A judge handed out the longest jail sentence so far for a Bradford rioter when he locked up a petrol bomb thrower for eight-and-a-half years.

Amjid Rashid, 22, had been the first defendant to deny the riot charge, but after a three-day trial at the city's crown court a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

Rashid, of Upper Woodlands Road, Girlington, Bradford, had claimed he was at a woman's house at the time of the riot last July.

But the jury were shown police video footage of him throwing two petrol bombs at officers during the height of the violent clashes.

He was later recognised by four officers when his photograph was published on a "wanted" poster and the court also heard evidence from a facial mapping expert who had compared the video evidence with existing photographs of Rashid.

The video footage showed Rashid, who was unmasked, hurling two petrol bombs at police lines in the space of a minute and he was then seen jumping in the air and clapping his hands in celebration.

Jailing Rashid, Judge Roger Scott said he had been rejoicing in what he was doing and was clearly seen raising his arms in triumph.

He noted that there had been comments reported about rioters "only enjoying themselves".

"I make no comment about that save and except to say that in this particular case on the video it's plain as a pikestaff that you were enjoying yourself.

"You were rejoicing in what you were doing. Your arms were raised in triumph."

It was revealed after the jury returned their guilty verdict that Rashid had a string of previous convictions going back to August 1996 when he was locked up for three years after stabbing a youth in the back.

Rashid's barrister Simon Myers conceded that he faced a lengthy jail sentence for the offence, but he asked the judge to take account of the fact that he had been suffering from depression since February following the death of his brother.

Judge Scott revealed that he had considered imposing the maximum sentence of ten years in Rashid's case, but said he had stepped back from that because it was possible there may be a worse rioter or one with a worse record than him.

He told Rashid: "The short video that we have for the period around 11.34 and 11.35pm shows a very violent and dangerous atmosphere for the police.

"We use the expression petrol bomb. It is a colloquial expression and I think it was Lord Lane who said it was a very good and apt description.

"It is indiscriminate when it lands and it can cause very serious harm and damage."

He added that anyone who had seen the video in Rashid's case or any of the other riot cases could not but think this was the most serious riot seen on mainland Britain for as long as anyone could possibly remember.

The longest previous jail term was imposed on another petrol bomb thrower back in December, but Judge Scott pointed out that he had only thrown one missile and had pleaded guilty when he appeared at court.

"You do not have a plea of guilty in your favour," he told Rashid.

"Many of the defendants who have been sentenced are of previous good character or of a character with no consequence at all. Some, it's fair to say, have had records where violence has appeared.

"No-one so far as my memory is concerned has had a bad record as you. I appreciate some of the six years or more you have received since 1996 has been for driving matters and dishonesty but the conviction in 1996 is clearly a serious matter.

"It is mob violence again. Violent disorder where you stabbed somebody with a knife on the streets of West Yorkshire."

During his sentencing remarks Judge Scott hit back at recent comments about the way riot cases had been dealt with and dismissed accusations of political motivation or racial bias as "absolutely and totally wrong."