Look who got locked up this week

Nine men who became embroiled within scenes of violence in Southport and Liverpool city centre were among the Merseyside criminals who were jailed over the past week. Also locked up was a sex offender who called a police officer a "nonce".

Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a man attacked his neighbour with a plank of wood as he walked his dog in the early hours, leaving his skull visible through a gaping wound in his head. Here are the faces of 14 defendants from our region who were imprisoned over the last seven days:

Nathan Nash

A man drunkenly kicked a police officer in the chest while shouting "you f***ing nonce, you're a f***ing pig". Nathan Nash lashed out at two PCs who subsequently found him in possession of a small kitchen knife.

The 32-year-old admitted assaulting an emergency worker, possession of a bladed article in a public place, criminal damage, theft, failing to comply with notification requirements, possession of cannabis and failure to surrender to court bail. He was jailed for 36 weeks.

Dylan Carey

A dad-to-be attended a vigil for the victims of the Southport stabbings to "lay flowers and light a candle" with his pregnant girlfriend, but instead ended up hurling a tin of paint at the police. As a result of his involvement in the violent scenes in Southport the evening after the killing of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Dylan Carey will now miss the birth of his child.

Carey, who was seen blowing kisses to his supporters in the public gallery during the hearing, admitted violent disorder. Wearing a white shirt and black tie in the dock, he was jailed for 18 months as his partner sat in tears with her head in her hands.

Christopher Taggart and Rhys McDonald

Two men stirred up racial hatred on Facebook as incidents of violent disorder were sparked in Merseyside and across the UK. Christopher Taggart and Rhys McDonald, from Runcorn, posted messages containing racial abuse and encouraging others to engage in racial hatred. They were sentenced to 32 months and 28 months respectively after admitting publishing written material to stir up racial hatred.

Philip Prescott

Philip Prescott was seen on CCTV and video footage captured by a police helicopter taking items out of a bin and hurling them towards police officers before "others followed suit" during the disorder in Southport. The 38-year-old then "dragged another wheelie bin" towards a cordon formed by PCs before removing further objects and throwing them.

He subsequently kicked the wall of a residential property and climbed into the garden before running towards officers in possession of a brick, which he "launched towards" them. Prescott - who thereafter returned to the damaged wall once more and threw further bricks, including at the window of a police van - admitted violent disorder and gave a thumbs up to the public gallery as he was led down to the cells, having received 28 months in prison.

Gareth Metcalfe

Gareth Metcalfe "remonstrated" and "pointed and shouted at officers", being described as being "at the front of the action" during the Southport riot. The 44-year-old's criminal record shows 21 previous convictions for 31 offences between 1995 and 2021 including for “religiously aggravated assault”, sexual assault in 2016, a racially-aggravated public order offence in 2019 and harassment and breach of a non-molestation order during 2019 and 2020.

The court heard of one arrest in January 2019 “against a background of domestic abuse” which saw the window cleaner “start to struggle” when officers attempted to detain him before calling them “Muslim protectors and Muslim sh**gers". When a Probation Service worker subsequently attempted to call him in order to prepare a pre-sentence report in relation to his subsequent conviction, they received a voicemail recording of Metcalfe saying: “F*** Islam, leave a message."

He admitted violent disorder and nodded as he was handed 40 months. His dad told him "see you Gareth, love you" as he was escorted out of the courtroom, while his mum added: "It's over."

David Hill

David Hill was caught on a livestreamed TikTok video kicking the windscreen of a police van near to St George's Hall before another thug attempted to set the vehicle on fire as trouble flared in Liverpool city centre. The 38-year-old was locked up for two years on Tuesday after admitting violent disorder. He then asked "how long did I get?" before adding "thank you" after being informed by a security guard.

Thomas Connelly

A teenager was caught with a lock knife in his pocket in an area where a protest relating to the national riots was rumoured to take place. Thomas Connelly was observed by officers acting suspiciously on Orford Lane in Warrington, where patrols were being carried out due to the suspected demonstration.

He appeared to be videoing the location and was stopped and searched. The teenager then admitted to having a folding lock knife in his pocket.

Connelly pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place. He was handed 26 weeks in a young offenders' institute.

Keith Giles

A man hid a plank of wood down his shorts before attacking his neighbour with the makeshift weapon as he walked his dog in the early hours. Keith Giles' victim was left with his skull bone exposed after he sustained a gaping wound during the unprovoked assault.

