'Out of control' Salford rioter sentenced

A man who set fire to a car, damaged another, stole alcohol and smashed windows with bricks in the Salford riots has been jailed.

Thomas Thompson, 22, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to violent disorder, arson, criminal damage and burglary.

He was sentenced to five years two months at Manchester Crown Court.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said Thompson had been "out of control" during the "shameful incidents" in the city on Tuesday, 9 August 2011.

A police spokesman said Thompson had admitted his part on his role in burgling a Cash Converter store, a Bargain Booze and a William Hill bookmakers.

He also deliberately set alight a car, damaged a BBC radio car and using bricks as missiles to smash the windows of a post office and a bank.

ACC Heywood said the "violent disorder we witnessed in Salford that night - from the setting alight of the radio car, to the sustained looting and wanton damage to people's businesses to the sheer violence GMP officers faced - are images none of us will ever forget".

"It is clear from the charges brought against Thompson that he was heavily involved in a number of those shameful incidents," he said.

"He was out of control on that night, looting, setting fire to cars and throwing bricks at people's businesses.

"Residents and businesses in Salford are still coming to terms with what happened that night and it is important for people in that community to see that people like Thompson have been brought to justice for what they did."