Five Accused After Denaby “Near Riot”

One of five men arrested for obstructing and assaulting three policemen in an incident involving a crowd of 200 people outside the Denaby Hotel, Denaby was jailed for six months and bound over in £50 for 2 years at Doncaster West Riding at court on Friday.

Leslie Thompson (42), plate layer of Hirstgate, Mexborough, had pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Ronald Butterfield and damaging his uniform.

The other four were John Thirwell (30), labourer of Hirstgate, Arnold Thirwell (21), labourer of Clayfield view, Mexborough, George Godbere (18) Labourer, Wadworth Street, Denaby and Harry Parker (64), miner of Edlington Street, Denaby.

John Thirwell, who admitted obstructing a policeman and damaging his police cell to the extent of £1 by banging his shoe on the paint work was fined £30. His brother admitted assaulting Special Constable Atkinson and PC Shaw and was fined £50. Godbere admitted using conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and was fined £10 and Parker admitted using conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and obstructing PC Butterfield was fined £15.

Bound Over

All four were bound over for two years. The police withdrew some charges before the end of the hearing of the accused then changed all their pleased to “guilty.”

Chief Inspector Kelly said 200 people had been involved in a “near riot” outside the Denaby Hotel and had been blocking the traffic. Thompson had gone “berserk” in the centre of the crowd. Two police constables and a special Constable made an unsuccessful attempt to quiten him. He was kicking out and striking at the officers so they escorted him, still struggling, to the police station.

Chief Inspector Kelly said that the Thirwells attackedthe officers and made an attempt to “rescue” Thompson and as a result all three men were put in the cells at Denaby where they continued to shout abuse.

Godbere was arrested after he tries to cause a scene at the police station late in the evening by climbing into an ambulance outside review to get out until “my mates are out again.”

Chief Inspector Kelly said that Parker had been one of the crowd outside the hotel, not one of whom came to the aid of the police during the incident. He said he was shouting encouragement to the Thirwell to fight the police.