Man appears in court charged with starting bus fire during rioting in Leeds

A father of two accused of arson and violent disorder after a bus was torched during rioting in Leeds intends to deny the charges, a court heard.

Iustin Dobre, 37, of Leeds, was charged with setting a bus on fire by standing next to it with a lighter during the disorder in Harehills on Thursday evening.

On Monday he appeared at Leeds Magistrates Court charged with violent disorder and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

The court heard Dobre, a Romanian national, has indicated he will plead not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutor Diane Rawnsley said: “On 18 July there was large scale public disorder in Harehills triggered by social services’ involvement with a family.”

The court heard father-of-two Dobre, who followed proceedings through a Romanian interpreter, was arrested at a bus stop on Friday afternoon, the day after the disorder.

He was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Leeds Crown Court on August 19.

District Judge Tim Capstick told him: “These two offences you are charged with are serious allegations. One can only be dealt with at the crown court.”

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