A dad-of-two from Wigan who hurled missiles at police and joined in racist chants in the mob violence that followed the Southport stabbings has been jailed. Jordan Gibson was part of a 1,000-strong mob which descended on the town on Tuesday, July 30, one day after the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Gibson, 33, had travelled to the town from his home in Whelley to lay flowers at a vigil in memory of the three girls. But as grieving families and members of the community left the area, he joined a huge gang outside a mosque on nearby St Luke’s Road, where violence quickly broke out as police were called to the scene.
Gibson, wearing a distinctive bright green jacket, was caught on camera running about the chaos, hurling bricks and debris at police officers while joining in with racist chants of “we want our country back” and “Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah”. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today (Monday) where he joined several other rioters behind bars after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
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Prosecutor Louise McClusky said: “Gibson was identifiable on the day due to a distinctive green top with a yellow zig-zag pattern. He was an active participant throughout. He was part of the main crowd instigating violence towards police. In the footage he can be seen bouncing on his toes, apparently revelling in the chaos. He points towards officers and joined in chants.”
Video footage was played to the court showed Gibson running about at the front of the baying crowd, grabbing a wheelie bin and pushing it at a police van. He was also seen jumping up and down and clapping his hands, and hurling missiles towards the police. Around 50 officers were injured during the violence; residents’ properties were damaged, local businesses were looted, and a £100k police carrier was set on fire.
Ms McClusky said: “This defendant was not caught in a moment of madness. His actions were persistent and determined. He was at the front of the crowd, rushing towards police officers who were trying to bring peace in an already troubled area.”
Gibson, a dad of two, repeatedly sighed and scoffed throughout the hearing as Ms McClusky informed the court of his four convictions for six past offences, including the racially aggravated assault of a taxi driver.
Mike Haggerty, defending, said: “This defendant handed himself into the police and he did make a full admission. The defendant had initially entered the area for lawful purposes, initially to lay flowers. But regrettably he became influenced by the crowd, and very much to his regret he became involved in the behaviour you have seen. He was in the most obvious clothing and his actions were spontaneous rather than pre-meditated.
“He very much regrets his actions. He’s both disgusted and ashamed of his behaviour, as are his family.”
Judge Louise Brandon said Gibson, along with others, had used the tragic killings of Bebe, Elsie and Alice as an excuse to carry out violent disorder, which was “motivated by racial hatred”. She said: “This was, without a doubt, racially motivated disorder targeting primarily the Muslim community but also the police officers. This particular incident was made all the more serious by the fact that it took place soon after the tragic events of the previous day, and distress of the local community who, to their greatest credit, came out the very next day to clean up.
“You (Gibson) were an enthusiastic and active participant, positioned yourself at the front of the mob and clearly thoroughly enjoying the chaos and harm that you and other thugs around you were creating.” She sentenced Gibson to 30 months in prison.
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