Two men have been charged with drugs supply offences after a stop check of a car in Southport led to the discovery of a large quantity of suspected Class A drugs. At around 11am on Thursday 21 November, officers stopped a Range Rover on Eastbank Street after they observed two men inside the vehicle acting suspiciously. Following a search of the vehicle and the men, 65 wraps of suspected crack cocaine, 39 wraps of suspected heroin, a quantity of small bags and cash were all seized. Mark Evans, 37, of St Kevin’s Drive, in Kirkby, and Billy Williams, 39, of…
Author: On The Spot News
More than thirty million pounds has been spent in the response to UK riots fuelled by disorder in Southport. Top police chiefs have spoken to reporters this week to reveal that more than 1,000 people have been charged with riot related offences, with a total of 1,590 arrests across the country. Around 99 of those arrests were for online based offences police say, as insistent of violence became a huge issue for emergency services in the summer. Matt Jukes, the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, told reporters : “There’s a legend which has emerged that the thought police were…
Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner is partnering with women’s services across the region to host this year’s candle-lit vigil to remember local women and girls who have tragically lost their lives to male violence. The remembrance vigil is being held on the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls and the public are invited to attend to honour the women and girls across Merseyside whose lives have been taken. Representatives from support services including Liverpool and South Liverpool’s Domestic Abuse Services, Knowsley-based domestic abuse charity The First Step, sexual violence service RASA Merseyside and…
A young boy is still being treated for the affects of a horrendous attack a year after the incident occurred in Southport. The boy, along with his friend, suffered injuries needing hospital treatment after a security guard attacked them during the weekend of the 2023 Southport Comedy Festival. Their attacker, Lee Wilkinson, 39, was working as a security guard at the festival when he received a report that offenders on bicycles had stolen property from one of the marquees. A Liverpool Crown Court judge said the boys were the subject of a “finger of suspicion” even though there was no…
Police have been called to a road traffic collision on a busy stretch of road in Birkdale. A van and car were involved in a smash at the junction of Grosvenor Road and Waterloo Road this morning. The impact of the collision appeared to cause the van to spin and end up blocking part of Grosvenor Road. Police have been called and remain on scene to direct traffic around the scene of the accident. The road is open but drivers are encouraged to avoid the area while the vehicles remain on scene.
Fitness lovers in Southport will take on a gruelling three hour exercise bootcamp later this month to raise thousands for the Elsie Dot Story. Elsie tragically lost her life in the July 2024 Southport attacks alongside Bebe King and Alice Aguiar. Eight other children and two adults were also seriously injured that day. Now Elsie’s parents have launched the Elsie Dot Story, a charitable trust they say will help to continue Elsie’s legacy and love of helping others. Elsie’s parents said ”We want to continue Elsie’s ‘story’; her positivity, love for others and energy of life.“ On Saturday, 23rd November,…
Merseyside Police have charged a man with assault and hate crime following an incident in Southport on Saturday, 9 November. At around 2.25pm, police were called to reports of an assault at the junction of Chapel Street and Tulketh Street. A man in his 40s was taken to hospital for assessment of head injuries, which were not life-threatening. A man was detained nearby. He also reportedly spat at and made homophobic remarks to an officer. Mark McSorley, 41, of no fixed abode, has now been charged with the following offences: Assault occasioning actual bodily harm Assault by beating Assault by…
Tributes have been paid to ‘real gentleman’ Graham Suthren who has sadly passed away in Southport. The former Southport Rugby Club head coach and local legend passed away peacefully at home and hundreds of people have now spoken out in tribute to Graham. Gareth Lang said “Graham was a beloved mentor, friend, and guiding presence in my life, Graham played a pivotal role in introducing many of us to rugby, sparking a passion that shaped who I am today. “His influence extended far beyond the game; he was a pillar of strength during difficult times, standing by us with unwavering…
British Transport Police and emergency services are currently dealing with an incident on the railway line between Southport and Formby. Merseyrail have confirmed a person has been struck by a train on the network sometime after 7pm this evening (Monday November 4th) Emergency services remain on scene and disruption is expected to last a number of hours. The condition of the victim is currently unconfirmed. Rail replacement services have been ordered and are currently mobilising at all six stations on the line between Southport and Formby. Services to and from Liverpool are terminating at Station Road, Formby. An update from…
A man has been jailed for six years after sexually assaulting two women in Southport. Peter Hudson, 52, of Cranfield Drive, in Cheshire, was found guilty of five counts of sexual assault and was sentenced on Friday 1 November at Liverpool Crown Court. The two victims, who both have vulnerabilities, were each sexually assaulted by Hudson in Southport. The first incident occurred in August 2021 and the second in February 2022. Hudson was arrested in February 2022 and later charged following a complex investigation. As well as a prison sentence, Hudson has also signed on the Sex Offender’s Register for…
