Rioters who 'brought shame upon town' jailed

Nathan Palmer (left) and Niven Matthewman appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday

Two more men have been jailed for their roles in major public disorder outside a Rotherham hotel which was housing asylum seekers.

Niven Matthewman, 19, and Nathan Palmer, 29, were among the 400 people who descended upon the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on 4 August.

Matthewman, of Albert Street, Swinton, was filmed hurling a chair towards the hotel, while Palmer, of New Street, Hemingfield, "commandeered" a police riot shield, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

On Monday, the judge told them they had "brought shame upon Rotherham" and sentenced both to two years and eight months imprisonment.

The court heard both had been part of the mob that gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express, which housed about 200 asylum seekers.

Police body-worn footage showed how the situation became progressively violent, with bricks, fence posts and other missiles hurled at officers and the hotel.

The court heard 58 officers, three police dogs and one police horse were injured in the unrest.

'Very serious incident'

Matthewman was filmed carrying a large piece of wood and throwing a chair towards the hotel.

A YouTube compilation also showed him draped in an England flag while the song "Bang Bang" by Ariana Grande, Jessie J and Nicki Minaj played.

He also chanted "Yorkshire, Yorkshire" and helped others violently rock a police dog van from side to side.

The court heard the two officers who were inside the vehicle "feared for their lives".

Matthewman, who had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty to violent disorder, will serve his sentence in a young offender institution.

He was also made subject of a criminal behaviour order for 10 years.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told him: "You were a participant in a very serious incident.

"You were not a bystander, you were well to the fore."

'Personal disaster'

Meanwhile, Palmer, who also pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was captured "commandeering" a police riot shield whilst on licence for drug offences.

Police body-worn footage showed the self-employed tradesman picking up the shield after an officer fell to the ground and dropped it.

The court heard his custodial sentence would have an impact on the end-of-life care of his elderly grandmother who has dementia and has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Passing sentence, Judge Richardson said: “You are the author of that personal disaster, no-one else is to blame, you are to blame.

"What possessed you to participate in this crime can only be described as comprehensive stupidity.

“The simple fact of the matter is, however, you did participate and you were well to the fore, in consequence of which you must now be punished.”

A criminal behaviour order will be discussed at a later hearing.

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