UK riots aftermath: arrests and deaths

Police stand guard as they block access to the high street in Tottenham, north London, during this week's riots. Photo / AP

A British pensioner who was left in a coma after confronting rioters in Ealing has died, while the full weight of the law is coming down hard on suspected looters.

Police say they have arrested 1,051 people in London over Britain's deadly riots, and 591 have been charged. More than 1,500 people have been arrested nationwide.

Courts in London, Birmingham and Manchester stayed open through a second night and into Friday to deal with alleged offenders.

Hundreds of stores were looted, buildings were set ablaze and several people died amid the mayhem that broke out Saturday in London and spread over four nights across England.

Victims include three men in Birmingham run down by a car as they defended their neighborhood. Police are questioning three suspects on suspicion of murder.

And police opened a murder inquiry after a 68-year-old a man found in a London street after confronting rioters died of his injuries late Thursday.

Richard Bowes was attacked while trying to stop youths setting fire to large rubbish bins, reported the Telegraph.

Bowes was described as a recluse who was tormented by youths urinating and throwing litter in the street outside the home where he lived alone.

Although Bowes was placed on life-support, his injuries were so serious that doctors did not believe he would survive.

After confronting stone-throwing youths on Monday night (UK time), Bowes was attacked and left for dead with a fractured skull. A murder investigation has now been launched.

Anybody caught looting during the riots can expect little mercy from the justice system, with a British student with no criminal record jailed for six months for stealing a 3.50 ($6.90) case of bottled water during the London riots.

Nicolas Robinson, 23, carried out the "opportunistic'' theft at a supermarket in Brixton as he walked home from his girlfriend's house, reported the Telegraph.

Robinson ran when he was confronted by police, but was arrested and admitted what he had done.

His lawyer said Nicolas "got caught up in the moment'' and was "incredibly ashamed''.

However, Judge Alan Baldwin said the background of "serious public disorder'' was an
aggravating feature.

Robinson's family gasped as the judge told him he would be going to prison, said the Telegraph.

He said that because of Robinson's previous good character and early plea of guilty to a non-dwelling burglary, as well as the low value of goods stolen, the fact he was in
education, and his remorse, he would not be sending the looter to the Crown Court where he would face a possible higher sentence.