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Emigration and immigration

Engineer to Face Jail for Social Media Post Inciting Violence against Asylum Seekers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A court has heard that Joseph Haythorne posted a vile and racist message on X, formerly Twitter, during an anti-immigration riot outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on August 4, 2024. The post, which was viewed by 1,100 people before it was deleted, included a link to a now-deleted post by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson. Haythorne's full post read: "Go on Rotherham. Burn any hotels with them scruffy b******* in it." The judge, Recorder of Sheffield Jeremy Richardson KC, called Haythorne's post "dreadful racist nonsense" and said that it "inflamed the situation - almost literally" at the hotel.

Key Takeaways:

  • Joseph Haythorne, a 26-year-old engineer, faces jail for posting a racist message on social media that incited violence against asylum seekers.
  • The post, which was viewed by 1,100 people, included a link to a now-deleted post by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.
  • Haythorne's post read: "Go on Rotherham. Burn any hotels with them scruffy b******* in it."
  • The judge, Recorder of Sheffield Jeremy Richardson KC, called Haythorne's post "dreadful racist nonsense" and said that it "inflamed the situation - almost literally" at the hotel.
  • Haythorne deleted the post within minutes, but the damage was already done, and over 60 police officers were injured in the violence that followed.
  • The case has similarities with other cases of social media users inciting violence against asylum seekers, including Lucy Connolly, Jordan Parlour, and Tyler Kay.
  • Haythorne's defense lawyer argued that he posted the comment in a "momentary lapse of judgment which he regrets every day," but the judge disagreed, saying that Haythorne had read and been influenced by racist content on social media.

Statistics:

  • 1,100 people viewed Haythorne's post on X, formerly Twitter, before he deleted it.
  • 60 police officers were injured in the violence that followed Haythorne's post.
  • 240 asylum seekers were housed in the hotel that was the target of the violence.
  • 20 staff members were also working in the hotel at the time of the incident.
  • Haythorne's post was deleted within 17 minutes of being posted.

Sources:

  • [X, formerly Twitter post] (no date or timestamp provided)
  • Sheffield Crown Court (Friday, August 4, 2024)
  • Joseph Haythorne's defense lawyer, Bianca Brasoveanu
  • The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC

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