He won a Pride of Sefton Award but then brought shame upon his hometown
A dad who previously won a Pride of Sefton Award hung his head in shame in court after he hurled bricks, a slab of concrete and a wheelie bin at police officers. Joshua Cropper was honoured for rescuing five dogs who were trapped inside a burning house only last year.
But he then became embroiled in violent scenes in Southport following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar in July. The father-of-three covered his eyes in the dock of Liverpool Crown Court today, Tuesday, as he was played footage of the moment he whipped his t-shirt off and used the garment as a makeshift mask before attempting to smash the window of a police van while one PC was still trapped inside.
Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, described Cropper as being "persistent and active throughout" the disturbance as a 1,000-strong crowd gathered in the area of St Luke's Road in the town on the evening of July 30 and threw missiles towards the Southport Islamic Society Mosque. More than 50 officers were injured during the incident, with chants of "who the f*** is Allah?", "this is our f***ing country" and "we want our country back" heard from those present at the scene over the course of several hours.
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The defendant, of Pitt Street, was initially seen in video footage wearing a black Under Armour t-shirt and cap, but was later shown shirtless and with his top covering the lower part of his face. Cropper sat with his head in his hands in the dock as the video was played to the court and showed him repeatedly throwing missiles, including bricks, at a cordon of police officers and using a concrete slab to smash the window of a carrier vehicle while a police officer was still in the driver's seat before chucking the concrete at his colleagues.
He was also said to have launched a wheelie bin towards emergency service workers. The 31-year-old subsequently handed himself in at Copy Lane Police Station on September 9.
Under interview, Cropper gave a prepared statement claiming that he was in the area because he "thought there was a vigil" taking place but then saw a man who "had done nothing wrong" being "pressed against a window" by the police. He alleged that he went to the assistance of this male but was CS sprayed in the face, after which he "lost all control".
But Ms McCloskey told the court: "The prosecution do not accept any provocation by the police on the day in question. It is quite clear that he became deeply embroiled within this incident and, on many occasions, is leading from the front, squaring up to those offences and encouraging others to move forward."
Cropper has no previous convictions. Paul Becker, defending, said that he would not be seeking to "criticise the actions of the police" on his client's behalf and added: "He has been with his partner for 15 years. He has three children. They are all victims of these circumstances.
"The defendant has done charity work. Your honour will be impressed by his Pride of Sefton Award. The defendant was aware of a burning property and forced entry and saved a number of dogs from an extremely risky situation.
"He risked his life and was presented with an award for that. He is proud of that. He is ashamed of what he did here. It was delinquent behaviour, and he would be the first to admit that."
It was previously reported that Cropper was honoured with the 2023 Sefton Courage Award following a fire at an address on Milton Street in Southport, near to his home. Having come across the blaze, he kicked the front door of the property down before rescuing five Yorkshire Terriers from within and using a hosepipe to extinguish the flames.
He told the ECHO at the time of the incident in March last year: "I just drove down to the house and I came across all the smoke. No one was doing anything. My adrenaline kicked in. The house owner was in a state of shock. The whole street was out. She was crying and screaming."
Mr Becker also said in mitigation this morning: "He was employed six to seven days a week in the Merseyside area. He was on a good salary, earning about £50,000 a year.
"He was a team leader working as a wagon driver in the gas utilities business, and has been for the last nine years. The absence of this defendant from the family home is going to have a massive financial impact on his family.
"He asked me to tell the court that he is not a racist and he does not support or condone any hate crime. He does not put himself as being right wing in his views.
"Looking back now, he cannot believe what he did. He attended impulsively on the day, as many did. He did not plan to get involved in violence and he did not organise any violence."
Cropper admitted violent disorder. Appearing suited in the dock, he nodded as he was jailed for 30 months. Sentencing, Judge Ian Harris said: "Following the tragic events which took place in Southport on the 29th of July, serious disorder in the form of vandalism, intimidation, and violence - much of which was motivated by racial or religious hatred - spread across Merseyside and into other cities across the UK. Those who choose to participate in such disorder can expect to receive severe sentences, intended to punish them and deter others.
"You became part of the braying mob. The video showing the incidents is horrifying and terrifying. You were at the vanguard of the attacks I have seen. It is unsurprising that you hung your head in shame when the video footage was played today.
"Numerous character testimonials I have read all speak highly of you and speak of your qualities. I note that you have raised funds for Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Your employer speaks highly of your work ethic. You have lived a law-abiding life before becoming involved in this serious criminality."