Luke Moran Sentenced for Violent Disorder
Luke Moran, a 38-year-old father-of-three from Birkdale, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in the violent disorder that erupted in Southport. Moran was convicted of attacking a police van with a concrete block, an incident described by the judge as “as bad a case as I have seen so far.”
Details of the Attack
At Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, the court was shown police body camera footage of Moran’s assault on the van. The footage captured Moran hitting the van’s window three times with a large piece of concrete, leaving the police officer inside the vehicle fearing for their life. The officer’s statement described how the attackers had been “whipped into a frenzy.”
Judge Neil Flewitt emphasized the severity of Moran’s actions, stating that the police officer in the van was “believing he might be pulled from the carrier and attacked.” The driver of the van was eventually forced to escape through the rear of the vehicle, protected by other officers.
Sentences for Other Defendants
Moran was among five people sentenced for their roles in the Southport unrest. Nicholas Sinclair, 38, from Birkdale, received a sentence of two years and four months for his involvement in the rioting. Sinclair, a scaffolding firm manager, admitted to throwing bricks and pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Daniel Carrigan, 41, of Liverpool, was sentenced to two years and eight months for throwing two items at the police van’s window. Carrigan cited a struggle with cocaine addiction, which he admitted had influenced his actions.
Thomas Whitehead, 53, of Southport, received a sentence of one year and eight months for throwing an object during the disorder. Whitehead, a gardener, stated he was unsure of what compelled him to participate in the violence.
Sentences for Other Locations
In addition to the Southport cases, several individuals were sentenced for their involvement in violence at other locations:
- Rotherham: Peter Beard, 43, from Brampton Bierlow, was sentenced to two and a half years for pushing aggressively against a line of officers outside a hotel housing asylum seekers. Beard, a former soldier with tours in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Northern Ireland, was criticized by Judge Jeremy Richardson KC for his disgraceful conduct.
- Hull: Jordan Murray, 26, of Grasby Road, Hull, was sentenced to two years for violent disorder and looting. David Buckle, 39, and Jermaine Glover, 23, both from Hull, were sentenced to three years and two years respectively. Buckle admitted to violent disorder, while Glover pleaded guilty to violent disorder and arson.
Arrest in Pakistan
In related news, authorities in Pakistan have arrested Farhan Asif on suspicion of cyber terrorism. Asif is linked to a website that spread false information about the Southport attacker, including incorrect claims that the suspect was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat. The disinformation, published by Channel3Now shortly after the attack, contributed to the unrest across the UK.
Police recovered two laptops and a mobile phone from Asif, and his X (formerly Twitter) account was found to have been active during the period of the false reporting. Asif admitted to using the account without verifying the information, which allegedly aimed to incite fear and panic.
Ongoing Investigations
The case against Farhan Asif is being handled by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, which will continue to investigate the matter for potential additional involvement. The dissemination of false information has been linked to increased violence and disorder in the UK, highlighting the impact of misinformation on public unrest.
