Manchester Judo Start Sentenced Over Riots

6 September 2011, 16:09 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A teenage judo star was detained for eight months today after taking part in looting during last month's riots in Manchester.

17 year old Anthony Lloyd was found by police with his pockets 'bulging' with stolen cigarettes and jewellery during disturbances in the city.

Lloyd, of Hanover Street South, Audenshaw, previously pleaded guilty to burglary of a non-dwelling property and handling stolen goods.

He was sentenced to eight months' detention and training for each count.

At the earlier hearing, District Judge Jonathan Taaffe heard Lloyd was stopped by police at 9.30pm at the height of the disorder which struck the city on August 9.

Kathryn Eccles, for the prosecution, said officers noticed his pockets 'bulging' and ordered a search which recovered £66 worth of cigarettes and a quantity of jewellery.

Lloyd, whose social worker father and mother, a nurse, supported him in court, admitted he had taken the cigarettes from a newsagent which had been attacked by others.

Miss Eccles added he found the jewellery on the ground where it was left after being looted by somebody else.

Estelle Parkhouse, defending, said Lloyd was part of the British Judo team and was returning from training that Tuesday night when he heard about the disorder and ventured into the city centre.

The solicitor added that the defendant had overcome some emotional difficulties and dyslexia but was studying for a sports science diploma at Manchester College.

'Here we have a man who is from a good family and has never been before the courts before,

'He had finished training that night and ventured into the city centre out of curiosity.

'He took the jewellery that he had seen on the street, he knew it had been stolen and it was his intention to give it to his girlfriend.'