Taxi driver jailed for seven and a half years over Southport social media posts
Taxi driver jailed for seven and a half years over Southport social media posts
PA
A taxi driver has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after his social media posts acted as a "catalyst" for riots in Southport following a knife attack at a dance class last summer.
Andrew McIntyre, 39, set up a far-right Telegram channel called "Southport Wake Up" immediately after three girls were stabbed in the Merseyside town on 29 July.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the case involved a "sinister aspect" of violence, with prosecutor Arthur Gibson stating that the disorder was not simply spontaneous.
The channel was identified by anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate as a "catalyst for and origin of a series of posts" concerning incidents of violence.
McIntyre pleaded guilty to encouraging violent disorder and possession of a knife.
Andrew McIntyre
PA
McIntyre shared content about a protest in Southport on 30 July and posted a map with the note "Mosque at the top of Hart St."
He wrote: "Rise Up English Lads. 8pm tomorrow St Luke's Rd Southport."
Hours before violence erupted, he issued a direct threat to police, posting: "Message to All...Stand in our way, even if you're just doing your job...prepare to fall."
The court heard McIntyre's phone and car were both tracked to St Luke's Road in Southport at 7pm when the disorder occurred.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:The following day, he celebrated the violence, posting: "Well done last night lads, to all you heavy hitters. Are you ready for Round 2???... Liverpool Mosque, West Derby Road, Friday 8pm."
McIntyre was arrested on 8 August while working as a taxi driver in Liverpool.
Police discovered a knife hidden in the boot of his car during the arrest.
A subsequent search of his home uncovered weapons and a copy of Hitler's Mein Kampf.
Court sketch showing Andrew McIntyre
PA
Julian Nutter, defending, told the court: "His parents are horrified that he is in this predicament. He is a man of previous good character and has never come to the attention of the police before."
Character references were provided to Judge Neil Flewitt KC from McIntyre's parents and a family friend.
Nutter added: "Those who have spoken on his behalf describe somebody who is very different from what we have heard from the prosecution about him."
McIntyre followed the proceedings via videolink from HMP Liverpool, where he has been remanded in custody, while his parents watched from the public gallery.
Sentencing McIntyre, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said the defendant was "prominent" among people responsible for spreading misinformation following the Southport attack.
"You were motivated by racial hatred," the judge told McIntyre.
"I have no doubt your actions encouraged many people to plan and then to commit offences of both violent disorder and criminal damage," he added.
The court heard that McIntyre had originally been charged with encouraging murder after posting a link to a YouTube video of the Home Secretary with the caption: "We're going to hang this woman and her associates."
However, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to pursue this charge due to "evidential issues" concerning whether McIntyre actually believed the act would be carried out.
The count was left to lie on the file at an earlier hearing.
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