Boy, 12, admits violent disorder over Southport unrest

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

A 12-year-old boy who threw an object at police during unrest in Southport has admitted violent disorder.

Liverpool Youth Court heard the boy, who was the youngest person charged in relation to the disturbance on 30 July, was caught committing the offence on CCTV before riding off on a bicycle.

A 26-year-old man, from Hindley in Greater Manchester, will miss the birth of his child after being sentenced to 18 months in prison for violent disorder, also in Southport on 30 July.

Dylan Carey's pregnant girlfriend burst into tears in the public gallery at Liverpool Crown Court as he was jailed for throwing various items, including a tin of paint, at a police van.

Another man, Harvey Gabbott, 21 and from Southport, admitted that throwing a pint at police was "a stupid thing to do" while Oliver Maddocks, 21, from Southport, admitted violent disorder and burglary of a local shop.

Merseyside Police said a total of 30 people had been charged over unrest in Southport and Liverpool.

Disorder broke out in Southport on 30 July, a day after Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event in the town.

It spread to Liverpool and other towns and cities across England in the subsequent days.

'No hatred towards police'

The youth court was told the 12-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was the youngest person to appear before the courts in relation to the unrest in Southport.

The boy spoke only to confirm his name and enter a guilty plea to the charge of violent disorder.

He was released on bail ahead of a sentencing hearing on 17 September, under the condition of not entering St Luke's Road, where the unrest took place.

Locals came together to repair roads and clear up after the disorder in the town

Gabbott told his hearing that he wanted to make it clear he had "no hatred towards police or any other races".

The court heard the 21-year-old roofer, who has a six month-old child, had no previous convictions and regretted what he did.

The judge said the seriousness of the offence meant he should be remanded into custody until sentencing at the same court on Friday.

Carey's hearing was told he visited the Merseyside town on 30 July to pay his tributes to the three girls by laying flowers and lighting a candle.

He later joined unrest at a local mosque, which was fuelled by misinformation on social media, and was caught on CCTV twice kicking a police van and hurling a bottle and a tin of paint at the vehicle, said prosecutor Nardeen Nemat.

Throwing items

The court heard a police officer at Southport railway station was shown the footage and stopped the 26-year-old when he walked past with his girlfriend and his father.

Carey told the officer he was present at the disturbance but denied any involvement.

He was arrested at his home on Castle Hill Road, Hindley, on 5 August.

During disorder in the town a local shop was targeted from which Maddocks, of St Luke's Road, Southport, admitted stealing items.

The owner of Windsor Mini Mart was inside the shop at the time and CCTV showed the defendant entering on a number of occasions, throwing items around and also taking some.

Despite having no previous convictions and accepting his guilt at the earliest opportunity, Maddocks was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday.

Downing Street said rioters could be released from prison after serving 40% of their sentence, as part of the early release scheme.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said the early release scheme will be based on the sentence convicted criminals have been given and that there would be "no specific exclusion for the rioters".