Christopher Rodgers has become the first person to appear in court following the rioting outside a Rotherham hotel housing asylum seekers.

Rodgers, 38, of Millmoor Road, Barnsley, appeared before a deputy district judge at Sheffield Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he denied one count of violent disorder.

The court heard how he is accused of being part of a group that were throwing missiles at police and then blocked the way as a line of officers moved forward.

He was bitten by a police dog before he was arrested, the court heard.

Rodgers appeared in the glass-fronted dock wearing a grey T-shirt and said “what a laugh” as he left the dock.

He was remanded in custody by Deputy District Judge Simon Blakebrough and will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 20.

A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday after he was identified from a TikTok video.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, sitting as a youth court.

Joshua Sanderson-Kirk, prosecuting, said following disorder in the city centre on August 3, the teenager had been identified on a TikTok video which was sent to police and from CCTV.

Footage played in court showed the youth among a crowd of people, becoming involved in a confrontation and taking his jacket and top off.

Mr Sanderson-Kirk said: “He picks up a paving slab and throws it at a member of the public.”

District Judge Timothy Boswell ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the case to September 17.

The boy, whose mother was in court, was granted bail with a condition not to enter the city centre.

Three men from Blackpool have pleaded guilty to their part in violence across Lancashire on Saturday – including assaulting emergency workers and possession of a metal pole as an offensive weapon.

A spokeswoman for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said Roger Haywood, 41, Tyla Chalmers-Millington, 18, and Ben Smith, 32, admitted their part in the disorder at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Haywood pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and has been granted bail ahead of his sentencing hearing on September 4 at the same court.

Chalmers-Millington pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence and was told he must not enter Blackpool promenade within 500 metres of the Metropole Hotel ahead of his sentencing hearing at the same court on September 3.

Smith was remanded in custody after admitting possession of an offensive weapon – namely a metal pole – and is due to be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on September 16.

Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement of a “standing army” of public order police to deal with the rioting.

The Tory frontbencher posted on X: “Labour still don’t understand that they’re not in opposition any more. In government you can’t just say stuff, you have to do stuff.”

He went on to pose a series of questions about the plan, including: “Using the word ‘army’ always sounds tough but is he suggesting a paramilitary police force?

“What new or additional powers will the unit have?

“Police forces across the UK have officers who are public order trained, but when not dealing with disorder they have other police duties.

“Will this ‘standing army’ of officers have no other duties? If so, what will they do when there are no riots? Or is Starmer expecting permanent riots?”

Justice minister Heidi Alexander said the Government has revealed more detail about the planned “standing army” of police officers Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday afternoon.

Ms Alexander told Times Radio: “These are police officers who have had specialist training in dealing with public order offences.

“We had 4,000 available at the weekend. There will be another 2,000 available this week. It also means that police officers are able to be deployed in parts of the country where they are needed most.”

Aneeqa told BBC Radio 4 that thugs tried to get inside, were using racist slurs and jumped on top of her family car.

The 17-year-old added that her younger siblings were asking if they were going to die.

Almost 400 people have been arrested over the mob violence spreading across the UK following the deaths of three children in a stabbing attack in Southport last week.

Rioting followed the spread of false claims online that the suspect, identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana from Lancashire, was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.

A man has been charged with intending to stir up racial hatred relating to alleged posts on Facebook, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Nick Price, director of legal services, said: “We have authorised West Yorkshire Police to charge Jordan Parlour, 28, with using threatening words or behaviour intending to stir up racial hatred.

“The charge relates to alleged Facebook posts between 1 August and 5 August in connection with the violent public disorder across the UK.

“It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

He will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Cleveland Police said 28 people will appear at Teesside Magistrates Court on Tuesday August 6 charged with violent disorder and other offences following disorder in Middlesbrough on Sunday.

The force said the court has set aside a remand court to deal with those appearing on Tuesday.

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment with intent to cause fear and violence after a social media post encouraging members of the public to protest outside a hotel, Cheshire Police said.

A force spokesman said officers received reports on Sunday of a post on Snapchat encouraging people to attend a protest outside a Cheshire hotel, which it falsely stated was home to a number of asylum seekers.

The post did not result in disorder, the force said.

A 32-year-old man and 34-year-old woman, from Chester, were arrested on Monday and later released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

Chief Superintendent Jonathan Betts said: “As these arrests demonstrate, inciting violence online will not be tolerated in Cheshire and we will take robust action against all those involved in such activity.

“These messages have been posted in order to cause hate and disorder in our communities. Anyone who is found to be encouraging such offences, be that online or in person, will be dealt with.”