Rioters have blamed a charity walk which “got out of hand”, an ill-fated trip to Gravity Max and being blackmailed by an older brother for their involvement in the disorder.

Violent scenes flared up in Southport, Liverpool city centre and Walton following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar last month.

Police vans were set alight and officers were attacked on St Luke’s Road in the seaside town on the evening of July 30. A planned protest at the Pier Head the following Saturday then descended into violence, with Merseyside Police forced to use riot gear after bricks and debris were thrown towards PCs.

The disturbances continued on County Road that night as chaos, violence and destruction ensued as looters targeted businesses in the area, including a fire being started at Spellow Library and Community Hub. Here, the ECHO has taken a look at some of the excuses defendants have given to the courts and to the police for becoming embroiled within the events.

A 14-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

A 14-year-old boy from South Liverpool, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 5. Joshua Sanderson-Kirk, prosecuting told the court that this related to the teenager throwing fireworks at a police van near to B&M on Clayton Square in Liverpool city centre, a store which had earlier been “looted”.

He was found with five fireworks and a lighter following his arrest and told officers: “I’m sorry. I wasn’t firing them at you though.”

His solicitor Iqbal Kang told the judge: “He has no prior convictions whatsoever, he has never been in trouble with the police before. It is completely out of character for him.

“He tells me he headed into the city centre with the intention of catching a bus home. He was on his own. It seems, perhaps through inexperience and lack of maturity, he became involved with people he did not know who were offering out fireworks.

“He says he does not know why he became involved, but did not think things through. He did not head into the city centre with the intention of causing any kind of disturbance.

“He has had plenty of time to think about his actions. He has spent two nights in custody. He understands how foolish and silly he has been and wishes he could turn the clock back.

“It is completely out of the blue. One could positively say if he had not been heading into the city centre to catch a bus, we would not be convened here like this.”

The boy will be sentenced at the youth court on August 27. He was released on bail until this date under conditions not to enter the L1, L2 or L3 postcode areas.

Declan Geiran

Declan Geiran formed part of a “large group of males” who “attacked and damaged” a police van which had been parked near to St George’s Hall, including attempting to tip the vehicle over. A video which was later posted on TikTok showed the 29-year-old, of Kelso Road in Kensington, beside the open driver’s window and setting a seatbelt on fire before smoke was seen billowing from the cab.

CCTV footage captured him thereafter “remaining at the scene” and “sitting casually on the fountain outside the Walker Art Gallery watching the police van”, which was written off as a result of damage caused during the incident. He then filmed the scenes on his mobile phone as he left the area.

Geiran was however arrested after being “easily identified by his backpack, clothing and tattoos”, with lighters being seized from him upon his detention. Under interview, he told detectives that he had attended the protests alone as he “wanted to show his support for the bereaved families”.

Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, added: “He stated that he saw the van and heard shouts of ‘burn the van’. He said he was told to burn a book under the seat. He didn’t, but set fire to the seatbelt.

“He stated that he felt under pressure and that he did not believe his actions had caused the damage. He stated that he had not gone out to act violently and denied any negative thoughts on immigration or political issues.”

Geiran admitted violent disorder and arson. He was locked up for 30 months at the crown court on Wednesday, August 7.

Jordan Davies

Balaclava clad Jordan Davies brandished a knife near to the scene of a vigil for the victims of the Southport knife attacks then claimed that his daughter had been “stabbed up”. Just over 24 hours on from the fatal stabbings, children and families fled in terror after Jordan Davies was spotted carrying a flick knife a mere matter of minutes away from the scene.

One terrified dad even asked for his family to be locked inside a shop as the incident unfolded. Following his arrest, the mindless thug maintained that he had found the weapon while urinating near to a Tesco Express store after downing cans of cider and said he was intending to hand the item in to the police.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday, August 9, that the “Southport community came together for a vigil” at 6pm on Tuesday, July 30, following the “tragedy” the previous day. Davies, of Portland Street in the town, was then seen in possession of the weapon a “short distance” away on Eastbank Street, near to the Wellington pub and a branch of KFC, at around 6.45pm.

Mr Taylor described how members of the public “ran and screamed” after a woman was heard to shout “he’s got a knife”. One witness, Michael Hayes, had been laying flowers at the scene with his partner, kids and friends and was forced to “push them into the nearby Baltic Supermarket for safety”.

Another, Claire Oldham, meanwhile saw Davies “approaching other males with the blade out”. The 32-year-old was also said to have pulled down a balaclava over his face during the altercation.

Police officers subsequently found him “hiding behind a pillar” near to a snooker hall on Princes Street. While he initially “denied having anything on him”, the knife was then discovered inside a bag which he had been wearing around his neck.

Davies then claimed he had “simply picked the bag up” and was in the area “for a peaceful protest”. He added that “his daughter had been stabbed up and he had been assaulted”.

Footage taken from a PC’s body worn camera was played to the court, and captured him saying: “I’ve got the bag off the floor, that’s it. I’ve got nothing on me.”

