Rioters face up to ten years in jail

Tears at sad farewell for tragic Alice

- Steph Spyro

THE worst offending riot thugs could face up to 10 years in prison, the director of public prosecutions has warned.

Hundreds of violent rioters will continue appearing in courts across the country in the coming days following the chaos that has blighted Britain's streets.

Stephen Parkinson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service, has now warned of a "new phase" of cases that will include "more serious charges with stiffer penalties".

Many charged so far have been prosecuted for violent disorder, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.

But the CPS is understood to be considering charging people with the more serious offence of rioting, which could lead to 10 years behind bars.

Mr Parkinson said: "We warned of the consequences and we will deliver these consequences.

"It's not about exacting revenge, it's about delivering justice."

The National Police Chiefs' Council said 779 people have now been arrested over the trouble, while 349 have been charged.

It said specialist officers have been tasked with pursuing suspected online offenders and influencers, who it says are responsible for "spreading hate and inciting violence on a large scale".

Teams are investigating "hundreds of leads" across the country, it was said.