Man caught with knife near Southport vigil jailed

Jordan Davies, 32, was spotted by a member of the public with a knife wearing a balaclava

A man who carried a knife as he went to join a "mob" after a vigil for the Southport stabbing victims has been jailed for two years and four months.

Jordan Davies, 32, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after he admitted possession of a knife in a public place in the seaside town on 30 July.

The defendant, who described himself as "neither right wing nor a Muslim", told officers he was in Southport for a "peaceful protest" after he was seen by members of the public carrying a knife while wearing a balaclava.

Judge Denis Watson KC said Davies was on his way to join a "mob" who had seen an opportunity to "stir up trouble".

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were killed by an attacker at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

After misinformation about the suspect being an asylum seeker was shared widely online, violence broke out near a mosque in the town and disorder was seen in towns and cities across the country.

The prosecution told the court that at about 18:45 BST the defendant was seen on Eastbank Street, a short distance from where the vigil took place.

A witness described seeing people running away screaming and one woman shouted: "He's got a knife."

The clean-up in Southport after a night of violence on 30 July

Davies hid behind a pillar when he saw a police officer, the court heard, but he was then spotted and searched.

In bodyworn footage played to the court, Davies, of Portland Street, Southport, could be heard asking officers: "'Cause of yesterday and I look a bit foreign, are you kidding me?"

He claimed his daughter had been stabbed and that he had picked the bag up, and told police he had planned to hand it in to an amnesty bin.

But Judge Watson described his claims as "untrue", saying he was on his way to join "mob violence" outside the mosque on St Luke's Road.

The court heard at the time of the incident Davies, who has 15 previous convictions for 25 offences, was serving a suspended sentence for offences including racially aggravated public order.

Davies' defence team said he was "extremely sorry for the pain and suffering" he had caused.

'Substantial sentence'

Meanwhile, Gareth Metcalfe, 44, of Cambridge Gardens, Southport, pleaded guilty at the same court to violent disorder in the town on 30 July.

The case was adjourned to Tuesday for sentence and Metcalfe was remanded in custody.

Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “It is almost inevitable there will be a substantial immediate sentence of imprisonment.”

Across the north-west of England a further 21 people were charged earlier with offences related to disorder following the Southport stabbings.

Greater Manchester Police said three boys, who could not be named for legal reasons, had been charged with violent disorder.