Man whose truck was filled with debris used by rioters has been sentenced to 27 months in prison

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A man who drove to a riot in a debris-filled pickup truck used to attack police has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

Jake Turton, 38, was part of the riots that broke out outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham during the nationwide riots in August.

An earlier hearing at Sheffield Crown Court was told that Turton was filmed arriving at the scene of the disturbance outside the Holiday Inn Express in his Ford Ranger lorry, which had timber and other debris in the back, on August 4 Manvers, Rotherham, arrived.

A police helicopter captured rioters who looted the vehicle to retrieve items that were thrown at police and used to light fires that had been set around the hotel.

Turton was arrested after the vehicle's registration linked his father to the car. He admitted he was using his father's car but refused to answer further questions in a police interview.

Turton, of Darfield, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years and three months in prison on Wednesday, South Yorkshire Police said.

At an earlier hearing, defense attorney Abigail Langford told Judge Sarah Wright that the prosecution had not alleged that Turton loaded the vehicle with the intent of using the items to attack police.

She said: “The Crown is not saying the defendant armed people with the wood.

“It was in the back of the vehicle and people were helping themselves to it. He was present at the scene but did not actively participate.”

So far more than 60 men have been jailed for their involvement in the riots outside the hotel, which left 64 police officers, four dogs and a horse injured.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that more than 200 asylum seekers were trapped on upper floors when rioters smashed windows, set fire to a bin pushed against a fire door and broke into the building.

Hotel staff have told the court how they barricaded themselves in a panic room during the riots, fearing they would die.