Tamworth Holiday Inn Express riots pair facing jail

A woman who made racial slurs at police and a man who was bitten by a force dog as trouble flared outside a Midland hotel are facing jail. Staffordshire Police issued mug shots of the pair, who were among six convicted of involvement in a 'protest' about asylum seekers housed at the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth on August 4.

Aimie Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, 37, of Rugeley, admitted violent disorder after she was seen on footage repeatedly challenging officers and making a number of racial slurs at the scene, police said. She was with a young boy who she had to move out of the way of fireworks and missiles that were being thrown towards officers. Hodgkinson-Hedgecox will be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on a date and time to be fixed.

Staffordshire Police said Tommy McQuaker, 29, of Amington, Tamworth, repeatedly launched missiles at police and refused to comply with instructions when he was told to move back by a dog handler. Due to his aggressive behaviour and repeated attempts to assault officers and police dogs, he was bitten by police dog Vixen. He then repeatedly kicked her as a result of the bite, police said.

READ MORE: The faces of shamed group who sparked chaos outside Holiday Inn Express

She was also hit in the head with a brick by someone when it happened. McQuaker handed himself in on August 15 after finding out police had been looking for him. He was charged with violent disorder and admitted the offence in court yesterday, Tuesday, September 17. He will be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on November 8.

Simon Orr, 38, of Two Gates, Tamworth, appeared at Stafford Crown Court after being charged with offences relating to the violent disorder. Orr pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker after an officer was injured in the disorder but pleaded not guilty to riot. His trial for the latter charge is due to take place at Stafford Crown Court on January 20.

The three convictions followed a series of three other cases in court yesterday. They included Mitchell Cleaver, 25, of Morleys Hill, Burton upon Trent, who pleaded guilty to riot following a hearing at Stafford Crown Court. He became the first person in the West Midlands region to be convicted of riot and will be sentenced on November 11.

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