The man was caught on camera when he loaded wood and other flammable materials into a burning bin that was being pushed towards one of the hotel's entrances. He then threw another bin on top of the burning one. Other footage shows him throwing objects, including a trash can, at the police.
No one was injured in the small fire that broke out, but several hotel employees testified that they were forced to seek shelter in a freezer room and thought they would be trapped inside.
In court, the man admitted to arson with the intention of harming others, and the judge explained in connection with the verdict that the harsh sentence was motivated by the fact that the man still poses a threat to the general public.
Sixty-four police officers, three horses, and a police dog were injured in the clashes in Rotherham, north of Sheffield, on the first weekend in August.
The violence in several British cities escalated after three girls were killed in a stabbing in Southport at the end of July.
The violence was then fueled by misinformation spread online about the suspect's background, including that he was a newly arrived asylum seeker. However, the arrested 17-year-old was born in the UK to parents from Rwanda.
Nationally, more than 400 people were arrested for participating in the riots. So far, 200 people have been convicted, the youngest being a 13-year-old boy.
