A teenage boy who took part in a violent robbery said he viewed his victim “like an uncle”.
Kevin Condliffe, who can be identified after a ban on identifying the 17 year old was lifted, cried in court today as he was jailed for five years - less than a month before his 18th birthday.
The teenager joined three members of his family in robbing Thomas Edmunds, 36, and told his relatives “I’m going to bladder him”.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS CASE: Man killed by friend of 20 years in gang robbery gone wrong
Thomas Broadhurst, Kevin Nethercote and Terence Bennett were also jailed at Liverpool Crown Court following the attack on Mr Edmunds in Kirkby in May last year.
A judge ruled all four members of the gang were integral to the robbery but it was Broadhurst who caused Mr Edmunds’ death when he held him in a chokehold as the group tried to steal money from his bedroom.
Prosecutors said recordings from earlier in the evening were clear evidence that all four individuals were planning to rob Mr Edmunds and that each fully understood that violence may be used.
Ian Unsworth, QC, prosecuting, said that on one of the recordings Condliffe could be heard saying “I’m going to bladder him”.
Condliffe accompanied Broadhurst as he attacked Mr Edmunds in his bedroom while Nethercote waited downstairs and Bennett sat in his car.
After their attack, the group bought alcohol and drugs to celebrate before being arrested.
Mr Edmunds died in hospital hours later due to injuries sustained in the robbery.
Mark Russell Trafford, QC, defending Condliffe, said the teenager was deeply remorseful about his actions and that Mr Edmunds had been like a family member.
Mr Trafford said: “He saw Tom as an uncle.
“He was a man that this young man had spent some time with over the years and I think only very recently had spent Christmas with him and they played games together.
“He had looked up to him.”
He added that since being remanded in custody Condliffe had been diagnosed with ADHD and solicitors who dealt with him had noticed a marked change in his behaviour since being given proper support.
Mr Trafford said: “When we first came across this defendant he was, I would say, bouncing off the walls.
“When he got assistance it led to a young man who presents entirely differently.”
The judge, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary, QC, accepted Condliffe’s attitude may have improved while in custody.
However, he criticised him for later statements in which he tried to diminish his role in the robbery.
Interviews with youth offending officers saw Condliffe make out he didn’t know the extent to which violence would be used.
Sentencing him, Judge Menary told Condliffe: “You were up for this enterprise and you knew full well what was proposed.”
Condliffe was jailed for five years.
He will be eligible for his release after serving half his sentence.
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