Taxi driver jailed for social media posts inciting Southport riots

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Andrew McIntyre, 39, set up a Telegram channel called “Southport Wake Up”, in the immediate aftermath of the knife attack at a children’s dance class in the Merseyside town on 29 July last year, Liverpool Crown Court was told on Monday. open image in gallery Andrew McIntyre, 39, set up a Telegram channel called ‘Southport Wake Up’, in the immediate aftermath of the attack The Southport Wake Up channel was identified by the group Hope Not Hate as a “catalyst for and origin of a series of posts” concerning incidents of violence, Mr Gibson said. 8pm tomorrow St Luke’s Rd Southport.” Hours before violence broke out in Southport on 30 July, he posted a “clear threat to police”, writing: “Message to All … Stand in our way, even if you’re just doing your job … prepare to fall.” The court was told McIntyre’s phone was in the area of St Luke’s Road in Southport at 7pm on 30 July and the car he was later arrested in was also in the area when the disorder took place. Mr Nutter said: “Those who have spoken on his behalf describe somebody who is very different from what we have heard from the prosecution about him.” McIntyre, of Rufford, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, was originally 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.” Mr Gibson said the decision was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service not to pursue the charge to trial because of “evidential issues” concerning whether the defendant actually believed the act would be carried out.