Catalin Tiuga, 41, of Bayswater Crescent, Leeds, denies charges of arson and violent disorder during the trouble in Harehills in July 2024.

The disorder took place after four children were removed from their family into emergency care, and it culminated in a police car being tipped over and a double-decker bus being torched.

On the first day of his trial at Leeds Crown Court, prosecutor Richard Holland told the jury that while Mr Tiuga claimed he did not take part, "there is no dispute he is guilty as he was seen on CCTV".

While Mr Tiuga maintained he was not there, he "just cannot bear to admit involvement", Mr Holland told the court.

Jury members must make their decision based on footage taken at the time of the disorder, he said.

The court was shown still images from CCTV footage which Mr Holland said showed Mr Tiuga with a lighter he later used to set alight some cardboard boxes.

"He then joined the crowd as they marched at police and he was seen throwing bottles at police," Mr Holland said.

"The suspect was also in CCTV being seen buying a can of something in a shop and you can see two moles on the person's face that are in the same position as the defendant in real life.

"The jury has to decide if the defendant has been correctly identified in the CCTV."

The trial of Mr Tiuga is being held at Leeds Crown Court

During the first day of Mr Tiuga's trial, the jury also heard witness statements from police officers who attended the disorder.

PC Ryan Gill, from West Yorkshire Police, said in his statement that he had been at the scene to help social services remove the children from the family home.

The children were being put into emergency foster care due to concerns they would be taken out of the UK, but they were later returned to members of their extended family, the court heard.

In his statement, Mr Gill said: "The scene became extremely volatile and I shouted for further police units to attend quickly."

He added that the crowd of what was originally about 10 to 15 people started getting bigger and they started throwing stones and other objects at officers.

"It descended into violent disorder as multiple vehicles were damaged, a bus was set on fire and police vehicles were broken into and set alight too," Mr Gill said.

In another statement heard by the court, PC Mark Pritchett said there was "an excess of 100 people" at one point.

"We tried to push people back so the fire service could put out the fire, but the vans were being hit by numerous missiles so we were told to withdraw," he said.

The trial continues.

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