The sentences are the first at the Crown Court over the disorder, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised quick punishment for those involved.

Liam Riley, 41, from Kirkdale, admitted to violent disorder and a racially aggravated public order offence in Liverpool city centre on Saturday night.

The court heard he appeared to have drunk a lot of alcohol and was found with a poster that said: "This is our city."

He was jailed for 20 months.

Derek Drummond, 58, from Southport, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker in Southport last Tuesday - the day after the three young girls were killed.

He was among a group of around 300 people who were "very aggressive" as they marched towards a mosque in the Merseyside town chanting "this is our f***ing country," a court previously heard.

He was jailed for three years.

Declan Geiran, 29, from Liverpool, admitted violent disorder and arson over rioting in Liverpool city centre.

He was caught on CCTV using an implement to set a police van on fire and was found with three lighters when arrested.

He was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

He received 28 months for charges related to the riot - and a further two months for sending threatening messages to a woman, totalling 30 months.

Judge Andrew Menary KC said "every decent member of the community affected by these events will have been appalled, horrified and deeply disturbed about what had taken place in their neighbourhood".

The prime minister has said he hopes this week's sentences will send a "powerful message" to anyone involved in rioting as police prepare for further potential unrest across the county tonight.

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