Facebook user jailed for riot-related social media posts

A Facebook user who urged people to attack a Leeds hotel used to house asylum seekers has been jailed.

Jordan Parlour is believed to be the first person to be sent to prison over social media posts made in relation to the nationwide riots – which erupted following the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport.

The 28-year-old wrote “every man and his dog should smash [the] f**k out of Britannia hotel (in Leeds)” in a Facebook post in early August.

Taking aim at asylum seekers in another post, he wrote: “They are over here given a life of Riley off the tax of us hard-working people earn when it could be put to better use… come here with no work visa, no trade to their name and sit and doss.”

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Parlour was arrested after writing Facebook posts advocating violence towards the Britannia hotel.

It had 210 occupants at the time, and the manager locked down the hotel after people broke windows with stones, the court heard.

He had suffered a broken heel and was at home when he wrote the posts, which were reported to the police.

Parlour was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to publishing written material intended to stir racial hatred.

His mother submitted a note to court saying: “We can only speculate that he has been caught up and swept away by emotions circulating around the country.”

Parlour is one of four men being sentenced at the court today after being charged in relation to the recent disorder.

Sameer Ali and Adnan Ghafoor

Two men who got into a street fight with far-right demonstrators in Leeds on 3 August, were sent to jail after they said they were subjected to racist, inflammatory and provocative language.

They were both in Leeds at an anti-racism protest before becoming involved in “an outbreak of violence” with a group of 10 men, according to Judge Guy Kearl KC.

Ali kicked and punched four anti-immigration protesters before laughing and congratulating himself and others in the group for the violence.

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Ghafoor also joined in and then waved at the group of men they had attacked.

Both men handed themselves in when they realised they were being sought by police.

Sameer Ali, 21, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for affray.

Adnan Ghafoor, 31, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for affray. That includes a 12-month term for breaching a suspended sentence.

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‘Soviet Russia’, says Joe Rogan

High-profile figures in the US, including Elon Musk and right-wing podcaster Joe Rogan, have criticised British police for going after rioters on social media.

Rogan said the “crackdown” reminds him of “Soviet Russia” while Musk shared a Sky News post of the director of public prosecutions warning that sharing online material of riots could be an offence.

Musk’s repost said: “This is actually happening.”

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More than 150 people arrested in connection with this month’s violent disorder have already faced their day in court, data released by the Ministry of Justice revealed today.

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