Teenager locked up after officer left 'fearing for his life' during Rotherham riots

• Footage of the incident was widely shared on social media

A teenager has been given a custodial sentence after rocking a police van with an officer inside during riots.

Kenzie Roughley, 18, admitted attacking a police van during violent disorder in Rotherham earlier this month.

Footage of the van being rocked from side to side, with its rooftop mast swinging, was widely shared on social media during the trouble at a Holiday Inn Express hotel housing more than 200 asylum seekers.

In a video played at Sheffield Crown Court, the defendant could be seen kicking and trying to break into the vehicle, which was parked just outside a nearby Aldi.

The court heard how the PCSO inside the van "feared" for his life as he "felt like the van was about to turn over".

An impact statement read: "I suddenly felt the vehicle start to rock from side to side. I could hear banging and kicking. I feared the van may turn over, and at the same time I received a message from control (asking) me to move out and escape the crowd.

"I got into the cab. I felt the van was going turn over and I feared for my life due to the volatility of the crowd. I started the vehicle and drove away."

Moments before this incident, Roughley was filmed verbally abusing police officers as part of a wider group of rioters.

Body-worn footage played to the court showed the defendant dropping to the floor and twice attempting to pick up what appeared to be debris on the pavement.

Prosecutor Neil Coxon said: "The defendant goes to the ground and endeavours to pick something up. It appears to be debris from the pavement.

"Police intervene before he tries to do it again. He then abuses several officers and says he will flick a cigarette at them.

"He then tells them he hopes they get hit by a brick and that he feels like lifting up one of their helmets and smacking them over the chin."

Roughley, who had a number of previous youth convictions including assaulting an emergency worker and racially aggravated threatening behaviour, was also on police bail at the time of the offence, the court heard.

But, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said he had taken into account the defendant’s age and his apparent “deplorable upbringing”.

He also said he had taken into account the fact that a number of other defendants involved in the rioting would be coming before the court for more serious offences.

But, he added, it must be “made clear” that all those participating in the unrest would be “punished severely” by the courts.

Sentencing, the judge told the defendant: “You were a part of this mob of ignorant and violent individuals … the scene was volatile and you were adding to the volatility.

“The officer (in the van) was scared for his life and thought the vehicle would be turned over, which was clearly your aim.

“You have brought shame on yourself and the town in which you live. You must be punished for what you have done.”

Roughley has been sentenced to two years and four months in a young offenders’ institution.

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