An alleged serial rioter accused of racist arson attacks on migrant businesses acted as a leader directing children involved in disorder on the streets of Belfast, the High Court has heard.
Prosecutors claimed Lennon Ashwood, 22, demonstrated and instructed young boys on how to discharge fireworks at police officers.
He also broke into and looted an ethnic minority cafe set on fire during the violence, a judge was told.
Ashwood, of Tavanagh Street in the city, faces 28 charges connected to his alleged central role in four separate nights of disorder in July and August.
Refusing his application for bail, Mr Justice Kinney stated: “An appalling litany of behaviour has been set out.”
The court heard Ashwood was identified as a “primary participant” in unrest at Broadway Roundabout on July 15 and 16, when a mob repeatedly attacked police with petrol bombs and other missiles.
Crown counsel Sarah Minford claimed footage showed the defendant throwing cans of paint over PSNI vehicles, beckoning youths to join him, and carrying fireworks to the scene.
“He demonstrated to a group of children and young people how to light them,” she said.
During the trouble he was said to have handed one of the rockets to a 15-year-old before it was fired at PSNI officers.
“He instructed a number of other young boys how to discharge fireworks, which they did,” the barrister contended.
“He was also observed dismantling a garden wall to obtain masonry, and that wall then fully collapsed.”
At one point he allegedly lit and threw a petrol bomb while he was in the presence of a young child.
Based on CCTV recordings, Ashwood is further accused of playing a major role in racially-motivated disturbances in the Donegall Road and Sandy Row area on August 3.
Businesses owned by members of the ethnic community were smashed up and set on fire following an anti-immigration protest at City Hall.
According to the prosecution, Ashwood kicked in the front door of the Bash Cafe and entered the premises after another rioter had thrown a petrol bomb inside.
“He emerged again with a shop till before smashing it on the ground. A crowd then started to pick through the money,” Ms Minford said.
A short time later wooden pallets were set alight inside the cafe.
The scale of looting and destruction caused to the property left the owner predicting he will never recover from it, the court heard.
“The motive was clear, this was an ethnic minority business targeted,” Ms Minford submitted.
It was claimed that Ashwood hurled “hundreds of projectiles” at PSNI officers as they attempted to quell the disorder.
One piece of masonry thrown over the top of the police lines struck a constable on the head, causing him concussion.
Counsel also described Ashwood as the “primary aggressor” when a nearby ethnic minority grocery store was torched on the same night.
Front shutters and doors to the Sham Supermarket on Donegall Road were broken before flammable materials were tossed inside.
The arson attack endangered the lives of more than 60 people who had to be evacuated from flats above the retail premises, the court was told.
Two nights later, Ashwood was allegedly part of another crowd who attacked police in the same area with masonry and petrol bombs.
“He was directing juveniles in their actions and taking a leadership role in the disorder,” Ms Minford said.
Opposing bail, she added: “There was a racist undertone and racial motive for some of these attacks.”
Ashwood has been charged with four counts of riotous assembly, encouraging others to riot, throwing petrol bombs, possessing fireworks without a licence, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent to a PSNI constable and having offensive weapons - namely pieces of masonry.
He is further accused of burglary, four counts of arson, causing an explosion likely to endanger life, and a further arson with intent to endanger life at a supermarket.
Defence barrister Michael Boyd argued that his client should be released because the sheer volume of charges he faces means any trial will not get underway for at least another year.
Stressing that tensions on the streets have now diminished, Mr Boyd went on: “Mr Ashwood comes from a very close family who are appalled at the allegations made against him.”
Bail was denied, however.
Mr Justice Kinney said: “(These offences) caused significant and understandable fear among sections of our community.”