Leeds bus driver and passengers forced to flee as violent riot mob set fire to bus
A bus driver and his passengers were forced to flee after being subjected to mob violence during a disturbing incident in Harehills.
The bus was attacked and set alight by those involved in the disorder on July 18 this year.
Isutin Dobre, 37, of Clifton Mount, Leeds, Mark Mitchell, 34, of Strathmore View, Milan Zamostny, 30, of Luxor Avenue and Celan Valentin Palaghia, 21, were jailed for their parts in the violence at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday. It was said around 300-400 people were seen in the area by 6.30pm. The first missile was thrown at 6.05pm.
Read more: Harehills riot sentencing live updates as four men in court for their roles
Prosecutor Richard Holland told the court the scenes erupted after police were called to help social services as they removed four children from a house in the area. Mr Holland said: "Police were called to assist social staff when a group of people attended and began behaving disorderly. A police code zero call was made - to retreat from the area...
"Attempts were made by local authorities to enlist the assistance of a councillor to calm to situation, but this was not effective and the crowd moved onto Harehills Lane and a police line was set up around Morrisons close by but missiles continued to be thrown and vehicles damaged.
"As a bus made its way around Foundry Approach, it was stopped by a crowd and forced to end its route.
"It's drivers and passengers were forced to run away and leave the bus to the growing crowd. Bricks were thrown at the windows and members of the crowd began to surround it and set fire to various parts."
Dobre, Mitchell and Zamonsty, were part of a group doing that, the court was told.
Mr Holland said the bus driver has still not returned to work, with the company he worked for saying in a statement: "The psychological and emotional impact on my team is something you cannot put a monetary amount on. We have supported our driver, but this incident certainly had an impact on him and he has remained off work...It is a possibility he may not return and we may lose him as a result.
"The team spent many weeks afterwards supporting drivers who expressed concerns about driving these routes."
The courtroom was shown footage and images of the defendants' actions on July 18. One disturbing clip showed Dobre as he set fire to a bus. This video has been widely shared on social media. He was also captured helping to tip over a police car, with the person behind the camera being heard to say: "What in the GTA am I watching? Oh my days, Leeds is moving nuts."
Palaghia was captured on footage helping to push items - including a sofa - out of a private van that had been forcibly stopped by the mob. He is then seen to set fire to items and later encouraging others to go towards the bus. Mr Holland said: "At this stage he has used some of the material to set fire to the sofa.... One person jovially picks up a child and pretends to throw them at the fire...He appears to encourage others to feed the fire...
"About half an hour later he becomes directly involved in the violence against police and uses a brick from a broken wall to throw at the police and he is seen to go back for more bricks and other items to throw at the police officers."
The prosecutor said there were a number of community impact statements, including one that said there was "serious concern about the bus exploding," and another that said "women and children outside the Mosque wailing with fear in their eyes."
The court also heard part of a statement which read: "Deep cultural and social wounds were caused that night."
For Mitchell, Mr Khattak said: "What is most striking in this case is he had no involvement with the children taken away and he had no reason to engage in what was unfolding...Context for the court - he had been experiencing for a month previously depression and had not been working..."
It was said Mitchell was on his way to his mother's on the day of the disorder.
Mr Khattak said: "He describes himself to me as someone who has had a hard life, being in the wrong place at the wrong time and was stupid to get involved. Fortunately, to his credit, he demonstrated regret and remorse and accepted he was angry at his own situation and circumstances and that affected his actions on the day..."
Mohammed Rafiq, for Zamonsty, said: "He was trafficked into the UK when he was 18 and has remained in the UK since then. He has been working in car washes and the like during that time, effectively existing, paying his board and lodge...No family in the United Kingdom. He has learning difficulties and went to special schools in the Czech Republic and is not, in my submission, the brightest penny. However, he accepts he foolishly got involved in this incident. He got himself involved and everything is there on the video.
"Having said that, he didn't stop the bus. He came a bit later. I believe the fire had been done when he got involved."
Paul Addison, for Dobre, told the court he had heard noise from the street before going out to see what was happening and getting involved. Mr Addison said: "He heard rumours children from the Roma community had been mistreated by the authorities and police. There was much anger and resentment and he believed what he heard.
"The rumours that he heard, even if true, were not an excuse for his behaviour. He instructs that he became drawn into this disorder and it began with him shouting at police, copying behaviour of others and that escalated into violence. He saw others acting violently and joined in and he accepts he behaved in a deplorable and shameful way.
"He apologises to the police, the bus company...His children and family will miss his emotional and financial contributions greatly while serving the inevitable prison sentence."
For Palaghia, James Blake said he had written a letter to His Honour Judge Tom Bayliss KC in which he demonstrated his remorse. Mr Blake said: "This was spontaneous violence following an incident relevant to the Romanian community in Harehills...
"He had been working all day at a factory in Hull and didn't return to Leeds until after the disorder had already started. He was aware of what was going on by virtue of the fact he lived in the area - it would have been impossible to ignore it. He acknowledges that by joining in and participating he completely lost all sense of what was right from wrong...
"Since his remand in custody he doesn't speak English, prison officers don't speak Romanian, he is totally isolated in a prison environment and for him, given his age and his first ever experience in custody and the fact he doesn't speak any English it is going to be very difficult for him."
As he sentenced the group of four, Judge Bayliss told them: "Each of you has pleaded guilty to involvement in the mob violence that engulfed the Harehills area of Leeds on Thursday 18th July 2024. What happened that summer evening serves as a chilling example of how a violent, anarchic mob can, with astonishing ease, achieve complete lawlessness...
"It also offers a dystopian vision of what can happen when the rule of law is subverted by mob violence."
Mitchell was jailed for six years for arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and violent disorder.
Dobre was jailed for six years for arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and violent disorder.
Zamonsty was jailed for five years and four months for arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and violent disorder.
Palaghia was jailed for three years for arson and violent disorder.
Following the sentencing, Chief Superintendent Steve Dodds, District Commander of Leeds District Police, said: “The disorder which took place in Harehills earlier this summer was shameful. It saw these men and others engage in disgraceful acts which harmed the very communities in which they lived.
“All were remanded in prison custody prior to their sentencing, and we welcome the decision by the court to jail them today.
“The events of July 18th and 19th shocked residents and we made it clear at the time that a major investigation would be launched to identify and prosecute those responsible. These four convictions are evidence of that, and I can promise our investigation into other offending on that night very much remains ongoing.
“Investigators continue to use sophisticated technology such as the facial recognition system which was used by officers to identify Iustin Dobre.”
He added: “It should be stressed the disorder in Harehills did not reflect the views of the majority of residents there. It also should not detract from the months of work carried out with those residents to substantially reduce crime in the Harehills area through an ongoing Clear Hold Build programme.
“That positive work carried out through Clear Hold Build and other local initiatives continues, and I want to thank communities for continuing to engage positively with us. I also continue to urge anyone who has information which could assist our investigation into the July disorder to come forwards.
“It is not too late to speak with us and I can promise that all information is assessed.”
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