Middlesbrough Rioter Jake Wray Jailed for 38 Months

Jake Wray, a 23-year-old from Middlesbrough, has been sentenced to 38 months in prison for his violent and racist actions during a riot on August 4. He admitted to attempting to set a car on fire, making racist chants, and pushing a flaming wheelie bin towards police officers while asking drivers if they were 'white' or 'English'. The judge, Richard Bennett, condemned Wray's behavior as disgraceful and not reflective of the decent people of Middlesbrough, emphasizing the overtly racist nature of his actions. Wray was wearing an England flag as a mask and was previously serving a suspended sentence for spitting at a police officer and carrying a knife. The shocking nature of his conduct, including footage of him stopping cars and shouting racist remarks, was deemed significant enough to be broadcast on national television. Despite initially claiming he was warning drivers, Wray later retracted this statement, acknowledging the severity of his actions.