Woman sentenced for providing false alibi in Rotherham

A woman has been sentenced to a year in jail for lying to police about a teenage rioter's involvement in a disturbance. Kaylee Cunningham, 36, falsely claimed that a 15-year-old boy was at her home when he actually participated in throwing rocks and wood at riot police outside a Holiday Inn Express hotel in Rotherham on August 4, 2022. Cunningham's actions allowed the boy to avoid arrest initially. However, police later discovered videos on his phone showing him in the riot. Sheffield Crown Court held that Cunningham deliberately misled the police, despite being warned about the consequences of making a false statement. Judge Jeremy Richardson criticized Cunningham's behavior, saying she acted foolishly and willfully. He emphasized that courts do not tolerate deceitful actions and noted the seriousness of her offense. The teenage boy, who cannot be named, was also punished. He received a 12-month referral order after admitting to violent disorder in a separate court. In total, over 70 individuals have been jailed for their roles in the Rotherham disorder, which resulted in injuries to 64 police officers, along with several animals. Many asylum seekers and staff were trapped in the hotel during the violence.