When told why he was being detained, Davies replied: “Cos of yesterday and I look a bit foreign? Are you kidding me? I understand what’s gone on, my daughter’s been stabbed. That’s not my bag. I’ve just picked the bag up.

“How’ve I got a lock knife on my f***ing person? I’ve just picked the bag up. My daughter’s been stabbed up. How’ve I got a knife on me? I just picked the bag up off the floor.”

Under interview following his arrest, Davies stated that he had earlier consumed “three to four ciders” at home and “picked up the pouch” while urinating near to a Tesco Express store “with the intention of placing it in an amnesty or taking it to a police station”. He added that he was only “seeking to do a good act”.

Davies admitted possession of a bladed article in a public place and breaching a suspended sentence order. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit and wearing short dark hair, he nodded as he was jailed for two years.

A previous 16-week suspended sentence which was previously imposed upon him in June was also activated in full and ordered to run consecutively to this term, leading to a total sentence of two years and 16 weeks. Davies was meanwhile handed a serious violence reduction order, which will commence upon his release and last for two years thereafter, with forfeiture and destruction of the knife being ordered.

Dylan Carey

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday, August 12, that Carey was captured on CCTV mobile phone and body worn camera footage throwing items including a tin of paint and a bottle at officers, as well as kicking out at police vans. One PC later recognised him at Southport Station in the company of his girlfriend and dad from videos which had been circulated on X, formerly Twitter.

When spoken to, the 26-year-old “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 he “grew angrier and began to throw items himself”.

Carey has no previous convictions. Colin Buckle, defending, told the court: “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.

“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.

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 as his partner sat in tears with her head in her hands.

Philip Prescott

Philip Prescott, of Sefton Street in Southport, was seen on CCTV and video footage captured by a police helicopter taking items out of a bin and hurling them towards police officers before “others followed suit”. The 38-year-old then “dragged another wheelie bin” towards a cordon formed by PCs before removing further objects and throwing them.

He subsequently kicked the wall of a residential property and climbed into the garden before running towards officers in possession of a brick, which he “launched towards” them. Prescott thereafter returned to the damaged wall once more and threw further bricks, including at the window of a police van.

Following his arrest on Lord Street in the town on August 5, he gave a prepared statement under interview in which he “said he had been drinking and was very upset by the death of the three children”. He then “heard there was something happening near to St Luke’s and went to see what was happening” and, although he could not recall his actions due to being under the influence of alcohol, stated that he was “ashamed by what he did and was sorry”.

Prescott admitted violent disorder. He gave a thumbs up to the public gallery as he was led down to the cells after receiving 28 months in prison on Tuesday, August 13.

Tony Hazlett

Tony Hazlett was captured on CCTV throwing two missiles in the direction of the police. When officers went to the 46-year-old’s home on Bank Road in Bootle on August 7, he was described as being “very drunk” and resisted arrest in a violent struggle. He later told police: “I’m sorry. I just did it because everyone was doing it.”

Hazlett explained that he had travelled by train to Southport with friends and accepted he threw “two pieces of slate” before leaving shortly after. The dad-of-six admitted violent disorder and was jailed for 28 months on Thursday, August 15.

Curtis Faure

Curtis Faure was captured in a single photograph “leaning back with a brick in his hand, about to throw it” on the Strand. The 19-year-old, of Thomas Lane in Broadgreen, handed himself in at Marsh Lane Police Station on the afternoon of August 8 after this image was circulated in the media by Merseyside Police.

He stated under interview that he “intended to go to Gravity Max when he heard about a riot on the Dock Road and wanted to see what was going on”. Faure told detectives that he had been present for up to half an hour and “picked up a single brick and threw it at police officers”, but said that the missile had not connected.

The teen added that he “could not provide an explanation why he behaved in that way” and maintained that his actions were not racially motivated, his parents originally being from South Africa. He has no previous convictions.

Faure admitted violent disorder. He was jailed for a year on Thursday, August 15.

George Clements

Clements was captured on mobile phone footage near to a shop on Church Street which had been targeted by louts. The 18-year-old – of Egerton Street in New Brighton, Wirral – was shown with a brown scarf covering his face and “aggressively approaching” an older male with grey hair who was carrying a shopping bag.

He then turned his attention to a “male with an olive skin tone”, hitting out at his hand before being ushered away by another man. The teen however “broke free” and confronted the same victim again, kicking him to the area of his hip in what was said to have been a “racially motivated” attack.

Clements thereafter “gestured towards his penis” and “made a masturbation gesture”. He and another man then ran towards the older complainant, sparking other members of the public to intervene.

The thugs were then seen running away as sirens were heard in the background of the video. Clements was identified after this footage – which showed a child in a wheelchair in the vicinity on the violence – was shared on social media, leading to his arrest at his home address on August 9.

