Taxi driver who stoked Southport riots is jailed for seven and a half years
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The man who stoked the Southport riots with a Telegram group he started has been jailed for seven and a half years. Andrew McIntyre, 39, started ‘Southport Wake Up’ after three young girls were stabbed to death at a children’s dance class in the Merseyside town on July 29 last year.
![[Man jailed for seven and a half years for setting up Telegram group inciting Southport violence]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235185930-ed7c.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=602)
The following night, a gathering of hundreds outside a Southport mosque spiralled into violence that spread across the country. The taxi driver, who was later found with weapons and a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf, had promoted them, encouraged violence, and celebrated an attack on Muslims in Liverpool. Both his mobile phone and the car he was arrested in were in the area during the disorder.
![[URGENT pic and bp please; Jule Sweeny, jailed for 15 months for saying on Facebook people should burn down mosques 13743063]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_217378241-e706.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=634)
Describing the ‘sinister aspect’ of violence, prosecutor Arthur Gibson told the court: ‘Many of these seats of disorder were not simply spontaneous.’. Nor, he added, had ‘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.
![[Police dealing with trouble on St Lukes's Road,Southport.Hundreds of people have gathered on a street in Southport as tensions ran high this evening. Merseyside Police confirmed officers are dealing with a disturbance on St Luke???s Road in Southport which took place during a protest this evening (Tuesday). A large group of people, who police said are believed to be supporters of the English Defence League, began to throw items towards a local mosque. Photos and video seen by the ECHO showed crowds gathered around police riot vans on St Luke???s Road. In one video, a man wearing a balaclava can be seen climbing on the top of a police van as people shout and cheer. Other videos show glass bottles being thrown at a police van and flares being set off.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_215005292-69a8.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘It is the Crown’s case that one such person is the defendant.’. Mr McIntyre had used his Telegram channel to share content about the July 30 protest from a site Tommy Robinson / Britain First / For Britain. ‘Mosque at the top of Hart St’, he said, adding a map. Later, he wrote a postwith fire emojis, saying: ‘Rise Up English Lads. 8pm tomorrow St Luke’s Rd Southport.’.
