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Three more men jailed for disorder in Southport

PA A line of riot police in front of riot vans, with another vehicle on fire, in front of a mosque in SouthportPA
The men admitted taking part in violent disorder outside a mosque on 30 July

Three more men have been jailed for taking part in violent disorder that broke out in Southport the day after three young girls were stabbed to death last month.

The men all admitted taking part in a disturbance close to Southport mosque on 30 July, the day after stabbings.

The violence was started by false online rumours that the suspect in the Southport attack was a Muslim.

Video footage played to Liverpool Crown Court showed the men throwing missiles at police.

PA A large group of people confront police in a road in SouthportPA
The court heard how missiles were thrown at police during the disorder

The crowd could also be heard chanting anti-Islamic slogans.

David Engleby, 29, from Southport, was jailed for two years and four months.

Paul Dryhurst, 33, from Litherland, was jailed for two years, and Luke Summerfield, 33, from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, was jailed for two years and two months.

Engelby was also given a five-year restraining order not to go near the Southport mosque or approach the Imam there.

Through their defence barristers, all three men expressed their remorse at what they had done.

The court heard that Dryhurst’s parents both work for the ambulance service and were “baffled” at their son’s behaviour.

Judge Denis Watson said the fact there has been a large crowd taking part in the violence was an aggravating factor.

“It would be wrong and misleading to look at the actions of individuals in isolation because violence feeds on itself," he said.

"Events gain a momentum of their own.”

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