Six people sentenced in court today following disorder in Merseyside

Sam Winstanley

Today, Tuesday 14 January, six people were sentenced in court for their roles in violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool.

Five juveniles, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and a man appeared in court today after pleading guilty at a previous hearing.

Sam Winstanley, 27 years, of Lune Road, Wigan was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail at Liverpool Crown Court for his role in violent disorder in Southport. 

The court heard that Winstanley travelled from Wigan to join in the disorder which took place on Sussex Road in Southport on Tuesday 30 July. 

He was seen on CCTV footage wearing a flag of the St George’s Cross to cover his face. He was at the forefront of the disorder and is captured on CCTV throwing multiple glass bottles at the police line. 
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Five teenage males were in Liverpool Youth Court to be sentenced today, of which four of the offenders from Sefton and Lancashire took part in the violence in Southport. They were:

A 17-year-old male from Bootle was sentenced to a 12-month youth referral order and ordered to pay court costs of £111 for his involvement in violent disorder. 

The youth was identified after his mum saw him publicised in one of our press appeals and contacted police. He is captured on CCTV on St Luke’s Road throwing multiple bricks and rocks at police while wearing a balaclava at times to disguise his identity. 

A 17-year-old male from Southport was sentenced to ​a 12 month youth referral order for his involvement in violent disorder and handling stolen goods. 

The teenager handed himself in after seeing his image circulated in one of our appeals. CCTV footage showed him throwing bricks at police on Sussex Road and engaging in racial chanting. He was seen handling stolen goods which were passed to him when people broke into Windsor minimart.

A 17-year-old male from Banks was sentenced to 12-month youth referral order and court costs of £111 for his involvement in violent disorder and possession of a controlled Class B drug. 

He is captured on CCTV throwing multiple missiles at police and police vehicles. When arrested at his home address he was found to be in possession of a class B drug, cannabis.

A 14-year-old male from Birkdale was sentenced to a 12-month referral order and ordered to pay court costs of £111 for his involvement in violent disorder and criminal damage to property. 

He was captured on CCTV pulling at a concrete post with others then threw 13 missiles at officers close to the mosque in Southport.

Finally, a 16-year-old male from Speke was sentenced to a 12-month youth referral order for his involvement in violent disorder in Liverpool city centre. 

He handed himself in after seeing his image circulated in the press and admitted to throwing multiple missiles at police in Liverpool One on Saturday 3 August.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: "Today’s sentencing of six people shows that we are relentless in bringing those who helped cause such violence and disruption to our communities to justice.

“Three of the six sentenced today either handed themselves in to police or were identified by others in our press appeals. I am encouraged by the fact that they have now realised their actions were wrong and they had broken the law. We advise anyone else who took part in the disorder to do the right thing and hand themselves in.

“We are committed to ensure those responsible are held to account, including those who travelled to Merseyside to take part in the disorder.

“We are continuing to identify more people who displayed such abhorrent behaviour which damaged our communities, and we will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.”

The total number of people arrested for disorder in Merseyside now stands at 165, with 125 charged and 99 sentenced to a combined 198 years and four months in prison.

We would encourage anyone with information to contact us by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

Current galleries of people we would like to speak to can be found on our X and Facebook pages, and on our force website: Latest CCTV appeal in relation to summer disorder in Merseyside | Merseyside Police