Man pleads guilty to arson and violent disorder

A crowd looks on as a double-decker bus is engulfed by flames as disorder breaks out in Leeds

A man who admitted violent disorder and arson on a night of trouble in Leeds wept as he was led from court.

Celan Valentin Palaghia torched furniture and boxes in Harehills on 18 July as widespread disorder broke out in the city suburb.

Palaghia, who spoke through a Romanian interpreter at Leeds Crown Court, admitted his part in the trouble, which was sparked by children being taken into care.

There were shouts from the public gallery as the 21-year-old, of Dorset Mount in Harehills, was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

His Honour Judge Guy Kearl said Palaghia would discover his fate on 1 October.

Earlier this month Iustin Dobre, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered after setting fire to a double-decker bus during the disorder.

He did not enter a plea for a second charge of violent disorder.

Mark Mitchell, 43, of Strathmore View, denied setting fire to the bus. He admitted a second charge of violent disorder.

Zamonsty Milan, 30, of Luxor Avenue, appeared alongside Mitchell on the same two charges. However, he did not enter any pleas.

Dobre, Mitchell and Milan are due to appear at the same court on 29 August.

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