He broke into a mobile phone shop and scared the staff – now he has to pay the consequences

A total of 151 arrests have been made so far in connection with the violent disorder in both Liverpool and Southport

A man who forced his way into a mobile phone shop with a fire extinguisher as terrified staff hid in a back room has been jailed. Liam Lewis, 27, was part of a ‘disgraceful’ gang who attacked police officers and looted local businesses in shocking scenes in Liverpool city center.

Lewis, of Sandway Crescent, Norris Greenappeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, November 20 where he became the 82nd person to be convicted in relation to the violent disorder that devastated Merseyside earlier this year.

The father-of-two was part of an ‘angry mob’ that rampaged through Liverpool on August 3, throwing rocks and other missiles at police and damaging local businesses. It happened just a few days after similar large-scale violence broke out South Gatespurred by false online rumors about the murder of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar.

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He was caught on CCTV throwing bottles and rocks at police before arming himself with a fire extinguisher, taken from a local construction site, and setting it on fire. He continued along Paradise Street to Church Street, where he took part in an attack on a stall distributing free copies of the Quran. He then went to the Ifix phone repair shop, where he used the fire extinguisher to smash the windscreen, allowing a swarm of looters to make off with around £100,000 worth of equipment, while terrified staff hid in a back room.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and burglary and was jailed for two years and eight months. Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Paula Jones, of Merseyside Police, said: “The scenes of violence, criminal damage and looting we saw this summer were shameful, and we are pleased to see another perpetrator face the consequences of his actions faces.

“Using disinformation as an excuse to attack members of the public, businesses and the emergency services is inexcusable, causing emotional and material damage to communities who were shocked but stood together in the face of the tragedy. We will continue to bring those responsible to justice and encourage anyone with information to continue to come forward.”

A total of 151 arrests have been made so far in connection with the violent disorder in both Liverpool and Southport. 105 people have been charged and 82 people have been sentenced to a total of 168 years and one month in prison. Anyone with information to assist our ongoing investigation is asked to contact us via the public portal (mipp.police.uk) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.