He broke into mobile phone shop and terrified staff - now he's paying the price

A man who used a fire extinguisher to smash his way into a mobile phone shop while terrified staff hid in a back room has been jailed. Liam Lewis, 27, was part of a "disgraceful" mob who attacked police officers and looted local businesses in shocking scenes in Liverpool City Centre.

Lewis, of Sandway Crescent, Norris Green, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, November 20, where he became the 82nd person to be sentenced in connection with the violent disorder which devastated Merseyside earlier this year.

The dad-of-two was part of an "angry mob" which rampaged through Liverpool on August 3, throwing bricks and other missiles at police and damaging local businesses. It came just a few days after similar large-scale violence broke out in Southport, spurred on by false online rumours about the murders of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar.

READ MORE: Tears in court as dad who trashed shop told 'it's a shame'

He was caught on CCTV throwing bottles and bricks at police before arming himself with a fire extinguisher, taken from a local building site, and setting it off. He continued down Paradise Street onto Church Street, where he took part in an attack on a stall handing out free copies of the Quran. He then went to the Ifix phone repair shop, where he used the fire extinguisher to break the front window, allowing a swarm of looters to make off with around £100,000 worth of equipment while terrified staff hid in a back room.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and burglary, and was jailed for two years and eight months. Following the sentencing, Merseyside Police detective inspector Paula Jones said: “The scenes of violence, criminal damage and looting we saw over the summer were disgraceful, and we are pleased to see another offender facing the consequences of their actions.

“To use misinformation as some kind of excuse to target members of the public, businesses and the emergency services is inexcusable, and caused emotional and material damage to communities shocked but standing together in the face of tragedy. We will continue to put those responsible before the courts, and would encourage anyone with information to keep coming forward.”

A total of 151 arrests have been made in connection with the violent disorder in both Liverpool and Southport so far. 105 people have been charged, and 82 people sentenced to a combined total of 168 years and one month behind bars. Anyone with information to assist our ongoing investigations is asked to contact us via Public Portal (mipp.police.uk) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.