Levis Fishlock: Man gets joint-longest sentence for summer riots

South Yorkshire Police Levi Fishlock is shown in a police mug shot. He is staring directly at the camera, with short brown hair and beard. he is wearing a dark jumper with a round neck — Levi Fishlock was part of a mob which attacked a hotel housing about 200 asylum seekers

A man who tried to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for nine years, the joint-longest prison sentence in connection with the UK’s summer of riots.

Levi Fishlock smashed windows and stoked a flaming bin at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, during a spate of disorder on 4 August.

Fishlock, 31, of Sheffield Road, Barnsley, initially denied violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life but later pleaded guilty to the charges.

Jailing him, the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said: “This is one of the worst cases of its kind stemming from the Rotherham disorder.”

Police footage of Fishlock captured at the site of the disorder

Fishlock’s sentence, which also includes a five-year licence period after he is released from jail, is the same as that of Thomas Birley, who was also part of the 400-strong crowd, some of whom attempted to torch the hotel in South Yorkshire.

During the two-day hearing at Sheffield Crown Court, the court was told Fishlock had been wearing “a very identifiable” purple T-shirt as he smashed the hotel’s windows by throwing bricks and broken paving slabs.

Fishlock told arresting officers that throwing missiles and stoking the fire was for a “good cause” despite about 200 asylum seekers plus hotel staff being trapped in the besieged building.

Fishlock, in a purple England shirt, smashed the hotel’s windows by throwing bricks and paving slabs

PA Media Fishlock wears a purple -tshirt and ripped jeans. He somewhat ducks as he appears to run away from police officers in riot gear. Two police vans can be seen parked in the background. — Fishlock, in a purple England shirt, smashed the hotel’s windows by throwing bricks and paving slabs

He also used fencing slats and metal poles “as weapons against officers” and was seen “smashing up” an air conditioning unit outside the hotel.

Fisklock also grasped a “sharp-edged object” while making threatening gestures towards those in the hotel as well as setting fire to makeshift barricades, the court heard.

Alisha Kaye, prosecuting, said: “In his pre-sentencing report he stated he just came upon the incident and had no intention to go there deliberately.

“It’s remarkable coincidence that he was wearing an England shirt. He is deliberately tapping his England badge [on footage].”

‘Venom of racism’

Father-of-one Fishlock had no previous convictions but was reprimanded in 2007 for violent disorder and given a caution in 2010 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Judge Richardson told him: “You were a prominent participant. You played a part in almost every aspect of the racist mob violence on that terrible day in August in Rotherham.

“You and many like you were intent on spreading a hateful message of violence and racism.

“From first to last, the venom of racism infected the entirety of what occurred.”