Grandmother could face jail over violent disorder - judge

A judge has told a grandmother she should have "no misunderstanding" that her admission of taking part in disorder at a hotel used by asylum seekers could see her jailed.

Vanessa Smith, 42, pleaded guilty to violent disorder outside the hotel in Newton Heath, Manchester, on 31 July.

Smith had gone to the site with her daughter Nevey, who had been pushing her one-year-old son in a pushchair and admitted throwing liquid at police at the hotel at a previous hearing.

The pair will be sentenced in September, with Judge Patrick Field KC warning the grandmother at Manchester Crown Court that "all sentencing options" would be open, including "a custodial sentence".

Scores of people were seen in a protest outside the hotel, which was part of a wave of disorder which swept across the country in the aftermath of a knife attack in Southport on 29 July, which left three children dead.

The court heard that Smith, like her daughter, had no previous convictions and had caring responsibilities for an 11-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, both of whom had health issues.

Adjourning the hearing until 26 September and bailing Smith, Judge Field said whoever decided her fate would have "all sentencing options open to him or her".

"That must include a custodial sentence, so there must be no misunderstanding<" he added.

Smith's daughter Nevey, who admitted violent disorder at the same court on 19 August, is due to be sentenced in 23 September.

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