Sefton Council was pleased to host a special Black History Month event in Southport on Tuesday 22nd October in collaboration with SACHA (Southport African & Caribbean Heritage Association). At the ‘Lessons from Windrush’ panel, held at the Atkinson, attendees heard from first and second-generation members of the Windrush community. In a thought-provoking and emotional evening, speakers discussed the resilience of people who built a new life in Britain after moving from the Caribbean, overcoming barriers such as discrimination and prejudice. In keeping with the Black History Month 2024 theme of ‘reclaiming narratives’, the panel focused on the many ways in…
The Crown Prosecution Service has sought to explain the legal process in a criminal trial after new developments in the Southport case were made public. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by the police and other investigative organisations in England and Wales. They are leading the prosecution in the case against Axel Rudakubana, who was arrested and charged with the murder of three young girls at the Hart Space in Southport in July. The case has sparked international attention and has been the subject of intense worldwide debate on the spread of misinformation. The…
As in previous years, precautionary Dispersal Zones have been put in place across Sefton so everyone stays safe during the Halloween and Bonfire period. A total of ten dispersal orders are in place from today, Wednesday 30 October, until Friday 1 November in Birkdale, Bootle, Crosby, Aintree, Formby, Litherland and Seaforth, Maghull, Netherton, Waterloo and Southport. Information on each dispersal zone can be found below: – Birkdale from 4pm today to 4pm on Friday 1 November. The zone covers Lulworth Road, Aughton Road, Upper Aughton Road, Eastbourne Road, Crescent Road, Grosvenor Road and Waterloo Road. – Bootle from 3pm today…
A copy of a Conservative petition signed by hundreds of thousands of people has been sent to the Labour Party in Southport calling on them to restore Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners. According to local Conservatives, around 20,568 pensioners across Southport and the Northern Parishes will lose up to £300 in Winter Fuel Payment after Labour MPs, including Southport’s Labour MP, Patrick Hurley, voted to scrap the scheme last month Conservatives say the move leaves many older people being forced to choose between heating and eating. Now more than 240,000 people across the country have signed a Conservative Party…
Shattered and cracked paving slabs in Southport town centre are an ‘accident waiting to happen’ say furious residents. Complaining on social media furious presents have shared a series of images of broken, cracked and missing paving and curbs around the Lord Street area of Southport. One person posted “this is an accident waiting to happen. My child nearly tripped over by B&M this morning and they could have knocked their teeth out. “It needs sorting.” A comment on a recent heritage post by Sefton Council said that residents have been advocating for years to improve the town centre. They said…
A two-day operation targeting suspected county lines drug operations has resulted in a number of arrests and 23 vulnerable children and adults being protected from future harm. The operation (23 and 24 October) was the result of a coordinated effort between officers and staff from specialist county lines team Project Medusa and Sefton’s Local Policing Team, working in partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP) to ensure a joined-up approach to dismantle county lines networks. Working with BTP, officers deployed at stations and on services across the rail network to identify any passengers travelling to and from the area who…
Residents in Churchtown have been told to stay alert after a man was seen acting suspiciously in residential gardens in the early hours of the morning. Homeowners in the Larkfield Lane and Glamis Drive area of the village have been told to check their properties are secured after a man was chased off from back gardens in the early hours of Monday morning. The suspicious male was seen with a torch trespassing on private property. When confronted he reportedly ran away from the scene. Now neighbouring houses are being told to make sure their properties are secure and locked up…
Police have issued images of three men we would like to speak to following a stabbing in Southport town centre last Friday night, 18 October. At around 12.40am on Saturday 19 October, a man in his 20s attended hospital with a stab wound to his back. The incident is believed to have taken place in the Fox and Goose pub in Cable Street at between 11pm on Friday and midnight, and extensive enquiries are ongoing. Merseyside Police have today, Friday 25 October, issued images of three men who we believe could assist with our enquiries. Detective Inspector Paul McVeigh said:…
A man from Southport has been jailed for multiple sex offences, including creating and sharing digitally altered pornographic images of children and women – known more commonly as ‘deepfakes’. Karl Marshall, 47, of Rufford Road, Southport, pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child, sharing a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state for the purpose of sexual gratification and voyeurism. He was jailed for two years and two months yesterday, Tuesday 22 October, at Liverpool Crown Court. A ‘deepfake’ is an image or video that has been digitally altered with the help of Artificial Intelligence…
A deaf dog that was found abandoned in Bradford has now begun a new life in Southport. The poor pup, Polo, had her ears clipped in an illegal procedure when she was young rendering her practically deaf. Now, she is learning sign language at the Southport and Birkdale RSPCA rescue centre in the hope that the new skills will help her find a home. A team from the RSPCA initially found Polo chained at an industrial estate in Bradford in April last year. Polo and her puppy, named Daisy, were subsequently taken to the RSPCA’s branch in Southport, Merseyside. Daisy…
