SEVEN men were sentenced to jail at Liverpool Crown Court today for their involvement in a violent protest outside a hotel housing asylum-seekers in Merseyside.

The court heard how violence erupted as mobs chanting “get them out” gathered outside the Suites Hotel in Kirby on February 10 last year, at a protest advertised on far-right channels via Telegram, a messaging platform. 

Fireworks were launched, a police van was set alight, and several people were injured. Before the protest, footage was circulated claiming to show an asylum-seeker “asking a 15-year-old for her phone number and a kiss.”

Judge Watson said that “without a single piece of evidence” a “grotesquely distorted and false narrative gained traction.”

The week before, fascist group Patriotic Alternative campaigned in the area, calling Suites a “five-star hotel for migrants.”

Judge Watson sentenced Brian McPadden, 61, to three years and six months.

The court heard how he played a “leading role” and was heard directing abuse towards asylum-seekers, saying: “They’d better not leave that place in the next few days because they’ll be dead.”

Thomas Mills, 47, who waved a banner reading: “Let’s shout: get them out” was jailed for two years and eight months. 

Paul Lafferty, 42, also received two years and eight months.

Jonjo O’Donoghue, 21, “was enthusiastic in discharging several rockets at the police” and received three years and six months in a young offenders’ institute.

Liam Jones, 25, was sentenced to 27 months. 

The court heard how John Tippler, 59, shouted: “Everton are white, there is no black on the Union Jack, send those f***ers back.”

He was jailed for two years after pleading guilty. 

Warren Cullen, 21, who threw “missiles again and again,” received 20 months.

Harry Boynton, 20, was sentenced to 16 months, having pleaded guilty. The judge said that he was prepared to offer a suspended sentence. 

Christopher Shelley, 45, did not arrive for sentencing and a warrant was put out for his arrest.