A 25-year-old man who was found guilty by a jury of being involved in the Bradford riots has been jailed for five years.

Shaban Islam, of Amberley Street, Bradford, denied being the man caught on video footage throwing two missiles at police, but following his trial in October he finally confessed to being part of the violent clashes when he was interviewed by a probation officer.

His barrister Christopher Batty told Judge Rodney Grant yesterday that Islam, who had no previous convictions, went ahead with the trial because he was terrified of going to prison.

Mr Batty said there was nothing in Islam's past to suggest this was normal behaviour for him and he described himself as "getting caught up in the events".

He said his client had now expressed his remorse and his parents were utterly disgusted by his behaviour that night.

The court heard that Islam was in the White Abbey Road area for about two hours on the night of the riots.

Judge Grant said because he had gone ahead with the trial he could not give him credit for a guilty plea to the offence.

"I have a public duty and you know that," he told Islam.

"And in your sentence there has to be an element of deterrent to discourage other people from behaving in the same way."

More than 300 officers were injured and millions of pounds of damage was caused during the rioting, which broke out on July 7, 2001.