Rioters jailed for attacking asylum hotel in Rotherham

A father-of-three, identified as Lloyd, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in a violent attack on a hotel housing asylum seekers during riots in Rotherham. Sheffield Crown Court heard that Lloyd filmed the incident on his phone as he and others breached the hotel through a smashed fire door. The judge described the TikTok footage presented in court as “the worst footage I have seen,” highlighting the terrifying nature of the attack. Another individual, Glyn Guest, aged 60, received a two-year and eight-month sentence for his role in the mob, which included assaulting a police officer who was attempting to protect the hotel. The officer described the event as a “horrific incident of mindless thuggery,” noting that it was unlike anything she had experienced in her five and a half years of service. Judge Richardson condemned Guest's actions, stating he was fully engaged in the violent mob. These sentences are part of a broader crackdown on far-right riots that erupted following the stabbing of three children in Southport on July 29. To date, over 1,000 suspects have been arrested, with 575 charged in connection to the violence that spread across England and Northern Ireland. The court has indicated that those playing central roles in the riots may face more severe charges, including riot. In related incidents, several others have been charged for their participation in the riots, including a family man who will miss the birth of his child due to his involvement in launching missiles at a police van. The unrest, fueled by misinformation on social media, has led to widespread disorder, particularly targeting local mosques.