A “hardworking family man” will miss the birth of his child after he was jailed for launching missiles at a police van during mob violence which broke out after a vigil in Southport.
Dylan Carey’s pregnant girlfriend burst into tears in the public gallery as he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to 18 months in prison after he earlier admitted violent disorder.
Carey, 26, from Hindley, Greater Manchester, travelled to the Merseyside town on July 30 with his girlfriend, Natasha Keenan, to lay flowers and light a candle a day after three girls were fatally stabbed at a dance class.
Widespread disorder involving a group of about 1,000 people started after the vigil ended with the focus of violence aimed at a local mosque and fuelled by misinformation on social media, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
Chants of “who the f*** is Allah?” and “this is our f****** country” were heard as police officers came under fire from missiles as they formed a cordon to prevent the group from reaching the mosque.
CCTV footage was played to the court which showed Carey, wearing black shorts, a grey T-shirt and black cap, twice fly-kicking a police van and hurling a bottle and a tin of paint at the vehicle.
On Monday, prosecutor Nardeen Nemat said CCTV and mobile phone footage of the incident was shown “quite quickly” online on X, formerly Twitter, and other social media platforms.
A police officer at Southport railway station was shown the footage and stopped Carey about an hour later at 9.05pm when he walked past with his girlfriend and his father.
The defendant told the officer he was present at the disturbance but denied any involvement.
He was arrested at his home in Castle Hill Road, Hindley, on August 5 and when later interviewed he said was at the vigil when he saw a notice for a “peaceful” protest about the stab attack.
He attended and the crowd became angry as missiles were launched, the court heard, and Carey also “grew angrier” and threw items himself.
Ms Nemat said: “He said he decided to go to his pregnant girlfriend and leave once a concrete slab had been thrown.”
Colin Buckle, defending, asked the judge to consider a suspended jail sentence as he submitted that Carey’s first time in custody since his guilty plea last week had already served as a deterrent.
He said: “This was wholly out of character and unexpected. His family and partner cannot understand why he acted in this way.
“He said his intention was not to go to Southport with criminal intent. He became involved, he was not forced to be involved.
“The mood began to change and others behaved in a disgraceful way. He joined in. Only he knows why he did that.
“It has been his first time in custody. The defendant told me this morning through teary eyes that he has never been so frightened in his life.
“He has been in three separate cells with three serving prisoners, all who clearly realise he is quite vulnerable.
“For the defendant, the deterrent has worked because he has never been in this situation before.
“He cannot believe he has gone from being a hardworking family man to sitting before the Crown Court. For the defendant and his family it is an unmitigated disaster.
“If your honour returns him to custody he will miss the birth of his child.
“His girlfriend desperately needs the support of the defendant. He has been a rock to her, although of course she has lost him by his own hand and behaviour.
“I submit that the case can fall in the suspendable range.”
Judge Dennis Watson KC disagreed and told the defendant, who had no previous convictions: “You were an active and persistent participant. Those who choose to take part in mob violence can expect to receive significant sentences.
“The violence which was directed at the mosque and its community was racially aggravated.
“Violence was also directed at the police who were performing a difficult and dangerous task.
“The appropriate sentence can only be achieved by immediate custody.”
