THREE Nigerians were handed a six-month jail term for ransacking an Argos store during last week's riots in London, United Kingdom.
They include two models of the same parents, who wept profusely as they were handed the jail term and the third, a law student, who got a heavier sentence, as he was handed a full year in jail.
Shonola Smith, 22, described as a bright student, who was scheduled to restart a university course next month and her sister, Alicia, had joined about 100 rioters, who stormed a Croydon shop on Monday, tearing apart display cases and looting the stock. She was arrested with her sister and their 22-year-old friend, Donness Bissessar, when police stormed the building on Monday night.
When Alicia was arrested she was carrying 10 packs of chewing gum, which she had stolen from a nearby Kwik Stop convenience store on the same day. She admitted stealing the items.
All three, who had no previous convictions, received the same sentence on Friday after pleading guilty to entering the store with intent to steal, at the Croydon magistrate's court.
They broke down in tears as they were led to the cells.
District Judge Robert Hunter said: 'The tragedy is that you are all of previous good character, each of you well educated. 'However, I can't ignore the context in which these offences were committed. You have played your part in a wider act where devastation was caused to businesses and local residents.
'In my view, although I'm retaining jurisdiction, the matter is so serious that only a custodial sentence will suffice. That, I hope, will serve as a deterrent to others.'
Clad in identical prison issue clothes, all convicts looked downcast in the dock as they exchanged glances with their parents in the public gallery.
Their lawyer told the court: 'I was taken by surprise. Talking to them and recently talking to their families, they come across as perfectly ordinary, reasonable, dare I say it, civilised young women.
'Their parents have found it really very hard to fathom what's going on. They have accepted their guilt, there's no doubt that they are remorseful.
'They all work. If it all kicked off again tonight I don't for one second think you would find these ladies anywhere near.'
The girls' stunned parents clutched hands as Hunter imposed the sentences and the girls were led to the cells at Croydon Magistrate's Court.
He told the defendants: 'The tragedy is that you are all of previous good character, each of you well educated. You have jobs. You have plans for future education. You have shown remorse and pleaded guilty. However, I can't ignore the context in which these offences were committed.' He added that he hoped the harsh sentence would 'serve as a deterrent to others.'
In another case, a teenage Nigerian law student, Akintunde Amosu, was among three university students jailed for a year each for 'scavenging' £4,500 worth of electronic gear and clothes during the riots.
Amosu, 19, a business and marketing student; Xavier Techie-Afful, 19, and his younger brother Javier, 18, were told at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court they had 'blighted their lives by a moment of madness.'
Magistrates worked round the clock to deliver swift justice to hordes of captured hooligans.
Ministry of Justice officials said 2,033 arrests had been made and 1,043 people had already been charged.
A boy of 13 who went into riot-hit Manchester with a hammer strapped to his leg was hauled before the city's magistrate's court. He was given a nine- month referral order after admitting possessing an offensive weapon without lawful excuse.
District Judge Khalid Qureshi said: 'If you had been 15, you would be going straight to the cells.'
Similarly, a girl of 14 was bailed after her mum admitted she had not seen her for two weeks.
The teen was accused of stealing clothes, CDs and perfume in Tottenham, North London. Neither of her parents was in London's City of Westminster Magistrate's Court to take her home and frantic calls were made to track them down.
Dozens were brought before the courts, accused of trying to rally the mobs online. Jamie Counsell, 24, allegedly used Facebook to organise an event in Cardiff called: 'Rioting, looting, robbing and burgling.' He was remanded in custody for a week by magistrates.
Insurance salesman Aidan Curwen, 18, was accused at Northampton Magistrate's Court of using a BlackBerry to urge 140 people to arm themselves with 'bats and weapons.'
A girl of 11 got a police warning for her involvement with a Facebook page inviting 400 to gather at a Poundland store in Plymouth, Devon, just as jobless Amed Pelle, 18, is bound for prison after he admitted using Facebook to encourage the 'killing of a million police officers' in Nottingham.
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