Three men have been sent to prison after setting fire to a double-decker bus during a night of mob violence in Harehills, Leeds. Iustin Dobre, 37, Mark Mitchell, 34, were sentenced to six years and Milan Zamostny, 30, was sentenced to five years and four months. Celan Palaghia, 21, was also jailed for three years for throwing bricks at police officers and setting fire to boxes and a sofa in the street.
The events began when police were called to assist social services after a group gathered outside a house in Luxor Street and started to become “disorderly”. The crowd grew, leading to missiles being thrown at the police and a patrol car being overturned. Attempts to enlist the help of a Roma councillor to quell tensions failed. The crowd grew so large that it numbered between 300 to 400 individuals.
At this point, a double-decker hybrid bus was forced to stop before being set alight. The financial impact of the event has resulted in a loss of £500,000 for First Bus and drivers are now fearful of driving in the Harehills area. The bus driver has been off work with mental health concerns and may not return to his role.
The violence was deeply concerning to the local communities with women and children crying during the event. Families have also kept their children home from school for fear of further incidents. Those involved have been subject to deterrent sentencing, as mob rule and violence subvert the rule of law, said Judge Tom Bayliss KC.
West Yorkshire Police continues the investigation which has seen over 40 arrests. The financial cost of the disorder that night to West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire Service alone totalled £300,000
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