Julian Nutter, defending, told the court: “He did not go into town to participate in these unfortunate events. He went for a meal and became drunk. Things kicked off. He got drawn in, being the young fool he is, and acted in the reprehensible manner he did. He is not part of the looting. What we can see is disorderly behaviour.”

Clements admitted affray and breaching a suspended sentence order. He was nodded and smiled after he was jailed for two years on Thursday, August 15, then waved to his supporters in the public gallery as he was led down to the cells.

Ellis Wharton

Brothers Adam and Ellis Wharton, both of Selwyn Street in Kirkdale, admitted burglary with intent to steal at Spellow Library. Mr Taylor told Liverpool Crown Court: “At about 2am, officers were alerted by the National Police Air Service that persons had entered that library.

“PC [Thomas] Nielsen entered the library and saw Ellis Wharton in possession of a computer monitor. He was told to put it down and he did. He was told he would be arrested. Once secured, he said ‘I’m sorry, I’ve been blackmailed by my brother to do it and made a stupid decision. I’m sorry’.”

Adam Wharton was then detained on nearby Dunluce Street, having been circulated as wanted after “acting as a lookout”. The 28-year-old was found in possession of a balaclava at this time while also “sweating profusely”.

Ellis Wharton, 22, told detectives under interview that his brother had “knocked on his door asking him to go out with him” with the “indication that they would go looting”. Mr Taylor added: “Adam, he said, kept a lookout while he entered. The plan was to take monitors to sell. He denied any violence or disorder and simply stated that they joined the group to loot.”

Adam Wharton was jailed for 20 months on Thursday, August 8. Ellis Wharton, who also pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency services worker, was imprisoned for 11 months.

Paul Daintith

Paul Daintith, of Fraser Street in Liverpool city centre, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public after he was spotted by police officers on East Street in Southport walking from a bush “at a quickening pace”. When stopped, he claimed that he had “just found a craft knife” and lifted his top up to PCs to show them the weapon within his waistband.

Following his arrest, Daintith stated that “he was a smackhead who picks everything up”. He was jailed for eight months on Friday, August 16.

Joshua Jones

A “football hooligan” claimed to have attended a three-mile charity walk in memory of the victims of the Southport stabbings before “things got out of hand” and he repeatedly hurled missiles towards police officers as violent scenes unfolded. Joshua Jones, of St Marks Road in Chester, was captured on video footage with his face covered by a scarf as he threw a series of objects towards PCs.

Mr Taylor, appearing for the prosecution, described how the 31-year-old also “moved forward with the surging crowd” and filmed the events on his mobile phone, having been “present from the start” and thereafter “front and centre”. Merseyside Police subsequently seized two samurai swords from his home when they attended in order to arrest him on the afternoon of August 12.

Under interview, he “stated that he went to Southport to attend the vigil” and “referenced taking part in a three-mile charity walk to support the murdered children”. Jones declined to watch any of the CCTV and said he “couldn’t remember anything” due to his undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD and autism.

However, he “acknowledged that things got out of hand”. Of the weapons discovered in his property, he added that the items had “been in the family for years” and said they “never left the house”.

Jones has a total of 15 previous convictions for 26 offences including inflicting grievous bodily harm, entering the playing area at a football match, breaching a football banning order, possession of a banned fighting dog, theft and criminal damage. Judge Neil Flewitt KC compared his record to that of a “football hooligan who appears to enjoy disorder in large groups”.

He was also handed a 26-week imprisonment suspended for 18 months by magistrates in March this year for assaulting an emergency services worker after pushing a police officer “with force” and “pushing his thumb into a constable’s eye” during a domestic altercation. Charles Lander, defending, told the court: “He is totally ashamed of his actions.

“He could not bear to watch the video. He is embarrassed, particularly at how he has let down the families of the deceased and injured children, the wider community and also his own family.

“His partner has stood by him and is particularly tearful in court today. Once again, he is going to be apart from her for his own stupid actions. He maintains that he went there for lawful reasons but stupidly got involved.”

The judge said of this: “I have enormous difficultly accepting that from a man who is prone to violence and hooliganism. There is a very strong inference here that he went to Southport to join in the disorder.”

Mr Lander continued: “My instructions are that he did not. The three-mile walk was his intention. Ultimately, I do not seek to minimise his behaviour. The camera speaks for itself.

“Clearly, the defendant has suffered significant tragedy in the last few years. His brother died tragically from carbon monoxide poisoning, his father also died as a result of an unfortunate incident and his mother passed away last year.”

Jones, who previously worked as the manager of a gym in Spain, admitted violent disorder, possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and breaching a suspended sentence order. His partner sat in tears in the public gallery as he was jailed for 38 months.

Sentencing, Judge Flewitt said: “Given your previous convictions, in particular your history of football hooliganism, I view with some scepticism the suggestion that you travelled to Southport to take part in a vigil. The fact that you so willingly again took part in violence towards the police causes me to doubt your expressions of remorse.”


Liverpool Echo