Man launched bottle and booted police van after girlfriend went to Southport vigil to lay flowers

A 26-year-old from Greater Manchester has pleaded guilty to violent disorder after taking part in riots in Southport following a peaceful vigil for three children.

Dylan Carey, from Castle Hill Road in Hindley, Greater Manchester, had attended the vigil on July 30 alongside his girlfriend 'in solidarity', prosecutors said. However, he became 'more angry at the fact three girls had been murdered' and joined the riots.

Carey appeared before Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, August 6, where he entered a guilty plea, admitting to kicking a police van and throwing a water bottle, reports the Liverpool Echo.

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Prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk described to the court how officers responded to a situation outside a mosque on St Luke's Road following calls on far-right social media to assemble there due to false rumours linking the murder of three girls in the town to Islam.

Mr Sanderson-Kirk said: "They became aware of a large crowd that was hostile, with approximately 200 people coming towards them. Items were thrown towards the mosque. The crowd was chanting who the f*** is Allah. The crowd became more angry. Several were shouting 'why are you protecting them? '."

The situation escalated, forcing officers to retreat. Carey was later identified through bodycam footage and videos circulated "on public networks".

He was spotted at Southport station by an officer who recognised him from the footage.

In mobile phone camera footage presented to Merseyside Police and shown in court, Carey was seen wearing a grey T-shirt as he picked up an object to throw and kicked a police van while it retreated.

An officer's