'Sinister' taxi driver 'motivated by racial hatred' in wake of Southport attack jailed

A taxi-driver who 'participated in the organisation, encouragement and incitement' of violence following the Southport attack has been jailed for seven and a half years.

Social media posts by 38 year-old Andrew McIntyre were a “catalyst” for disorder, a court heard. He set up a Telegram channel called “Southport Wake Up”, in the immediate aftermath of the knife attack at a children’s dance class in the Merseyside town on July 29 last year.

A judge said he was 'motivated by racial hatred' and was 'prominent' among people responsible for spreading misinformation following the tragedy

“I have no doubt your actions encouraged many people to plan and then to commit offences of both violent disorder and criminal damage" Judge Neil Flewitt KC said as he sentenced him at Liverpool Crown Court. He said the offence was aggravated because it was motivated by racial hostility and involved attacks on police officers.

The case involved a 'sinister aspect' of violence which took place in parts of the UK last summer, Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, said. “It is the prosecution case that many of these seats of disorder were not simply spontaneous, or that persons coincidentally simply decided to turn up and take part" he said.

“It is the Crown’s case that others, to a greater or lesser degree, participated in the organisation, encouragement and incitement of such gatherings, which resulted in the disorder. It is the Crown’s case that one such person is the defendant.”

The 'Southport Wake Up' channel was identified by the group Hope Not Hate as a 'catalyst for and origin of a series of posts' concerning incidents of violence, Mr Gibson said.

The court heard McIntyre, who pleaded guilty to encouraging violent disorder and criminal damage and