Racist rioter who stopped drivers to ask if they were 'white' and 'English' jailed

A racist who stopped cars at a riot in Middlesbrough to ask if the drivers were 'English' or 'white' has been jailed. Jake Wray, 23, took part in riots in his home town on August 4, with the judge calling his behaviour 'disgraceful'.

Wray, of Seaton Street in Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 38 months in prison after admitting violent disorder. This included pushing a flaming wheelie bin into police lines, attempting to light a car on fire, and taking part in racist chants.

The judge said that Wray's offending was violent and 'overtly racist'. At the time of the offences Wray was serving a 24-week suspended sentence for carrying a knife and spitting at a police officer.

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One part of Wray's behaviour at the riot was circulated widely on social media and on national news channels after being filmed on a phone camera. The footage was played to the court and showed Wray, identified by his red top and an England flag draped around his shoulders, stopping traffic.

Wray was standing in the middle of the road among other rioters preventing cars from passing. As cars approached, Wray and the group would stop them and interrogate drivers, with Wray heard in the footage asking a driver: “Are you white, are you English?”

Judge Richard Bennett sentenced Wray at Teeside Court, telling the defendant: “(Your) behaviour was disgraceful and in no way reflects the values of the decent people of Middlesbrough.” He added: “You were clearly enjoying the attention and power of being masked during a frightening event for those drivers.”

Different footage had showed Wray setting a wheelie bin on fire. The bin was then pushed towards police lines as they tried to contain the rioting.

Another clip taken from a helicopter showed Wray interfering with a red hatchback car, with the car bursting into flames shortly afterwards. Wray was also filmed chanting 'You can stick you chicken tikka up your ar*e, Tee-Tee-Teessiders' as he approached a police video operator with his England flag covering his mouth.

Initially Wray informed police that he had been stopping the cars simply to warn the drivers. However, he no longer stood by that claim.

Defending counsel Harry Crowson said that Wray had denied the racial motive for stopping the vehicles at first 'out of embarrassment and shame'. He said that since then Wray had watched the footage of himself many times over in a number of court hearings.

Mr Crowson said: “In the cold light of day, he doesn’t even believe the things that came out of his mouth that day. He is quite appalled by it.”

Wray’s partner and her mother have also been sentenced to jail time for violent disorder.