Grandad, 33, with 'maniacal grin' pelted police during riot

A dad seen with a "maniacal grin" at the front of a crowd during disorder in Southport has been jailed. Christopher Beard "shouted", "gesticulated" and threw objects towards police officers at the front of a crowd which gathered outside a mosque on July 30.

The courts previously heard that a violent mob, of around 1,000 people, targeted a mosque chanting "who the f*** is Allah" just an hour after a peaceful vigil was held in memory of three young girls killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party the previous day.

Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said Beard, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was seen as police vehicles tried to move but were hit by the crowd. She said: "The defendant is turning and laughing, with what can only be described as a maniacal grin, towards the crowd."

The court heard the 33-year-old was seen piling wheelie bins on top of each other, helping to build a bonfire in the middle of the road, and throwing missiles towards police, including a large piece of wood. Ms McCloskey said: "The defendant remains in the midst of the crowd, seemingly enjoying the chaos."

Charles Lander, defending, said Beard has a 12-week-old daughter and is about to become a grandfather as his older child, aged 19, is expecting a baby in December. He said Beard, of Stewart Road in Wigan, had been working in the area and had gone to "show some respect". He has since lost his job, the court heard.

Sentencing, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: "It is no mitigation at all to say you, or some of you, went simply to pay your respects. That lies ill in the mouth of any of you, given your subsequent behaviour. There's footage of you literally building a bonfire in the middle of the road, pulling wheelie bins on top of each other."

Beard was sentenced alongside Lee Powell, 46, who claimed he was in the area to lay flowers and became "trapped" on the wrong side of the police line as he tried to get back to his car. But Judge Menary said he "utterly" rejected that account.

He said: "Your role was not some benign one. You abused officers at close quarters and on two occasions, for sure, you threw an item or items at officers. You were, in the classical sense, a member of the mob, giving out encouragement to the group."

Powell, of Fountains Road, Liverpool, was jailed for two years and four months for violent disorder.

The court heard Adam Latty, 24, of Radnor Drive, Southport, was identified by a distinctive tattoo on his arm, after he took his top off and tied it around the lower part of his face. Ms McCloskey said he was seen throwing missiles, including a glass bottle, toward police.

Charles Lander, defending, said he was of previous good character and worked as a contractor in the water industry but had now lost his job. Judge Menary said: "It is a great shame someone of your past character should find yourself in the dock of a crown court facing such a serious and utterly pointless criminal offence."

Latty was jailed for 20 months after admitting violent disorder at an earlier hearing.