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’.
17. Jamie Philips: Pleaded guilty to using threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress
Jamie Philips, aged 31, of Newington Avenue, Cudworth, Doncaster pleaded guilty to using threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on 10 August. He is due to appear before Doncaster Magistrates' Court on 22 August for sentencing. | SYP
18. Niven Matthewman: Jailed for two years, eight months for violent disorder
Niven Matthewman, aged 19, of Albert Street, Swinton, was jailed for two years, eight months during a Sheffield Crown Court hearing held on August 19. Prosecutor, Stephanie Hollis, told the court that Niven Matthewman’s role in the disorder was comprised of two separate incidents, the first involving a police dog van containing two officers - a police constable and a sergeant - and a police dog. The court heard how the force utilised the loud speakers attached to police dog van to ask the crowds to disperse, in the hopes of calming things down, but they were ignored by those congregating nearby. As attempts to calm the crowd failed, the police constable driving the vehicle attempted to drive away to safety, but was blocked by protesters. As this was happening, Matthewman draped himself in an England flag, featuring the St George’s Cross. The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told Matthewman: “There were others who were waving the union flag. By doing as you did, that gesture, you brought shame - not only upon yourself, but upon the town of Rotherham. It was shameful conduct, given that you were then in the midst of violent disorder. The van was rocked violently, you were a part of that. The vehicle could have toppled over, injuring the occupants." Matthewman pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder at Barnsley Magistrates' Court on August 14, 2024. Sentencing Matthewman to two years, eight months in youth custody, Judge Richardson told him: “You were a participant in a very serious incident. You were not a bystander, you were well to the fore.” Judge Richardson also handed Matthewman a 10-year criminal behaviour order | SYP
19. Nathan Palmer: Jailed for two years, eight months for violent disorder
Nathan Palmer, aged 29, of New Street, Hemingfield, was jailed for two years, eight months during a Sheffield Crown Court hearing held on August 19. The court heard how Palmer’s role in the Manvers disorder related to him commandeering a police riot shield and behaving in what Judge Richardson described as an ‘extremely provocative’ way towards police officers. Summarising Palmer’s conduct, Judge Richardson told him: "The part of the incident you were specifically seen to be involved with occurred as the hotel was under attack by the mob, but before the fire was started. You were part of a group of predominantly men. “You were being extremely provocative towards the police who were trying to protect the occupants of the hotel, who were inside, terrified of what might happen to them." "An officer fell, it appears near to a small embankment. During the course of that you grabbed a police shield, which was then passed around. “That was bad enough...but the most important point is you were part of this large mob who were becoming increasingly violent and threatening towards the police and the hotel. The moving images of what you and others did were truly frightening." Palmer, of New Street, Hemingfield, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Barnsley Magistrates' Court on August 14, 2024. The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, sentenced Palmer to two years, eight months in prison and told him: “It's very sad that in the final weeks or months of your grandmother's life you will not feature as any part of it." “You are the author of that personal disaster - no-one else is to blame. You are to blame." A hearing to decide upon whether Palmer should be made the subject of a criminal behaviour will now be heard on October 3. | SYP
20. Michael Whitehead: Jailed for two years, eight months for violent disorder
During a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court on August 15, 2024, Prosecutor Stephanie Hollis detailed how 27-year-old Michael Whitehead, of no fixed abode, shouted at police, and said to one lone officer who was vastly outnumbered by protesters, 'You're not fit to wear the badge'. Judge Richardson said Whitehead subsequently made attempts to 'encourage' disorder, with chants of 'Yorkshire, Yorkshire,' 'we want our country back' 'paedophiles,' and 'England 'till I die' as he gesticulated towards the hotel. He then shouted to the crowd: "Let's go f***ing mental," the court heard. "In consequence of those comments, the violence erupted, missiles were thrown, and you were seen punching your fist in the air...you were stood there...shouting racist abuse," said Judge Richardson. He added: "It's fair to say you were not observed throwing missiles, you are not observed having gone into the hotel. But you were there taking a very active part in encouraging the others to do as they did. They did exactly as you wanted.” Whitehead pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder on August 14. Defending, Clarkson Baptiste said Whitehead suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and told Judge Richardson that ‘he knows what’s coming, which is why he surrendered himself to the police station two nights ago’. Judge Richardson sentenced him to two years, eight months in prison, and a 10-year criminal behaviour order. | SYP