‘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 on July 30, chanting “this is our f—ing country”, a court had previously heard.
The 58-year-old haulier also screamed “sh–houses” at police as they tried to put on their protective gear during a riot. He then attacked a male officer who was attempting to protect colleagues, punching him in the face.
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.
Drummond 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”.
On Wednesday, courts across the country heard pleas from those accused of participation in riots which broke out following a fatal knife attack on three girls in Southport last Monday.
In Birmingham a 46-year-old man seen carrying a wooden stick on Sky News at a counter-protest on Monday pleaded not guilty to possessing it as an offensive weapon.
Shehraz Sarwar claimed he had a “reasonable excuse” to carry the item as a religious staff.
Mr Sarwar claims to have carried the stick locally for more than 11 years and to be a “well-known character” in the Saltley and Alum Rock areas.
Mr Sarwar, who is not accused of any involvement in violent disorder, said “I never done nothing, judge” and “give me a chance” as he was remanded in custody.
Accused rioters are swiftly being processed through the court system at a swift pace after the prime minister insisted on Tuesday they would “feel the full force of the law.”
Police are using social media footage and CCTV video to track down alleged participants, a significant portion of which appears to have been broadcast by those charged with offences.
Two other rioters who took part in the violent rallies in Liverpool on Saturday were jailed at Liverpool Crown Court today after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
Declan Geiran, 29, set fire to a seatbelt in a police van while the vehicle was parked in the city centre.
Footage uploaded to TikTok showed Geiran at the open window on the driver’s side as he set the vehicle alight, the court heard. He was swiftly tracked on CCTV footage and arrested a short time later.
Geiran, who has 13 previous convictions, was handed a two-and-a-half year sentence.
Brendan Carville, defending, told the court that his client had emotionally unstable personality disorder and was “not a clever man”.
He added: “He doesn’t understand what far right and far left means. He simply went along with the flow.”
Liam Riley, 41, from Kirkdale, received 20 months after admitting to violent disorder and a racially aggravated public order offence.
Riley was ordered to move back by police, who were being pelted with missiles and rocks by an “aggressive, chanting” group of about 100 people.
The 41-year-old, whom the prosecution described as “clearly drunk”, stood his ground while others retreated, shouting and waving his arms around.
He was arrested after he verbally abused one officer as he called him a “traitor” and a “Muslim lover”.
Mr Carville said Riley had no previous convictions and described him as a “loner”. He said Riley went to a number of pubs and then “stupidly became involved” with disorder. He added: “In many respects, he is a very foolish man.”
Jonathan Egan, senior district crown prosecutor, said: “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.”
At Manchester Magistrates’ Court Aaron Johnson, 32, pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred by using racist language on a live-stream he broadcast to “millions of people” from outside a hotel which was thought to contain asylum seekers.
Prosecutor Laura Peers told the court: “Members of staff became aware of the defendant live streaming from his mobile phone onto YouTube.”
Ms Peers said Johnson was aggressive to hotel staff, and told them “he would smash their face in”.
Four more men appeared in the same court accused of violent disorder, including Liam Ryan, 28, who cried as he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Ms Peers social media footage showed “a black male being confronted by a large group of white males”, adding that Ryan had “played an active role in the disorder” and could be seen “aiming a punch towards the male involved”.
Jake Turton, 38, was refused bail when he appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court after he was charged in connection with rioting in Rotherham.
As he left the dock, one of his supporters in court shouted “keep it up” and Turton replied “See you in a bit, lads”, with a thumbs-up sign.