Wolverhampton rioter guilty of gun attack

A rioter from Wolverhampton was this afternoon facing jail for his part in a gun attack that saw police shot at during the height of riots that rocked the West Midlands.

Renardo Farrell, aged 19, joined a gang of up to 30 yobs who firebombed a pub and opened fire towards a line of officers and the force helicopter.

Farrell rampaged through the streets of Birmingham with the mob, smashing up shops and buildings along the way.

Chilling video footage showed gunmen taking aim at police and the moment thugs set fire to the Barton Arms pub, on High Street, Aston, as its landlord and his family hid upstairs.

Armed police launched a military-style search operation to capture those who were part of the gang.

Some had hidden in nearby gardens and up a tree.

Farrell, of The Terrace, Finchfield, and co-defendants Nicholas Francis, aged 26, of Thetchford Road, Great Barr, and Tyrone Laidley, 20, of Nechells, Birmingham, were this afternoon found guilty of riot, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Video footage screened to jurors showed Farrell, who played an active role in the disorder, cowering in a garden shortly after the trouble ended and moments before he was arrested at gunpoint.

The Birmingham Crown Court jury was this afternoon considering charges against five other defendants.

They are Jermaine Lewis, aged 27, of Summerton Road, Oldbury; Joyah Campbell, 19, of Aston, Birmingham; Wayne Collins, 25, of Luton, and two 17-year-olds from Aston, who cannot be named.

They all deny the charges against them.

The trial began in April.