Grandfather, 69, who armed himself with cosh to take part in riot is jailed

A grandfather who armed himself with a wooden cosh and joined a “mob” who attacked police and damaged buildings has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Retired welder William Nelson Morgan, 69, was sentenced for violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon at Liverpool Crown Court after a hearing was fast-tracked following his guilty pleas at the city’s magistrates’ court on Monday.

John O’Malley, 43, appeared alongside him in the dock and was also jailed for two years and eight months after admitting violent disorder in Southport .

Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, said Morgan, of Linton Street, Walton, was part of a group of about 100 people who set fire to bins, damaged businesses and buildings and threw missiles at police on County Road, Liverpool on the evening of Saturday August 3.

Spellow Library was set on fire during the violent scenes.

Mr Taylor said Morgan, a man of previous good character, was seen by police holding a wooden cosh.

Body-worn footage showed the widower telling officers to get off him as they attempted to arrest him.

At one point he said “I’m f****** 70” and an officer responded: “Well, why are you at a f****** riot?”

Sentencing him, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: “Your advancing years plainly did not prevent you from playing an active part in a disturbance on County Road.”

He added: “You were seen at the front of the mob, holding in your hand a wooden cosh, a small truncheon, which you plainly had with you to use as a weapon.

“When officers tried to arrest you, you resisted with such force it took three of them to detain you.”

The court heard O’Malley, of Cambridge Gardens, Southport, was identified from footage which showed a crowd throwing missiles, including bins, at officers in the town on Tuesday July 30.

Addressing the judge as the video was played, Mr Taylor said: “Your lordship sees the ratio of police officers to members of the mob, those officers being seriously outnumbered.”

Judge Menary said: “It seems there were hundreds of people observing this event as if it was some kind of Tuesday night entertainment. All of them should be frankly ashamed of themselves.”

Mr Taylor said O’Malley, who had two previous convictions, was arrested on August 4 and told police he had been subjected to threats because of his involvement.

Sentencing him, the judge said: “You were present from an early stage at the disturbance on St Luke’s Road, Southport.

“There’s very clear footage showing the developing disorder and you were at the front of what was essentially a baying mob.”

He said the unemployed gas fitter was part of a group who broke through police lines and was present as missiles were thrown.

He said: “It was relentless and you were at the front and participating enthusiastically.”

Defending both men, Paul Lewis said: “As they stand before you after a period of reflection, they both now recognise there is no grievance that can be properly addressed by mob rule.”

He said Morgan accepted he acted in drink and was “disinhibited by the presence of a large crowd”.

He added: “Both men wish to profoundly apologise.”