'Madness' saw rioter rip off police van mirror

Dean Fowler pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing

A rioter who ripped a wing mirror off a police van in a "moment of complete and utter madness" has been jailed.

Dean Fowler, 32, was filmed attacking the van during widespread violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham on 4 August.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing and said he "wished he had never gone" to the riot, his barrister told the court.

Fowler, from Barnsley, was jailed for two and a half years at Sheffield Crown Court.

Video played during his sentencing showed how the van was one of two police vehicles targeted by rioters, who violently rocked one of them as they surrounded them both.

Laura Marshall, defending, said her client had left his home to "clear his head" after an argument with his partner, and saw what was happening at the hotel on social media.

She said he made the "foolish decision to go down there".

Fowler was "extremely remorseful" and wished to apologise to officers, she added.

"He said it was moment of complete and utter madness and he wished he had never gone," Ms Marshall said.

The court heard how 64 police officers, four dogs and a horse were injured in the violence outside the hotel, which was being used to house asylum seekers.

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, told the court one senior police officer said in a statement that he had "never seen a crowd so out of control" and it was "sheer mob mentality".

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