These are the latest ECHO headlines this morning.
Supporters weep as man jailed for 'terrifying' attack on girl
Supporters of a former taxi driver who dragged a teenager into his flat and pinned her down during a terrifying attack wept as he was jailed.
One woman watching from the public gallery screamed ‘no’ and cried out as John Stanley was handed an 11 year jail term, of which at least seven will have to be served behind bars. The 35-year-old tricked the 17-year-old girl into his car back in 2018 and later forced her into his flat before choking her on his bed. She was only able to escape after hitting him over the head and running from the flat
Stanley denied false imprisonment but was convicted by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this year. Yesterday, at his sentencing hearing, the court heard how he coaxed the girl into his car in the early hours of October 3, 2018, along with a friend and an unidentified man with whom they had been speaking.
READ MORE: Man dragged girl, 17, into flat and pinned her to bed by the neck
He told her he needed help getting home and she later told police she attempted to help him despite feeling uncomfortable. However, when Stanley drove off from the club he quickly dropped off the girl’s friend and the other man separately and then drove the girl to a flat.
She protested the entire way, pleaded with him to call her a taxi and said she wanted to leave. He ignored her, dragging her in the flat by the head and locking them both inside.
Read the full story here.
Young dad robbed a stranger after marching him to cash machine
A young dad robbed a stranger in Birkenhead after marching him to a cash machine.
Neil Griffiths, 27, and a friend approached the victim at 3am on a winter morning and asked him if any local pubs were open. The victim told Griffiths and the companion there were none open at the time of day.
Following this there was pushing and shoving and the victim was elbowed in the face, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday. Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, said Griffiths, who had been drinking since 5.30pm the previous day and his friend then took him to a nearby ATM and made off with the £65 he was made to withdraw.
READ MORE: Shots fired by masked men during daylight chase
The victim suffered soft tissue swelling to his face, knee and hands. Griffiths, of Brunswick Court, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to the robbery which took place on 20 February, 2020.
The court heard he has previous convictions and is to appear before magistrates for assaulting an emergency worker earlier this year. Judge David Potter said because of his bad record only immediate imprisonment was appropriate and jailed him for two and a half years.
Read more here.
Shots fired by masked men during daylight chase
Shots were fired by four masked men during a daylight chase on a busy street.
Police were called to Mill Lane, Wavertree just after 6.10pm to reports four masked men in dark clothing riding a bike and a scooter were chasing one another when a shot was fired. An hour later, officers were called to a house on Mill Lane where they found damage to a window consistent with shots being fired.
There were no reports of any injuries, and police said they believe the attack was targeted. At one point Mill Lane was closed in both directions due to the incident, with eyewitnesses reporting a large police presence on roads surrounding the area, including Deverell Road. The police helicopter was also seen.
READ MORE: Girl, 12, fighting for life after being hit by van as she got off a bus
There were several police scenes with one police cordon outside a group of houses and another, much larger scene, at the junction with Deverell Road, near a bus stop. Police were seen conducting a fingertip search at the second scene, and searching down a drain.
Eyewitnesses told the ECHO the area is "usually quiet". One man who lives near to the scene outside the house said he "heard a pop", however thought it might have been a firework. It was only when he saw forensics and a cordon he said he realised it was "something serious."
Read the full story here .
