A man who kicked a policewoman to the ground in Hull has been jailed, as prison sentences continue to be handed out following recent disorder and far-right rioting.

Two others were also sent to prison on Wednesday for their role in riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, while another pair were jailed after disorder in Bristol.

Meanwhile, one woman was jailed over a Facebook comment after pleading guilty to sending a communication to convey a threat of death or serious harm.

‘Racist, hate-fuelled mob violence’

Connor Whiteley, 26, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker after playing a “prominent role” in “racist, hate-fuelled mob violence” in Hull on 3 August.

He was jailed on Wednesday after Hull Crown Court heard Whiteley was at the front of a group confronting police trying to protect a hotel known to house asylum seekers.

He kicked the shield of a female police officer, forcing her off her feet and leaving her with minor arm injuries.

Whiteley was also part of a group targeting a garage, setting cars on fire and shouting threats at staff, who were forced to lock themselves inside.

While the attack was taking place, the judge said “members of the public, including children, were terrified and cowering only 20m away whilst threats were being made to kill them”.

Rotherham footage ‘worst judge has seen’

Whiteley was sentenced to three years in prison – the same term given to 49-year-old Trevor Lloyd, who was part of a mob storming a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

The father-of-three, of Oak Avenue in Rotherham, filmed on a phone as he followed a group into the Holiday Inn Express through a smashed-in fire door, a judge heard.

Sheffield Crown Court was shown footage of the crowd breaking in, bringing out items including furniture and fire extinguishers and throwing them at police officers holding riot shields.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC – who has already sentenced several people in connection with this incident – said this was the “worst footage I have seen”.

Glen Guest, 60, of Pearson Crescent in Wombwell, South Yorkshire, was jailed for two years and eight months after he pulled a police officer to the ground at the same riot.

During the riot, more than 50 police officers were injured and there were attempts to storm and set light to the building.

Two jailed after Bristol disorder

Dominic Capaldi, 34, has been jailed for 34 months for violent disorder in Bristol on 3 August.

Bristol Crown Court heard Capaldi was captured on police bodycam footage throwing objects towards officers in the city’s Castle Park, while crowds chanted “send them back”.

The ground worker was also seen throwing objects at police who were trying to stop protesters from entering a hotel used to house asylum seekers.

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Daniel Russell, 47, from Bristol, has been jailed for 32 months after admitting violent disorder in the city on the same day.

Bristol Crown Court heard Russell was seen kicking a black man, who may have been part of an anti-racism protest, after the man broke through police lines separating the two groups in Castle Park.

The ground worker was then captured on footage shared on social media kicking out at counter-protesters stood in front of the entrance to the hotel.

‘Keyboard warrior’

Meanwhile, a 53-year-old woman, who lived a “quiet, sheltered life” was jailed for 15 months after posting a Facebook comment saying: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. Don’t protect the mosques. Blow the mosques up with the adults in it.”

Julie Sweeney sent the comment to a local community group on 3 August from her home in Church Lawton, Cheshire, which was reported to police.

Sentencing, Judge Steven Everett said: “I don’t think anyone is suggesting that the defendant would have been involved in that herself but so-called keyboard warriors like her have to learn to take responsibility for their language – particularly in the context of the disorder that was going on around the country.”

During her arrest, a court heard she told officers: “I’m not being rude but there are a lot of people saying it.”

Sweeney said she posted the comment “in anger” and agreed it was “unacceptable” – and that she would be “deleting Facebook”.

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Fake AK-47 ‘threats’ video accusation

A man accused of threatening serious harm and death with an imitation AK-47 assault rifle in a social media video viewed 1.4 million times denied the charges against him.

Habeeb Khan pleaded not guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to a charge of possessing an imitation AK-47 between 4-6 August with intent to cause “members of the EDL” (English Defence League) to believe unlawful violence would be used against them.

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Khan, 49, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, also denied sending a threatening communication between the same dates in a video uploaded to X.

Judge Simon Drew KC was told the defendant said he did not know the video was being circulated on social media and claimed he did not upload it.

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