Man threatened to use dog to attack police in riot

Michael Woods pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at an earlier hearing

A man who threatened to use a dog to attack police officers outside a South Yorkshire hotel during rioting has been jailed for two years.

Large-scale disorder saw more than 60 police officers left injured when the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, was attacked on 4 August.

Michael Woods, 64, was captured on body-worn video telling police the animal would "get you" if the officers hit him with their batons, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Woods, of Ainsdale Avenue, Goldthorpe, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder.

During a short video played to the court, Woods is seen shouting at officers while standing next to a man with a dog.

The officers are standing in front of the hotel during the footage, with some of the building's windows pictured broken.

More than 200 asylum seekers and about 25 members of staff were inside the hotel at the time.

The large-scale disorder took place on 4 August at the Holiday Inn Express

"Police were trying to bring the increasingly hostile crowds under control," prosecutors told the court.

During the footage, Woods tells an officer: "I live here mate, go back to where you’ve come from.

"We live here, have some respect for English people young man, you are a disgrace to society."

"You hit me, it gets you," he adds, referring to the dog.

There was no physical violence from the defendant, his defence barrister told the hearing.

Addressing Woods, The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said: "I cannot ignore the fact you were part of the larger group indulging in this major civil disorder."

"It was ignorant - it was not only offensive, it was also threatening in the midst of major public disorder."

Scott Kendall was told by the judge he had set a "dreadful" example to his child

A second man, 24-year-old Scott Kendall, was also sentenced to two years in prison after admitting violent disorder.

The father-of-one, of Sandymount Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, was filmed throwing a bottle towards police officers while they protected themselves with riot shields.

References sent to the court from his employer described him as a "much liked" member of a plastering company, the court heard.

The judge asked Kendall's barrister: "What on Earth is a young man like this doing?"

"He’s thrown away his good character," the barrister replied.

Addressing Kendall, the judge added: "What a dreadful example you are to [his son]."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.