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Hotel rioter jailed after ‘spreading hate’

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September 3, 2024
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A man who stormed a hotel used to house asylum seekers and was part of a crowd chanting “burn it down” has been jailed for three years.

Craden McKenzie was one of about 400 people who gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on 4 August.

Sheffield Crown Court heard the 26-year-old unemployed labourer, who admitted violent disorder at a previous hearing, was a “central participant in the most serious aspects” of the rioting.

At his sentencing hearing, McKenzie, of Doncaster Road, Darfield, was told he “richly deserved” the punishment imposed.

South Yorkshire Police said 64 officers, three police horses and a police dog were injured during the rioting.

Footage played in court showed missiles being thrown at police officers and at the building, with a group of men including McKenzie seen breaking into a side exit.

McKenzie walked around the hotel lobby “almost as if [he] owned the place” while staff were in hiding, the court heard.

He was also pictured in a crowd which attacked riot police with fire extinguishers and other items outside, with the group heard chanting “burn it down”.

Stephanie Hollis, prosecuting, said McKenzie told officers he went to the hotel to “peacefully protest” and blamed the disorder on a “miscommunication between protesters and police”.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, rejected McKenzie’s explanation as “arrant nonsense”, adding: “It is clear the group of which you were a part of was desirous of provoking police officers, damaging the hotel and seeking out the occupants of hotel.

“Thereby you were spreading hate.”

Judge Richardson accepted McKenzie was not filmed throwing missiles, but said being at the front and actively encouraging others placed him in “the same league”.

He told the defendant: “You were involved as a central participant in the most serious aspects of the violent disorder which occurred on that day.”

McKenzie was also made the subject of a criminal behaviour order for 10 years.

Passing sentence, Judge Richardson said: “For a man with no previous convictions, going to prison for three years is a very serious matter.

“I’m afraid you richly deserve it.”

He continued: “Anyone who involves themselves in this form of public disorder must be punished, and punished severely.”

BBC News

Labourer who went inside hotel during Rotherham rioting jailed for three years

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September 3, 2024
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A judge said Craden McKenzie, 26, was a ‘central participant’ in the disorder outside the Holiday Inn Express which left 64 police officers injured.

An unemployed labourer who was one of the first to enter a hotel housing more than 200 asylum seekers during rioting in Rotherham has been jailed for three years.

Video was shown at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday of Craden McKenzie, 26, climbing into the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, on August 4, and walking around the deserted lobby area, as staff took refuge in the kitchen.

The court heard this was after a mob had smashed in windows and a fire door but before attempts were made to set fire to the building with a burning bin.

Footage was also shown of McKenzie in a crowd which was attacking a group of outnumbered riot police with fire extinguishers and other weapons outside the building amid shouts of “burn it down”.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, was also shown body-worn camera footage from officers trying to push back the rioters with McKenzie at the front, hitting their shields.

Judge Richardson said unemployed labourer McKenzie was a “central participant in the most serious aspects” of the disorder, which left 64 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured.

The judge heard how, after handing himself in, McKenzie told police he went into the hotel to see for himself the conditions in which the residents were living.

Stephanie Hollis, prosecuting, said McKenzie told the officers he went to the hotel to protest peacefully and the disorder broke out due to “miscommunication between police and the protesters”.

Although CCTV footage showed the defendant walking around an empty lobby, the judge heard how 22 staff members had taken refuge in the kitchen, terrified that, if they left, they would be attacked and, if they stayed, the hotel could be set on fire.

Judge Richardson said that for these staff and the 200 plus residents on the upper floors: “This was a truly terrifying episode”.

He said: “They had no idea how things would eventuate”.

Richard Adams, defending, said his client has no previous convictions and had effectively got involved due to peer pressure.

McKenzie, of Doncaster Road, Darfield, Barnsley, appeared by videolink from prison.

He admitted violent disorder at a previous hearing.
Evening Standard

Man jailed after climbing into hotel and hitting police shields

By
September 3, 2024
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One of the first people to enter a hotel housing asylum seekers during riots in Rotherham has been jailed for three years.

Craden McKenzie, 26, was seen on video climbing into a Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on 4 August after the windows had been smashed in.

Sheffield Crown Court also saw footage showing the criminal in a crowd that was attacking a group of police outside the building.

McKenzie could be seen at the front of the crowd, hitting police shields.

Judge Richardson KC said McKenzie, from Barnsley, was a “central participant in the most serious aspects” of the disorder, which left 64 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured.

He handed himself in and told police he went into the hotel to see the conditions that the asylum seekers were living in.

BBC News

NAMED: All of the latest defendants charged over Rotherham riots as total number reaches 59

By
August 28, 2024
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Almost 60 people have now been charged in connection with the Rotherham disorder centred around a hotel housing asylum seekers, police confirmed this morning.

