A 20-year-old who pleaded guilty last month to participating in the 2011 Stanley Cup riot in Vancouver has been sentenced to one month in jail and 150 hours of community service.

Emmanuel Alviar has also been ordered to write letters of apology to Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and police Chief Jim Chu.

He was caught several times on video posing in front of a burning truck, rocking a car and tossing a barricade at the window of a Telus store. He was also the chaperon of four 14-year-olds that night.

Alviar's lawyer asked for house arrest, while the Crown sought a four-month sentence.

The judge, however, said neither option was appropriate. He said Alviar turned himself in, pleaded guilty to participating in a riot and showed genuine remorse when he gave a heartfelt apology after pleading guilty, and added Alviar didn't start the riot himself.

But the judge said jail time is necessary to send a message to other would-be rioters.

Vancouver Canucks fans watch as an overturned vehicle burns during riots in downtown Vancouver after the Canucks lost Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs to the Boston Bruins on June 15, 2011. ((Anthony Bolante/Reuters))

Samantha Hume, a spokesperson for the Crown, said the sentence is appropriate as Alviar had no prior criminal record.

"This is somebody who has never been to jail before and it's going to be hard for him," she said.

"Judge Harris did not want him spending any more time in there than [one month] because he was concerned about that very thing, so it's at the low end of the range but it does send the message of denunciation and deterrence."

Alviar's lawyer, Gary Botting, said the sentence might make other rioters think twice before turning themselves in.

"I understand where the judge is coming from — it's deterrence and deterrence of a whole population that will riot at the drop of a hat," he said.

"[But] I think a lot of people will be deterred from coming forward by a custodial sentence, whereas many more might have come forward had they seen it was just going to be a conditional sentence."

A total of 98 people have been charged in connection with the riot.

Hundreds of rioters tore through downtown Vancouver following the Canucks' Stanley Cup loss to the Boston Bruins in June 2011, looting stores and lighting cars on fire.

Accused rioters: Where are they from?

Charges laid to date in the 2011 Stanley Cup Riot.

• Bigger circles = more people charged.
• Click on each slice for breakdown.
• Zoom out to see charges outside Metro Vancouver.