A man from Manchester has received the longest prison sentence to date in connection with the summer rioting in Southport.

The violence erupted in the Lancashire town following the tragic deaths of three young girls: Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who were all fatally stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29.

During the ensuing riots, which took place on July 30, more than 50 police officers were injured, with significant damage to property, including smashed windows and damaged cars. As a result, 82 individuals have now been sentenced, amounting to a total of 172 years in prison.

Sean Beech, 55, from Len Cox Walk, Ancoats, has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after breaking a police officer's nose during the disorder, according to Merseyside Police.

CCTV footage captured Beech's actions on the day of the riots, where he was seen grabbing an officer's baton, hitting the officer in the face and subsequently throwing the baton at a line of officers while also pushing and attempting to trip over another officer.

Beech was sentenced on Friday to 54 months in total: 40 months for violent disorder, 14 months for assault (to run consecutively), and three months for assaulting an emergency worker (to run concurrently).

A police spokesperson highlighted that this is the longest sentence imposed so far for anyone involved in the Southport riots, bringing the total number of arrests to 151, with 107 people charged.

Detective Inspector Paula Jones commented on the severity of the attack, stating, "This was a shocking attack on a police officer which resulted in him suffering a broken nose. It is important that Beech is held accountable for his actions, and we will continue to seek justice for those responsible." She urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

If you have any information that could assist the ongoing investigations, please contact us via Public Portal or anonymously via Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.