A teenage father-to-be has been locked up for four-and-a-half years for throwing bricks at police lines during the Bradford riots last summer.

Judge Stephen Gullick expressed sympathy for Jonathan Halliday's expectant girlfiend after reading what he described as a "heartfelt plea for leniency'' from her, but he pointed out that the 19-year-old had remained on the streets despite having had the opportunity to walk away.

Bradford Crown Court was yesterday shown video footage of Halliday using what looked like a sweater as a mask around the lower part of his face and standing with his arms folded, as rioters hurled a petrol bomb and other missiles at police.

Prosecutor Ben Crosland said Halliday was involved in the disturbances between 6.30pm and 9.30pm and was shown on video throwing at least one missile.

Halliday, of Sandholme Drive, Thorpe Edge, Bradford, surrendered himself to police after his photograph was published by the media last August, and he told officers he had been throwing objects that night.

The teenager pleaded guilty to the riot charge before Christmas and his barrister Stephen Wood said his client now felt a "grievance'' about the fact that a 21-year-old man, who was branded a "general'' in the disturbances, had received only a three-year sentence after admitting the lesser charge of violent disorder.

Mr Wood argued that the appropriate sentence in Halliday's case should be reduced in light of the three-year term passed on Mohammed Khan last week, but Judge Gullick stressed it was a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service to decide what charges should be brought against individuals.

He pointed out that he was effectively being asked to "merge'' offences of violent disorder and riot and he was not prepared to do that.

Judge Gullick was handed a bundle of references of Halliday's in which he was described as likeable, pleasant, hard-working and caring.

Mr Wood said Halliday had come to court knowing he faced a lengthy sentence.

"It takes some courage to come to court and plead guilty in the face of that knowledge...especially when he knows he would not be present when his first child is born,'' said Mr Wood. "For this young man, if perhaps nothing else, that has brought home to him the enormity of what he got himself involved in.''

Judge Gullick said he had taken account of his remorse, but repeated his previous comments about the seriousness of the rioting that night.

He said Halliday had admitted throwing seven bricks at police and charging the police lines on one occasion.

"You come from a caring and concerned family who don't condone what you have done, but will stand by you and give you every assistance when you are released,'' he added.

He noted Halliday had acted as a father to his girlfriend's five-year-old son, who is due to give birth to his child in August, and said: "She and your family will have to endure this sentence."

After the case, Detective Inspector Chris Binns, from Operation Wheel - the police inquiry into the riots - said: "We are pleased with the sentence made today. I think it shows just how seriously the courts regard these matters."