Two men have received the longest prison sentences yet for targeting three Romanians in riots that erupted in parts of England and Northern Ireland this month.
The court handed David Wilkinson, 48, a six-year prison sentence while John Honey was ordered locked up to four years and eight months. They were part of a “baying mob” who attacked a car with three Romanian men in it in the northeast city of Hull on 3 August.
Honey pleaded guilty on Aug. 13 to violent disorder, racially aggravated criminal damage of a BMW and damaging nine other cars. Honey, 25, also looted shops including the cosmetic store Lush, which he admitted.
More than 1,000 people have been detained over the disorder. Some 480 have been charged and at least 99 sentences handed down as cases are swiftly brought to court.
Spotting the car with the Romanians, as they marched down the street in Hull, a “baying mob” surrounded the vehicle and launched an attack, attempting to drag the men from inside.
Honey pulled the passenger door open as the man inside tried to close it to protect himself, while Wilkinson was seen smashing the car’s windscreen of the car, causing £1,500 of damage, Hull Crown Court heard.
Fearing for their safety, the three left the car with their hands raised, before entering a nearby hotel, the court was told.
Judge John Thackray KC said the scenes on August 3 were “12 hours of racist, hate-fueled mob violence”.
He said both men wanted to create a high risk of injury.
Romanian authorities to investigate anti-migrant protests, threats made to 2 Sri Lankan bakers
