Four criminals, including a man who used social media to try and incite an attack on a hotel, have been jailed in the first sentencings linked to disorder in West Yorkshire.
All four of the men were convicted at Leeds Crown Court today (August 9) after pleading guilty at magistrate’s court hearings on Wednesday August 7.
The men sentenced today were:
Jordan Parlour (28) of Brooklands Close, Leeds was sentenced to 20 months in prison for publishing written material intended to stir racial hatred. The 28-year-old had published material on Facebook on August 4 calling for a hotel in Leeds District to be attacked. His case is thought to be the first in which someone has been convicted for posting online in relation to the disorder.
Jordan Plain (30) of Broadway Horsforth, was sentenced to eight months in prison for a racially aggravated intentional harassment offence in Leeds on Saturday July 3. The 30-year-old was seen making racially offensive gestures to other parties.
Sameer Ali (21) of West Park Drive, Leeds was sentenced to 20 months in prison for an affray offence committed in Leeds City Centre on Saturday July 3
Sameer Ali (21) of West Park Drive, Leeds was sentenced to 20 months in prison for an affray offence committed in Leeds City Centre on Saturday July 3
Adnan Ghafoor (31) of Spen Bank, Leeds was sentenced to two years and six months for an affray offence committed in Leeds City Centre on Saturday July 3. He was also sentenced for breach of a suspended sentence.
Both Ali and Ghafoor were convicted for their roles in a violent disorder incident in Leeds which took place after a largely peaceful protest in the city centre.
Police have pledged no stone will be left unturned to bring the guilty to justice as multiple active enquiries continue into offending relating to national disorder.
Assistant Chief Constable Osman Khan of West Yorkshire Police, said: “It is clearly welcome that the first men convicted for their roles in disorder have faced justice so quickly. The government pledged those involved in this disgraceful disorder in any way would face the full force of the law, and the criminal justice system is delivering on that pledge in West Yorkshire as it is elsewhere across the country.
“The conviction of Jordan Parlour is particularly notable as the first case in which someone has been convicted for posting online in relation to the disorder. This man encouraged others to attack a hotel, putting those inside at real risk.
“His sentencing should make it crystal clear that offending on social media from your front room carries just as much consequence as committing offences on the streets. Such behaviour has penalties and will see you before the courts to face justice and prison.”
He added: “Our warning to anyone thinking of getting involved in this type of criminality is clear – if you cause or incite violence, or commit related offending, we will take all necessary steps and use all means at our disposal to bring you to justice.”