A dad threw a lighter at police before “turning on his heel and running away” on a day when violence broke out in Bolton town centre. Bolton was among dozens of towns and cities saw violence erupt following the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday, July 29. Six days later, on Sunday, August 4, protests took place in the town centre.
Officers formed a “human barrier” to separate two rival groups, each containing around 250 people, who were facing off in Bolton town centre. CCTV from the day captured Kieran Liddell, 27, on camera and Bolton Crown Court was told that he threw a lighter at a police line before “turning on his heel and running away”. He was shown taking part in disorder on Victoria Square, Oxford Street and Bradshawgate, where the object was thrown.
(Image: Greater Manchester Police) The court heard how the disorder had significantly impacted the community with one female officer who wears a hijab, left “too scared to go to work” as a result of the unrest. An impact statement read out by prosecutor David Lees said: “Over 440 officers were deployed across Greater Manchester at the time of the unrest. “This had a specifically profound impact on the Black and Muslim officers, who were concerned for their safety.
“The Muslim community described feeling ‘under siege’ as a result of the attacks and many innocent bystanders were left trapped in premises during the unrest.” Liddell, of Deansgate, Bolton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates' Court on September 14. The court heard he had 10 previous convictions for 14 offences, including drugs, failure to comply with court orders and violence, dating back to when he was aged 14.
Defending, Julien Goode said Liddell, who has a baby with his partner, claimed he was “unaware” of the unrest and had “got caught up in the emotion” after going out shopping with his partner in the area. He said he is the primary carer for his mother, who is suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with concerns that she will “lose her battle” while he is incarcerated. Sentencing, Judge Jon Close, who acknowledged Liddell’s guilty plea, said: “It is clear that you felt a degree of entertainment from his participation in the unrest in Bolton.
“However, unlike a number of those involved, Liddell had no suggestion of facial coverings during the unrest and there is no suggestion that anything was defaced as a result his actions. He wasn’t pre-armed. “Yet you exposed officers to risk of injury at your hands.
There is no doubt that you regret that which you did. “I do not find racial motivation, otherwise the sentencing would have been a lot more harsh.” Liddell was sentenced to a year and 10 months.
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