Man is first to admit riot charge after disorder

Kieran Usher pleaded guilty to the charge of rioting

A man has become the first in the country to admit a charge of riot, after widespread disorder last month.

Kieran Usher, 32, of Sunderland, pleaded guilty to the charge during a short hearing at Newcastle Crown Court.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said he had been filmed working with a group of at least 20 people "to rain missiles onto attending police officers".

Judge Gittens told Usher he had pleaded guilty to "a very serious offence - but would receive a lot of credit for his early guilty plea".

He was remanded into custody and is expected to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 27 September.

'Shame upon city'

Christopher Atkinson, of the CPS, said the events of that night had caused "immeasurable fear" for residents.

He added: "The co-ordinated and unlawful violence carried out by the group in this incident, the severity of which forced police to temporarily retreat from the assault, made a charge of riot wholly appropriate in this case."

Up to 700 people were involved in a night of violence in Sunderland city centre on 2 August, with police officers being subject to serious and sustained levels of violence.

Politicians and community leaders said the mass disorder - which included a building being burnt out and businesses being looted - had brought "shame" upon the entire city.