Elham Asaad Buaras
A painter and decorator who played a significant role in the anti-Muslim riots outside a Rotherham hotel housing hundreds of asylum seekers has been sentenced to nine years in prison—the longest sentence handed down in connection with the recent violent unrest.
Thomas Birley, 27, from Swinton, Rotherham, admitted to arson with intent to endanger life at Sheffield Crown Court. The court heard that on August 4, Birley added wood to an already burning bin placed near the entrance of a hotel in Rotherham, where staff and guests had taken refuge.
Prosecutor Alisha Kaye revealed that Birley, who was masked during the incident, was also captured on video throwing objects at police officers, confronting them while wielding a police baton, and hurling a large bin into a line of officers equipped with riot shields. Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said the sentence “reflects the seriousness of the crime.”
Speaking to Sky News, he said, “Of course, sentencing is very much a matter for the courts and a matter for the judge, but it reflects the seriousness of the crime. I think most of us will remember the events of that particular day. I’m a South Yorkshire MP, and Rotherham is not far away from my constituency. So, the sentence that has been imposed today, I think, reflects the very serious nature of the criminality that we saw on that day, and I think it sends a very strong message that that kind of vile behaviour is completely unacceptable; it’s illegal, and it won’t be tolerated.”
After previously admitting guilt, Birley became the first person sentenced for arson with intent to endanger life following the 12-hour unrest in Manvers, which resulted in injuries to 64 police officers, three horses, and a dog.
Judge Richardson was told how 22 hotel staff barricaded themselves in the hotel’s panic room, using freezers for protection, fearing they would burn to death. At the same time, more than 200 asylum seekers were in the building. Automated fire alarms urged them to evacuate, but they were unable to escape. In sentencing Birley, the judge stated it was “clear as clear can be” that Birley sought to spread a hateful message of violence and racism.
He was sentenced to nine years in custody, followed by five years on license, with the judge explaining the need for an extended sentence due to Birley’s ongoing danger to the public.
The hotel became a focal point for approximately 400 people amid days of riots that saw widespread violence, arson, looting, and racially motivated attacks. These events unfolded after the tragic deaths of three young girls in Southport, a town in northern England, on July 29. Initially, false online claims blamed an “Islamist migrant” for the attack. However, an 18-year-old man, Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Cardiff, has since been charged.
The day following the killings, a protest in Southport escalated into violence, sparking riots that spread nationwide, marking the most significant civil unrest in Britain since 2011, when the police shooting of a Black man triggered days of disorder. Authorities have acted swiftly in response. Approximately 1,300 people have been arrested, and 200 have already been jailed, with one individual receiving a six-year sentence for violent disorder. Others have faced charges for inciting racial or religious hatred online.
Photo: Thomas Birley previously admitted violent disorder, arson with intent to endanger life and having an offensive weapon.
(Credit: South Yorkshire Police)
