LAST UPDATE | 7 Aug
A RIOTER HAS become the first person to receive a prison sentence on a violent disorder charge following unrest across the UK after being jailed for three years for his part in violence in Southport.
Derek Drummond, 58, was part of the disorder in the Merseyside town on 30 July following a fatal knife attack on three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
He was one of three men to be jailed at Liverpool Crown Court today – alongside Declan Geiran and Liam James Riley who were sentenced to 30 months and 20 months in prison respectively after also admitting violent disorder following riots in Liverpool city centre.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the sentencing of the three men less than a week after the violence was an example of “the swift action we’re taking.”
“If you provoke violent disorder on our streets or online, you will face the full force of the law,” Starmer said.
Drummond, of Pool Street, Liverpool, previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.
Riley, of Walton Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool, and Geiran, of Kelso Road, Liverpool, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder, with Geiran also admitting to arson of a police vehicle.
Commenting on the sentences for the trio, senior district crown prosecutor Jonathan Egan said: “The three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg, and just the start of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve themselves in violent unrest.
Many of those involved will be sent to prison for a long time.
Further suspects are set to appear in court in connection with widespread violent disorder including two people facing a charge of stirring up racial hatred.
Derek Drummond has been jailed for three years for taking part in the violent disorder in Southport.
— Crown Prosecution Service (@CPSUK) August 7, 2024
He is the first offender to be sent to prison for that offence since the trouble began.
He has also been sentenced for punching an officer. More: https://t.co/P5WiukYUkG pic.twitter.com/CVSBZGFp95
Aaron Johnson is accused of distributing a recording of visual images which were threatening, abusive or insulting intending to stir up racial hatred on Monday in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
He is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court alongside four other men who are accused of violent disorder following rioting in the Piccadilly Gardens area of the city centre on Saturday, 4 August.
Julie Sweeney, 53, will appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court after being charged with publishing written material to stir up racial hatred, the CPS said.
Elsewhere, a man has been charged with possessing a wooden stick as a weapon during a gathering in Birmingham.
TV coverage of the large gathering on Monday night led to claims on social media that someone was armed with a sword near a roundabout in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham.
A number of counter-protesters gathered in the area after social media rumours of a far-right march being staged there.
Shehraz Sarwar from Birmingham was arrested and charged by West Midlands Police following the incident on Monday and will appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today.
Liam Riley has been jailed for 20 months, including two months for the racially aggravating element to this offending. More: https://t.co/P5WiukYUkG pic.twitter.com/qGAOvHqQ4n
— Crown Prosecution Service (@CPSUK) August 7, 2024
Court documents released ahead of his appearance state that he is alleged to have possessed an offensive weapon – “namely a wooden stick with a cord wrapped around it” – in the Belchers Lane area.
Also in the West Midlands, Davina O’Shaughnessy, 45, of Sandwell, will appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court charged with racially/religiously aggravated harassment, the CPS said.
A 16-year-old boy, of no registered address, will appear in Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates’ Court in Stoke-on-Trent charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.
The CPS said Steven Hall, 60, faces a racially aggravated harassment charge at Chester Magistrates’ Court in connection with the widespread disorder.
In Plymouth, six people are due in court charged with violent disorder following a protest in the port city on Monday night which saw police officers injured and two members of the public taken to hospital.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the four adults and two 17-year-old boys have been charged under Section 2 of the Public Order Act 1986 and will appear at the city’s magistrates’ court.
Two teenagers are due to appear in youth court in Sheffield in connection with riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.
They follow the case of self-employed builder Joshua Simpson, who became the first person to be convicted following rioting outside the hotel after he admitted assaulting a police officer.
Also in Sheffield, Jake Turton, 38, of Barnsley, will appear in the city’s magistrates’ court charged with violent disorder and driving a motor vehicle without its owner’s consent.
Two men have also been charged following violent disorder in Darlington on Monday evening, Durham Police said.
Cole Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, and Brandon Welch, of Warkworth Way, Darlington, both 18, have been charged with violent disorder and have been remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
The court appearances come as police remain braced for planned unrest by “hateful and divisive groups” as they monitor reports of at least 30 possible gatherings and threats against immigration law specialists.
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