A 47-year-old worker from the Hinkley Point power station in Somerset has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison for his involvement in a riot outside a mosque in Southport. The incident, which took place on July 30, resulted in over 50 police officers being injured and a carrier being set on fire.
Gavin Pinder, who held a “highly paid, responsible job” at the power station, was at his home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester when he was informed by an associate about the protest happening in Southport. His defense lawyer, Michael Johnson, stated that Pinder was under the impression that the protest was related to the circumstances of a person detained following a recent knife attack in the town. Pinder, along with others, congregated at a pub in Southport, unaware that the protest would be focused on a mosque.
Pinder was captured on footage shouting at officers, throwing a traffic cone, and hurling a smaller object at them. He was arrested in Manchester on August 17 and admitted to the police that he had participated in the riot after being struck by an officer.
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During sentencing, Judge Simon Medland KC expressed disbelief at Pinder’s actions, noting that they seemed to be driven by a sense of recreation. Pinder, who has 10 prior convictions, including for breaching a football banning order, was condemned for his behavior and sentenced to prison along with two others who were also involved in the disorder.