Rotherham: Man who armed Manvers hotel rioters with missiles jailed

The defendant claimed he had driven to the riot to “have a nosy”, the court heard, but text messages found on his phone discussed attending the scene and calling it “brill”.

In a statement read to court, a senior police officer called the disorder the “worst violence he had ever faced” because of the “extreme malice” shown.

Prosecutor Alisha Kaye said: “You openly allowed people to take panels of wood from your truck, so you acted in joint enterprise with hostility to those seeking asylum.”

Turton was cleared of a charge of taking a vehicle without consent.

Judge Wright told him: “This incident damaged the reputation of Rotherham and of South Yorkshire.

“It was a terrifying ordeal for the ordinary, decent citizens of the area, so your part in it has to be punished severely in order to protect the public.”

More than 60 men have been jailed so far for their parts in the disorder outside the hotel.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here, external.