Pensioner jailed for violent clashes with police
Sixty-nine year old William Morgan was jailed for his part in the disorder that set a library on fire and attacked police.
A pensioner has been jailed for his part in disorder in which police were attacked and a library was set on fire.
William Morgan, 69, of Linton Street, Walton, has been jailed for two years and eight months at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon - a cosh - on County Road in Liverpool on Saturday night.
Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: "Your advancing years plainly did not prevent you from playing an active part in a disturbance on County Road."
He added: "I think it is very sad indeed to see someone of your age and character in the dock of a crown court."
John O'Malley, 43, of Cambridge Gardens in Southport, has also been jailed for two years and eight months at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting violent disorder in Southport on Tuesday, July 30.
Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, said O'Malley had been identified from footage in the disorder on St Luke's Road.
Sentencing him, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: "You were present from an early stage at the disturbance on St Luke's Road, Southport. There's very clear footage showing the developing disorder and you were at the front of what was essentially a baying mob."
The pair were each sentenced to 32 months in prison.
The Prime Minister said additional deployments of police officers and the quick sentencing of people involved in disorder were the reasons riots did not materialising on Wednesday night.
He told broadcasters on a visit to Solihull: "Last night, I think the fact we didn't see the disorder that was feared is because we had police deployed in numbers in the right places, giving reassurance to communities.
"We were able to demonstrate the criminal justice system working speedily, so yesterday we saw the sentencing of individuals who had been involved in disorder days ago, some of them getting sentences as long as three years.
"That sent a very powerful message.
"But I also think that the work that's been done jointly to reassure our communities is becoming more effective."