Taxi driver whose social media posts have been ‘catalyst’ for Southport riots is jailed for seven and a half years

A taxi-driver whose posts on social media were a ‘catalyst’ for the violent disorder seen in Southport last summer has been jailed for seven and a half years.

Liverpool Crown Court was told that Andrew McIntyre, 39, set up a Telegram channel called ‘Southport Wake Up’, in the immediate aftermath of the knife attack at a children’s dance class in the Merseyside town on July 29 last year.

The channel was identified by the group Hope Not Hate as a ‘catalyst for and origin of a series of posts’ concerning incidents of violence, prosecutor Arthur Gibson said.

The court heard McIntyre, who pleaded guilty to encouraging violent disorder and criminal damage and possession of a knife, shared content from a site called Tommy Robinson / Britain First / For Britain about a protest in Southport on July 30. 

He also posted a ‘clear threat to police’ hours before violence broke out in Southport on July 30, writing: ‘Message to All … Stand in our way, even if you’re just doing your job … prepare to fall.’ 

After McIntyre was arrested by officers in Liverpool on August 8, a knife was found hidden in the boot of car and, when his home was searched, officers found weapons and a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf, the court heard.

Sentencing him, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said the defendant was ‘prominent’ among people responsible for spreading misinformation following the Southport attack.

He added that the offence was aggravated because it was motivated by racial hostility and involved attacks on police officers.

Liverpool Crown Court was told that Andrew McIntyre, 39, set up a Telegram channel called ‘Southport Wake Up’, in the immediate aftermath of the knife attack at a children’s dance class in the Merseyside town on July 29 last year

Sentencing him, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said the defendant was ‘prominent’ among people responsible for spreading misinformation following the Southport attack (Pictured: Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out in Southport) 

‘You were motivated by racial hatred,’ he said. ‘I have no doubt your actions encouraged many people to plan and then to commit offences of both violent disorder and criminal damage.’

Mr Gibson, prosecuting, said the case involved a ‘sinister aspect’ of violence which took place in parts of the UK last summer.

He said: ‘It is the prosecution case that many of these seats of disorder were not simply spontaneous, or that persons coincidentally simply decided to turn up and take part.

‘It is the Crown’s case that others, to a greater or lesser degree, participated in the organisation, encouragement and incitement of such gatherings, which resulted in the disorder.

‘It is the Crown’s case that one such person is the defendant.’

The court was told McIntyre’s phone was in the area of St Luke’s Road in Southport at 7pm on July 30 and the car he was later arrested in was also in the area when the disorder took place. 

The day before the disorder in Southport, the court heard McIntyre posted a map with the caption: ‘Mosque at the top of Hart St,’ and wrote in a later post: ‘Rise Up English Lads. 8pm tomorrow St Luke’s Rd Southport.’ 

The day after the disorder, he posted: ‘Well done last night lads, to all you heavy hitters.

A court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of McIntyre from a court appearance on August 16 

Judge Neil Flewitt KC said that McIntyre’s offence was aggravated because it was motivated by racial hostility and involved attacks on police officers. (Pictured: protesters near a burning police vehicle in Southport) 

‘Are you ready for Round 2??? … Liverpool Mosque, West Derby Road, Friday 8pm.’

On August 5, the defendant shared a post from his channel with another site which listed immigration advisers and said: ‘Wednesday Night Lads. They wont stop coming until you tell them … no more immigration 8pm … mask up … spread this as far and wide as you can.’

McIntyre was working as a taxi driver when he was intercepted by police in Liverpool on August 8 and arrested, Mr Gibson said.

Mr Gibson said McIntyre refused to provide police with the PIN for his mobile telephone.

Judge Flewitt said: ‘The only reasonable inference is you knew if interrogated your mobile phone would reveal further evidence of your involvement in encouraging violent protests.’

The defendant followed proceedings on a videolink from HMP Liverpool, where he has been remanded in custody, while his parents looked on from the public gallery of the courtroom.

Julian Nutter, defending, said: ‘His parents are horrified that he is in this predicament.

‘He is a man of previous good character and has never come to the attention of the police before.’

Among character references were letters from McIntyre’s parents and a family friend, the court heard.

Mr Nutter said: ‘Those who have spoken on his behalf describe somebody who is very different from what we have heard from the prosecution about him.’

McIntyre, of Rufford, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, was originally charged with encouraging murder after posting a link to a YouTube video of the Home Secretary with the caption: ‘We’re going to hang this woman and her associates.’

Mr Gibson said the decision was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) not to pursue the charge to trial because of ‘evidential issues’ concerning whether the defendant actually believed the act would be carried out.

The count was left to lie on the file.