Grandfather Peter Lynch jailed over riot outside Rotherham hotel dies in prison

A grandfather who was imprisoned for his involvement in a riot near a hotel that was accommodating asylum seekers has passed away while serving his sentence.

Peter Lynch was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after admitting his involvement with a group that assembled outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on August 4th.

During a session at Sheffield Crown Court last summer, the video from a body camera captured 61-year-old Lynch yelling, "You are shielding individuals who are harming our children and assaulting them," as well as calling the officers with riot shields "scum."

A representative from the Prison Service announced on Monday that Peter Lynch, an inmate at HMP Moorland, passed away on October 19, 2024.

"Like in all cases of deaths while in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation."

During the sentencing on August 22, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC was informed about Lynch's health problems, which included diabetes, thyroid disorders, angina, and a recent heart attack.

He was among over 50 individuals sentenced to prison at Sheffield Crown Court after the disturbances in Rotherham, which resulted in injuries to 64 police officers, along with injuries to four dogs and a horse.

It was part of a surge of violent chaos that erupted in various towns and cities throughout the UK during the summer, following the stabbings in Southport that resulted in the deaths of three girls.

Explore further: Unrest and the extreme right: The worldwide connections fueling the turmoil Delve into the underlying rage following the riots Residents on edge: Anxiety and vigilance after the upheaval

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During the Rotherham riot, around 240 asylum seekers found themselves stuck on the upper floors of the hotel. Meanwhile, staff members reported that they felt the need to barricade themselves in a panic room located on the lower levels due to concerns for their safety.

Lynch was seen holding a sign that accused certain individuals of being corrupt, and the court acknowledged that he was at the forefront of the crowd.

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Lynch's attorney, Ian West, argued in court that the sign represented a broad conspiracy theory aimed at anyone and all kinds of authority figures.

Judge Richardson informed Lynch that even though he didn't physically assault a police officer, his actions prompted others to act violently, making him a part of the mob mentality.

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Lynch, who hails from Wath-upon-Dearne in Rotherham, had been in a marriage for 36 years and is the parent of four grown children as well as three grandchildren.

The court was informed that he had been employed in the packaging sector but has recently lost his job.