A police officer walks past a fire as trouble flares during an anti-immigration protest outside the (Image: PA)
A pair of racist fathers who attempted to fuel a fire at a hotel leaving staff and asylum seeker guests terrified they would die, have been handed substantial jail sentences.
Mason Lowe and Morgan Heeley were part of a seething mob that descended on the 200 terrified residents trapped inside the Holiday Inn in Rotherham during last summer’s outbreak of riots.
Sheffield Crown Court heard how the thugs then attacked police officers deployed to prevent the mayhem turning a deadly tragedy.
Staff working at the hotel thought they were going to die and barricaded themselves inside with freezers up against a door to protect themselves from the rampaging crowd.
Plumbing engineer Lowe, 28, of Bolton-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, was jailed for seven years and six months after he admitted arson with intent to endanger life and violent disorder.
His heavily-pregnant partner had shouted at him to “grow up or do not f***ing come home” during the widespread disorder.
Undated handout photo issued by South Yorkshire Police of plumbing engineer Mason Lowe, 28, who was (Image: PA)
Undated handout photo issued by South Yorkshire Police of Mason Reddy, 24, who was jailed for three (Image: PA)
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Trainee barber Morgan Heeley, 26, also a father of two, from Darfield, Barnsley, also admitted arson with intent to endanger life and violent disorder, and was sentenced to serve eight years behind bars
Judge Jeremy Richardson, the Recorder of Sheffield who has dealt with scores of offenders from the trouble last August, ruled that because both men remained a “dangerous” threat he extended their licence period by three years.
He told the sentencing hearing how they joined “an ugly and extremely violent mob” gathered outside the hotel after misinformation was widely spread across social media following the Southport attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class by crazed teen killer Axel Rudakubana.
The judge said: “The disorder was racist and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.”
During the carnage a flaming wheelie bin was pushed up against a hotel fire door, effectively trapping those inside.
Lowe propped a piece of plywood up across the fire door, meaning a police officer inside was unable to direct a fire extinguisher onto the bin.
Masked and draped with a flag of St George, Lowe goaded police that afternoon and pushed out at an officer.
Heeley was seen carefully placing a lit item inside the wheelie bin – although neither defendant started the fire.
ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 4: Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside the (Image: Getty Images)
ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 4: Riot police clash with anti-migration protesters outside of the Holid (Image: Getty Images)
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He also shoved over a female officer, smashed a large hotel window which raised a cheer from the crowd, tried to set fire to hotel curtains, opened a door on a police riot van, threw missiles at officers and used a fire extinguisher on police.
Judge Richardson told them: “You are both demonstrably capable of executing very serious mob violence and seriously endangering the lives of people whom you appear to despise.
“You were both in the thick of it and each played a prominent role.
“You are both unquestionably dangerous offenders.
“Even though both of you deny this, I am also sure you had a racist mindset at the time.
“Your conduct exemplifies this – despite your protestations to the contrary to the relevant probation officers.
“It is my judgment you will both need careful monitoring when the time comes for your release.
“It is to be hoped the racist malignancy within you both can be eradicated whilst in custody.”
The judge said political protest was allowed in the UK but added: “What took place in Rotherham that day had nothing whatever to do with legitimate political protest, it was a desire to perpetrate racist mob rule and to commit very serious criminal offences in the process.”