Moorland prison riots: 15 men sentenced

Three days of rioting caused £1m damage at the prison in November 2010

Fifteen men have been given jail sentences for their part in riots that caused damage put at £1m at a South Yorkshire prison.

Parts of Moorland prison in Doncaster were damaged and burnt during three days of rioting in November 2010.

Four men admitted violent disorder at Sheffield Crown Court and were each sentenced to one year and eight months.

Eleven others were jailed in August for rioting but their convictions were banned from being reported until now.

The riots began in the young offenders wing of the prison on 2 November 2010, when three members of staff at the prison were assaulted and a female officer sustained a fractured jaw.

'Extensive damage'

The following night about 55 prisoners refused to return to their cells and an inmate was taken to hospital with head injuries.

On the third night the disorder spread to the adult wing and more than 250 inmates had to be moved to other jails.

Acting Det Insp Helen Lewis from South Yorkshire Police said: "It has been a difficult inquiry.

"Some of the prisoners tried to mask their identity, and then because of the severe disorder that was created and the damage caused, the prisoners then had to be re-homed (at prisons) throughout the United Kingdom.

"The disorder which occurred over three nights was clearly organised and appeared to be pre-planned, resulting in extensive damage to the prison and serious injuries to prisoners and prison officers."

'Profound effect'

Douaine Beaumont, 37, of Anlaby Road, Hull, pleaded guilty to rioting in July, and was sentenced to four years.

Ten others were found guilty of rioting following a trial and jailed for between six and nine years each on 24 August, but their sentences could not be reported until the conclusion of sentencing on Friday.

Some of those who were given jail terms had been released from prison since the riots while others were still in jail.

Marian Mahoney, governor of HMP Moorland, said the riots had a "profound effect" on the prison.

"I have a great deal of respect for staff who acted with enormous bravery and professional expertise to bring this situation to a peaceful conclusion," she said.