These are the faces of three men who caused ‘panic, revulsion and chaos’ when they took part in ‘violent unrest’. Liam Riley, Derek Drummond and Declan Geiran have now been locked up for their roles in a series of disturbances across Merseyside.

Violence has flared in Southport, Liverpool city centre and Walton over the past week. Police vans were set on fire, while officers were attacked during riots.

Merseyside Police were also forced to use riot gear after bricks and debris were thrown towards its staff. Looters went on to target businesses, while Spellow Library and Community Hub was set alight.

The violence came after the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. All three men appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, August 7.

They were due to be sentenced later this month but their hearings were brought forward, Liverpool Echo reports. The convicts pleaded guilty to offences in connection with the disturbances in Southport and Liverpool city centre.

Riley, of Walton Road, admitted violent disorder and racially-aggravated threatening behaviour. The 41-year-old was said to have formed part of a ‘large crowd’ of about 100 people – some of whom were ‘throwing rocks and bricks towards’ police officers on a street where a number of shop windows were smashed.

As many members of the crowd retreated from the police, Riley ‘stood his ground, shouting and waving his arms’. ‘Very drunk’ Riley was taken to the ground but continued to shout at officers, calling them ‘traitors’ and ‘Muslim lovers’.

He was also found in possession of a banner reading ‘this is our city’ following his arrest. The court heard he had been donning a St George’s flag around his neck.

During police interview, Riley said he heard of the protest through ‘word of mouth’ and went ‘in sympathy’. He had gone to the pub, where he had ‘three or four pints’ and ‘accepted he did get involved’, the court heard.