An alleged rioter finally faced court yesterday - more than five years after the major disturbances in Bradford.

Kabir Hussain, 26, appeared before Bradford magistrates six days after handing himself in to police.

Clean-shaven, short-haired Hussain, of Lower Westfield Road, Heaton, Bradford, faced a charge of rioting on July 7 and 8, 2001.

Prosecutor Jo Murray told the magistrates it was an indictable-only offence and asked for the case to be transferred to the crown court.

Yousuf Khan, representing Hussain, said he had no previous convictions for failing to attend court and asked he be given unconditional bail.

The magistrates agreed to grant unconditional bail and told the defendant he would appear at Bradford Crown Court next Friday, January 19.

Hussain, who wore a blue and red check shirt, a black fleece top and dark trousers, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during the three-minute hearing.

After leaving the court building he put a hood over his head and ran off, giving a gesture with his fingers to a waiting photographer.

Hussain was the second-to-last suspect police had been hunting in connection with the Bradford riots.

In December 2005 they appealed to the public for help in tracing three final suspects and released their photographs.

Last May, one of the men - Nadeem Tayab, 23 - was sentenced to three years in jail for throwing two large stones at police during the riot. He had handed himself in when he learned his photograph had been posted on the internet.

Hussain voluntarily attended Lawcroft House police station last Friday, January 5, where he was questioned by police and charged with rioting.

The remaining suspect is Mohammed Ayub Sheikh, a 32-year-old chef, of Great Horton, Bradford.

The suspects were identified after a ten-month police poster campaign, urging the public to name people involved in the disturbances.

The rioting was the worst outbreak of violence on the UK mainland for 20 years.

More than 320 police officers were injured and an estimated £7.5m damage caused. More than 450 crimes were recorded and 46 people were charged with violent disorder.

Hussain is the 185th to be charged with riot.

Almost 200 people have been sentenced to a total of nearly 600 years in custody, with sentences ranging from three months to 12 years for a man who deliberately set fire to Manningham Ward Labour Club with more than 20 people trapped inside.

Anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of the remaining suspect should ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or Bradford Central police station on (01274) 376459.

e-mail: steve.wright @bradford.newsquest.co.uk