Seven men plead not guilty following demonstration clashes in Rotherham town centre

Seven men have pleaded not guilty to taking part in violent clashes following demonstrations in Rotherham in September.
Protesters at the Britain First marchProtesters at the Britain First march
Protesters at the Britain First march

Rotherham men Daniel Lee Luty, aged 19, of Redshank Road, Wath, Henry Mark Fisher, 20, of Rockingham Road, Swinton, and John Sheridan, 25, of Henly Way, Masbrough, denied causing violent disorder.

West Yorkshire men David Ashley Woodward, 47, of Church View, Sowerby Bridge, Andrew Fox, 47, of Mount Avenue, Halifax, Dennis Farrell, 30, of Hunterhill Road, Halifax, and Reece Mclaren, 20, of Darbyfields, Golcar, Huddersfield, also pleaded not guilty to the charges at Sheffield Crown Court yesterday.

Riot vans in Rotherham on the day of the disorderRiot vans in Rotherham on the day of the disorder
Riot vans in Rotherham on the day of the disorder
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They all denied playing a part in serious disorder involving clashes between rival groups in Rotherham town centre following a Britain First-led demonstration and counter-protest by Unite Against Fascism on September 5.

The seven defendants will next appear at court in March before a possible trial starting in November 2016, scheduled to run for around three weeks.

All seven men were granted bail.

Mahroof Sultan, 36, of Grosvenor Road, Eastwood, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder when he appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday alongside 11 other defendants.

Haseeb Alam, 18, of Selwyn Street, Eastwood, Abrar Javid, 37, of St Johns Road, Eastwood, Sadaqat Ali, 39, of Milton Road, Eastwood, Mohammed Saleem, 43, of Mount Street, Rotherham, Arshad Khan, 44, of Wellgate Mount, Rotherham, Shaban Ditta, 31, of Cambridge Crescent, East Dene, Akaash Nazir, 21, Cow Rakes Lane, Whiston, Imran Iqbal, 29, Clough Road, Masbrough, Nasrum Rashid, 21, of Fraser Road, Broom, and 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, also appeared alongside Sultan.

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The defendants gave no indication of plea at the preliminary hearing and will next appear at court in March before a potential trial starts next October, scheduled to run for three to four weeks.

Sultan was granted bail and will be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial of the others allegedly involved.

Asif Zaman, 47, of Wellgate Mount, Rotherham, has also been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in addition to violent disorder.

Two separate trials will take place with the same judge presiding over each one.