Man Jailed for Overturning Police Vehicle During Leeds Disorder

Daniel Constantin, 29, has been sentenced to over two years in prison for his role in overturning a police car during rioting in Leeds. Mr. Constantin was part of a group that surrounded the vehicle in Harehills on July 18, subsequently flipping it. Leeds Crown Court was informed that this incident was one of several instances of “mob violence” that erupted after four children were placed into the care of social services. Constantin, of Nowell Mount, Leeds, received a sentence of two years and two months after pleading guilty to a charge of violent disorder. The court heard that Constantin, a Romanian national, was captured on CCTV as part of a large crowd, many members of which were throwing missiles at the police. Officers had been dispatched to the area following what was described in court as an “aggressive” and “unjustified” reaction to council staff who were acting on orders from a family court. Although it was stated that the father-of-five did not personally throw any missiles, the Recorder of Leeds, Guy Kearl QC, noted that “he did not seek to disassociate” himself from the violent disorder. Social media footage presented to the court showed Constantin assisting in rocking the police car, which was parked on Luxor Street, until it tipped, as officers retreated from the scene. The court was informed that Constantin left the UK a short time after the incident but was arrested by police upon his return when he flew into Luton Airport on September 24. Judge Kearl told Constantin that he had set “an appalling example to your children.” When passing sentence, he stated: “This is not an individual matter because you participated in group or mob violence on that evening.” He added, “Businesses were closed. People were frightened in their houses.” and “Police officers do not go to work in order to be attacked or have their equipment destroyed.” The judge commended members of the Harehills community, who he said had later helped to “calm” the situation and clear up the debris. Constantin is the fifth individual to have been jailed in connection with the disorder, which lasted for several hours and cost the taxpayer nearly £300,000 in policing resources and clean-up operations. Chief Superintendent Steve Dodds stated that Constantin had contributed to causing “significant damage” to the vehicle, which had to be taken out of service as a result. He added that the force is continuing to investigate the disorder and urged anyone with information about the events to come forward.