Teen rioter handed in to police by mother - court

Police guarded the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers during the August riot

A teenage rioter who threw stones at police was handed in to officers by his mother, a court has heard.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was one of hundreds of people who descended upon the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August.

The boy was later charged with violent disorder after throwing stones at police guarding the hotel, which housed about 200 asylum seekers at the time.

At Barnsley Youth Court on Tuesday, the teenager, who was handed a 10-month referral order, promised the judge: "I will never be here again."

'Wake-up call'

The court heard the boy was brought to the police station by his mother on 31 August after she recognised him in a police media appeal.

During interview, he fully admitted his involvement in the unrest and identified himself in footage.

District Judge Tim Spruce was told the boy had attended the scene because of "very regretful curiosity" and did not hold any racist views.

Sarah Myatt, for the defendant, said: "The [boy] you see on footage is not a true reflection of the [boy] who is here in court today.

"He has remorse in abundance."

The boy's mother told the judge the experience had been a "wake-up call" and her son now fully understood "what he stands to lose".

Addressing Judge Spruce directly, the boy said: "I’d like to apologise. I’ve accepted that I'm in the wrong.

"This will never happen again, I will never be here again."

The boy was handed a 10-month referral order and told to pay £250 in compensation to a police officer.

Judge Spruce told the youth: "You were a part - not a ring leader, but you were a part.

"You personally were witnessed throwing stones at police officers and by doing that you were participating in the violence and therefore indirectly encouraging others."

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