Riots broke out at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers Way, Rotherham, on the afternoon of August 4, 2024, after around 750 anti-immigration protesters arrived at the hotel, where asylum seekers were being housed.

The riots formed part of more than a dozen protests held across the country, many of which turned violent. The protests were fuelled by misinformation and followed a shocking knife attack in Southport, Merseyside, in which three young girls were killed.

Almost 60 people have now been charged in connection with the Rotherham disorder centred around a hotel housing asylum seekers, police confirmed this morning.

As of yesterday morning (Tuesday, August 27, 2024), a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson confirmed that a total of 59 people have now been charged in connection with the disorder. The ages of those charged ranges from 16 to 64.

The SYP spokesperson added: “59 people in total have now been charged. 44 of the 59 people have now pleaded guilty to the offences they have been charged with. 29 of these 38 have been sentenced.”

Police have provided the below list of everyone charged so far. Please note: it is not possible to name juvenile defendants due to their age.

Craden McKenzie, aged 26, Doncaster Road, Darfield, Barnsley, is charged with violent disorder. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 21.

Rory Huggins, aged 20, of Haythorne Way, Swinton, Rotherham, is charged with violent disorder. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 23.

Ryan Deering, aged 34, of Potts Crescent, Great Houghton, Barnsley is charged with assault of an emergency worker. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 20.

Graham Harper, aged 43, of Henry Street, Darfield, Barnsley is charged with violent disorder. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 20.

Kaylee Cunningham, aged 36, of Gerald Crescent, Kendray, Barnsley is charged with perverting the course of public justice. She was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 20.

Thomas Birley, aged 27, of Rowms Lane, Swinton, Rotherham, is charged with violent disorder, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and attempted arson with intent to endanger life. He was due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 16.

Graham Doherty, aged 35, of Common Wealth, Bolton-Upon-Dearne, Rotherham is charged with violent disorder. He will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 22.

Christian Hemus, aged 35, of Clarney Avenue, Barnsley, is charged with violent disorder, possession of cannabis and production of cannabis. He is due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 21.

Morgan Hardy, aged 29, of Melton High Street, Rotherham, was charged with violent disorder. He appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, and will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 21.

Richard Harrison, aged 37, of Burman Road, Rotherham, has been charged with violent disorder. He was remanded and was due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 12.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with violent disorder. He has been remanded and was due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 12.

Joseph Iggo, aged 20, of Hartley Brook Road, Sheffield is charged with violent disorder. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 20.

Levi Fishlock, aged 31, of Sheffield Road, Barnsley is charged with violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life. He will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 20, 2024.

Damien Mayfield, aged 41, of Spring Lane View, Sheffield is charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words, behaviour to cause harassment, alarm and distress. He will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on October 4, 2024.
A 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with violent disorder and appeared before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 8.

Jake Turton, aged 38, of West Street, Barnsley, has been charged with violent disorder, driving a motor vehicle without the owners consent and driving without insurance. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 20

Christopher Rodgers, aged 38, of Millmoor Road, Barnsley is charged with violent disorder. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 20.
Liam Grey, aged 20, of Randerson Drive is charged with violent disorder. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 20.

One boy aged 16 and two boys aged 17, who can’t be named for legal reasons, are also charged with violent disorder.

Convicted and sentenced so far

A total of 44 people have been convicted over their participation in the disorder, after entering guilty pleas to the charges they faced. Of the 44 convicted, 29 have been sentenced so far, say police.

Defendants who have pleaded guilty over the last week and are awaiting sentence

– Richard Harrison, aged 37, of Ings Field Lane, Wath-Upon-Dearne, Rotherham has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 21. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 10.

– Ryan Deering, aged 34, Potts Crescent, Great Houghton, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 20. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 18.

– Sonny Ackerman, aged 29, of Birkdale Drive, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 22. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 10.

Lee Marshall, aged 39, of Princess Street, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 22. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 10.

– Charlie Eames, aged 30, of High Street, Sheffield, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 22. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on August 28.

– Mason Reddy, aged 24, of Victoria Street, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 23. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on September 10.

Defendants convicted earlier this month, who are awaiting sentence

Brad Westerman, aged 24, of Washington Road, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 19. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing.

Michael Woods, aged 64, of Ainsdale Avenue, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 19. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing.

Christian Ivermee, aged 31, of Chapel Street, Mexborough, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 17. He is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on August 23 for sentencing.
Jamie Philips, aged 31, of Newington Avenue, Cudworth, pleaded guilty to using threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 10. He is due to appear before Doncaster Magistrates’ Court later this month for sentencing.

Michael Shaw, aged 26, of Pagnell Avenue, Thurnscoe, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 14. He will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on October 4 for sentencing.

Joshua Simpson, aged 26, of no fixed abode, has pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 27.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder and will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on October 2, 2024.

Sheffield Star