A violent man chased his brother down the street armed with an axe before using it to smash up a sweet shop.
Frankie Parr threatened to blow up the Sweet Retreat on Elephant Lane in St Helens after getting into an argument with his brother, Andrew Parr, over money. The 33-year-old tried to contact his brother during the course of the day (March 29) but when he couldn't get hold of him, he started sending him texts threatening to smash up the shop, which was owned by his brother's partner Laura Hillcherry.
Martin Walsh, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday (November 16) how Andrew Parr reported the threats to police and he was told someone would speak to him. But that evening, Miss Hillcherry was dropping someone off home when she was told by a friend that Frankie Parr had turned up at the shop.
When she arrived there, Miss Hillcherry could hear high pitched screaming. She couldn't work out what Frankie Parr was saying but she saw he was holding an axe in his hand.
Miss Hillcherry soon realised that the right hand side of the shop window had been smashed, causing £576 worth of damage. Liverpool Crown Court heard how her husband Andrew Parr was also at the scene and Frankie Parr started running at him.
Mr Walsh said this continued with the two brothers "running up and down the street" as Andrew Parr tried to use a tree for cover. Frankie Parr said he would drop the axe if Andrew came down the street with him.
Mr Walsh said: "Clearly he decided he wasn’t going to do that." The police arrived at the scene and Frankie Parr was heard shouting "say no comment" and "you’re all grasses, you’re all sausages" as he was arrested.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Miss Hillcherry said she no longer feels safe in her own home, constantly watching over her shoulder. Her mental health has suffered and she decided to sell the sweet shop after the incident because she wasn't happy working there on her own.
Miss Hillcherry described herself as a “paranoid, nervous wreck” and said she's installed extra safety measures at her home including extra locks and CCTV.
Frankie Parr was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, November 16, alongside his nephew Gareth Parr, 19, for an attack on a man at the Vine Tavern pub in St Helens on August 6 this year.
Defending Frankie Parr, Mr Wyns Williams, said his client had "adverse childhood experiences" and he was punched first at the pub, although this didn't constitute self-defence. The court heard how Frankie Parr had a history of drug use and alcohol.
His previous convictions date back to 2001 and include criminal damage, section 20 wounding, robbery, possession of cocaine and threats with a bladed article. Sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall told the court "there's a clear pattern of violent behaviour."
Frankie Parr, of Mersey Street, had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to his role in the assault on Mr Rigby at the Vine Tavern and was sentenced to 12 months for this offence. He was also handed a two year consecutive sentence for affray for incident at Sweet Retreat in March.
This brings his total sentence to three years imprisonment with an extended three years on licence. He must also serve two thirds of this in custody before he can be eligible for parole. Parr, 33, was handed a restraining order which prevents him from contacting his brother, Andrew Parr, his brother's partner Laura Hillcherry, and their children.
His nephew Gareth Parr was sentenced to four and a half years in a young offenders institute for wounding with intent in relation to the pub attack and 12 months for breaching his suspended sentence. He was also given a 21 month concurrent sentence for possession of a bladed article at the pub.
This brought Gareth Parr's total prison term to five and a half years with an extended three years on licence. Two thirds of the sentence must be served in custody before he can be eligible for parole.
Both men were handed restraining orders which restrict them from contacting Steven Rigby.
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