Missile-throwing dad & man who made 'vile' Gary Glitter jibe jailed for their roles in Rotherham riots
A 64-year-old who subjected a police officer to racist abuse and told him he ought to be ‘thrashed’ by Gary Glitter, and a young dad who threw a missile near to the beginning of the disorder at a Rotherham hotel, are among the latest rioters to be jailed.
Both Michael Woods and Scott Kendall were sent to begin prison sentences, in separate hearings held at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, October 21, 2024.
The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC described both men as being part of the ‘ignorant mob,’ which participated in the widespread disorder that broke out on August 4, 2024 outside the Holiday Inn hotel in Manvers, Rotherham, where asylum seekers were being housed.
In both cases, Judge Richardson said the defendants’ conduct was ‘racist from first to last’ and told the men that the message must go out that those who participate in such conduct will be punished ‘severely’ by the courts.
“There are consequences for people who indulge in this form of serious criminality,” said Judge Richardson.
Michael Woods
Michael Woods’ involvement, while short-lived, consisted of verbal abuse that was described by The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC as being ‘high-octane,’ ‘racialist,’ ‘threatening’ and ‘provocative’.
A video of Woods as he was abusing the officer was played to the court, and showed him shouting: “I live here, go back to where you came from…you’re a disgrace to society,” adding swear words to the utterance, as he continued to repeat it.
Prosecutor Joseph Bell said Woods, referring to a nearby dog - which was seemingly unsettled by the disorder taking place around him - then told the officer: “You get me, he gets you.”
Woods then proceeded to tell the officer: “Gary Glitter ought to b** you, and give you a good thrashing,” a comment described as ‘vile’ by Judge Richardson.
Woods, aged 64, previously of Ainsdale Avenue, Goldthorpe, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder at an earlier hearing.
Mr Bell told the court that Woods has a total of eight previous convictions from 15 offences for dissimilar offending.
Defending, Tim Gaubert said of Woods’ role in the disorder: “It was very short-lived in duration, he wasn’t seen anywhere else on the hundreds of hours of footage.”
“He doesn’t arm himself with a weapon, he’s not charging around the hotel, like many of the defendants who have been sentenced.”
Jailing Woods for two years, Judge Richardson told him: “The racism which suffused throughout this dreadful episode was exemplified by what you started in the episode in which you were involved.”
A hearing to decide upon an application to make Woods the subject of a criminal behaviour order is set to be heard next month (November 2024).
Scott Kendall
As he jailed 24-year-old dad Scott Kendall for two years, Judge Richardson told him: “It’s truly a tragedy to see someone like you being sentenced…but I’m afraid you are the architect of this disaster. No-one else is to blame, only you.”
Footage played to the court showed Kendall launching a missile in the form of a bottle at police officers, at around 1.15pm, which was towards the beginning of the hours-long disorder.
Kendall’s barrister, Michael Cane-Soothill, described his conduct as a ‘moment of madness’ and said neither he or his family could explain why he had chosen to involve himself in the violence.
Mr Cane-Soothill told the court that prior to becoming involved Kendall had even acted as a ‘good samaritan,’ helping to put out grass fires which had been started by others.
Prosecutor Joseph Bell confirmed that, from the evidence available to the court, Kendall’s involvement was limited to throwing the missile.
Kendall, previously of Sandymount Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder at an earlier hearing.
He had a clean criminal record prior to this incident, the court heard.
After reading references prepared on Kendall’s behalf, Judge Richardson described him as a ‘young man valued by his employer’ in his trade as a plasterer.
An individual sitting in the public gallery sobbed as Judge Richardson said it was also clear that Kendall was a ‘good father’ who ‘cherished’ his four-year-old son.
“What a dreadful example you are to that little boy,” continued Judge Richardson.
Sending Kendall to custody, Judge Richardson told him that his conduct was so ‘serious’ that only an immediate sentence of imprisonment could be justified.
Judge Richardson also made Kendall the subject of a five-year criminal behaviour order.