Nuclear industry worker jailed after laughing during Southport disorder

A “highly paid” nuclear power industry worker who laughed as he took part in disorder outside a mosque in Southport has been jailed for two years and four months.

More than 50 police officers were injured and a carrier was set alight during riots outside Southport mosque on July 30, the day after three girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Gavin Pinder, 47, had a “highly paid, responsible job” at the Hinkley Point power station in Somerset, but had been at his home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, spending time with family when he said he was contacted by an associate who made him aware of a protest that was to take place in Southport.

Michael Johnson, defending, said Pinder believed the protest was focused on the belief that “something was being held back from the public in relation to the identity or circumstances of the person who had been detained” following the knife attack.

He said Pinder, who admitted violent disorder, had travelled to Southport and congregated with others in a pub.

“He understood the focus of the protest was to be a police station where he believed the detainee to be held. He did not know that a mosque was going to be the focus of the protest and didn’t learn that until he arrived back in Manchester the day after,” Mr Johnson said.

Footage of the disorder showed Pinder shout at officers, throw a traffic cone and throw a smaller object towards them.

He was arrested at a pub in Manchester on August 17 and in interview told police he had been struck by an officer with a baton after asking why they were not releasing information about the suspect.

The court heard Pinder, father to a four-year-old, had 10 previous convictions, including for breaching an international football banning order.

Sentencing him, Judge Simon Medland KC said: “You threw two objects at police, were clearly seen to be laughing and taking the view, perhaps, this had a recreational element to you.

“How this sits with the character references in your case and your highly responsible, very well-paid job is difficult to reconcile.”

He was jailed along with Jonathan Duerden, 31, and Joseph Buckley, 44, who also admitted violent disorder.

Chris Taylor, prosecuting, said Duerden, a handyman from Colne, Lancashire, threw a brick that bounced off the top of a police carrier and encouraged the crowd to advance towards police.

He told police he travelled to Southport to lay flowers at a vigil, but said he had taken a cocktail of drugs including cannabis, ketamine and cocaine along with alcohol.

Andrew McInnes, defending, told the court the defendant had ADHD, was barely literate or numerate and his family believed he had been addicted to cannabis since the age of 13.

He said: “It certainly seems this defendant is more of a follower than a leader.”

Duerden was jailed for two years.

The court heard Buckley, of Litherland, Merseyside, was the joint owner of a civil engineering business and was seen on footage throwing a brick around a corner towards police.

In interview, he said he had thrown the brick because he was angry after an officer “assaulted him with a shield”.

Des Lennon, defending, said Buckley had believed he was going to a peaceful vigil but had stayed for about two hours after violence broke out because of “morbid curiosity”.

Jailing him for 16 months, Judge Medland said: “You are an intelligent and capable person and you could readily have left. You didn’t, you involved yourself in this.”