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| Levi Fishlock: Man gets joint-longest sentence for summer riots | |
| (2 months later) | |
| Levi Fishlock was part of a mob which attacked a hotel housing about 200 asylum seekers | Levi Fishlock was part of a mob which attacked a hotel housing about 200 asylum seekers |
| A man who tried to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for nine years, the joint-longest prison sentence in connection with the UK's summer of riots. | A man who tried to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for nine years, the joint-longest prison sentence in connection with the UK's summer of riots. |
| Levi Fishlock smashed windows and stoked a flaming bin at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, during a spate of disorder on 4 August. | Levi Fishlock smashed windows and stoked a flaming bin at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, during a spate of disorder on 4 August. |
| Fishlock, 31, of Sheffield Road, Barnsley, initially denied violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life but later pleaded guilty to the charges. | Fishlock, 31, of Sheffield Road, Barnsley, initially denied violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life but later pleaded guilty to the charges. |
| Jailing him, the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said: "This is one of the worst cases of its kind stemming from the Rotherham disorder." | Jailing him, the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said: "This is one of the worst cases of its kind stemming from the Rotherham disorder." |
| 'Good cause' | 'Good cause' |
| Fishlock's sentence, which also includes a five-year licence period after he is released from jail, is the same as that of Thomas Birley, who was also part of the 400-strong crowd, some of whom attempted to torch the hotel in South Yorkshire. | Fishlock's sentence, which also includes a five-year licence period after he is released from jail, is the same as that of Thomas Birley, who was also part of the 400-strong crowd, some of whom attempted to torch the hotel in South Yorkshire. |
| Large-scale disorder saw more than 60 police officers injured as rioters, many armed with weapons, circled the hotel. | Large-scale disorder saw more than 60 police officers injured as rioters, many armed with weapons, circled the hotel. |
| During the violence, security staff and people inside the hotel were told by police to hide in bedrooms and lock the doors to protect themselves. | During the violence, security staff and people inside the hotel were told by police to hide in bedrooms and lock the doors to protect themselves. |
| The two-day sentencing hearing at Sheffield Crown Court was told Fishlock had been wearing "a very identifiable" purple T-shirt as he smashed the hotel's windows by throwing bricks and broken paving slabs. | The two-day sentencing hearing at Sheffield Crown Court was told Fishlock had been wearing "a very identifiable" purple T-shirt as he smashed the hotel's windows by throwing bricks and broken paving slabs. |
| Fishlock, whose shirt bore the name Bellingham and the number 10 on the back, told arresting officers that throwing missiles and stoking the fire was for a "good cause" despite about 200 asylum seekers plus hotel staff being trapped in the besieged building. | Fishlock, whose shirt bore the name Bellingham and the number 10 on the back, told arresting officers that throwing missiles and stoking the fire was for a "good cause" despite about 200 asylum seekers plus hotel staff being trapped in the besieged building. |
| Police footage of Fishlock captured at the site of the disorder | Police footage of Fishlock captured at the site of the disorder |
| He also used fencing slats and metal poles "as weapons against officers" and was seen "smashing up" an air conditioning unit outside the hotel. | He also used fencing slats and metal poles "as weapons against officers" and was seen "smashing up" an air conditioning unit outside the hotel. |
| Fishlock also grasped a "sharp-edged object" while making threatening gestures towards those in the hotel as well as setting fire to makeshift barricades, the court heard. | Fishlock also grasped a "sharp-edged object" while making threatening gestures towards those in the hotel as well as setting fire to makeshift barricades, the court heard. |
| Alisha Kaye, prosecuting, said: "In his pre-sentencing report he stated he just came upon the incident and had no intention to go there deliberately. | Alisha Kaye, prosecuting, said: "In his pre-sentencing report he stated he just came upon the incident and had no intention to go there deliberately. |
| "It's remarkable coincidence that he was wearing an England shirt. He is deliberately tapping his England badge [on footage]." | "It's remarkable coincidence that he was wearing an England shirt. He is deliberately tapping his England badge [on footage]." |
| Fishlock, in a purple England shirt, smashed the hotel's windows by throwing bricks and paving slabs | Fishlock, in a purple England shirt, smashed the hotel's windows by throwing bricks and paving slabs |
| Father-of-one Fishlock had no previous convictions but was reprimanded in 2007 for violent disorder and given a caution in 2010 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. | Father-of-one Fishlock had no previous convictions but was reprimanded in 2007 for violent disorder and given a caution in 2010 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. |
| Judge Richardson told him: "You were a prominent participant. You played a part in almost every aspect of the racist mob violence on that terrible day in August in Rotherham. | Judge Richardson told him: "You were a prominent participant. You played a part in almost every aspect of the racist mob violence on that terrible day in August in Rotherham. |
| "You and many like you were intent on spreading a hateful message of violence and racism. | "You and many like you were intent on spreading a hateful message of violence and racism. |
| "From first to last, the venom of racism infected the entirety of what occurred." | "From first to last, the venom of racism infected the entirety of what occurred." |
| Benn Robinson, mitigating, told the court Fishlock had a "problematic relationship with drugs in various junctures of his life" following his brother's death in his teenage years. | Benn Robinson, mitigating, told the court Fishlock had a "problematic relationship with drugs in various junctures of his life" following his brother's death in his teenage years. |
| He said his client struggled with anxiety and depression and had, upon reflection, felt "genuine shame and remorse" over his conduct in Manvers. | He said his client struggled with anxiety and depression and had, upon reflection, felt "genuine shame and remorse" over his conduct in Manvers. |
| Pictures taken the morning after the disorder at the hotel show smashed windows which had showered glass in the hotel's dining room | Pictures taken the morning after the disorder at the hotel show smashed windows which had showered glass in the hotel's dining room |
| BBC research suggests that Fishlock is the 80th person sentenced for their part in the trouble in and around the hotel. | BBC research suggests that Fishlock is the 80th person sentenced for their part in the trouble in and around the hotel. |
| Chris Hartley, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said Fishlock's prominent part in the riot "terrified the residents and staff of the hotel and caused significant amounts of physical damage." | Chris Hartley, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said Fishlock's prominent part in the riot "terrified the residents and staff of the hotel and caused significant amounts of physical damage." |
| He said: "Highly experienced police officers described the disorder as the worst they had ever seen in their careers. | He said: "Highly experienced police officers described the disorder as the worst they had ever seen in their careers. |
| "The violence had left them in fear for their lives." | "The violence had left them in fear for their lives." |
| Mr Hartley said the tough sentence imposed should "serve as a lesson for anyone considering taking part in this type of disorder in future." | Mr Hartley said the tough sentence imposed should "serve as a lesson for anyone considering taking part in this type of disorder in future." |
| Judge Jeremy Richardson KC sentences Levi Fishlock at Sheffield Crown Court | Judge Jeremy Richardson KC sentences Levi Fishlock at Sheffield Crown Court |
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