In an exclusive interview with the EDP, James Jobson said he believed pressure from politicians led to police and prosecutors pursuing him even though they had no evidence he was involved.

The 62-year-old, who worked as a cleaner for Home Office contractor Serco, was accused of running a Facebook page called the HMO Inspector, which posted images from inside houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs) in Thetford which were being used by migrants.

Mr Jobson has spoken exclusively to the EDP (Image: Supplied)

Shortly after the posts were published, the properties were targeted by groups of angry locals, prompting violent scenes which saw asylum seekers were escorted out of the houses by police.

Officers believe the posts helped spark the riots and because Mr Jobson had cleaned at least one of the houses of which images were uploaded he was charged with misconduct in a public office, despite his protestations of innocence and a lack of any other evidence.

He spent six nights in prison, during which time the account continued to post messages, prompting police and prosecutors to finally accept he was not responsible.

Mr Jobson – who says struggles to even use Facebook - said the case against him was rushed, because police were so keen to make a charge following the disorder.

“It wasn't me doing all those posts and all that rubbish they were throwing at me.

"I think the police thought they had got their person so quick and just wanted a quick result.

"They had word from Westminster that they needed to sort it out as quick as possible."

The roots of the extraordinary case date back to Monday, August 3, when Mr Jobson was sent to Thetford by his employer, Serco.

He had worked for the firm for nine months, cleaning properties across East Anglia which were used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers.

It was a routine job but the following night disorder broke out in the town as locals angry about migrants being housed in their community – with the prospect of more than 1,000 more to be moved to nearby RAF Barnham – protested outside HMOs being used by asylum seekers.

Disorder broke out again in Thetford for three consecutive nights (Image: SWNS)

The riots continued for three nights.

Mr Jobson saw reports of the disorder on the news and made his boss aware that Serco properties had been targeted.

He said he then just “carried on with my week as normal”.

However, as he returned to his home in Costessey with his wife Lisa, at about 11pm on Friday, 7, following a visit to their daughter’s, he found four police officers waiting for him.

They told him he was being arrested “on suspicion of involvement in the Thetford rioting and inciting racial hatred”.

Police standing in front of a Thetford HMO during the disorder (Image: Supplied)

He was taken to Wymondham police station for questioning, as officers stayed to search his house and work van, taking his work devices and mobile phone in for tests.

He spent the night in a “horrific” holding cell before being questioned the following morning.

Police accused him of running the HMO Inspector Facebook account, which they claimed had been a factor in sparking the riots.

Mr Jobson was held at Norfolk Constabulary's headquarters in Wymondham (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2016)

Mr Jobson said he initially did not want a lawyer for the interview, as he thought it would imply he had something to........

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