Region's rioters jailed for total of 120 years

Thugs who tore through the streets of the West Midlands during summer riots have been jailed for a total of 120 years, the region's chief prosecutor revealed today.

More than 150 burglars, looters, thieves and violent criminals have received tough sentences for their involvement in unprecedented scenes that spread across Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Birmingham.

Harry Ireland, chief prosecutor for the West Midlands, today described the widespread disorder in August as a "sad reflection of society".

And he said that he felt those who have been jailed "deserved" their sentences.

Rioters and looters flooded the region's streets in August, smashing their way into shops and stealing thousands of pounds worth of stock.

So far, Crown Prosecution Service staff have handled cases involving up to 300 defendants in the region. Of those, 151 pleaded guilty before or on the day of trial while six were convicted after trial. A further 119 are currently being processed by the courts while another 19 were discontinued because of a lack of evidence.

Mr Ireland admitted he did have some sympathy for the personal circumstances of some of those involved, but said he felt those who have been punished only had themselves to blame.

"We have to take an objective view of what they did and what the impact was on society," he said.

"It put people in fear of going out. If you are prepared to take part in that kind of mob mentality you will pay the price. Nobody forced them into it."

Research has revealed that the majority of those involved in disorder had come from "deprived" areas.

But Mr Ireland said there was also a number of more "responsible" members of society who got involved.

He said he believed the cause of the riots in the West Midlands had nothing to do with the shooting of Mark Duggan by police in Tottenham on August 4, instead blaming the economic backdrop, opportunism and criminality. In total, those prosecuted have been hit with a total sentence of 119 years and nine months.