Rioter Imprisoned for Assaulting Police with Bin and Rocks

A father of three children, who hurled rocks and a bin at riot police guarding a hotel housing asylum seekers, has been sentenced to over two years in prison. Sonny Ackerman, 30, was part of the crowd that gathered at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, on August 4. During the court hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday, Ackerman was informed that his sentence would have been longer if not for his learning disability. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC addressed Ackerman, of Birkdale Drive, Preston, stating: “I very much doubt you even understood what the disorder was all about.” Video footage presented in court depicted a masked Ackerman throwing a rock at police lines during the peak of the disturbance outside the hotel, which was accommodating 240 asylum seekers. When sentencing him to two years and four months in prison, Judge Richardson expressed having “little doubt” that Ackerman was “easily led,” but affirmed that the defendant was aware his actions were wrong. Additional video evidence showed the defendant assisting in throwing a wheelie bin at officers who were attempting to push back rioters. This incident occurred near a larger refuse bin that had been ignited against the building’s fire door. The court heard that Ackerman was out on bail for an offence of driving while disqualified at the time of the rioting. The judge remarked: “This was a disgraceful episode – it shocked the entire country.” He continued: “Those involved were an ignorant mob and they must be punished. You were part of that ignorant mob.” Ackerman is the latest individual among more than 70 men who have been jailed following the rioting at the hotel. The court was informed that individuals inside the hotel became trapped on the upper levels as rioters gained entry and ignited a fire in a bin near one of the exits, causing the building to fill with smoke. During the sentencing, it was disclosed that over 60 police officers sustained injuries during the disturbance.