‘I’m a fool and let my family down’, says rioter jailed for punching policeman

Derek Drummond, 58, is first person to receive a substantial prison sentence for taking part in the violence

A rioter who said he was a “fool” for getting involved in disorder at a mosque and punching a police officer has been jailed for three years.
Derek Drummond, 58, of Pool Street, Southport, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, after pleading guilty to violent disorder charges and assaulting an emergency worker.
Drummond was among a group of around 300 people who marched towards a mosque in the Merseyside town, chanting “this is our f—ing country”, a court had previously heard.
He also shouted “s—houses” before punching one police officer, PC Thomas Ball, in the face and was then said to have started throwing bricks.
Following a public appeal, Drummond handed himself into police and said he was “a fool”.
He said he attended the Southport vigil before getting caught up in riots and “letting his family down’,” MailOnline reported.
He accepted his behaviour was “appalling” but could not give any explanation, telling detectives: “I’m absolutely ashamed of the way I acted. I’ve let Southport down, I’ve let the kids down. I’ve let my family down and I’m not here to deny anything”.
He is the first person to receive a substantial prison sentence for taking part in the violence that has rocked parts of the UK over the past week.
He was jailed alongside Liam Riley, 41, from Kirkdale, who received 20 months after admitting to violent disorder and a racially aggravated public order offence in Liverpool city centre on Saturday night.
Declan Geiran, 29, from Liverpool, was also handed a two-and-a-half year sentence after he admitted to violent disorder and arson over rioting in the city centre.
He received 28 months for charges related to the riot and a further two months for sending threatening messages to a woman, totalling 30 months.
Judge Andrew Menary KC said “every decent member of the community affected by these events will have been appalled, horrified and deeply disturbed about what had taken place in their neighbourhood”.
Geiran was seen on CCTV “using an implement to attempt to set fire to a vehicle before making off”, later being arrested in possession of two lighters.
Riley was said to have formed part of a “large crowd” of around 100 people, some of whom were “throwing rocks and bricks towards” police officers in the Whitechapel area, where a number of shop windows were also smashed.
As many members of the crowd retreated from the police, he “stood his ground, shouting and waving his arms”. After being taken to the ground, a “very drunk” Riley continued to shout at PCs, calling them “traitors” and “Muslim-lovers”.
He was also found in possession of a banner reading “this is our city” following his arrest, having been wearing a St George’s flag around his neck.
Under interview, he claimed to have knowledge of the protest at the Pier Head through “word of mouth” and attended “in sympathy”. Riley said he had “been to the pub and had three or four pints at Ranelagh’s Tavern”, but “accepted he did get involved.”
Sentencing, Judge Menary said: “On Monday July 29, many families in Southport suffered the most devastating loss when three little girls and numerous other children and adults were brutally killed and seriously injured in a knife attack at a dance class.
“While still shocked and bewildered, many residents in the town came together the following evening. They came together for the purposes of a vigil in support of the bereaved families.
“However, there were others who saw these events as an opportunity to sow division and hatred, and published on social media false information about the supposed nationality, ethnicity or religion of the alleged attacker. All of this was complete nonsense, but from that point on it has been used as a pretext for widespread disorder escalating across the country including in this city.”
After the sentencing, Jonathan Egan, the senior district crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Mersey Cheshire, said the sentences were the “the tip of the iceberg”.
He said: “Today, the first prison sentences have been handed down for offenders involved in the widespread and unacceptable disorder we saw in Southport and Liverpool last week. Drummond, Riley and Geiran’s actions would have caused panic, revulsion and chaos in their local communities.
“The three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg and just the start of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve themselves in violent unrest. Many of those involved will be sent to prison for a long time.”
Separately, a teenager from Bolton was thought to be the first person given a prison sentence for involvement in the Southport riots which broke out over a week ago.
James Nelson, 18, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage during the disorder in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on Sunday. Nelson, who wore a pink balaclava while involved in the violent demonstration, was jailed for two months.
Prosecutor John Potter told Manchester Magistrates’ Court that the 18-year-old had caused significant damage to two police vehicles that were parked in the Morrisons car park on Black Horse Street.
Speaking about the incident, John Potter said: “On the first vehicle, there was significant damage to the windscreen, the side windows were smashed and the driver’s side wing mirror was also damaged. On the second vehicle, the back window was smashed and the near side window was smashed, with significant damage to the front window.”
District Judge Hurst called the teenager’s actions “shameful” as she ordered him to pay £4,999 compensation.
Great Manchester Police said in a statement: “A man who caused criminal damage during disorder in Greater Manchester has been jailed. Clashes broke out between rival groups in Bolton town centre with fireworks, bottles, tiles and eggs thrown as the disorder spread around the town centre on Sunday.”