Second man convicted of rioting in Tamworth

A man who sent messages encouraging people to turn up to the demonstration in Tamworth that erupted into violent disorder has pleaded guilty to rioting.

Simon Orr, 38, from Tamworth, pleaded guilty to riot – unlawful violence and assault by beating of an emergency worker at Stafford Crown Court today (Thursday 19 September).

Orr sent a WhatsApp message to encourage people to turn up on Sunday 4 August. 

He was arrested on 12 August and questioned in custody. He originally denied his involvement in his interview saying the protest was peaceful.

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.

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.”

Orr has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing at Stafford Crown Court on 11 October.

We have now arrested 103 people and charged 38 with violent disorder offences as part of our robust investigation into the violent disorder in Staffordshire.

If you’ve got any more information that can help detectives with their enquiries, visit the Major Incident Police Portal here: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)