According to GB News, Levi Fishlock, a 31-year-old man from Barnsley, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for his leading role in the violent riot that targeted a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, England. This sentence marks the joint-highest punishment handed down so far in connection with the widespread disorder that erupted across the country this past summer.
Fishlock pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life at Sheffield Crown Court. The court heard how Fishlock played a central role in the chaos that unfolded outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, in August.
Judge Richardson, who presided over the case, described Fishlock as a “prominent figure” in the riot, stating that he “played a part in almost every aspect of the racist mob violence on that terrible day.”
Fishlock was part of a group that hurled abuse and racist slurs at the asylum seekers trapped inside the hotel. He was also seen adding planks of wood to a burning wheelie bin that had been pushed against the building, deliberately fueling the flames with the intent to endanger the lives of those inside.
The court heard how Fishlock helped construct barricades that were then set ablaze, and he made threatening gestures towards the terrified asylum seekers peering out of the windows. He also participated in smashing the hotel’s windows with bricks and paving slabs, destroying fencing, and damaging an air conditioning unit. Later in the day, he joined a group that attacked arriving police vehicles with rocks.
Following his arrest, Fishlock showed no remorse, telling officers that he knew why he had been apprehended and that it was “for a good cause.”
In mitigation, the court heard that Fishlock, a father to a young daughter, suffers from anxiety and depression and has a history of drug abuse. However, Judge Richardson condemned Fishlock’s actions, stating that his behavior and that of the mob had “cast a dark and ugly stain across the reputation of Rotherham and South Yorkshire.”
The judge emphasized the gravity of Fishlock’s role in fueling the fire, stating that it was “as serious as starting it.” He also highlighted the terror experienced by the asylum seekers and hotel staff, who were forced to barricade themselves in a panic room as the flames spread and smoke filled the building.
Over 60 individuals have been jailed so far for their involvement in the Rotherham riot, which trapped over 200 asylum seekers on the upper floors of the hotel. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of hate-fueled violence and the importance of holding those who incite and participate in such acts accountable.
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