Dylan Carey will miss the birth of his child because of his violent actions

A dad-to-be attended a vigil for the victims of the Southport stabbings to “lay flowers and light a candle” with his pregnant girlfriend, but instead ended up hurling a tin of paint at the police.

As a result of his involvement in the violent scenes in Southport the evening after the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Dylan Carey will now miss the birth of his child.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Monday, that the 26-year-old was captured on CCTV mobile phone and body worn camera footage throwing items including a tin of paint and a bottle at officers on the evening of July 30, as well as kicking out at police vans. One PC later recognised him at Southport Station in the company of his girlfriend and from videos which had been circulated on X, formerly Twitter.

When spoken to, Carey “accepted he had been present but denied involvement”. But Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, described how he was then arrested at his home address on Castle Hill Road in Hindley, Wigan, on August 5.

Under interview, he “said he had travelled to lay some flowers and light a candle with his pregnant girlfriend” and then decided to attend the “peaceful protest” after seeing it advertised on a Facebook post. But, while there, he claimed that he “grew angrier and began to throw items himself”.

Carey has no previous convictions. Colin Buckle, defending, told the court: “He comes from a supportive, stable and loving family.

“The position is that those who sit in the public gallery and maybe the members of the media, maybe everybody, are shocked. When they saw this young man acting in the way he did, it was wholly out of character, wholly unexpected. His mother, father, partner and brothers cannot understand why he would have acted in his way.

“His intention was not to travel to Southport with criminal intent. He became involved by his own hand, he was not forced. The mood began to change, others began to behave in this way and he joined in. He cannot explain why.

“Their intention was to go in respect of what they believed to be a peaceful vigil. Things turned from that. Of course, he involved himself.

“It is the first time he has ever been in custody. The defendant has told me, through teary eyes, that he has never been so frightened in his life. The defendant was in a cell with a person with class A drugs. Their behaviour became erratic. The defendant said that, at one stage, he feared for his life. He felt that this man was going to turn on him.

“In my respectful submission, for the defendant, the deterrent has worked. He has never been in this situation before. He has expressed to me how he simply cannot believe how he went from being a family man and hard worker.

“The defendant is professional, dedicated, hard working, talented and strives to provide for his family. He is a much loved son. His parents are proud of him. Now he sits before the crown court. It is an unmitigated disaster for him. He bears the consequence.

“The impact on him of a potentially lengthy custodial sentence is that that sentence will be exacted upon him in respect of the loss of his liberty, of course, but moreover due to the fact that, if your honour returns him to custody, he will miss the birth of his child. The couple have suffered from two miscarriages. The child they are expecting has complications.

“It is an uncertain time. He has been a rock to her. Of course, she has lost him by his own hand and his behaviour. He is a man of good character from a stable family and with good employment.”

Carey, who was seen blowing kisses to his supporters in the public gallery during the hearing, admitted violent disorder. Wearing a white shirt and black tie in the dock, he was jailed for 18 months this afternoon as his partner sat in tears with her head in her hands.

Sentencing, Judge Denis Watson KC said: “You took part in a prolonged piece of mob violence. There is a significant and highly relevant background to your offence. On Monday the 29th of July, three young girls were enjoying their summer holiday when they were attacked and killed by a man wielding a knife. Several others were attacked and injured.

“The attacks shocked and stunned the nation, but particularly those in Southport. The following afternoon, the people of the town came together. However, as the vigil came to an end, a mob was gathering. The mob had seen an opportunity to stir up trouble.

“A completely false narrative about the alleged attacker was published on social media. This false narrative gained traction amongst the mob, whose real purpose was to launch violent attacks on vulnerable minority members of the community, who were completely innocent, and upon the police.

“The mob, and you were part of it, directed disgraceful racist abuse at the police and a nearby mosque. Over several hours, windows were smashed and walls were demolished. The mob used bricks as missiles, a police van was set on fire, the mosque was very badly damaged. Over 60 police officers were injured. This was large scale and very violent criminal activity.

“The genuine and collective grief of the residents of Southport was hijacked by the mob you were part of, all of you with your distorted motives. Over the following days, there was similar public disorder across the country.

“Southport is a town where families live and work. All of them take pride in the closeness of the community. Your actions damaged and disgraced Southport, and Merseyside generally.

“You joined alongside a large and aggressive mob. You were seen to pick up various items and throw them at a police van, to throw a bottle at police officers, to fly kick a police van at least twice and to pick up and throw items from a wheelie bin which itself had been thrown at the police. You were an active and persistent participant.”

Liverpool Echo