Thug, 58, who punched a police officer in riot jailed for 3 years

A thug who punched a police officer in the face during a riot outside a mosque in Southport has been jailed for three years as the crackdown on violent protesters continues.

Derek Drummond, from Pool Street in the town, screamed ‘s***houses’ at officers as they tried to put on their riot gear before attacking one male PC as he tried to protect his colleagues on July 30.

The 58-year-old had been part of a large gathering of demonstrators in the shell-shocked community just a day after misinformation was shared following the killing of three young girls in a knife attack.

In the week that has followed riots driven by far-right thugs have broken out across the country, with the police and authorities pledging to crack down and imprison those bringing chaos to Britain’s streets.

Today Drummond received the longest prison sentence handed out to a rioter so far as he was jailed for three years at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.

At the same court today two people were jailed for taking part in a riot in Liverpool on Saturday, August 3. 

Declan Geiran,  29, of Kelso Road, Liverpool, jailed for 30 months after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder – including setting fire to a police van – and sending a malicious communication last year.

Liam Riley, 40, of Walton Road, Liverpool, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after he admitted violent disorder and racially aggravated behaviour.

All three men were due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court later this month but their cases were fast-tracked to today.

Sentencing the trio, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary KC, said: ‘Quite simply those who deliberately participate in such disorder, causing injury, damage and fear to communities, will inevitably be punished with sentences designed to deter others from similar activity.’

Referring to the disturbances near to Southport Mosque on July 30 following the vigil in the town, he said: ‘The genuine and collective grief of the residents of Southport was effectively hijacked by this callous behaviour.’

Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: ‘Today’s prison sentences show that the law is catching up with those who have brought violence to our local communities.

‘The disturbing images we have seen across the country, manipulated by agitators both in-person and online, while local families still grieve the loss of loved ones, is an unforgivable and selfish act that each and every person sentenced today will have to live with.

‘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.

‘Riley, Drummond and Geiran mistakenly thought they would escape justice. They now face an extended period of time behind bars, and their criminal convictions will stay with them forever.’

It comes as dozens more protesters are hauled before the courts today as the recriminations continue against those alleged to have taken part in the last week’s disgraceful violence on the streets of Britain. 

More than 140 people have now been charged with public order offences after riots broke out across the country in the wake of misinformation spread online following the killing of three young girls in Southport.

Today people accused of violent disorder in Liverpool, Manchester, Darlington and Plymouth will appear in court, as well as one man who is accused of wielding an offensive weapon during a counter-protest in Birmingham.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has also warned that it is investigating some people under counter-terror legislation for online posts that appeared to cheer on the violence.

It comes as there are fears of further chaos tonight after a list of 39 places that are set to be targeted by far-right protesters – including immigration including immigration centres, refugee shelters and lawyers’ homes.

This morning one man cried in court as he pleaded guilty to violent disorder following disturbances in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre on Saturday.

Liam Ryan, 28, of Bradford, pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning after the prosecution said he played an ‘active role in the disorder’.

Prosecutor Laura Peers said there had been a number of ‘large-scale disturbances’ in Piccadilly Gardens on Saturday and Ryan had travelled from West Yorkshire to take part in the disorder. 

Ms Peers said a ‘large group of far-right protesters’ were seen engaging in an ‘altercation with one black male’, which was filmed by members of the group and uploaded on social media.

The prosecutor said the footage showed ‘a black male being confronted by a large group of white males’. Ms Peers said Ryan had ‘played an active role in the disorder’, adding: ‘He was seen on the footage aiming a punch towards the male involved.’

District Judge Jane Hamilton remanded Ryan, who was shaking as he wiped tears away with a tissue after pleading guilty, into custody and ordered him to appear at Manchester Crown Court on August 14.

Shaun Holt, 42, of Cheadle also appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court charged with violent disorder from the disturbances in Piccadilly Gardens on Saturday. Holt gave no indication of plea.

District Judge Hamilton remanded Holt into custody and he will appear for a plea hearing at Manchester Crown Court on September 11.

Andrew Phillips, 27, of Stretford, and David Green, 41, of Stalybridge, Greater Manchester have both been charged with violent disorder and will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today.

