Riots broke out at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers Way, Rotherham on the afternoon of August 4, 2024, after around 750 anti-immigration protesters arrived at the hotel, where asylum seekers were being housed.
The riots formed part of more than a dozen protests held across the country, many of which turned violent. The protests were fuelled by misinformation and followed a shocking knife attack in Southport, Merseyside, in which three young girls were killed.
Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, condemned the actions of those involved in the Rotherham riots. She said: “The criminal, violent attack on a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham is utterly appalling.”
“Deliberately setting fire to a building with people known to be inside.”
“South Yorkshire police have full government support for the strongest action against those responsible.”
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that around 51 officers were injured in violent skirmishes, during which protesters are alleged to have thrown ‘items such as bricks, fence posts, branches and other missiles’ at them.
Sheffield’s courts have heard details of rioters, one of whom rocked a police van - leaving an officer fearing for his life, with another shooting a flaming arrow towards police, and a third having hurled missiles at officers.
18-year-old Kenzie Roughley became the first of the rioters to be jailed, during a Sheffield Crown Court hearing held on Friday, August 9 - just five days after the disorder took place.
Sending him to begin a sentence of two years, four months, The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told him: "There was major civil disorder in the Manvers area of Rotherham. It was part of wider, national civil unrest.
“It was fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media. The disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there. It was perpetrated by an ignorant mob, of which you were a part."
“You were part of a group desirous of provoking police officers and spreading hate. It was an incident of major public disorder which has badly damaged the reputation of Rotherham and South Yorkshire. It would have – and doubtless did – terrify the ordinary decent citizens of that town.” South Yorkshire Police confirmed today (August 28) that a total of 66 people have now been charged in connection with the disorder, 52 of whom have been convicted after entering guilty pleas.
More rioters are expected to be charged and sentenced in the coming days and weeks.
The force says it is continuing to ‘come after those involved’, warning that rioters still at large ‘will be arrested...will be put in front of a judge and will be punished’.
5. Billy Pemberton: Pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon
Billy Pemberton, aged 31, of Rosehill Road, Rawmarsh, Rotherham has appeared before Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Monday 12 August and pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. Pemberton, of Rosehill Road, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, had his case opened on August 14, 2024 after he admitted violent disorder, and Judge Richardson jailed him for two years, four months when the case resumed on August 15, 2024. Judge Richardson heard how Pemberton was part of a group which was throwing missiles at a small group of ‘cornered’ police outside the hotel, but there was no evidence he threw anything at the officers himself. He said he was also spotted in a group which was chanting "who the f*** is Allah?". Pemberton has admitted picking up a police baton, dropped by an officer, and taking it away from the scene. Gordon Stables, defending, said his client is ‘utterly dejected and remorseful’ and facing losing his business thanks to the inevitable prison sentence. Mr Stables said Pemberton went to the hotel after ‘seeing things on social media that were completely and utterly untrue, complete lies’. He said: "Others will suffer due to his stupidity." As he sentenced Pemberton, Judge Richardson said that while he was not ‘fully to the fore’ and was more in the second ‘tier’ or ‘rank,’ he was there, as part of the ‘mob’ that threw ‘missiles towards officers’. “This is ruinous for you, but I’m afraid you are the author of your own misfortune,” Judge Richardson said. | SYP
6. Kaine Hicks: Jailed for two years, eight months for violent disorder
During the large-scale disorder outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Manvers, Rotherham on Sunday 4 August, Kaine Hicks targeted a smaller female officer as part of what South Yorkshire Police described as a 'tirade of vulgar, hostile language aimed at our officers who were bravely handling the deplorable scenes of violence'. Speaking after Hicks was jailed for his conduct, a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "The 22-year-old also attempted to push away riot shields from officers protecting the hotel. "As part of the operation to bring those involved to justice, we have circulated over 100 images of people we want to speak to in connection with the disorder. Hicks spotted himself on this gallery and contacted us. "Hicks refused to co-operate showing no remorse for his actions and answering ‘no comment’ when questioned by officers. The evidence stacked against Hicks, with videos showing him being verbally abusive and shoving officers, leaving him no option but to plead guilty to violent disorder." Hicks, of Wombwell Road, Platts Common, Barnsley appeared before Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Saturday, August 10 and pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He appeared before Sheffield Crown Court today on August 13 and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for ten years. | SYP
7. Drew Jarvis: Jailed for three years
Drew Jarvis, of no fixed abode, was jailed for three years on August 13 after pleading guilty to violent disorder following the unrest witnessed outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Manvers just over a week ago. Speaking after Jarvis was jailed, a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "Jarvis was caught on footage hurling missiles at officers during the serous disorder, with the 19-year-old also seen picking up fence panels and throwing them at the hotel. "Since the disorder in Manvers, officers and detectives have been working at pace to collate evidence from hours of footage and carry out arrests of suspects. "After Jarvis handed himself in at a police station, officers were able to link him to footage which identified him as a perpetrator of the violence scene in Manvers. "Jarvis was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court and has been given a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order on top of his prison sentence." | SYP
8. Ricky Hardman: Jailed for two years and eight months for violent disorder
Barnsley man Ricky Hardman claimed he got 'caught up in the day' as he was jailed for what police described as 'violence, intimidation and thuggish behaviour' during the Rotherham riots. Speaking after Hardman was jailed, a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "During the wide-scale disorder outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Manvers, Rotherham on Sunday 4 August, Hardman, who during his interview said he had ‘probably gone too far’, still failed to show any remorse for his actions, saying ‘he came worse off than any officer’. He suffered minor injuries from having his hand hit with a baton. "Following the disorder, teams of officers and staff have worked at pace to identity those involved from footage and imagery, and Hardman was sighted acting in a despicable manner. "The evidence stacked against Hardman gave him no option but to plead guilty to violent disorder." He appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, August 12 and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for ten years and ordered to pay £228 in fees. The CBO prohibits Hardman from congregating in any public place with more than two people in a manner that will cause distress, alarm or fear. | SYP