Mother jailed for throwing stone at police in riot

Tamsyn Cerr, 21, was jailed for a year

A new mother who threw a stone at police during riots has been jailed for a year.

Tamsyn Cerr, 21, was also seen on footage handing missiles to a man to hurl at officers in Hartlepool during the 31 July disorder, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Cerr, who admitted violent disorder, missed the first birthday of her first child as she had been held on remand after the violence, the court was told.

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Mark Webster said the level of hatred and aggression shown to police that night in the town was "unprecedented".

Prosecutor Rachel Masters said anti-immigration protests turned violent in the town during a wave of similar outbreaks of disorder across the country.

Police were attacked during violent disorder in Hartlepool on 31 July

Video showed Cerr, of Firby Close in Hartlepool, hurling a stone at officers and then passing one to a man to throw.

In mitigation, Calum McNicholas said she had acted on impulse and had been punished already by missing the first birthday of her child due to her incarceration.

Judge Francis Laird KC said it was not "impulsive" as Cerr made a number of decisions, namely to go to the scene and get involved in the violence.

He said the disorder had had a "devastating impact" on the community and placed a "considerable strain" on police.

But he said Cerr had "powerful personal mitigation" including her young age, immaturity, a disability and being the mother of a young child so her jail term was reduced compared to other offenders.