by A father-of-three arrived at Manchester Airport from a holiday in Greece, only to be arrested on the plane minutes later for his involvement in violent scenes in Southport.
Thomas Whitehead, 53, was “visible in and among the large group” who gathered outside a mosque in the town on July 30, Liverpool Crown Court was told. Prosecutor Rebecca Smith said his picture was circulated and he was arrested on August 13 at the airport while still on board the plane.
During questioning, the self-employed man told detectives he was “at a pub and noticed a large group meeting and went to see what was happening”. Whitehead admitted throwing an item but claimed he “didn’t believe he was hit by any of the officers”.
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He has 18 previous convictions for 47 offenses between 1987 and 1998, according to the ECHO. His lawyer, Paul Wood, told the court hearing on Wednesday (August 21): “He’s a family man and he’s a working man.
“He went to the lookout. He doesn’t know what on Earth took him when he threw that one missile”, reports PA. “He is very upset about what he has done. He does not seek to defend him in any way.
“There are many victims as far as this behavior goes. The town of Southport is very much a victim. This defendant hung his head in shame. He worked for many years as a self-employed gardener.
“Regardless of his convictions, he turned his life around fortunately. He has many qualities as a family man and a hardworking individual who provided for his family. He goes against the grain of the people he stands for. He really has no intention of ever appearing before these courts again.”
Whitehead, of Linn Street, Southport, admitted violent disorder. A woman in the public gallery was heard saying “he didn’t do anything Tommy” as he was sentenced to 20 months.
Co-defendant says he ‘got it’
Meanwhile, Daniel Carrigan stood next to him in the dock, admitting that although he intended to “pay his respects” to the victims in the seaside town, he consumed cocaine and vandalized a police van.
Ms Smith revealed how Carrigan, of Preston Grove in Anfield, was caught kicking a police van and hurling two items in succession at one of its windows. The 41-year-old handed himself in at St Anne’s Street Police Station on August 14 after becoming a person of interest.
During questioning, he admitted his involvement in the violent disorder and admitted damaging the police vehicle, saying his initial plan for taking the train to Southport was to pay tribute to give to the victims. However, after snorting cocaine and gathering a crowd, Carrigan explained that he gave up and threw bottles at the van.
He admitted he was “venting frustration at the government”. His criminal record includes eight previous offences, from battery in 2007 to a suspended sentence in 2016 for a racist attack, where he told a traffic warden he “should go back to his own country”.
Defense counsel Charles Lander said: “The first word he gave me today was his insistence that I must say at the outset that he wants to apologize for his actions. He is ashamed of his actions and he wants everyone to know that he is sorry for what he did.”
Lander discussed Carrigan’s drug addiction: “It damaged his relationship with his family, his own daughter, his parents and his friends. He has lost work, and knows that his cocaine addiction at the time of the offense was out of control. He is determined to learn from this. He did not resort to violence.
During the hearing, Carrigan, who at one point made a love heart gesture with his hands towards supporters in the public gallery, admitted violent disorder and criminal damage. After being sentenced to 32 months in prison, he showed his gratitude with a nod and “thank you”, then declared “I love you mum, don’t be angry, you are all loved” before being led to the cells it.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “Following the tragic events in Southport on July 29 this year, there was serious disorder in the form of vandalism, intimidation and violence – much of it fueled by religious and racial. hatred – spread across Merseyside and into other cities across the UK The disorder brought fear and destruction to local communities.
“The courts have an overwhelming duty to do as much as they can to ensure the protection of the public. Consequently, it is those who choose to participate in disturbances of what has recently happened – which causes harm, damage and fear to law abiding members of the public and the police who are doing their best to protect them – expect a serious sentence, intended to punish them and deter others from the previous day’s events that, no doubt adding to the distress already felt by the local community.”
