A pensioner shouted "I'm f***ing 70 mate" and "f off, I'm going to die. You're going to kill me," at police officers after he was caught wielding a club at a riot.
William Morgan, 69, of Linton Street in Walton, launched into a foul-mouthed tirade and tried to resist arrest during the violent scenes on County Road on Saturday, August 3.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday (Thursday, August 8) that Morgan had taken part in the violent disorder and was part of a "large mob" that engaged in violence in the city centre and Walton. The disorder saw police officers pelted with bricks and the Spellow Library set alight and burgled, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, told the court: "One such incident of disorder took place on August 3 on County Road. That incident caused an immediate and lasting impact on the local community. It included, as the court may be aware, the loss of Spellow Lane Library.
"The community has pulled together in the aftermath. Officers pushed forward in an attempt to disperse them. This defendant resisted and was seen to be holding a cosh in his hand." After an officer charged the defendant, he dropped the weapon but responded by "kicking out and swearing".
The court heard it took "three officers to control him". He was eventually arrested at around 10.45am. Police body-worn footage played in court showed the defendant as he remarked: "F***ing arseholes, I'm f***ing 70 mate" as he's struck with officers' riot shields.
He then added: "I'm gonna die here. I'm English, I'm English. Stop it, I'm gonna die. Get off me. I'm f***ing 70 years of age. F*** off. F***ing get off me. Ah you c, f*** off. I'm gonna die. You're gonna kill me. I'm f***ing 70 years of age. F*** off." The sound of fireworks is heard constantly in the background over the course of several minutes. Morgan continues: "F***s sake. I'm f***ing 70 years of age."
A police officer responded: "Why are you here, why are you in a riot man?" He replies: "I'm trying to go home. F***s sake. I appreciate what you're doing." The PC again asked: "Why are you here?" Morgan states: "Because I live here."
The officer, who has a north east accent, says: "Haway man." Morgan responds: "You don't know what I have been through - I have been pepper sprayed." Mr Taylor added as the footage continued the defendant "effectively apologises to the officers."
The defendant was charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place in relation to the disorder. He pleaded guilty to both offences at Liverpool Magistrates' Court earlier this week.
Paul Lewis, defending, told the court his client was of previous good character and had never been before the courts before. He said his client was retired but had spent the majority of his working life as a welder.
Mr Lewis said: "He is a widower, he has three grown children. These offences for him are entirely out of character. He has no experience of the inevitable custodial sentence which will follow and which he may find particularly hard to bear. He accepts that he acted in drink and was disinhibited by the presence of a large crowd."
Mr Lewis said Morgan, who appeared in the dock with John O'Malley, who also pleaded guilty to violent disorder in relation to a riot in Southport, apologised for his actions and accepted his presence on County Road "provided encouragement for others and was a catalyst for other mobs".
Mr Lewis, who also represented O'Malley, added: "Both men wish to profoundly apologise, not only to the families of those killed and injured in Southport but to the police against who they directed their aggression, to their own families for the shame and embarrassment caused to them and most importantly perhaps to the public for the destruction they in part caused, for the impact on public resources and the fear they now recognise their actions caused."
The Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC told the court that anyone who attended a violent protest "should be ashamed of themselves" and the separate communities were rightly "appalled and deeply disturbed by what has taken place in their neighbourhoods".
The judge said: "On Monday the 29th of July, so a little over a week ago now, a number of families in the town of Southport suffered devastating losses when three little girls were brutally killed and numerous other children and adults were seriously injured in a knife attack at a holiday dance class. While still shocked and bewildered by these terrible events, many residents in the town came together the following evening, on Tuesday the 30th of July, for a vigil in support of the grieving families.
"However, at the same time, there were others who saw these events as an opportunity to sow division and hatred and so published on social media and in printed leaflets false information about the supposed nationality, ethnicity and religion of the alleged attacker.
"Of course, all of this was complete nonsense. But, from that point on, it has been used as a pretext for widespread violence, intimidation and damage - beginning that night in Southport and escalating subsequently across the country, including in this city, Liverpool."
Sentencing Morgan, Judge Menary said: "Your advances did not prevent you playing an active part at the disturbance on County Road. You were part of a crowd who were running amok, setting fire to bins and damaging property including a community hub which contained a library and food bank which provided an important resource to people living in the area.
"You were seen at the front of the mob holding a wooden cosh, a small truncheon which you plainly had to use as a weapon. It took three officers to detain you. You said remarkably that you had taken the cosh with you for your protection. There was looting of commercial premises.
"There was the wanton attempt to destroy the library and community hub by fire. You were in possession of a weapon which I'm sure you had with you to use to cause injury should the opportunity arise. You have no previous convictions at all. It is very sad to see someone of your age and character in the dock of a crown court." Morgan was sentenced to 32 months in prison. He bowed his head as he learnt his fate.