The vicious incident came against the background of a long running feud between the two near neighbours. The "loner" was said to have "lost his temper" and told his adversary "I'm f***ing sick of you" before inflicting the gruesome injury.

Giles admitted wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Appearing in the dock wearing a black t-shirt and with a tattoo reading "believe" above his right eyebrow, he was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

George Clements

A teenager went out for a meal in Liverpool city centre but got drunk and squared up to an old man, kicked a shopper and "gestured towards his penis" on a busy street. George Clements became embroiled in scenes of violence on Church Street only weeks after he had walked free from court for stealing and crashing a van while under the influence of drink and drugs.

Clements admitted affray and breaching a suspended sentence order. He nodded and smiled after he was jailed for two years, then waved to his supporters in the public gallery as he was led down to the cells.

Gerard Cooch

Gerard Cooch, of Merton Road in Bootle, was seen on CCTV and mobile phone footage, which was subsequently posted to YouTube and TikTok, on Whitechapel. He was captured in a cap and sunglasses making "accusatory and hostile" remarks and "swearing and gesticulating" in the area, where a line of police had formed a cordon near to Queen Square Bus Station.

The "intoxicated and angry" 39-year-old then threw the contents of a pint glass he was holding over an officer and twice kicked out at shields being held by PCs. Cooch was arrested nearby around an hour later and told detectives under interview that he had been in the city centre in order to attend a "peaceful protest" but that the "atmosphere became more hostile".

He stated that he "regretted not removing himself from the area" and was "sorry for his involvement", having consumed three cans of cider during the course of the day. His criminal record shows seven previous convictions for 11 offences - including threatening behaviour, drunk and disorderly behaviour, production of cannabis, possession of cocaine and MDMA and breaching a suspended sentence order.

Stephen McNally, appearing on behalf of Cooch, said: "His own participation and involvement is limited, but it cannot be taken outside of the context. He is not somebody who has ever displayed any affiliation or sympathy to what might be described as far right tendencies.

"At the very outset, he expressed remorse. References speak of a man who, despite his difficulties, has sought to better himself. This is a gentleman who is partway through a degree course in criminology and psychology. The irony of that will not be lost on the court, I am sure.

"Mr Cooch needed to take a break from his studies due to issues he was having, in the context of a series of untimely bereavements in the family. He lost his father, grandfather and another family member in a short space of time. He has had to work very hard to get back up to speed.

"It is of great regret that the psychology of the crowd appears to have overborne his ordinary character on that day. His ADHD means he is very easily caught up in what goes on around him."

Cooch admitted violent disorder. He was jailed for 20 months.

Curtis Faure

Curtis Faure was captured in a single photograph "leaning back with a brick in his hand, about to throw it" on the Strand. The 19-year-old, of Thomas Lane in Broadgreen, handed himself in at Marsh Lane Police Station on the afternoon of August 8 after this image was circulated in the media by Merseyside Police.

He stated under interview that he "intended to go to Gravity Max when he heard about a riot on the Dock Road and wanted to see what was going on". Faure told detectives that he had been present for up to half an hour and "picked up a single brick and threw it at police officers", but said that the missile had not connected.

The teen added that he "could not provide an explanation why he behaved in that way" and maintained that his actions were not racially motivated, his parents originally being from South Africa. He has no previous convictions.

Faure admitted violent disorder. He was jailed for a year.

Tom Neblett

Tom Neblett was caught on CCTV throwing missiles in the direction of police officers. The 20-year-old, of High Park Road in Southport, then climbed onto a van and repeatedly launched further objects at PCs.

He also threw a brick at the passenger side window of a police carrier while the driver was still inside before colleagues in riot gear removed him as he shielded his head with his hands. The thug was described as being at the "very forefront", having picked up a smoke flare and hurling it towards the line of officers.

Neblett admitted violent disorder. He was handed 30 months in a young offenders' institute.

Tony Hazlett

Tony Hazlett was captured on CCTV throwing two missiles in the direction of the police. When officers went to the 46-year-old's home on Bank Road in Bootle on August 7, he was described as being "very drunk" and resisted arrest in a violent struggle. He later told police: "I'm sorry. I just did it because everyone was doing it."

Hazlett explained that he had travelled by train to Southport with friends and accepted he threw "two pieces of slate" before leaving shortly after. The dad-of-six admitted violent disorder and was jailed for 28 months on Thursday.