Rioter who was hit in the nuts with a brick jailed for two years

A Southport rioter who went viral after being pelted with bricks in the head and groin has been jailed.

Father-of-five Brian Spencer, 40, was hit in the back twice and on his head after gyrating and taunting officers – before turning and receiving a final hit to his crotch.

Spencer, who works as a painter and decorator, was admitted to hospital following the barrage, where he was later arrested after officers recognised him from the viral footage.

Dozens of police officers were injured in the riots after the far-right English Defence League hijacked a vigil for the three young girls stabbed at a Taylor Swift dance class.

Yesterday, Spencer, of Lytham Road, Southport, was jailed for two years and six months after admitting violent disorder in Liverpool Crown Court.

He was also jailed after admitting racially/religiously aggravated harassment after abusing a patient in hospital while he received treatment for his injuries.

He had been filmed punching a police car earlier in the day and throwing wheelie bins at officers before officers recognised him from footage later in the day and arrested him.

In the footage where he was hit with bricks, his fellow rioters were heard crying out in sympathy pain as Spencer bent over clutching his privates, with one heard shouting: ‘F***ing hell boys.’

Detective Inspector Paula Jones, of Merseyside Police, said: ‘Spencer was involved in the violence and will now spend a significant amount of time in prison.

‘We continue to review footage and information as it comes in, and we will not stop until we’ve put everyone we possibly can before the courts.’

163 people were arrested by Merseyside Police after the chaos in late July and early August, with 117 charged and 88 sentenced to 182 years and four months.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar were all killed as they attended the Taylor Swift dance class in late July.

Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five were in critical condition, alongside two adults who were critically injured, police said.

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