Rotherham rioters jailed for hotel violence

Judges sentence four men for violent disorder after rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Rotherham rioters jailed after asylum seeker hotel attack

Two brothers, Scott and Jason McGuire, both of Mexborough, were at the forefront of a mob that surrounded the Holiday Inn Express near Rotherham on August 4, 2024. They were among four men who admitted violent disorder and were jailed for three years each. Keethan Reeve-Lawson and Daniel Kazemi were also sentenced, with both receiving 22 months in prison for their later involvement after police had begun to push the crowd away. The disorder followed the knife attack in Southport that killed six-year-old Bebe King and two other children, prompting wide anger and anti immigration protests. At the hotel, more than 200 people were trapped for around 12 hours as missiles were hurled at officers, a fire door was blocked by a burning wheelie bin, and police officers, horses, and a sniffer dog were injured. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC described Scott McGuire as being at the front of the mob, arriving at the scene with a partner and a child in a pushchair, and dismantling safety barriers in front of riot police. He said Scott’s involvement was of a high order and that his acts were part of fierce attacks on officers near the hotel. The judge also noted Jason McGuire was filmed throwing missiles and tearing down fencing while wearing a mask, playing a leading role in the most serious actions that afternoon.

This case shows how local anger over national violence can spill into violent confrontations that threaten public safety. The sentences are a reminder that the justice system treats assault on police and property with seriousness, even when the crowd is large and emotions are running high. It also highlights the challenge for communities facing rapid social stress linked to refugee accommodation and high profile crimes, underscoring the need for clear deterrence and stronger community support to prevent recurrence.

Highlights

Public safety and community trust remain fragile in the wake of the events.