Rioter wanted to make 'maddest night in history' as he aimed fire extinguisher at cops
A rioter wanted to make 'the maddest night in history' as he called for an asylum seeker hotel in Staffordshire to be torched. Mitchell Cleaver, 25, sent various messages to people before violent disorder erupted, asking them to ‘burn the place down’.
Various footage from the scene in Tamworth on Cleaver’s phone showed what happened, including when the Holiday Inn window was smashed and a fire was started inside on August 4.
During the trouble, officers were pelted with missiles, fireworks and abuse. And one officer was doused in petrol while flames burned through the hotel. Cleaver was among those who threw objects and discharged a fire extinguisher at officers who were safeguarding the hotel and those inside.
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He was arrested after it happened and questioned in custody where he denied his involvement. Officers secured evidence to charge him with violent disorder and later consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service over upgrading the offence to riot – unlawful violence – public order, the most serious of the Public Order Act 1986.
Now the defendant, of Burton-on-Trent, has become only the second person in the country to be convicted of riot after he appeared at Stafford Crown Court today to plead guilty. He has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing at the same court on November 11.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Ellison said: “Our team of detectives and police staff have been working incredibly hard over the last month to review the vast amounts of footage from the scene in Tamworth and to act robustly against those identified.
“I can assure local communities that our work is far from over and we’re continuing to take action against those who are found to be responsible for what happened.”
Emily Lenham, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Mitchell Cleaver had previously faced a charge of violent disorder but, following a full review of his case, this was upgraded to the more serious charge of riot.
“It is clear from the evidence in this case that Cleaver played a significant role in the violence which unfolded at the Holiday Inn hotel in Tamworth last month. During the disorder, Cleaver threw objects and discharged a fire extinguisher at police officers who were safeguarding the hotel and those inside.
“The substantial level of co-ordinated unlawful violence displayed by Cleaver and others during the incident, the severity of which caused members of the public and emergency services to fear for their safety, was such that only a charge of riot was appropriate.
“I hope that these convictions act as a deterrent for those who behave in this unacceptable way. The Crown Prosecution Service in West Midlands is continuing to work closely with Staffordshire Police to ensure that all those responsible for the appalling events in Tamworth on August 4 are brought to justice.”