A man who encouraged others during the riots in Bradford and stood by as a Labour club was looted last July has been locked up for three years.

The city's crown court heard yesterday that Alam Khan was one of the first people to hand himself in after police issued a 'wanted poster' of suspects a few weeks after the clashes.

The 27-year-old was caught on video footage over a four- hour period, but it was stressed that at no stage was he seen throwing any missiles or petrol bombs at police lines.

He admitted to police however that later on he did enter the Manningham Ward Labour Club after it was broken into by other people, but Khan said he had only gone in to see what others were doing.

The club was the target of an arson attack later that night and people trapped inside had to be rescued by the emergency services.

Khan, of Priestman Street, Manningham, had no previous convictions and the court heard that he had undergone several operations after being born without ears.

He was assisted during his appearance in court yesterday by a sign language interpreter and his barrister Sukhbir Bassra explained that he still had hearing problems and difficulty communicating with people.

Mr Bassra said Khan had got caught up in the riot when his own car was struck and about £1,000 of damaged was caused to it.

"The police probably misunderstood his attempts to try to communicate with them, which probably caused some resentment on his behalf,'' suggested Mr Bassra.

Khan, who pleaded guilty to riot, was described as a hard-working married man and Judge Roger Scott said a reference from the vehicle repair centre where he worked could not have been better.

The court heard that Khan was picked out by a police officer as being a ringleader and he later admitted shouting slogans such as "we no surrender''.

Passing sentence Judge Scott told Khan he sympathised with his physical condition and admired his determination but said Khan had admitted being a 'Jack the Lad'.

"It is a reasonably accurate description. You have a stick. You do wave it about and you do shout encouragement to others to battle on.

"A seriously aggravating feature here is that you entered the Manningham Ward Labour Club before it was burned to the ground. Although you have not been charged with dishonesty in relation to that matter you were present when it was being looted by others.''

l Judge Scott expressed the view of himself and Judge Stephen Gullick that members of the community who were filmed trying to stop the rioting should be commended by the court for their actions.

He made particular reference to a man seen in flowing white robes, who he described as acting "absolutely magnificently'' in trying to stop a huge horde of rioters on his own.

"Judge Gullick and I are very anxious for the police to find that man and others of like mind on that night so they can be commended if they wish to be named,'' he added.