A police officer who escorted the bodies of two girls killed during the Southport stabbings to the morgue was brutally attacked by rioters just hours later.
Sergeant Phillip Sinclair had been standing on the frontline trying to contain the disorder when he was hit by a flying brick and left with serious injuries.
The violent scenes – which erupted the day after the murders of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar on July 29 – saw rioters hurl more than 20 objects towards PCs.
One of these struck Sergeant Sinclair, causing him to collapse onto the floor as the crowd of thugs cheered and shouted abuse at him.
The attack hurt the officer so badly that he is still unable to walk properly or dress himself.
The 42-year-old – who had not been wearing a protective helmet at the time – will never return to frontline duty as a result of the serious injuries he sustained.
He still walks with the use of crutches eight months later, but today told Liverpool Crown Court that the sick sounds of glee emanating from the crowd ‘hurt him the most’.
Kevin Clark was among the thugs wreaking havoc in Southport on July 30 after Axel Rudakubana stabbed three children to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Another eight girls and two adults were also stabbed during the teenager’s appalling rampage.
Rudakubana was in January sentenced to life with a minimum of 52 years for the murders.
Tom Challinor, prosecuting, described how Clark, of Brookdale Road in Hindley, was caught on camera launching dozens of missiles at police officers following the outbreak of violence.
The masked 34-year-old can also be seen throwing a brick towards Sergeant Sinclair, striking him in the head.
Footage played to the court showed the officer deflecting one object with a shield before he was then hit by the second.
Cheers were heard from the mob as he fell to the floor, with some members of the crowd being heard on a mobile phone recording shouting ‘one down’ and ‘p***y’.
A fellow officer then rushed to a bleeding Sergeant Sinclair’s aid, calling a police vehicle to transport him to hospital.
Sergeant Sinclair received treatment for multiple injuries including a wound on his head, a suspected broken leg, a dislocated finger, and ligament damage in his left ankle.
He also had to have glass removed from his arm.
Having walked to the witness box with the aid of two crutches, Sergeant Sinclair told the court that he had been ‘deemed no longer fit for frontline service’ as a result of his injuries.
And, despite having spent more than four months off sick following the incident, he still requires further surgery.
He said: ‘I would describe my physical wellbeing as not far off being broken. I take significant amounts of painkillers just to function, by which I mean to get out of bed.
‘I always thought I would be a frontline officer throughout my career.
‘At times, my wife has to dress me and undress me. I went for a suit fitting the other day. I couldn’t get the jacket on and off my back.’
Sergeant Sinclair continued: ‘I’m quite a proud man. To have to ask my son, who is 18 years of age, to help me out of the bath the other day is embarrassing.’
He said the events have had a ‘profound effect’ on his family and revealed how his daughter witnessed the shocking assault being livestreamed on social media.
Sergeant Sinclair also told the court how he found the video evidence a ‘difficult watch’ saying: ‘The part that hurts me the most is the cheer that goes up.
‘I escorted those two little girls to the morgue. To hear that crowd cheer is absolutely abhorrent.’
Clark has a total of 14 previous convictions for 33 offences, including receiving eight months for unlawful wounding in 2010.
He was also locked up for six years for robbery in 2020 after he and an accomplice ‘ambushed ‘ a delivery driver, punching him to the ground and then kicking him in the head until he was rendered unconscious.
The defendant was released only released on licence from this sentence in late 2023.
Julian Nutter, defending, said on Clark’s behalf: ‘Through me, he apologises to his victim.
‘He is deeply ashamed of what he has done. He does not know what came over him.
‘He has tried desperately over the years to improve himself and turn his back on engaging in crime. He had, before his recall to prison, managed to get himself employment.
‘He has made determined efforts since he has been in custody to address his behaviour issues.
‘His intention is to never trouble the courts again with misbehaviour and to put this behind him upon his eventual release.
‘With the greatest respect to the officer, who has suffered in a massive way from the consequences of this crime, it could have been worse.’
Clark admitted unlawful wounding and violent disorder.
Appearing in the dock wearing a dark green fleece and sporting short dark hair and a beard, he was jailed for three-and-a-half years and handed an additional 18-month extended licence period.
He will be required to serve at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars before becoming eligible for release by the Parole Board.
Clark turned to his supporters in the public gallery and said ‘see you later’ after learning his fate.
Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: ‘The day after the tragic killing of the three children, a peaceful vigil was held.
‘Soon after, about a mile away, a large mob formed by a mosque and attacked police. The mob assaulted the police line in a violent confrontation lasting several hours.
‘After these events, there were other serious incidents across the country. People who choose to take part in such disorder will receive sentences designed to deter others.
‘You were a fully enthusiastic member of the mob. You can be seen right at the front of it, throwing more than 20 items at the police, most of them house bricks, and doing so for a prolonged period.
‘Sergeant Sinclair had nothing on his head and bravely positioned himself in a vulnerable place on the frontline.
‘You aimed a brick at him. It hit his head, and he went to the ground. Others could be heard shouting “yes, one down”. When you saw that which you did, you continued to throw more bricks.
‘The harm to the officer’s head was, fortunately, less serious that it may have been. Catastrophic head injuries may have been caused. But it has had a very serious impact on his life. With dignity, he has described it in moving evidence today.
‘You have seven previous convictions for assaults, including serving several short prison sentence. You also have convictions for public order offences, possessing a knife, harassment and breaching restraining orders.
‘There is a pattern of violence in your behaviour, lasting over a number of years. You were only months into your three-year licence period when you decided to disrespect it by going to Southport to take part in this disorder.
‘You were not a mere member of the mob. You were at the front.’
Merseyside Police’s Detective Inspector Paula Jones said following the sentencing: ‘Clark’s violent behaviour resulted in the victim requiring surgery to his ankle, physiotherapy and has been left with scars.
‘Clark was not satisfied in taking one officer out, he moved on to another police line and continued his aggressive behaviour attacking them with bricks.
‘We continue to identify people and are relentless in pursuing those who took part and brought disgrace to the region. We advise anyone else who took part in the disorder to do the right thing and hand themselves in.’