Olympic ambassador looter remanded in custody

Chelsea Ives, the former Olympic youth ambassador for Waltham Forest whose mother handed her in to police for rioting, was remanded in custody earlier today.

Speaking at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Nina Tempia told Ives she would appear there again on September 7th, when she will be committed for trial at Crown court.

The accused appeared in court dressed in a grey sweater and black trousers. During the five-minute hearing she gasped, held her hands to her head and clearly appeared distressed. After the judge remanded her in custody for another three weeks, Ives stormed out of the dock before she was officially dismissed.

Ives faces two charges of burglary after allegedly breaking into mobile phone shops, one charge of violent disorder and another charge of smashing a £60,000 police BMW. All of the charges are alleged to have happened in Enfield on August 7th, at the height of the riots there. She denies all charges.

Being committed for trial at Crown court means that Ives will face a jury, although the potential punishments available if she is found guilty are more severe than the 6-month prison sentence that magistrates can hand down. Burglary carries a maximum penalty of ten years in the Crown court, whilst violent disorder is punishable with up to five years in prison.