An engineering graduate lost his job and his wedding after being jailed for 14 months for throwing a punch at a man during anti-immigration rioting.

Noman Ahmed, 24, was among a group of Muslims who went to guard a mosque in Middlesbrough during nationwide violence this month.

When two white men made ‘racist threats’ they were chased from the mosque and attacked.

Prosecutor Rachel Masters said Ahmed was caught on camera punching or attempting to punch one of the men.

Teesside Crown Court heard he had paid a heavy price for his violent outburst.

Noman Ahmed, 24, has lost his job and his wedding after being jailed for 14 months for throwing a punch at a man during anti-immigration rioting

The engineering graduate, pictured in the blue top) was among a group of Muslims who went to guard a mosque in Middlesbrough during nationwide violence this month

Gary Wood, defending, said Ahmed lost his job as an EE salesman as a result of the incident. He was also due to marry in eight days, but will now be behind bars instead. 

Mr Wood said his appearance in court for the first time in his life had left his family ‘completely devastated’.

He added: ‘Mr Ahmed was due to marry on August 24 in a wedding that has been planned for quite some time at significant expense to his family and his fiancee’s family. 

‘It will cost them financially because they have spent an enormous amount of money planning a very special day and special celebration.

‘The defendant’s future wife and her family are very disappointed by the defendant’s actions.’

However, Judge Francis Laird, KC, imposed a jail sentence despite Ahmed’s forthcoming marriage and glowing references that described him as a ‘polite, intelligent man’.