Peter Lynch: Grandad jailed over asylum seeker hotel riot In Rotherham dies in Doncaster prison

Peter Lynch was jailed for two years and eight months in August for his part in the disorder at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers that month.

His body was found on Saturday night at HMP Moorland.

The 61-year old grandfather was jailed after pleading guilty to violent disorder in a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court.

The court was told Lynch went to the a hotel with a placard which called police officers, MPs and the media “corrupt”.

An investigation into his death has now been launched by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

A prison service spokesman said: “HMP Moorland prisoner Peter Lynch died on October 19, 2024. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”

At the sentencing hearing earlier this year, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said Lynch shouted “racist and provocative remarks” towards officers and called asylum seekers in the hotel “child killers”.

Body-worn camera footage was shown to the court of him screaming “you are protecting people who are killing our kids and raping them” at officers with riot shields.

Lynch, of Burman Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, was a “full participant” in the disorder, the court was told.

“You were unquestionably endeavouring to rev up the situation the best you could,” the Recorder added.

He added: “You did not yourself attack any police officer, as far as can be detected, but what you did was encourage by your conduct others to behave violently and you were part of this mob.

“What a disgraceful example you are as a grandfather.”

Lynch - who suffered from diabetes, thyroid issues, angina and had recently had a heart attack - was filmed repeatedly challenging officers as they tried to push him back with shields, screaming “protect my children” repeatedly and yelling: “We are on the streets now to protect our kids”.

More than 200 asylum seekers took shelter upstairs and staff barricaded themselves into the kitchen as violence erupted outside.

More than 60 police officers were injured in the violent scenes, as a marauding mob stormed the hotel and attempted to set it on fire.

Some rioters managed to break into the hotel and roamed corridors, while police were pelted with bricks, bottles, fence posts and fireworks as the riot escalated.

Dozens of people have been jailed for their part in the shocking scenes of disorder.