Rioter, 61, dies in prison while serving two-year sentence over violent disorder outside Rotherham hotel

A RIOTER who was jailed for two years for shouting abuse at cops outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has died in prison.

Peter Lynch, 61, died at HMP Moorland near Doncaster on Saturday, the Ministry of Justice confirmed.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Lynch was at the front of a mob which gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers, Rotherham, on August 4, shouting "scum" and "child killers" at cops.

The grandfather-of-three was pictured holding a placard asserting the corruption of MPs, judges, the media and the police.

Lynch was jailed for two years and eight months after body-worn footage showed him screaming "you are protecting people who are killing our kids and raping them".

The granddad suffered a heart attack earlier in the year and had been diagnosed with diabetes.

It is not yet known how he died.

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

"As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate."

Terrifying footage from Rotherham showed masked yobs kick out the windows to storm the Holiday Inn Express.

The thugs then forced their way past cops into the hotel after pelting them with bricks, glass ­bottles and even fence panels.

Some then hurled chairs.

A towering blaze broke out as the group of 700 outside the hotel chanted: "Get them out."

One injured cop was seen being carried to safety by colleagues.

Cops later confirmed at least 10 were injured, including an officer who was knocked unconscious, another who suffered a suspected broken elbow and another suffering from suspected broken bones.