Seven more charged with summer riot violence

Police have charged another seven people as part of their investigation into violent disorder in Staffordshire in August that has seen a total of 131 arrests so far.

The individuals are the latest to be charged following a wave of unrest after false rumours were spread about the suspect involved in the murders of three girls in Southport.

Five have been charged over trouble in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent on 3 August, amid clashes between anti-immigrant groups and Muslim counter-protesters.

Two others are accused of violent disorder during unrest in Tamworth a day later, with one of the men also facing a charge of assault on an emergency worker.

Amjad Mahmood, 35, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Lee Whitby, 41, of Brown Lees and Ibrahim Mir, 21, of Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, are all charged with violent disorder in connection with the Hanley disturbance.

In addition, Oliver Woolliscroft, 28, of Kidsgrove, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Matthew Hancock, 33, of no fixed address, face the same charge.

Mr Whitby will appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday, with Mr Woolliscroft due at the same court on 17 October.

Mr Mir is due to appear a day later, and Mr Hancock and Mr Mahmood on 4 November.

On 4 August a mob attacked the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Tamworth, which was believed to have been housing asylum seekers.

A fire was started as police with riot gear attempted to keep the crowd back.

Darren Morris, 49, of Belgrave, Tamworth, faces charges of violent disorder and assault by beating an emergency worker during the disturbance.

A second man, Radley Willey, 21, of Kettlebrook, Tamworth, is also charged with violent disorder in the town.

The two men will appear in front of Stafford Crown Court on 16 October.

Staffordshire Police said they had now arrested 131 and charged 55 in connection with the disorder.

Chief constable Chris Noble revealed on Monday the force's invesigation into it could take up to 18 months.

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