Four men sentenced to combined 20 years in prison after violent disorder and arson attack in Harehills

Four men have been sentenced for their part in the violent disorder and arson that took place in Harehills in Leeds in July this year.

Iustin Dobre, 37, Mark Mitchell, 34, Milan Zamostny 30, and Celan Valentin Palaghia, 21 were given a combined prison term of over 20 years.

The four appeared via video link from HMP Leeds and were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court this afternoon with two of the men assisted by a Romanian interpreter and one man assisted by a Czech interpreter.

Dobre, Mitchell and Milan pleaded guilty to violent disorder and an arson attack on a First Bus on Foundry Approach in Harehills on July 18 which caused £500,000 worth of damage and trauma to the bus driver and passengers who were forced to flee from the vehicle as a large mob surrounded it.

Palaghia pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson and admitted to setting fire to furniture from a van that was stopped by the crowd along with igniting bins and pretending to throw a child over a fire.

The unrest in Harehills was sparked by four children from a Romanian family being taken from their home by social services.

Disorder erupted after West Yorkshire Police officers responded to calls from children’s social workers at around 5pm, who reported being met with hostility when dealing with a child protection matter.

Children’s social care staff were withdrawn to a place of safety but the incident escalated, with officers being subjected to thrown missiles and bricks and a police car being overturned.

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West Yorkshire Police said it became clear officers were the sole target and they withdrew, with £300,000 damage caused to the force as a result of the incident that went on until the early hours of the morning, with a resident reporting up to 1,000 people out on the streets at the height of the disorder.

Mitchell was jailed for six years for arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and violent disorder.

Dobre was jailed for six years for arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and violent disorder.

Zamonsty was jailed for five years and four months for arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and violent disorder.

Palaghia was jailed for three years for arson and violent disorder.

More to follow……