Four men jailed for combined eight years and three months following violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool

Four men have been jailed for a combined eight years and three months following violent disorder in Liverpool and Southport.

• John O'Malley, 43, of Cambridge Gardens, in Southport, was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to violent disorder in Southport.

• Adam Wharton, 28, of Selwyn Street, in Kirkdale, was jailed for one year and eight months after pleading guilty to burglary with intent to steal at Spellow Library in Walton.

• Ellis Wharton, 22, of Selwyn Street, in Kirkdale, was jailed for 11 months years after pleading guilty to burglary with intent to steal at Spellow Library in Walton and assaulting an emergency services worker.

• William Nelson Morgan, 69, of Linton Street, Walton, was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon in Walton. 

Adam and Ellis Wharton, who are brothers, were arrested in the early hours of the morning on Sunday 4 August following violent scenes on County Road, in Walton, the previous evening.

Ellis was arrested inside the damaged Spellow Hub Library after officers saw him trying to escape with a computer monitor.  He also assaulted an officer at the scene. Adam was arrested shortly afterwards when he was spotted by officers acting suspiciously and later identified as being part of a group who entered the library.

Morgan was also involved in the disorder on the same evening, on County Road, when he armed himself with a wooden bat during the violent scenes against officers.

O’Malley was identified as being part of the disorder on St Luke’s Road, in Southport, on Tuesday 30 July, when missiles were thrown at police carriers and officers, causing serious injuries.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul White said: “The latest results from court today means there are now seven men in prison following the violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool.

“This should serve as a stark warning to anyone who chooses to take part in such abhorrent behaviour. You will be swiftly arrested and could end up in a jail cell for a considerable amount of time.

“The investigation to identify anyone who took part in the disorder continues and we have now made 44 arrests in total. This will only rise as a specialist team reviews hundreds of hours of footage taken of the incidents.

“We continue to appeal for anyone with information about the disorder in Southport and Liverpool to come forward.”

If you have any information, you can contact us @MerpolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, with reference 24000663787.