The seven boys in court over Southport, Liverpool city centre and Walton riots

Seven boys have appeared in court charged in connection with a series of disturbances across Merseyside. The boys, one as young as 12, and 36 men have appeared before Liverpool's magistrates' court, with local authorities warning more will follow.

Violent scenes flared in Southport, Liverpool city centre and Walton following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. While a peaceful vigil was held in Southport in memory of the three young girls, hundreds more gathered near a mosque on July 30.

Police vans were set alight and officers were attacked during the riot on St Luke's Road in the seaside town. Windows and walls at the mosque were also damaged. A planned protest at the Pier Head the following weekend billed as a "Save our kids" demonstration descended into violence, with Merseyside Police forced to use riot gear after bricks and other debris were thrown towards officers.

The disorder then continued on County Road that night as violent looters targeted local businesses and set fire to the Spellow Library and Community Hub. Since then Merseyside Police have made over 70 arrests and put 43 people before the courts. Another man is due to appear for the first time before a district judge on Monday morning.

The rioting was fuelled by misinformation regarding the ethnicity, nationality and religion of the alleged Southport stabbing attacker. However, Liverpool's top judge, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC, said the riots were "used as a pretext for widespread violence, intimidation and damage".

A dozen men have already been imprisoned for their roles in the Merseyside disorder. Following the riots in Merseyside, the rioting spread to towns and cities around the country. Over 1,000 people have since been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the rioting. Here are the seven boys who have appeared at Liverpool's youth court since the first riot on July 30.

A 12-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

A 12-year-old boy, from Southport, admitted violent disorder at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Monday, August 12. He was seen throwing items towards police officers before cycling away. The youth was released on bail ahead of his sentencing on September 17. His parents thanked the judge as the hearing was concluded.

A 14-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

A 14-year-old boy from south Liverpool, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Monday, August 5. Prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk told the court that this related to the teenager throwing fireworks at a police van near B&M on Clayton Square, a store which had earlier been "looted".

He was found with five fireworks and a lighter following his arrest and told officers: "I'm sorry. I wasn't firing them at you though."

His solicitor Iqbal Kang told the judge: "He has no prior convictions whatsoever, he has never been in trouble with the police before. It is completely out of character for him. He tells me he headed into the city centre with the intention of catching a bus home. He was on his own. It seems, perhaps through inexperience and lack of maturity, he became involved with people he did not know who were offering out fireworks.

"He says he does not know why he became involved but did not think things through. He did not head into the city centre with the intention of causing any kind of disturbance. He has had plenty of time to think about his actions. He has spent two nights in custody. He understands how foolish and silly he has been and wishes he could turn the clock back.

"It is completely out of the blue. One could positively say if he had not been heading into the city centre to catch a bus, we would not be convened here like this." The boy will be sentenced at the youth court on August 27. He was released on bail until this date under conditions not to enter the L1, L2 or L3 postcode areas.

A 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

A 15-year-old boy from south Liverpool, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted violent disorder in relation to events on Paradise Street while appearing in the magistrates' court on Tuesday, August 6. Mr Sanderson-Kirk described how he was identified via CCTV footage and a video which was posted on TikTok.

One clip which was played to the court showed the youth taking his t-shirt off before picking up a paving slab and throwing it at a man who he had been involved in a "confrontation" with moments earlier. The object then struck the victim, who had his back turned, on the back of the head.

The teenager has no previous convictions, although he “successfully completed a community resolution in July last year”. His case was adjourned for sentencing in the youth court on September 17, with the defendant being released on bail until this date under the condition not to enter the L1, L2 or L3 postcode areas.

However, he was then returned to the same court two days later after breaching these terms. The boy was meanwhile further charged with burglary in relation to the theft of vapes from Clayton Square Shopping Centre, a count which he denies and will face a trial over on September 27 - once more being bailed.

A 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

A teenager stole around £4,000 worth of vapes during the riots in the city centre. The 17-year-old, from north Liverpool, admitted violent disorder and burglary at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Thursday, August 8. He was caught on CCTV smashing the window of a convenience store, S&S News in Liverpool ONE, before pinching the e-cigarettes and throwing objects at police officers. The boy will be sentenced on September 17.

A 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

A 16-year-old boy, from Knowsley, admitted violent disorder, burglary, criminal damage and assaulting an emergency services worker at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Saturday, August 3. The court that he was seen on CCTV amongst a group of thugs who pulled a police officer off his bike before attacking him.

The teenager was also seen jumping on top of a police vehicle which had its windscreen smashed. He was then tracked on CCTV by his distinctive clothing and was seen running along Paradise Street, before smashing the window of S&S News and taking items including vapes from the shop. The youth will be sentenced on September 17. He was seen crying in the dock as he was released on conditional bail until this date.

A 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

A 15-year-old boy, from south Liverpool, denied burglary at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Saturday, August 10, but admitted the theft of vapes from a city centre store. He will now face a trial in the youth court on November 14, being released on conditional bail until this date.

A 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

The 16-year-old boy, from Knowsley, admitted violent disorder, criminal damage and burglary when appeared in the youth court on Tuesday. The court heard that he was "part of the crowd that assaulted a lone motorcycle rider" and went on to break into a phone shop and newsagents, as well as tipping over a police vehicle.

His case was adjourned for sentencing on September 17. The youth was released on bail until this date under orders not to enter Liverpool city centre.