Summary

  • A number of people are due in court in Sheffield charged in connection with the disorder which broke out in Rotherham on 4 August

  • The Holiday Inn Express hotel in Manvers, which housed asylum seekers at the time, was the centre of large-scale violence

  • Hearings today including pleas and sentencing and are due to take place at both the magistrates and crown court in the city

Live Reporting

Edited by Andrew Jackson and Nicky Hudson, written by Oli Constable and Victoria Scheer in Sheffield

  1. Parents says curfew has done 'a world of good'

    Oli Constable
    at Sheffield Magistrates' Court

    Bail conditions which mean a teenager has had to be at home between 19:00 and 07:00 have done him "a world of good", the youth court is told.

    The 17-year-old has been on bail following his involvement in violent disorder outside a hotel in Manvers on 4 August.

    Speaking to the court, the judge asked if an "enforced removal from negative influence" had benefited the young person, to which his mother said it had.

    Since the boy has "had his tag on, you see the difference," his father added.

    "He’s not mixing in the same circles, it has done him the world of good from a health perspective."

    The boy is set to be sentenced.

  2. Most serious cases to come before Recorder

    As mentioned earlier, the trials of Mr Lowe and Mr Bailey will take place before the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC.

    Judge Richardson previously requested to have the most serious cases in relation to the Manvers unrest brought before him.

    This included anyone charged with arson offences.

    Judge Sarah Wright, Judge Peter Hampton and Judge Charles Thomas will assist in dealing with any other cases.

  3. Next hearing delayed

    Victoria Scheer
    at Sheffield Crown Court

    Joshua LaneSouth Yorkshire Police

    The court hears the case of Joshua Lane, who was due to be sentenced after he admitted violent disorder at an earlier hearing, is facing delays.

    It is understood Lane was not picked up from HMP Hull to attend the hearing in Sheffield.

    The case is now at risk of being adjourned.

  4. Crown court defendant denies arson charge

    Victoria Scheer
    at Sheffield Crown Court

    The case of Arron Bailey is now under way at Sheffield Crown Court.

    Mr Bailey, who is wearing a dark green jumper, nods at the people in the public gallery as he enters the dock.

    The 28-year-old admits a charge of violent disorder but pleads not guilty to arson with intent to endanger life.

    His case, like Mr Lowe's, will now go to trial at Sheffield Crown Court in December.

  5. Request to lift anonymity order refused by judge

    Oli Constable
    at Sheffield Magistrates' Court

    An application by the Press, including the BBC, to lift the automatic anonymity order that is in place in youth courts has been refused by District Judge Spruce.

    This means the 17-year-old, who is set to be sentenced today after pleading guilty to violent disorder, will not be named or identified.

    "Exposure of his identity will have significant consequences" for his family, the judge adds.

  6. Court hears of boy's involvement in trouble

    Oli Constable
    at Sheffield Magistrates' Court

    The case against the teenager is being outlined ahead of his sentencing this morning at Sheffield Youth Court.

    The prosecution says the defendant held a piece of feather board fence panel above his head, before being told to put it down by an officer.

    A police dog then bites the defendant before he is arrested.

  7. Next hearing due to start

    Victoria Scheer
    at Sheffield Crown Court

    Arron Bailey's case is about to be called on.

    Mr Coxon is again prosecuting, while Richard Davies will be defence counsel.

    Mr Bailey, 28, is charged with violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life.

    Some 20 people are now sitting in the public gallery for this hearing.

  8. Reporting restrictions considered in Youth Court

    Oli Constable

    Defendants in youth court automatically have restrictions in place so there can be no reporting that would lead to their identification, due to their ages.

    Submissions have been made to the court to request that the automatic anonymity order is lifted in this case.

    District Judge Spruce is currently listening to members of the Press, the defence counsel and the prosecution before making a decision.

  9. First hearing under way at Crown Court

    Victoria Scheer
    at Sheffield Crown Court

    Judge Jeremy Richardson

    Mason Lowe, who wears a dark jumper, looks at the public gallery several times as he rests his arms on his thighs in the dock.

    He admits a charge of violent disorder relating to the trouble at Manvers on 4 August.

    However, the 27-year-old denies a charge of arson with intent to endanger life.

    That means a trial will take place, with the case set to be heard before the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC (pictured above at an earlier hearing where cameras were allowed in court) in December.

  10. Youth Court case begins

    The youth case in Sheffield has just begun.

    The 17-year-old defendant has confirmed their name and date of birth.

    He is being told how he previously pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder, following trouble at Rotherham on 4 August.

  11. Barristers arrive as court gets busy

    Court seven at Sheffield Crown Court is beginning to fill with people.

    Neil Coxon, who will be prosecuting the first two cases, as well as Ian West, who is defending Mr Lowe are already present.

    Four people are currently sitting in the public gallery.

    Members of the public are welcome, and indeed encouraged, to attend court proceedings as part of the Open Justice principle.

  12. Hearing about to start at crown court

    Victoria Scheer
    at Sheffield Crown Court

    The first two defendants appearing before Judge Sarah Wright at Sheffield Crown Court this morning are Mason Lowe and Arron Bailey.

    Mr Lowe, 27, of Lowfield Road, Bolton-upon-Dearne, is charged with violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life.

    Mr Bailey, 28, of Margaret Close, Darfield, is charged with violent disorder and attempted arson with intent to endanger life.

    Both men are expected to enter pleas.

  13. Case set to be heard at Sheffield Youth Court

    Oli Constable
    at Sheffield Magistrates' Court

    Some of the people involved in the disorder in Rotherham were children and young people, meaning a handful of cases are being heard in the youth court.

    The courtrooms are slightly different here to what you may have seen on big TV dramas.

    There's a bench where the judge sits, alongside a legal advisor, and usually someone from the youth offending team.

    The defendant sits alongside a parent or guardian, and the barristers sit alongside them.

    The judge will introduce people sat in the court.

    In the corner of the room is a small, secure dock, with floor-to-ceiling glass, but throughout these cases this hasn't been used.

    Everything is explained carefully, so the young person knows what is happening.

    There are restrictions in place so we can't name or identify the defendant.

    Today, we're awaiting the sentencing of a 17-year-old who has previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

  14. Welcome to our live coverage on Wednesday

    Line of police stand behind riot shields as one officer, wearing a helmet and body protection, emerges through a smashed windowChristopher Furlong/Getty

    Good morning and thank you for joining our live coverage from Sheffield's courts on Wednesday.

    A number of people are due to appear through the course of the day in connection with the rioting which broke out at Manvers, near Rotherham, on 4 August.

    Dozens of police officers were injured as crowds threw missiles while the hotel itself had windows and doors smashed and fires set alight next to the building.