THREE more men have been sentenced for their behaviour during large-scale disorder earlier this month.
Two of them – both from Barnsley – have received jail sentences for their part in the violent disorder at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Manvers, on Sunday August 4.
Christopher Rodgers was part of a group who launched an aggressive attack on police by throwing missiles at them. When officers tried to disperse the group, Rodgers decided to stand his ground allowing his fellow thugs to flee and evade arrest.
The 38-year-old proceeded to verbally abuse officers and refused to back down from the police cordon. This cocky bravado was quickly put to an end after Rodgers was bitten by police dog Victor.
Perpetrators in the group attempted to help Rodgers by dragging him away and kicking PD Victor. However, a quick response by other officers ensured Rodgers’ arrest and subsequent charge, as well as PD Victor’s safety.
Rodgers, of Millmoor Road, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sheffield Crown Court and was sentenced at the same court to two years in prison and given a six-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).
Jamie Philips’ despicable language aimed at officers and those residing in the hotel also earned him a stint in jail. The 31-year-old was part of a large crowd who engaged in vile and aggressive verbal abuse towards officers protecting the hotel.
Philips, of Newington Avenue, Cudworth, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive, or insulting words and behaviour to cause alarm or distress at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on August 10. And on Thursday (August 22) at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court he was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison.
Joshua Simpson lashed out and attacked an officer’s riot shield after not being allowed through the cordon at the hotel. The 26-year-old said he had travelled from north Nottinghamshire to the hotel after he saw videos of the disorder on social media.
Simpson claimed that he only attended as he ‘had nothing else to do’. His supposed empty schedule was soon filled in with him kicking and aggressively punishing riot shields – for which he was shortly after arrested for.
Faced with an overwhelming amount of evidence, Simpson pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting an emergency worker. Today, at Sheffield Crown Court, Joshua Simpson, of no fixed abode, was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, as well as completing mandatory rehabilitation activity.
