Hoax attacker threatened violent assault on school attended by child survivors of Southport murders
Darren Rigby pretended he was travelling to the school with weapons and intending to harm the girls
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
Back in January, a hoax threat was sent to Greenbank High School which was so extreme it left the headteacher feeling physically sick. While there ultimately was no danger, the potential of was terrifying and led to hundreds of parents arriving at the school to remove their children.
It goes without saying that a threat to children will provoke an even more heightened response in Southport than elsewhere and it is all the more chilling that those both directly and indirectly affected by the events of July 2024 were present at the school when the email was sent.
Amid plenty of (understandable) hysteria and (less understandable) misinformation online, it is testament to the school’s response that few details were made public at the time. Had the full details of the nature of a threat which proved not to be credible been circulated that day, the panic and terror would have been significantly greater.
On Monday, the man responsible for those threats was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court and the full details of his actions were made public for the first time. I was present for that sentencing hearing and today’s newsletter gives a full account of the threats three different schools faces and how leaders were forced to respond to a situation they never could have expected.
Southport briefing
🌻 New signs have been installed at the entrance to Southport showcasing recent success in the Britain in Bloom competition. Southport’s bid for the Royal Horticultural Society’s awards last year landed the Overall Winner award, marking the first time that the national title was brought to Sefton. Southport In Bloom also took home a Gold Award and the Judge’s Highlight gong, while Southport was named the Best Coastal Town at a glittering ceremony in Brighton. New signs were installed by Sefton Council last week showcasing the success. Cllr Joanne Williams, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Southport In Bloom becoming the Britain In Bloom Overall Winner was a huge achievement, especially as it’s the first time the national title has come here to Sefton since it started being awarded in 1963. It only makes sense to put up a permanent monument to that win, reminding visitors that they’re coming to a beautiful and green town, full of passionate and committed people who work hard to keep green spaces looking their best. Hopefully everyone involved will feel a burst of pride every time they drive into Southport and get a reminder of what their efforts led to.”
⚽ Former England, Everton, Barcelona and Manchester City footballer has been announced as the first player taking part in this year’s Southport FC charity match. Duggan played last year and her return was announced on Monday, one day after she took part in Soccer Aid. Tickets are now on sale for the event which returns in August and last year saw a host of ex-footballers and celebrities take part to raise money for local causes including charities set up to honour victims of the Southport Attack. The club said: “After an incredible day last year that saw over £48,000 raised for families across Southport, we are coming back together once again for another unforgettable day for our community. Priority tickets are now available for supporters who attended last year’s match, with general sale opening next week. Expect more celebrities, familiar faces from last year, entertainment, atmosphere and a brilliant family day at Haig Avenue We are expecting this one to sell out and together, let’s see if we can raise even more this time around.”
Hoax attacker threatened violent assault on school attended by child survivors of Southport murders
By Jamie Lopez
Victims of the Southport Attack were among those at school when a hoaxer threatened to attack and kill all girls and women with a gun and knife.
Greenbank High School was forced to implement emergency safety procedures and hundreds of parents rushed to retrieve their children after an email was sent by Thomas Rigby in which he warned he was travelling to the school and would kill everyone present.
The threat turned out to be a hoax but caused fear and anxiety for staff, pupils and parents, including those traumatised from the attack which occurred 18 months earlier.
Rigby, 21, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday after admitting making threats to three schools across Merseyside over the space of a week in January. The court heard that on each occasion, he contacted the generic email address for the school and threatened to carry out deadly attacks supposedly in response to the treatment of transwomen.
He described this treatment as oppression and tyranny but at no point did he give any indication that anyone involved in any of these schools had done anything wrong or ever interacted with Rigby and the only link between the three is that they are all only attended by girls. The court heard that he was heavily influenced by drink and drugs while carrying out the offences.
On the other two occasions - at Holly Lodge Girls’ College in West Derby and The Belvedere Academy in Liverpool, he claimed he was already hiding inside the building waiting to strike and in all three he warned the only way to prevent the attacks would be for women and girls to make a public apology. On the final occasion, he demanded that Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, its chief constable, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham all join in the public apology.
Greenbank hoax.
The Greenbank email occurred on Friday, January 23, four days after the first incident at Holly Lodge.
Iain Criddle, prosecuting, told the court an email was sent at 12.53pm to Greenbank which warned that the writer was travelling to the school via taxi from Widnes. It said: “I am on my way to the school with a revolver and a machete and I’m going to shoot and stab all of your girls. You terfs are going to learn to stop mocking, deadnaming and misgendering transwomen like me. If anyone attempts to stop me, they will be shot and I will release a blood agent into the school which will poison you.”
He went on to reference the tyranny and oppression of transwomen and threatened to shoot anyone who tried to stop him, adding that the only way to stop him would be for all girls and women in Southport and Merseyside to publicly apologise.
The school was forced to quickly find a way to respond, with safer schools police officer PC Andy Ritchie and headteacher Davina Aspinall alerted within minutes. A ‘shelter mode’ was initiated which is one step down from a full lockdown and involves children being brought inside for their classes and all doors and windows secured. Ms Aspinall noted that the email landing during lunchtime made the matter all the more difficult, with more than 1,000 pupils scattered around the buildings and outdoor areas.
