Rioter jailed over asylum seeker hotel attack

Simon Orr was sentenced to six years and 17weeks in prison

A man has become the first person to be sentenced over West Midlands riots which occurred during unrest across the UK this summer.

Simon Orr, 38, of Grazier Avenue in Tamworth, Staffordshire, was sentenced on Thursday to six years and 17 weeks in prison.

In September, he pleaded guilty to rioting and assaulting an emergency worker during disorder which saw the town's Holiday Inn Express hotel targeted by petrol bombs and missiles.

Orr's sentence also included a 10-year criminal behaviour order, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The Holiday Inn Express, which has been home to asylum seekers, was set on fire during the violence of 4 August.

The events came in the wake of the fatal stabbings of children in Southport, Merseyside. Social media reports had at the time erroneously suggested a suspect in the case was an asylum seeker.

No details of Orr's involvement in the rioting were given to the court during last month's hearing, but the CPS said then that he was an active participant who was directly attacking police, especially after officers tried to control the situation.

The CPS added during its September statement that when the disorder escalated, rather than leaving, "Orr continued to play an active role; encouraging others to set fire to the hotel with people trapped inside – recklessly endangering lives".

On Thursday, Adam Till of the CPS, said: "This sentence reflects the seriousness of Simon Orr's actions and sends a clear message that unlawful violence which endangers public safety will not be tolerated.

“The [CPS] is continuing to work closely with Staffordshire Police to ensure those responsible for the disorder are brought to justice.”

He said those who had taken part in the disorder could expect to be brought to justice to face the full consequences of the law.

In addition to the sentence for rioting, Orr was also sentenced for breaching the conditions of a separate suspended sentence for assault.