Man, who looted Southport c-store, pleaded guilty

The man, who allegedly looted a convenience store during the recent riots in Southport, has pleaded guilty to both violent disorder and burglary.

According to local reports, Oliver Maddocks was part of the mob that raided Windsor Mini Mart in Southport on the night of the disorder which followed the mass stabbing the previous day, in which three young girls died.

Maddocks, 21, appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday (12) in relation to the charges of violent riots seen on St Luke’s Road and Sussex Road in Southport. The court heard Maddocks’ home address is on St Luke’s Road – the street where a majority of the rioting took place.

Prosecutor Jessica Pridding told the court, “During the disorder on July 30 the Windsor Mini Mart was subjected to looting and damage. On Aug 9, the owner shared CCTV with the police and the defendant was identified as one of the people involved. He was captured entering numerous times between 9.30pm and 10pm, throwing items around and looting.”

Maddocks was remanded into custody ahead of his sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday (16). He is among many who have appeared in court in recent days over offences committed during the riots. Amid the fast-tracked court activity, a minister has also urged insurers to make speedy payments to damaged businesses.

It was earlier reported that on the day of the rioting, Chanaka Balasuriya, the 47-year-old owner of Southport’s Windsor Mini Mart, closed the store and went home early as the tensions rose in this area. While at home, he watched his shop being broken into and getting looted via the shop’s CCTV cameras on his phone. 

He watched helplessly as a crowd hurled bricks at the windows and set a bin alight near the shop’s entrance. The protesters broke in and emptied shelves of cigarettes and alcohol. 

However, help poured in the next day as the community gathered to help the retailer and his family. After hearing about the store’s condition. The owner of a nearby beauty salon set up a crowdfunding campaign raising more than £11,000 for repairs. A local builder replaced his windows for free. One of his suppliers turned up with a cabinet of ice cream. 

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