Woman spared jail after assaulting officer in riots

A 21-year-old woman, who assaulted a police officer during disorder in Southport earlier this year, has been spared a jail sentence due to “exceptional mitigation”.

Ellie Clarke cried as she was given a 20-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, for her part in a riot which erupted outside a mosque in Southport on 30 July.

Disorder broke out in the Merseyside seaside town a day after three girls were killed, and 10 more injured, in an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July.

Large crowds fought with police officers outside a mosque in Southport, with additional damage and disorder taking place in Liverpool and across the country.

Speaking on Tuesday, Andrew Menary KC, Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, told Liverpool Crown Court Clarke had already paid a “significant price” for what she did that night, having been remanded in custody for seven weeks.

He said: “The footage shows you, for a time, standing amongst the crowd of people behaving like animals, shouting vile abuse at police officers and directing appalling racist chants at the nearby mosque.

“You understand how seriously your behaviour is to be regarded, as do others who have been dealt with by this court”.

Clarke pleaded guilty at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court to violent disorder, assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public disorder offence.

She was seen to strike an officer’s riot shield, an earlier hearing was told.

Daniel Travers, defending, said a pre-sentence report and psychiatric report had been prepared, and Clarke had written a letter to the judge which showed “genuine remorse”.

He said: “Clearly, this is a young lady who has, on numerous occasions in her relatively short life, suffered traumatic events, and has clearly got a number of issues that she needs to resolve.”

The defendant, wearing a pink cardigan, wiped her eyes with a tissue after she was sentenced.

Judge Menary said the court had dealt with about 70 people involved in the disorder this summer, and only one other defendant had not been given an immediate prison sentence.

He said the reports had led him to make an exception in Clarke's case.

But he added: “This case must not be reported as simply you being a female and not going to prison.

“I promise you this, you would have gone to prison but for the very substantial personal mitigation available to you.

“It is only because of the exceptional mitigation that is present in this case.”

Clarke, of Chestnut Street, Southport, was ordered to carry out 40 days of rehabilitation activity and 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected]