UK Rioters Sentenced to Prison for Violent Disorder After Southport Killings

Judges across the UK, including in Liverpool, Plymouth, and Teesside, have handed down prison sentences to individuals involved in some of the worst unrest the country has seen in over a decade. The riots were triggered by the killing of three young girls in Southport 10 days ago.

Among those sentenced were a 69-year-old man who armed himself with a truncheon and a 28-year-old man who knocked a teenager off his bike with a helmet. In total, 21 convictions were secured on Thursday, with more rioters set to face jail time as cases are fast-tracked through the courts.

Notable cases include Steven Mailen, 54, and Ryan Sheers, 29, who were sentenced to two years and two months each for their roles in a large-scale disturbance in Hartlepool. Another defendant, Kieron Gatenby, 19, received 16 months in a young offender institution for throwing missiles and smashing windows during the unrest.

At Liverpool Crown Court, John O'Malley, 43, and William Nelson Morgan, 69, were each sentenced to over two years in prison for their roles in the violence, including attacking police and setting a library on fire. Two brothers, Adam and Ellis Wharton, were also jailed for looting the burned library.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) emphasized that the substantial sentences serve as a warning to others involved in the disorder. Nearly 500 arrests have been made so far, with 149 charges filed, and police expect more to follow. The recent violence is the most significant since the 2011 UK riots.