Grandfather jailed after shouting racist slurs during far right riots has died in prison

A grandfather who was jailed after shouting racist slurs during this year's has died in prison.

Peter Lynch, 61, was jailed for two years and eight months for taking part in being used to house on August 4. Sheffield Crown Court heard that he had shouted "racist and provocative remarks" at officers attending the scene in Rotherham, and called people staying at the "child killers".

Lynch, whose defence lawyer said he had "a general conspiracy theory against anyone and any form of authority", and took a placard referencing the "deep state" and US space agency NASA to the riot, was sent to HMP Moorland in Doncaster. He died at the on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Prison Service said.

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Speaking , the spokesperson said: "As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate." Lynch, of Burman Road, in Wath-upon-Dearn, had suffered a heart attack earlier this year, and was diagnosed with diabetes. The "family man" had three grandchildren, and was described by his barrister as a "very caring" man.

But a judge said that a video played to the court showed the grandfather "revving up" the situation before it turned violent, and calling police "scum". The court was told that Lynch was a "full participant" in the disorder, ignited after a 700-strong crowd descended on the hotel.

Both asylum seekers and police standing guard outside the hotel were targeted during violence on August 4, with 18 people arrested and charged in connection with incidents at the Holiday Inn. The service said that 10 officers were injured in the violence, one of whom was knocked unconscious.

Asylum seekers who were caught up in the protests said they had feared trouble was brewing the day before riots broke out, with one anonymous person telling the they were "still in a kind of panic" after the chaos had subsided. They said: "I am pretty sure most of the people who were in the hotel are still in a kind of panic. They are traumatised, they are not in a good situation."

Lynch was jailed on August 22 after pleading guilty to violent disorder.