Grandfather jailed for race riots at Rotherham asylum hotel dies in prison

A grandfather who was jailed after swearing at police officers outside a hotel where asylum seekers were living has died in prison.

Peter Lynch spent more than two years behind bars after he was caught on camera shouting “scum” and “child murderers” at officers alongside a crowd gathered outside the Holiday Inn.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed the 61-year-old died on Saturday at HMP Moorland, near Doncaster.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said on Monday: “HMP Moorland prisoner Peter Lynch died on October 19, 2023.

“As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”

Sheffield Crown Court heard in August how Lynch was at the front of a crowd that gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on August 4.

He was pictured holding a placard alleging corruption of parliamentarians, judges, the media and the police.

Lynch was jailed for two years and eight months after body-worn camera footage was shown to the court of him shouting ‘you’re protecting people who kill and rape our children’ and ‘scum’ at police with riot shields.

He was then filmed repeatedly challenging officers as they tried to push him back with shields, repeatedly shouting “protect my children” and yelling, “We are on the streets now to protect our children.”

During his sentencing, the court heard that Lynch suffered from diabetes, thyroid problems, angina and had recently suffered a heart attack.

Before his arrest, his lawyer said he had worked in the packaging industry but had recently become unemployed. He was married for 36 years and has four adult children and three grandchildren.

Lynch, of Burman Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was told by Judge Jeremy Richardson KC: “You did not assault any police officer yourself, so far as can be traced, but what you did was encourage your behavior caused others to behave violently and you were part of this gang.”

More to come on this breaking news story