A rioting thug who went viral after being hit in the head and groin by flying house bricks was today jailed for two-and-half years.
Brian Spencer, 40, sank ten pints and a litre of rum before taunting police during violence which erupted in the wake of the Southport stabbings.
He was twice struck in the face and head after gyrating in front of officers, before turning around and being hit for a third time in the crotch. Spencer, who admitted violent disorder, also racially-abused a Polish patient at the town’s hospital while awaiting treatment for his injuries.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how painter-decorator Spencer was at the centre of riots in the seaside town on July 30, a day after three children were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
In footage which quickly swept across social media, he was filmed swinging his hips and dancing in front of a line of police officers in a bid to goad them.
A previous judge described Spencer’s dancing as delivering his “best Mick Jagger impression”.
But as the father-of-four attempted to provoke a reaction, a large brick bounced off a riot shield into his face, while another hit the back of his head.
As Spencer walked away, rubbing the back of his head, another block struck him in the groin causing him to double over in agony.
Jailing him, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said Spencer hurled wheelie-bins at police cars and was caught on camera “cheering”, “bouncing around” and “enjoying the chaos”.
She said: “You were an enthusiastic and active participant, positioning yourself at the front of the mob. At times bouncing around, encouraging others and clearly enjoying the chaos and harm that you and other like-minded thugs were creating.
“You are able to be seen on the footage until it comes to an end. You antagonised the police, you were shouting, cheering and dancing around in the street.
“The reason why you were struck is because you were at the front of the mob. The mobile footage of you being struck has been widely spread.”
The court heard how Spencer acted like a “general” in the mass disorder outside a mosque in Southport, hours after a peaceful vigil had been held to mourn those killed and injured a day earlier.
Footage was played in court of bare-chested Spencer hurling a wheelie-bin at a reversing police car and hoisting another bin above his head.
He was seen encouraging other rioters to push forward towards police riot lines and seen dancing as objects were hurled at officers.
Alaric Walmsley, prosecuting, said: “He was leading from the front. He was acting like a general, supporting and cheerleading as well as using weapons. “He can be seen taunting the police.”
Mr Walmsley added: “There’s video of the defendant being stuck to the head with a brick and then in the groin, which went viral at the time, which was shared on social media.”
Spencer was taken to hospital for treatment after police were called to his brother’s home in Southport.
He was put in a cubicle to sleep off his intoxication but racially abused a Polish-speaking patient and a hospital cleaner when he awoke, telling them: “Get out of our country, you don’t belong here.”
Judge Pierpoint said: “Despite you being injured as a result of unlawful activity, the police were there to help you. They put you in an ambulance, the ambulance took you to hospital and you were in the process of being treated by staff there.
“Despite all of this and the help you were being given, you racially-abused another patient, all in the hearing of other patients and staff members.”
Violence erupted across the country after three young girls were killed at the children’s dance event in Southport, fuelled by speculation and misinformation online.
Around 1,000 rioters took to the streets in the Merseyside town barely an hour after the community had gathered to remember Alice Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Stancombe, 7.
More than 50 police officers were injured, with riot shields stolen and police vehicles looted and set ablaze.
In interview, Spencer denied rioting and claimed he had been trying to stop others from attacking the police.
But he later admitted his account was untrue, telling officers what he had done was “naughty”. Spencer, who has 12 previous convictions for 22 offences, said he had drunk 10 pints and a litre of rum before marching to the mosque.
He told officers: “I just apologise again. It’s honestly not me, that. I honestly can’t apologise enough.” Charles Lander, defending, said Spencer “wished to apologise” to the victims of the Southport knife attack and the police.
He said: “Alcohol intoxication is no excuse but one only has to watch the video of those horrifying events to see how drunk he was.
“He went viral because of his drunkenness, that he himself was hit. It shows the drunken state he was in.”
Spencer, of Southport, who admitted violent disorder and racially-aggravated harassment, was supported in court by friends and family.
The court heard that he was already subject to the terms of an 18-month community order after kicking a police officer while drunk in December 2023.
Judge Pierpoint told him: “You do, now, in the cold, sober light of day express real remorse and regret for what you got involved in.
“Not only are you sorry for what you did towards others but you’re also embarrassed about your role in this, not least because your involvement in this has been widely shared on social media.
She added: “While drink may go some way to explain your behaviour, it is not an excuse.”
Axel Rudakubana, 18, from Banks, Lancashire, has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder over the attack at the Hart Space centre in Southport. He is also charged with producing the toxin ricin and possessing an Al-Qaeda terrorism manual and faces a trial next year.
