Three jailed for total of seven years over Southport riots
The disorder took place the day after three girls were killed in a knife attack at a dance class
Last updated 7th Aug 2024
A rioter has become the first person to receive a prison sentence on a violent disorder charge following nationwide unrest after being jailed for three years for his part in violence in Southport.
Derek Drummond, 58, was part of the disorder in the Merseyside town on July 30 following a fatal knife attack on three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
He was one of three men to be jailed at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday - alongside Declan Geiran and Liam James Riley who were sentenced to 30 months and 20 months in prison respectively after also admitting violent disorder following riots in Liverpool city centre.
Drummond, of Pool Street, Liverpool, previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.
Referring to the disturbances near to Southport Mosque on July 30 Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary KC said: "The genuine and collective grief of the residents of Southport was effectively hijacked by this callous behaviour."
Riley, of Walton Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool, and Geiran, of Kelso Road, Liverpool, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder, with Geiran also admitting to arson of a police vehicle.
Commenting on the sentences for the trio, senior district crown prosecutor Jonathan Egan said: "The three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg, and just the start of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve themselves in violent unrest.
"Many of those involved will be sent to prison for a long time."
Further suspects are set to appear in court in connection with widespread violent disorder including two people facing a charge of stirring up racial hatred.
Aaron Johnson admitted using racist language on a live stream he broadcast to "millions of people" from outside a hotel in Stockport thought to contain asylum seekers at Manchester Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Laura Peers said Johnson "became aggressive to members of staff" at the hotel, adding that he told them "he would smash their face in".
Ms Peers added that "within the stream he repeatedly refers to migrants in a derogatory manner" and used racist language.
Four other men who are accused of violent disorder following rioting in the Piccadilly Gardens area of the city centre on Saturday August 4.
Julie Sweeney will appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court after being charged with publishing written material to stir up racial hatred, the CPS said.
The 53-year-old was arrested on Monday after police received a complaint in relation to the hateful tone of a message which had been posted on a Facebook community group in the Kidsgrove area, Cheshire Police added.
In Plymouth, five people have appeared in court charged with violent disorder following a protest in the port city on Monday night which saw police officers injured and two members of the public taken to hospital.
A 17-year-old boy admitted throwing a traffic cone and a rock towards a large group of protesters, Daniel McGuire, 45, pleaded guilty after "spitting on officers and shields" despite being told to stop, and Michael Williams, 51, was seen kicking another man during the disorder.
Plymouth Magistrates' Court heard a fourth man, Lucas Ormond Skeaping, 29, pushed a 17-year-old off his bike and was caught on his own GoPro camera throwing a full bottle of coke and a rock" towards protesters as he also pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Elsewhere, a man has been charged with possessing a wooden stick as a weapon during a gathering in Birmingham.
TV coverage of the large gathering on Monday night led to claims on social media that someone was armed with a sword near a roundabout in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham.
A number of counter-protesters gathered in the area after social media rumours of a far-right march being staged there.
Shehraz Sarwar from Birmingham was arrested and charged by West Midlands Police following the incident on Monday and will appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Court documents released ahead of his appearance state that he is alleged to have possessed an offensive weapon - "namely a wooden stick with a cord wrapped around it" - in the Belchers Lane area.
Also in the West Midlands, Davina O'Shaughnessy, 45, of Sandwell, will appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court charged with racially/religiously aggravated harassment, the CPS said.
A 16-year-old boy, of no registered address, will appear in Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates' Court in Stoke-on-Trent charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.
The CPS said Steven Hall, 60, faces a racially aggravated harassment charge at Chester Magistrates' Court in connection with the widespread disorder.
Two teenagers are due to appear in youth court in Sheffield in connection with riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.
They follow the case of self-employed builder Joshua Simpson, who became the first person to be convicted following rioting outside the hotel after he admitted assaulting a police officer.
Also in Sheffield, Jake Turton, 38, of Barnsley, will appear in the city's magistrates' court charged with violent disorder and driving a motor vehicle without its owner's consent.
Two men have also been charged following violent disorder in Darlington on Monday evening, Durham Police said.
Cole Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, and Brandon Welch, of Warkworth Way, Darlington, both 18, have been charged with violent disorder and have been remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court.
The court appearances come as police remain braced for planned unrest by "hateful and divisive groups" as they monitor reports of at least 30 possible gatherings and threats against immigration law specialists.