Woman, 19, to face trial on riots charge

A WOMAN from Yorkshire will stand trial at Leeds Crown Court later this month accused of using Facebook to encourage public disorder during this summer’s riots.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Nov 2011, 09:31 BST

Hollie Lily Bentley, 19 of Hornbeam Avenue, Wakefield, pleaded not guilty at the court yesterday to encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence believing it would be carried out.

The charge alleges that on August 9 she created a public event on the Facebook social networking site capable of encouraging or assisting an offence, namely violent disorder, believing the offence would be committed and that her act would assist in its commission.

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It is claimed the event she created was called “Wakey Riots”.

Bentley was bailed until her trial, which was fixed for November 24 and is expected to last about a day.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC warned her the trial could be held in her absence if she failed to attend.