Jailed Iraqi rioter spared deportation

Jailed Iraqi rioter spared deportation

Video footage showed Ahmed attacking the police

An Iraqi Kurd jailed for his part in the Bradford riots will not be deported despite being refused asylum.

Bradford Crown Court was told that 27-year-old Haval Ahmed will not be sent back while Saddam Hussein remains in power.

The court heard Ahmed had been in Britain only five months when he became involved in the disturbances in July 2001.

He has already had his application to stay in the UK turned down.

Video footage

But Home Secretary David Blunkett has promised that asylum seekers will not be sent back to Iraq while President Hussein remains in power.

Ahmed, of West Bowling, Bradford, pleaded guilty to rioting and was jailed for two years and nine months.

Video footage shown in court highlighted Ahmed throwing up to a dozen missiles and a traffic cone at police officers in the White Abbey Road area.