Man who used rock to smash window of a police vehicle in Southport jailed

A teenager from Knowsley who assaulted a police officer in Liverpool city centre and a man who used a rock to smash the window of a police van in Southport have become the latest people to be sentenced for violent disorder.

The 16-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reasons, kicked a police officer in the back after he had already been pushed off his police motorbike on The Strand during the despicable scenes on Saturday 3 August.

Mobile phone footage of the incident was shared widely on social media and showed a large group of people target the officer who had been deployed to The Strand to try and protect the community during the violent scenes.

The 16-year-old appeared in court today, Tuesday 17 September, when he was sentenced to 12 months in a Young Offenders Institute for violent disorder, criminal damage, assault by beating of an emergency worker and two counts of burglary other than in a dwelling.

He was also identified on footage as being at the forefront of a large group of people who threw bricks at officers as well as damaging and burgling stores in Clayton Square.

A second male, Joshua Cropper, 31, of Pitt Street, in Southport, was also jailed today for two years and six months for violent disorder in Southport on Tuesday 30 July after he was caught on video repeatedly smashing the window of a police van with officers inside and launching rocks and bricks.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Roberts said: “The footage of the police officer being assaulted on The Strand was truly shocking. A lot of people would have viewed it and been appalled after it was widely shared on social media in the immediate aftermath of the disorder in Liverpool.
“Thankfully the officer didn’t sustain serious injuries during this particular incident, but the aggression and violence on display serves as a snapshot of what all of our officers had to deal with during the incidents in Liverpool and Southport.
“A dedicated team has been reviewing hundreds of hours worth of footage of the disorder and were able to identify a 16-year-old male who was responsible for assaulting the officer and even though he tried to conceal his identity behind a face mask, he couldn’t hide from our investigation team.
“Joshua Cropper was caught on video repeatedly smashing the window of a police van with officers inside and launching rocks and bricks during disorder in Southport.
“Cropper played a central role in the awful scenes he and others brought to the town that day. At one point, he repeatedly smashed the side window of a police van with a rock while officers were inside and picked up a concrete slab he then used to strike the bonnet a number of times.
“While Cropper was topless throughout, he made some attempt to cover his face with a top tied around his neck and he wore a cap. This is another example of someone attempting to evade detection and avoid justice. Yet again, it failed.
“Our inquiries continue into the incidents in Merseyside with more arrests, charges and sentences to come.
“We continue to identify more people who attended the disorder in Merseyside and we will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.”
There were three other males who were also sentenced today for their role in violent disorder in both Liverpool and Southport. These are:
-A 17-year-old boy from Liverpool was sentenced to eight months in youth detention and training order for violent disorder and burglary in Liverpool.
-A 12-year-old boy from Southport has been given a 12 Month referral order for violent disorder in Southport.
We would encourage anyone with information to contact us via Public Portal Public Portal (https://orlo.uk/7UahI) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.