Dad waves from dock to supporters as he's jailed for 'terrifying incident'

Luke fowler has been jailed
-Credit: (Image: South Yorkshire Police)


A dad waved to supporters in court as he was jailed for his part in a riot at a hotel housing refugees.

Luke Fowler, 38, of Barnsley, was put behind bars for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday after it heard he had been captured on footage carrying a piece of plywood towards a fire that had been set at the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Manvers, Rotherham, on August 4.

Her Honour Judge Sarah Wright said there was no evidence to suggest Fowler, of Margaret Close, Darfield, started the fire but he was captured being part of a mob present at the hotel.

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She said: "There was major civil disorder in the Manvers area of Rotherham. It was part of wider civil unrest. The disorder was racist and extremely frightening for anyone who was there. It was perpetrated by a mob of which you were a part. I have little doubt the decent people of Rotherham were affected by what occurred."

The judge said over 50 officers were injured, as well as police dogs and horses. She said vehicles were also damaged and residents and staff at the hotel "feared for their lives".

She said: "Multiple fires were set at the hotel. It was an incident of major public disorder. It would have, and has had an affect on the ordinary, decent citizens in the town. It is clear you were part of a group mainly consisting of men of all ages, as well as women and children...

"You taunted police... You threw missiles at the police and the mob could be heard shouting abuse at the officers. You were seen carrying a piece of plywood towards the fire, although there was no evidence that you had lit the fire. It was a terrifying incident. To see it in court was bad enough but to have seen it in person would have been terrifying."

The court heard Fowler handed himself in to police and had previous convictions on his record for offences including violent disorder, committed when he was a youth.

The judge said his most important mitigation was his guilty plea and added: "You handed yourself into the police when you knew they were looking for you. You seem to have put your troubled past behind you and got on with a law abiding life until this matter.

"You have a partner and child. You inadvertently found yourself at this gathering and your involvement was short-lived. I'm told you are ashamed of your behaviour."

Fowler was jailed for two years and eight months for violent disorder. As he was led from the dock by an officer he waved to supporters sitting in the public gallery.