A rioting yob who went viral after video footage showed him being hit in both the head and groin by flying bricks faces a prison sentence.
Painter and decorator Brian Spencer, 40, was pelted with house bricks while goading police during violence which erupted in the wake of the harrowing Southport stabbings.
He was twice struck in the face and head after flamboyantly gyrating in front of officers, before turning around and being hit for a third time in the crotch.
The father-of-five was arrested after seeking treatment at Southport hospital, where officers recognised him from the viral footage.
Spencer was today told to expect an immediate prison sentence after admitting violent disorder.
He also pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment after abusing a Polish-speaking patient at the hospital.
Spencer, described by friends as a ‘party animal’, joined rioting thugs who smashed down garden walls, set wheelie bins alight and threw bollards at police on July 30, a day after three children were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Wearing a grey tracksuit, he was filmed swinging his hips and dancing in front of a line of police officers before striking a pose in an attempt to taunt them.
As he attempted to provoke a reaction, he was nearly knocked to the ground when a large brick ricocheted off a riot shield into his face, while another hit the back of his head.
As Spencer stumbled away from the officers, rubbing the back of his head, another block of flying debris struck him in the groin.
He shouted ‘f***ing hell boys’ as two other rioters helped him out of the crowd.
Spencer was arrested by police the following day after seeking A&E treatment to his injuries.
Sefton magistrates’ court heard that while at the casualty department he abused a Polish-speaking patient, causing ‘harassment, alarm or distress’.
Spencer was told that he faces a ‘starting point’ of three years in jail when he is sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court next week.
The court said its own powers were insufficient to deal with the case.
previously revealed that Mr Spencer is a ‘party animal’ who has been previously filmed in a social media video dancing at a festival in a similar style to the one he used in front of police.
One Southport local said at the time: ‘People are saying the protesters were outsiders who came her to cause trouble – but Brian came from just up the road.
‘Everyone knows Brian. He’s a bit of a party animal and I think he just got excited last night. His head will be hurting this morning.’
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.
Rioters took to the streets in the Merseyside town barely an hour after thousands had gathered for a vigil to remember Alice Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Stancombe, 7.
Eight children and two adults were also seriously injured at the Hart Space centre.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 18, from Banks, Lancs, has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.
He is also charged with producing the toxin ricin and possessing an Al-Qaeda terrorism manual.
Spencer, of Lytham Road, Southport, was released on conditional bail.