Riot conviction secured in Staffordshire

We have become the second force in the UK to secure riot convictions against a man who pleaded guilty in court today (Tuesday 17 September).

Mitchell Cleaver, 25, of Burton-on-Trent, sent various messages to people before the violent disorder in Tamworth on 4 August, asking them to ‘burn the place down’ and make it the ‘maddest night in Tamworth history’.

Various footage from the scene on Cleaver’s phone showed what happened, including when the Holiday Inn window was smashed and a fire was started inside.

Our brave officers worked valiantly to contain the violence at the scene and were pelted with missiles, fireworks and abuse. One officer was doused in petrol while flames burned through the hotel.

Cleaver was arrested after it happened and questioned in custody. He originally denied his involvement on interview.

We secured the evidence to charge him for violent disorder and later consulted with the CPS over upgrading the offence to riot – unlawful violence – public order, the most serious of the Public Order Act 1986.

Because of our evidence, Cleaver pleaded guilty to the offence of riot at Stafford Crown Court today (Tuesday 17 September). He has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing at the same court on 11 November.

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.”