“Staff watched videos from outside the hotel, which was housing about 200 asylum seekers, as violence flared with police outside. Thomas Birley is accused of being part of that violence, the court hears.”

The BBC, along with a number of papers, often seems to be arse-covering when there is absolutely no longer any need to, dotting reports with ‘allegedly’ and so on where there is actually no doubt or risk of contempt.

This particular report concerns Thomas Birley (pictured) , from Doncaster, who stoked a fire in a wheelie bin that was pushed against an exit of the hotel on 4 August.

Today’s Birley hearing is for sentencing. He has already pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder, one of arson with intent to endanger life and one of possessing an offensive weapon.

He is not “accused of being part of that violence” as the BBC report (above) would have us believe. His part in it is settled. He did it. He has admitted it.

Now he’s just waiting to find out how long he’s going down for.

(The arson charge carries a maximum tariff of life imprisonment).