A teenager has appeared in court accused of setting a wheelie bin on fire in a County Durham town before smashing the window of a pizzeria and racially abusing the occupants.

Prosecutors say the incident happened on Monday (August 5) in Willington “against the background of national disorder and unrest that has been seen since last week”.

Leah Lee, 19, denied a charge of violent disorder following the incident in Willington.

She is alleged to have been with other people who were wearing balaclavas at the time.

The court heard the group allegedly set a bin on fire before walking to a pizzeria, where Lee is accused of throwing items at a window, which smashed.

Prosecutors say Lee, who denies the charge, was part of a group who set a bin on fire.Prosecutors say Lee, who denies the charge, was part of a group who set a bin on fire. She denies the charge. (Image: Shaun Hope)

The group “surrounded” the premises while being racially abusive and Lee is alleged to have been “at the forefront of that behaviour”.

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The defendant appeared in front of a district judge at Teesside Magistrates Court, via a video link from Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court.

She was remanded in custody until her next appearance at a crown court on August 28.

A dispersal order was put in place for 24 hours after the incident on Monday.