Rioter Sentenced to 27 Months for Police Attack in Southport Unrest
A man has been jailed for 27 months after being convicted of violent disorder during the riots that erupted following the tragic Southport stabbings. Liam Curwen, aged 32, admitted to spitting at police officers and throwing a brick at a police line in scenes described by the court as "wanton mob violence."
Chaotic Scenes in Hanley Following National Tragedy
The disorder occurred on August 3, 2024, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, just days after three girls were murdered in a Southport dance studio. Curwen was part of a mob that walked toward police lines, with prosecutors detailing how he appeared agitated and angry before launching his attack.
Barry White, prosecuting, told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court: "He spat towards the police line. He continued shouting and pointing at the police line. He moved towards police holding a brick in his right hand, having picked up a paving block. He threw it. It hit a shield in the police line."
National Unrest Following False Rumours
The riots spread across the UK after false rumours circulated that the Southport killer, Axel Rudakubana, 18, was a Muslim immigrant. The National Police Chiefs' Council reported approximately two thousand arrests nationwide during the unrest.
In Hanley, around 400 people clashed with police, with reports describing men wielding gardening forks, baseball bats, and timber. Islamophobic chants were heard in video footage, while other videos showed officers coming under fire from various missiles.
Defence Arguments and Judicial Response
Curwen's lawyer, Debbie Leadbeater, argued in mitigation that her client had been on his way to meet a friend and "got caught up in the group activity." She emphasized Curwen's remorse and his role as a carer for his children, suggesting probation could ensure rehabilitation.
However, Recorder Robert Smith rejected these arguments, stating: "What you did was not a peaceful protest. You joined in with wanton mob violence. It was despicable behaviour. I cannot and will not suspend the sentence."
Broader Impact of the Disorder
The protests forced a local theatre showing a children's dance production to go into lockdown to protect the young attendees. Curwen was arrested on January 24, 2025, and initially answered no comment during police interviews before later pleading guilty to violent disorder.
The court heard how Curwen covered his face after the attack and returned to the city centre. Despite defence claims about his family responsibilities, the judge noted: "You should have thought about that before you involved yourself in a large-scale violent disorder."
This case highlights the serious consequences of participating in mob violence, particularly when it involves attacks on police officers during times of national tension.
