Man denies encouraging murder after Southport deaths

Disorder erupted outside a mosque in Southport on 30 July

A Lancashire man has denied intentionally encouraging murder and violent disorder in relation to recent riots in Southport and Liverpool.

Andrew McIntyre, 39, of Cousins Lane, Rufford, pleaded not guilty to encouraging murder through electronic communication and encouraging violent disorder through electronic communication, at Liverpool Crown Court.

He also denied possession of a pocket knife in a public place on Smithdown Road, Liverpool, on 8 August.

He was remanded into custody and is due to appear in court again on 4 November for a case management hearing, with a provisional trial date set for 3 February 2025.

Protesters clashed with police in Liverpool city centre on 3 August

Judge Neil Flewitt acknowledged the public interest in the case.

The defendant waved to his parents in the public gallery when he was brought into the courtroom.

He spoke only to confirm his name and to plead not guilty to three offences.

Chris Taylor, prosecuting, confirmed to Judge Flewitt that "in simple terms" the suggestion was Mr McIntyre was the administrator of an online group.

It is said he allegedly encouraged followers of the group to commit murder, and also to take part in the disorder that recently took place in Merseyside.

'Racist chants'

Also in court was 21-year-old Harvey Gabbott, from Southport, who had previously admitted violent disorder after he threw items - including a pint of beer and a wheelie bin - at police officers during riots in the town.

He was given a two-year prison sentence and will serve at least half in the community, rather than behind bars.

The violent disorder he was a part of centred around Southport mosque on 30 July, with racist chants clearly heard during CCTV footage played to the court.

The footage showed Gabbott throwing beer, then two items - thought to be bricks, before he re-emerged wearing a balaclava and threw a wheelie bin at a police van.

Unrest erupted in the Southport after three girls were killed in a stabbing

Dressed in a grey defendants' tracksuit, Gabbott, a roofer, and father of a six-month-old child, covered his face as the footage was played.

He was breathing heavily to regain his composure whilst the prosecutor outlined the punishments he could face. His partner cried during his defence.

Judge Neil Flewitt accepted Gabbott regretted what he had done and had handed himself into police, but said it provided “little comfort to those affected by your actions”.

He was told he was being given a two-year prison sentence, with no more than half of the sentence to be served in prison, and the rest to be served in the community.

He said “I love you” to his family as he was taken down.

Another man, Oliver Maddocks, 21, who had earlier this week admitted violent disorder and burglary of a local shop during the recent disorder in Southport, had his case adjourned until 1 October, pending a psychological assessment on the advice of a pre-sentence report.

Maddocks, of Southport, was told it is "almost inevitable" he would receive a prison sentence.