Sergeant’s career-ending injuries after being hit by brick during Southport riots | UK | News

A police sergeant suffered a career-ending injury when he was hit with a brick during the Southport riots.

Liverpool Crown Court heard (on March 20) that hundreds of men and women gathered near to the Southport Islamic Society Mosque on Sussex Road on the evening of July 30 last year.

It was the day after Axel Rudakubana had stabbed the three children to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the nearby Hart Space. Another eight girls and two adults were also knifed during the teenager’s appalling attack.

Mere hours after escorting two of the three murdered girls (six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar) to the morgue, Sgt Phillip Sinclair stood before a mob with his colleagues.

Kevin Clark, among the mob, threw more than 20 objects towards police. One of these struck the officer in the head, sparking cheers and a torrent of abuse when he collapsed to the floor.

Sgt Sinclair will never return to frontline duty as a result of the serious injuries he sustained. Eight months later, he still walks with the use of crutches but told a court that the sick sounds of glee emanating from the crowd « hurt him the most ».

Tom Challinor, prosecuting, described how Clark, of Brookdale Road in Hindley, was caught on camera launching dozens of missiles in the direction of police officers following the outbreak of violence. This included the masked 34-year-old aiming one brick towards Sgt Sinclair, striking him in the head.

Footage showed the officer deflecting one object with a shield before he was then hit by the second. Cheers were heard from the mob as he fell to the floor, with some members of the crowd being heard on a mobile phone recording shouting « one down » and « p***y ».

A fellow officer rushed to Sgt Sinclair’s aid, commandeering a police vehicle in order to take him to hospital. He had a wound to the head, glass in his arm, a dislocated finger, a suspected broken leg and ligament damage in his left ankle.

Sgt Sinclair told the court that he had been « deemed no longer fit for frontline service » as a result and, despite having spent more than four months off sick following the incident, still requires further surgery.

The 42-year-old said: « I would describe my physical wellbeing as not far off being broken. I take significant amounts of painkillers just to function, by which I mean to get out of bed. I always thought I would be a frontline officer throughout my career.

« At times, my wife has to dress me and undress me. The events have had a profound effect on me and my family. This is not the end, unfortunately. I’m in the middle of it really.

« The part that hurts me the most is the cheer that goes up (in the video). I escorted those little girls to the morgue. To hear that crowd cheer is absolutely abhorrent. It has given me a very different look on people.

« On that day, my daughter, who is 20… tracked my phone to Southport Hospital, having seen a live feed on social media and seen her dad hit in the head with a brick. It is quite harrowing, really.

« I’m quite a proud man. To have to ask my son, who is 18 years of age, to help me out of the bath the other day. I should be helping them, not having to ask them for help. It’s a very bitter pill to swallow. »

Julian Nutter, defending, said: « (Clark) apologises to his victim. He is deeply ashamed of what he has done. He does not know what came over him. He has tried desperately over the years to improve himself and turn his back on engaging in crime. He had, before his recall to prison, managed to get himself employment. He has made determined efforts since he has been in custody to address his behaviour issues.

« His intention is to never trouble the courts again with misbehaviour and to put this behind him upon his eventual release. With the greatest respect to the officer, who has suffered in a massive way from the consequences of this crime, it could have been worse. »

Clark admitted unlawful wounding and violent disorder. He was jailed for three-and-a-half years and handed an additional 18-month extended licence period. He will be required to serve two-thirds of the custodial term behind bars before becoming eligible for release.

Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: « You were a fully enthusiastic member of the mob. You can be seen right at the front of it, throwing more than 20 items at the police, most of them house bricks, and doing so for a prolonged period.

« Sgt Sinclair had nothing on his head and bravely positioned himself in a vulnerable place on the front line. You aimed a brick at him. It hit his head, and he went to the ground. Others could be heard shouting ‘yes, one down’. When you saw that which you did, you continued to throw more bricks.

« The harm to the officer’s head was, fortunately, less serious than it may have been. Catastrophic head injuries may have been caused. But it has had a very serious impact on his life. With dignity, he has described it in moving evidence today.

« You have seven previous convictions for assaults, including serving several short prison sentences. You also have convictions for public order offences, possessing a knife, harassment and breaching restraining orders. There is a pattern of violence in your behaviour, lasting over a number of years.”