Baby faced thug told police he 'ruined his whole life'

Jackson Hegarty was part of a mob that surrounded a police officer who was knocked off his motorbike and assaulted

A baby-faced thug told police he had "ruined his whole life because of one day" after he participated in a city centre riot. Teenager Jackson Hegarty, identified by his distinctive yellow JD bag, went into the city centre to meet friends but ended up joining a violent mob that engaged in serious disorder by damaging vehicles and local businesses and attacking police officers.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Thursday, September 19 that the violent disorder followed the deaths of three young girls - Bebe King, Alice Da Silva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe - who died following a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift dance party on July 29. Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, told the court: "What followed was widespread violent disorder fuelled by misinformation and racial hatred".

She said between July 30 and August 3 between 225 and 275 officers were deployed each day to three major incidents of violent disorder in Merseyside. The offending of Hegarty, 18, relates to the violent rioting seen in Liverpool's city centre on August 3 that started at around 3pm and lasted several hours.

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The court heard on the day in question the teenager had got the train into the city centre to meet friends between noon and 2pm. However, at the same time a large crowd had gathered for a march that was billed as "save our kids". However, the protests soon turned violent with rioters clashing with police officers and ransacking businesses.

Ms Nemat told the court that Mohammed Omair, who owns the I Fix Phones Repair Centre on Church Street in the city centre, made the decision to close his shop shortly after 3pm due to concerns about the disorder. Mr Omair, who has been in the UK for 10 years, said he feared for both his and his staff's safety after hearing chants of "you bloody Muslims", "you f***ing p****" and "go back to your country".

The court heard as he was closing his shop a group of around 40 people, many of them with their faces covered, grabbed the shutters and forced them open. Ms Nemat said some used metal poles to keep them open while another brandished a knife at the terrified owner.

Ms Nemat said: "The defendant is captured on CCTV approaching the shutter and kicking it before beckoning towards people. He then holds open the shutter enabling others to exit the store." Mr Omair, his staff and three members of the public sheltered at the back of the store while the mob stole around £100,000 of his stock.

Shortly after, Hegarty engaged in further disorder on the Strand. CCTV footage played in court showed the teenager gesturing towards a line of police officers. He is said to have squirted a liquid towards the officers and thrown a number of empty drink cans. CCTV also showed him "high five" another person after they let off a smoke bomb in the direction of police.

A police officer riding a motorbike was attacked during the riot. The officer, who has been named as PC Cumberlidge in previous court appearances, was kicked from his bike and attacked by the mob. Ms Nemat said: "The crowd charged towards the police officer who was pushed off his bike by another member of the group. A metal pole was thrown towards the police officer.

"While the police officer is being attacked the defendant gestures towards him and approaches him. Another member of the public stands between the defendant and the officer and gestures to him to stop or go away."

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Omair said he sustained small glass cuts to his hands when his shop was looted. However, he said his mental health is suffering and he has to go and check any noise for fear of further attack. He said: "I feel like this was a personal attack. I am terrified to take my daughter to nursery because I am worried about her safety."

He added: "I have lived here for 10 years and this is the first time I have experienced anything like this. I can't believe these people are from Liverpool. I am so shocked by their act. I believe there was a racial undertone. I came to this country legally. Illegal immigration has nothing to do with me."

The court heard Hegarty handed himself in to police after his picture was circulated. In a police interview he admitted that he threw missiles and swore at police. He accepted "he ruined his whole life because of one day". He was charged with violent disorder and burglary and admitted the two offences at Liverpool Magistrates' Court earlier this month.

Daniel Travers, mitigating, told the court that his client was "appalled by his actions". Mr Travers said: "He was carried away in the group mentality and followed the crowd wanting to be part of something." He told the court his client wasn't racially motivated but was instead "looking to belong to something".

Mr Travers said: "Although his behaviour is appalling and unacceptable, it's behaviour he won't be repeating. He is realistic and understands there is a public interest in punishing those responsible. Mr Travers added in his client's pre-sentence report the teenager "was impressed by the way police and prison staff treated him with care and kindness".

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "Although your conduct encouraged others, you didn't play a leading role. Although some involved were racially motivated, I can't be sure you share their motivation but I am sure that you must have been aware of a general atmosphere of racial hostility. You have no criminal convictions and I accept you didn't go to take part in the violent disorder and you didn't personally steal anything."

But Judge Flewitt told Hegarty his actions had left a shop owner "feeling traumatised" and a number of officers had been seriously injured. The judge sentenced Hegarty, formerly of Ryefield Lane in Litherland but most recently of HMP Altcourse, to 20 months' imprisonment in a young persons institute.

The teenager blew a kiss to a dozen members of his family in the public dock as he was led to the cells.