Dad-of-three lands at airport after Greek holiday and is sent straight to prison

After arriving back to the UK after his holiday to Greece, a father-of-three was arrested on the plane for his involvement in violent disorder in Southport. Liverpool Crown Court was told that 53-year-old Thomas Whitehead was “seen in and amongst the large group” outside of a mosque in the town on Tuesday, July, 30. On Tuesday, August 13, Whitehead was arrested was arrested while still aboard the plane after his picture was circulated, said prosecutor Rebecca Smith.

When being questioned by detectives, the self-employed man said that he had “been at a public house and noticed a large group gathering and went to see what was happening.” Whitehead “accepted throwing an item” but claimed he “didn’t believe it had hit any of the officers.” Between 1987 and 1998, Whitehead was convicted 18 times for 47 offences, according to the Liverpool Echo.

At the court hearing on Wednesday, his solicitor Paul Wood told the court: “He is a family man and he is a working man. He had gone to the vigil. He does not know what on earth took hold of him when he threw that one missile. He is absolutely distraught with what he has done. He does not seek to justify it in any way.”

“There are many victims as far as this behaviour is concerned. The town of Southport is very much a victim. This defendant hangs his head in shame. He has worked for many years as a self-employed gardener. Whatever convictions he had, he fortunately turned his life around. He has many characteristics as a family man and a hard working individual who has provided for his family. It goes against the grain of what he stands for. He has absolutely no intention of ever appearing before these courts again.”

The 53-year-old from Southport admitted violent disorder. A woman in the public gallery was heard exclaiming “he never done nothing Tommy” as he was handed a 20-month prison sentence. Stood next to him in the dock, Daniel Carrigan from Preston Grove in Anfield, admitted he had consumed cocaine and vandalised a police van, although his initial intentions were to “pay his respects” to the victims of the Southport stabbings.

Ms Smith spoke of how Carrigan was captured kicking a police van and throwing two items successively at one of its windows. The 41-year-old became a person of interest to the police before he surrendered himself on August 14 at St Anne Street Police Station. He admitted his involvement in the disorder during police questioning and conceded causing damage to the police vehicle, stating that his plan initially was to honour the victims. He explained that he got carried away after consuming cocaine when he noticed a crowd forming and he threw bottles at the van, “venting frustration at the government.”

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Neil Flewitt KC stated: “Following the tragic events which took place in Southport on July 29 this year, serious disorder in the form of vandalism, intimidation and violence – much of which was motivated by religious and racial hatred – spread across Merseyside and into other cities across the UK. That disorder brought fear and destruction to local communities.”

“There is an overwhelming obligation on the courts to do what they can to ensure the protection of the public. Consequently, those who choose to participate in disturbances of the magnitude that have occurred recently – causing injury, damage and fear to law abiding members of the community and to police officers doing there best to protect them – must expect to receive severe sentences, intended both to punish them and deter others.”

“This particular incident is made all the more serious by the fact that it took place soon after and nearby to the events of the previous day, undoubtedly adding to the distress already felt by the local community.”