Southport stabbings: Man jailed for 'burn' mosques comment on Facebook after disorder
A man has been given a prison sentence over social media posts in relation to the Southport stabbings.
Geraint Boyce, 43, from Rhondda Cynon Taf, pleaded guilty to publishing threatening material intending to stir up religious hatred.
Boyce has been jailed for two years - he will serve half of that before he is released on licence.
The charge related to Facebook posts made by Boyce on 31 July during widespread disorder across the UK.
Riots followed the deaths of three girls who were allegedly stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
In August, the King visited the town after the deaths of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
Nearly 400 people have so far been jailed for offences relating to the disorder, the government has said.
Prosecuting barrister Alex Orndal told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court that one post "showed an image of a mosque, with [Boyce's] caption being, 'No more mosques'."
Within the comments section, he said mosques should be "burned down" with people inside.
He was arrested on 9 August and, while under caution, asked: "Is this because of the online stuff to do with the riots?"
The court heard the defendant was logged into the account from which the posts had been made at the time of his arrest.
In another post, he posted an image of a lion with the Union Jack and commented, "I'm ready for war".
In mitigation, defence barrister Nicholas Gedge said Boyce was "ashamed of what he did".
"He held views at the time as a result of what he himself had seen online, unfortunately," he added.
"He held, or was sympathetic to views, that were wrong, which he wholly recognises now."
Mr Gedge added that the defendant "expresses through me, to this court, remorse for what he did, and I think remorse to society generally".
"He really wants people to live peacefully together," he added.
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Sentencing Boyce, Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said the posts showed his intention "was to incite serious violence".
She noted that the offending took place "during a particularly sensitive social climate" and concluded that "appropriate punishment can only be achieved with immediate custody".