A Southport man who took a brick to his genitals and subsequently became a laughing stock online has now been jailed for two years and six months for his part in the summer riots.
Brian Spencer, 40, of Lytham Road, in Southport, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday 23 December, after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
He was also jailed after admitting racially/religiously aggravated harassment, which relates to a separate incident the following day at Southport Hospital when he verbally abused another patient when receiving treatment for the injuries he sustained during the disorder.
The injuries he sustained were captured on mobile phone footage and subsequently shared widely on social media after some wayward missiles hit him on the head and groin during the appalling scenes in Southport on Tuesday 30 July.
Officers received hundreds of hours worth of CCTV and mobile phone footage, which they are still working through, and Spencer was clearly identified.
Spencer could be seen acting in an aggressive manner and part of a large group of people who were standing only a few yards in front of officers and throwing bricks.
He could also be seen on footage punching a police vehicle several times and picking up and throwing wheelie bins at officers and carriers.
Later that evening, officers were called to a separate incident where Spencer was in attendance, and took him to hospital for treatment to the head injury he had sustained during the disorder.
The officers recognised him from the viral social media footage and he was arrested. It was while receiving treatment for his injury that Spencer racially abused another patient.
Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “The actions of the people who took part in the disorder was extremely serious and many officers were injured during the despicable scenes as bricks, bins and other missiles were thrown at them. Spencer was involved in the violence and will now spend a significant amount of time in prison.”
“We continue to review footage and information as it comes in, and we will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.”
The total number of people arrested by Merseyside Police has now reached 163, with 117 charged and 88 sentenced to 182 years and four months.
Images and footage are still being worked through so please contact us with any information by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Current galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website: Latest CCTV appeal in relation to summer disorder in Merseyside | Merseyside Police
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