A teenager from Darlington who threw rocks at police during planned disorder at a mosque has been jailed

Cole Stewart, who is 18, joined about 30 people who chanted racist far right slogans at Muslims during a stand-off with police last week.

Trouble flared on Gladstone Street in the town last Monday (August 5) following a weekend of racist riots in the region and across the country.

Teesside Crown Court heard Stewart “celebrated” after throwing missiles at police.

This morning (Monday, August 12) Stewart’s barrister Gary Wood withdrew a request for a trial of issue over whether his client’s action were racially motivated.

Mr Wood said: "The gravity of the offending up and down the country has been such that only immediate custodial sentences have been passed.

"I understand the court will wish to pass deterrent sentences and this offending does cross the custody threshold."

Mr Wood said if the sentence could not be suspended he asked for it to be as lenient as possible. 

He said his client suffered from PTSD as a result of a difficult childhood with time spent in care and had mental health issues including  ADHD.

Mr Wood, referred to a pre-sentence report which said he was “vulnerable to exploitation”.

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was arrested at the scene and charged with violent disorder.

He admitted the offence during a hearing last week.

Judge Francis Laird KC sentenced Stewart to 18 months custody in a young offenders' institute. 

Judge Laird said: "The effect has been widespread anxiety and fear in communities.

"The Muslim community took additional measures to protect their mosque.

"This was a planned incident and it involves sustained unlawful activity.

"It also involved serious acts of violence.

"You chose to take part in an act of public disorder.”

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The judge said Stewart was at the forefront and the purpose was to target a mosque with police officers attacked.

He said: “The Muslim community in Darlington was in fear for their own personal safety and the place in which they worship.

"The public in Darlington and the wider community are rightly outraged."