Man jailed over social media channel set up after Southport attack

A taxi driver, whose social media posts have been a “catalyst” for riots which broke out after three women have been stabbed at a dance class in Southport, has been jailed seven-and-a-half years.

Andrew McIntyre, 39, arrange a Telegram channel referred to as “Southport Wake Up”, within the rapid aftermath of the knife assault within the Merseyside city on 29 July final yr, Liverpool Crown Court docket heard.

Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, mentioned the case concerned a “sinister side” of violence which happened in components of the UK final summer season.

McIntyre, of Rufford, close to Ormskirk, Lancashire, had admitted encouraging violent dysfunction and possession of a knife in an earlier listening to.

Mr Gibson mentioned: “It’s the Crown’s case that one such particular person is the defendant.”

The Southport Wake Up channel was recognized by the group Hope Not Hate as a “catalyst for and origin of a sequence of posts” regarding incidents of violence, Mr Gibson mentioned.

The court docket heard McIntyre shared content material from a website referred to as Tommy Robinson/Britain First/For Britain a few protest in Southport on 30 July.

He additionally posted a map after including: “Mosque on the prime of Hart St.”

In a later publish he wrote: “Rise Up English Lads. 8pm tomorrow St Luke’s Rd Southport.”

Hours earlier than violence broke out in Southport on 30 July he posted a “clear menace to police”, writing: “Message to All…Stand in our approach, even if you happen to’re simply doing all your job…put together to fall.”

The day after the dysfunction, McIntyre posted: “Nicely performed final evening lads, to all you heavy hitters.

“Are you prepared for Spherical 2???… Liverpool Mosque, West Derby Street, Friday 8pm.”

McIntyre was working as a taxi driver when he was intercepted by police in Liverpool on 8 August and arrested, Mr Gibson mentioned.

A knife was discovered hidden within the boot of his automotive and, when his residence was searched, officers discovered weapons and a replica of Hitler’s Mein Kampf, the court docket heard.

The defendant adopted proceedings on a videolink from HMP Liverpool, the place he has been remanded in custody, whereas his dad and mom regarded on from the general public gallery of the courtroom.

Julian Nutter, defending, mentioned: “His dad and mom are horrified that he’s on this predicament.

“He’s a person of earlier good character and has by no means come to the eye of the police earlier than.”

Amongst character references have been letters to Choose Neil Flewitt KC from McIntyre’s dad and mom and a household good friend, the court docket heard.

Mr Nutter mentioned: “Those that have spoken on his behalf describe anyone who could be very totally different from what we have now heard from the prosecution about him.”