Library rioter, 69, among latest jailed over disorder

L-R: John O'Malley and William Nelson Morgan were jailed for their involvement

A 69-year-old man who armed himself with a wooden cosh and joined a "mob" during violent riots across Merseyside has been jailed.

William Nelson Morgan, of Linton Street, Walton, is one of two men who received prison sentences earlier for their involvement in unrest in Walton and Southport.

Morgan, who played a part in the destruction of Spellow Lane Library on County Road, and John O'Malley, 43, who was identified in footage at the front of a "baying mob" in Southport, were jailed for two years and eight months at Liverpool Crown Court.

The Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary KC, said: "Your actions have disgraced and damaged the reputation of that town [Southport] and this city [Liverpool]."

When sentencing Morgan, Judge Menary said: "Your advancing years plainly did not prevent you from playing an active part in a disturbance on County Road.

"I think it is very sad indeed to see someone of your age and character in the dock of a Crown Court."

Morgan was holding a wooden cosh, or truncheon, and it took three police officers to restrain him, the judge said.

O'Malley previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder over the riot outside a Southport mosque on 30 July - the day after three girls died in a knife attack in the town.

Spellow Lane community hub and library was destroyed by rioters

The court was shown footage of a mob of people attacking police with stones and wheelie bins.

At one point in the video footage officers, who were not wearing protective riot gear, were forced back by a hail of missiles.

Judge Menary said O'Malley was at the front of "what was essentially a baying mob" throwing bricks and wheelie bins.

"You were at the front and participating enthusiastically," he told the court.

Paul Lewis, defending both men, said "Neither were instigators of the violence, but they accept that their presence provided encouragement to others and was a catalyst for other mobs.

"They are sorry."

Mr Lewis said both men wanted to apologise to the families of the girls killed in Southport, to the police and to the public for the disruption and the fear they had caused.