Alex Fraser, 20, of Manchester, and Matthew Wilson, 27, of Rossendale in Lancashire, have both been charged with racially aggravated assaults and public order offences following the disorder in Manchester. 

They will be joined by Aaron Johnson, 33, of Stockport, who has been charged with distributing a recording with the intention of stirring up racial hatred. This relates to alleged filming that took place outside a hotel in Stockport on Monday, August 5.

A group of six people have appeared in court after being charged with violent disorder in relation to clashes between police and protesters in Plymouth on Monday night. 

Three men and one youth admitted violent disorder and were told by a judge that ‘violent thuggery will not be tolerated’ and they face significant jail terms.

Grey haired Daniel McGuire, 45, of Crescent Avenue, Plymouth, admitted violent disorder.

He was seen on live TV reports spitting and pushing at police and their shields during the demonstration in the city centre.

Prosecutor Gareth Warden told Plymouth magistrates court that ‘clearly intoxicated’ McGuire pushed at police shields and was spitting at officers as he was pushed backwards.

Graham Kinchin, defending lawyer, said McGuire is ‘realistic about his prospects’.

District Judge Miss Joanna Matson said: ‘You had a role in a very significant disorder and violence in Plymouth city centre. Violent thuggery will not be tolerated in our society.’

She said McGuire, who has previous convictions, will feel the ‘full force of the law’ when he is sentenced by a judge at Plymouth Crown Court tomorrow. He was remanded in custody.

Michael Williams, 51, of Blacklands Close, Sparkwell, Devon, also admitted violent disorder.

Mr Warden said police were in a cordon between two rival groups when stones and rocks were thrown near the Poundland store by the rival protesters.

He said the rival came together in fights and Williams, who had a stone in his jogging bottoms, kicked another man.

District Judge Matson remanded Williams into custody ahead of his sentencing hearing at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday.

She told him: ‘These matters are incredibly serious indeed. You have accepted your role in very serious disorder and violence in the city centre that took place on Monday night.

‘That kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in this society. I am satisfied that my sentencing powers are insufficient and I am going to commit you to the crown court for you to be sentenced.’

Lucas Skeaping, 29, of Warran Lane, Tavistock, Devon, admitted violent disorder.

The court heard he was wearing a Go Pro helmet and was seen throwing a bottle and rock at rival demonstrators – and that was captured on his own camera footage.

It was said he also pushed a youth off his pushbike which led to more trouble involving 20-30 people.

He was also remanded in custody until he appears at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday.

A fourth adult, Paul Braidwood, 44, of Ward Place, Plymouth, denied violent disorder.

It was alleged by the prosecution that he dragged a police officer to the ground and used homophobic and racist language. 

His case was sent to Truro Crown Court for a hearing on September 2nd and he was remanded in custody.

A fifth defendant, a 17 year old Plymouth youth who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted violent disorder.

The court heard he was seen throwing a ‘rock’ and a traffic cone towards a group of rival protesters in Royal Parade, Plymouth, at 8.55pm on Monday night.

His lawyer said he was trying to get home by a bus which was cancelled and was struck by projectiles.

He reacted by throwing a traffic cone which hit a police shield and a vape.

He was granted conditional bail to appear for sentence on September 5th by Plymouth Youth Court.

A second 17 year old denied violent disorder. The court heard he was arrested after allegedly kicking and punching someone who had pushed him off his bicycle.

His lawyer told the Youth Court: ‘He was not part of the disorder.’

In Cheshire a woman is set to appear in court today accused of sending communications threatening death or serious harm.

Julie Sweeney, 53, of Lionsgate Estate in Church Lawton, Alsager, had been arrested on Monday after a message posted on a community group was reported to the police. 

Following violent scenes outside a Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth on Sunday, a 16-year-old boy from Tamworth has been charged by Staffordshire Police.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker.

He is due to appear at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Wednesday, Staffordshire Police said.

Meanwhile, two men have been arrested in connection with the same disorder, a 28-year-old and a 43-year-old both from Tamworth.

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.

Nick Price, Director of Legal Services for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘In addition to more than 120 individuals charged yesterday, we have charged a further 20 people with a range of offences following the continued unrest in parts of the country.

‘The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to work alongside police to build the strongest possible cases, authorise rapid charging decisions and ensure those involved in disorder are brought before the courts.’