Middlesbrough rioter Jake Wray, who stopped drivers to check if they were "white" during a riot has been jailed for 38 months.

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The 23-year-old, who was described as “overtly racist” by Judge Bennett during his sentencing at Teeside Crown Court, was draped in an England flag as he carried out his offences. 

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Wray admitted violent disorder relating to events in Middlesbrough on 4 August, including where he stopped cars at a junction in the town centre and demanded to know the colours of their skin. The incident was recorded on a mobile phone and presented as evidence in court. The damning footage sealed Wray's fate as the court saw him blocking traffic and asking drivers:  “Are you white, are you English?”

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Actions so shocking, the judge rightfully noted that they made national news and headlines. Wray had initially told police that he was only stopping cars to warn drivers about the ongoing rioting, a lie that was torn apart by the incriminating footage. His defence lawyer Harry Crowson offered an alternative explanation, claiming Wray had initially denied the racial motive for stopping the cars “out of embarrassment and shame”.

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 In addition to this racist rampage, Judge Bennet added that Wray's actions included arson that day: he tried to set a car on fire and pushed a flaming wheelie bin into police lines. All of which was caught on camera and played to Teeside court after a helicopter video had captured him interfering with a red hatchback, which then  burst into flames and other footage showed him setting fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards police lines.

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 Footage was also shown of Wray walking past a court building shouting ‘you can stick your chicken tikka up you’re a***before shouting ‘Tee-Tee-Teessider’.

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At the time of the riots, Wray was already serving a 24-week suspended sentence for spitting at a police officer and carrying a knife at the time.

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Sentencing him to three years and two months, Judge Bennett told Wray:

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“You were clearly enjoying the attention and power of being masked during a frightening event for those drivers.”

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Bennett condemned Wray’s behaviour as “disgraceful” and added that his actions “in no way reflect the values of the decent people of Middlesbrough".

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