Southport officer injured during riots after stabbings

A police officer was attacked by rioters in Southport hours after he escorted the bodies of two girls who were killed in a stabbing incident. Sergeant Phillip Sinclair suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a brick thrown during the chaos. On July 29, three children were stabbed to death at a dance class. The following day, riots broke out as a crowd confronted police. Sinclair, who was not wearing a helmet, was on the frontline when he was hit and fell to the ground as the crowd cheered. Sinclair, 42, has had difficulty walking since the attack and requires crutches. He testified in court about the emotional toll of the events, stating that he was deeply affected by the crowd's reaction when he was injured. The assailant, Kevin Clark, was captured on camera throwing bricks at officers and was later sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for unlawful wounding and violent disorder. Clark has a long criminal history, including past convictions for violent offenses. Detective Inspector Paula Jones from Merseyside Police said Clark's actions caused lasting harm to the officers involved. The police continue to seek others who participated in the violence.