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’.
9. Kenzie Roughley: Jailed for two years, four months
18-year-old Kenzie Roughley became the first of the rioters to be jailed on Friday, August 9, 2024 when the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, sentenced him to two years, four months in youth custody for his part in the violent disorder. A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said after Roughley was jailed: "Video footage, fingerprint evidence and witness statements gave 18-year-old Kenzie Roughley, from Pontefract, no other choice but to plead guilty to charges of violent disorder. "On Sunday 4 August, officers were subjected to hours of abuse, physically, verbally and mentally while they were on the frontline keeping members of their community safe. "The violence and despicable behaviour that they were subjected to is indescribable. "CCTV and body worn footage showcase the horrendous actions of Roughley, who was captured threatening officers, verbally assaulting them and causing a PCSO to fear for his life. "During the disorder, a parked police CCTV van was rocked violently. A PCSO inside the back of the van had no choice but to jump into the driver’s seat and flee for his own and other’s safety. "Footage showed Roughley, wearing a black hooded jacket kicking and punching the van and forensic testing close to the area were a match for his fingerprints. "He was quickly, arrested and charged and, in less than a week since the incident, will start his prison sentence." Assistant Chief Constable Rick Alton added: “The abhorrent violence and abuse officers were faced with on Sunday was disgraceful. “Over 60 police officers were injured, alongside four of our dogs and a horse, all aired on social media and screens for everyone, including our officers’ loved ones to see, who would have no doubt been extremely worried. “We are continuing to come after those involved; you will be arrested, you will be put in front of a judge and you will be punished. “I hope today’s first sentencing, the first of many, shows those across the county the behaviour we have witnessed will not be tolerated." | SYP
10. Joshua Simpson: Assault of an emergency worker
Joshua Simpson, aged 26, of no fixed abode, has pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker. He has been remanded in custody, and is due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on August 27. | SYP
11. Stuart Bolton: Jailed for two years, eight months for violent disorder and driving matters
Stuart Bolton, aged 38, of Manchester Square, New Holland, pleaded guilty to violent disorder, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Monday 12 August. He appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on 14 August for sentencing. The court heard how Bolton bragged about his involvement in the events that unfolded on August 4, 2024. Bolton told officers how he attended the area to 'be nosey' after seeing videos circulating online. Believing he wouldn’t get caught for being involved and extremely brazen, Bolton, who is disqualified from driving, drove to the area in his uninsured vehicle. During interviews, officers asked Bolton why he went, he said ‘I don’t know, I don’t bother anyone else, and no-one bothers me. I was stupid’. A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "After he had acted out his aggression, abusing officers on the frontline and goading them for violence, Bolton left the area, driving his uninsured car again, stopping at a petrol station. "While in the petrol station, providing officers with further evidence and CCTV imagery, he told staff how he had got caught up with officers and was boasting about his injuries to his head." Jailing Bolton for two years and eight months, Judge Richardson said:“You were part of the mob who were trying to stop the police doing their duty. You were part of a group desirous of targeting police and spreading hate.” | SYP
12. Peter Lynch: Jailed for two years, eight months for violent disorder
Peter Lynch was at the front of a mob which gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express, at Manvers, Rotherham, on August 4, shouting ‘scum’ and ‘child killers’ at police, Sheffield Crown Court heard on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Jailing Lynch for two years, eight months, The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told him: "You did not yourself attack any police officer, as far as can be detected, but what you did was encourage by your conduct others to behave violently and you were part of this mob." The judge said: "What a disgraceful example you are as a grandfather." Lynch was pictured holding a placard asserting the corruption of MPs, judges, the media and the police. But body-worn camera footage was shown to the court of him screaming "you are protecting people who are killing our kids and raping them" at police with riot shields and "scum". Lynch - who suffers from diabetes, thyroid issues, angina and has recently had a heart attack - was then filmed repeatedly challenging officers as they tried to push him back with shields, screaming "protect my children" repeatedly and yelling: "We are on the streets now to protect our kids". Asked by the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, what was the meaning of the placard, Ian West, defending, said: "It's a general conspiracy theory against anyone and any form of authority. "This was slightly off-topic from what was going on that day." Mr West said his client has been married for 36 years, has four adult children and three grandchildren. He was working in the packing industry but was recently made unemployed, the barrister said. Lynch, of Burman Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at an earlier hearing. He is the latest of more than 20 men who have now been jailed by Judge Richardson following the Manvers disorder, which saw 58 police officers, three police dogs and a police horse injured, and involved rioters breaking into the hotel and trying to set the building alight. | SYP