A Formby mum who has been hailed for her campaign to tackle knife crime in the North West says she is immensely proud despite narrowly missing out on a national Pride Of Britain Award. Laura Hughes, who lives in Formby, set up campaign charity kNOw Knife Crime in 2019 on what would have been her brother Colin McGinty’s 40th birthday. Colin was 21 when he was stabbed 15 times in a case of mistaken identity after a night out in Liverpool in 2001. Since the charity was formed, Laura has helped raise over £115,000 for life-saving bleeding control kits and…
Police detonated a wartime bomb on Ainsdale beach today after it was discovered on a building site in Bootle. Officers say the World War Two bomb was found at a construction site near to Atlantic Park off Dunnings Bridge Road. Offices were evacuated and the road was closed off just after 11am. The bomb was reportedly taken to Ainsdale beach where it was then detonated by specialist bomb disposal units. It’s not the first time bombs leftover from the Blitz have been discovered in the area and Southport beach has been evacuated a number of times in recent years. German…
Detectives are appealing for information after a stabbing in Southport town centre on Friday night, 18 October. At around 12.40am on Saturday 19 October, a man in his 20s attended hospital with a stab wound to his back, which was not life threatening. The incident is believed to have taken place in the Fox and Goose pub in Cable Street at between 11pm on Friday and midnight, and extensive enquiries are ongoing. Detective Inspector Paul McVeigh said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed or have since heard about this serious incident, and we are working with the…
The family of Elsie Dot Stancombe have launched a charity trust in memory of their daughter. Elsie tragically lost her life in the July 2024 Southport attacks alongside Bebe King and Alice Aguiar. Eight other children and two adults were also seriously injured that day. Now Elsie’s parents have launched the Elsie Dot Story, a charitable trust they say will help to continue Elsie’s legacy and love of helping others. Elsie’s parents said ”We want to continue Elsie’s ‘story’; her positivity, love for others and energy of life. ”The Trust has been established with the principle objective being to make…
Lawyers acting for dozens of former pupils who say they were sexually abused by a school teacher have said they are being denied justice after a local authority declined to accept liability. Sixty-six people who attended Formby High School on Merseyside are suing Sefton Council, claiming it failed to properly investigate allegations against Ian Farquharson at the council-run school. The council has settled with 16 of the former pupils but solicitors claim it is refusing to resolve the cases of 50 more. Sefton Council said: “We are engaged in constructive discussions with the claimants’ solicitors. Given that these matters are…
A man has been sentenced for his role in violent disorder in Southport after he was identified on CCTV footage throwing missiles at officers. Harry Conway, aged 20, of Vivian Drive, in Birkdale, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced yesterday, Tuesday 15 October, to one year and eight months in a Youth Offender Institution. Footage shows Conway involved in the appalling scenes on Tuesday 30 July and at various points he throws missiles in the direction of officers and police carriers. He made no attempt to conceal his identity as he stood at the forefront of the group,…
Two kindhearted rugby players from Southport Rugby Club were given a training session with a difference this week after coaches sent them to the aid of a local pensioner. Southport Rugby Club received contact via the website earlier today (Tuesday October 15th) after an elderly woman called Angela lost her TV remote down the arm of her reclining chair. Despite numerous attempts to rescue the remote herself, Angela could not retrieve it from the chair and was told by technicians it would cost an eye watering £150 to send her a replacement from Leeds. Angela, knowing she needed help fast,…
Sefton Council is writing to private properties and businesses from today (Monday October 14th) to ask them to remove any remaining temporary tributes they may have on display. Communities around Sefton and beyond have been incredible in showing their support and compassion for everyone affected by what happened in Southport earlier this year. This includes a vast array of heartfelt tributes and outside private properties. Over the next few weeks the Local Authority is encouraging residents and businesses across Southport and Sefton to begin removing these temporary tributes, while the Council’s own officers will also be sensitively removing any temporary…
The longest prison sentence so far for Merseyside disorder has been handed to a man from Litherland after he was jailed today for four years and two months. Lukas Allen, 23, of Kirkstone Road North, in Litherland, threw bricks at officers, destroyed a garden wall and then broke into a shop in Southport. Allen pleaded guilty to violent disorder, burglary and possession of a controlled Class A drug and was sentenced today, Friday 11 September, at Liverpool Crown Court. Allen could be identified on footage as being heavily involved in the appalling scenes in Southport on Tuesday 30 July. Officers…
After the news of the closure of both Sandpipers respite centre and the charity Revitalise, Patrick Hurley MP has expressed concern and disappointment for the families and individuals with complex care needs who rely on these holidays and breaks. In a statement Revitalise Respite holidays said “Despite every effort to ensure the charity’s survival, the financial challenges we face have become insurmountable.” Mr Hurley commented: “It’s utterly shocking and heartbreaking to see that Revitalise are planning on closing the Sandpipers down. The charity sector as a whole has come under huge cost pressures in recent years, as they’ve seen financial…