A man who kicked out at a police officer after rioting broke out in Rotherham said he had “nothing better to do” when he decided to drive to the town.
Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard Joshua Simpson travelled from Worksop to the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, where major public disorder had broken out on 4 August.
When he arrived at around 20:00 BST, he was aggressive towards officers guarding the hotel, pushed against the police line and kicked a riot shield, which in turn hit an officer’s leg.
Simpson, 26, a self-employed joiner of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and was handed a 12-month community order on Tuesday.
‘Nowhere else to go’
The court was told Simpson arrived at the scene “in the aftermath of the violent disorder”, was verbally abusive and tried to push through the police cordon still in place.
When he was told he could not pass through the cordon, he kicked out at one of the riot shields which connected with the officer’s lower leg.
The court heard Simpson later apologised to the officer, who had not suffered any pain or injuries.
During his interview, Simpson told police he had travelled to Rotherham as he had “nowhere else to go and nothing better to do”.
District Judge Marcus Waite said Simpson was not being sentenced for his intentions that day and highlighted that he had not been charged with violent disorder.
He noted Simpson, who is homeless, had no previous convictions and had already “effectively spent three weeks in prison” following his arrest.
He told the defendant: “You’ve not been in trouble before and I therefore accept that your actions were out of character.”
Judge Waite sentenced him to a 12-month community order, 20 rehabilitation activities and 120 hours of unpaid work.
Dozens of people have so far been convicted in relation to the Rotherham riot, which has been described by a judge as “racist in nature”.
Among those imprisoned are former Army peacekeeper Peter Beard, who was filmed attacking officers and Drew Jarvis, 19, who threw wooden planks, bricks and lit arrows at officers and the hotel.
The case of Joseph Iggo, 20, of Hartley Brook Road, Sheffield, previously reported by the BBC, was discontinued at Sheffield Crown Court on 19 August.
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