Rotherham pair who kicked Muslim grandfather to death while calling him a ‘groomer’ jailed for 46 years

Police said the 'brutal and unprovoked assault' has 'sent shockwaves through the local community'

Dale Jones (left), of East Bawtry Road, Rotherham and Damien Hunt (right), of Doncaster Road, Rotherham (South Yorkshire Police )

Two men convicted of kicking a 81-year-old grandfather to death in a racially motivated and “unprovoked" attack have been jailed for 46 years.

Mushin Ahmed died 11 days after he was punched, kicked and stamped on by Dale Jones and Damien Hunt, both 30, as he made his way to prayers at a Mosque in Rotherham in August last year.

Jones, of Norwood Street, Rotherham, was convicted of murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years.

Hunt of Doncaster Road, Rotherham, was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 14 years.

During the trial at Sheffield Crown Court, jurors heard Jones flew into “raging fury” fuelled by drink and drugs, accusing Mr Ahmed of being a “groomer” before attacking him.

Prosecutor Andrew Robertson QC said: “Jones immediately accused him of being a groomer. No doubt his word for paedophile and no doubt an accusation made by Jones for no better reason than Mr Ahmed was Asian."

Shortly before the fatal attack, Jones racially abused an Asian taxi driver, a jury was told. Around 10 minutes later, Mr Ahmed emerged on to Doncaster Road.

Mr Ahmed suffered extensive head and facial injuries from the attack and was kicked so hard the imprint of Jones' trainer was left on his face.

His false teeth were also broken, with Hunt’s DNA later found in the shattered dentures, according to the BBC.

Det Ch Insp Victoria Short said: "This brutal and unprovoked assault sent shockwaves through the local community, where Mr Ahmed was well-liked and highly regarded.

"This extreme violence is nothing short of sickening and highlights just how dangerous these individuals are.

"Hunt and Jones have never given an explanation for their own vicious actions that evening, but the court heard how Mr Ahmed was assaulted because of the colour of his skin, a fact that is as disturbing as it is despicable."

Additional reporting by Associated Press