A gang of vigilante killers, a murderer's mum and a "cannabis martyr" were among the Merseyside criminals jailed last month.
Also locked up during February was a burglar whose secret life of crime was exposed after he was shot in the legs. Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a DJ turned dealer used his "big horrible Serbian mate" to enforce a £100,000 drug debt as he traded using the secret codename "Masked Swan".
Here are the faces of 50 criminals who were imprisoned in our region over the past few weeks:
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Thanh Hoang
A golfer got more than he bargained for when he went looking for balls in a bush.
The man was searching for stray golf balls in shrubbery near to Kirkby Valley Golf Club when he discovered a loaded sawn-off shotgun hidden inside a pillow case. When convicted drug dealer Thanh Hoang's DNA was found on the firearm, he claimed that he had previously come across the weapon while out metal detecting.
The 43-year-old admitted possession of a firearm during an earlier hearing. Hoang bowed to the judge and said "thank you" after being locked up for five years.
Gary Youds
A "cannabis martyr" told police that he was "saving the city by producing the fruits of the earth for the people" when they discovered his grow.
Gary Youds, a well-known campaigner for the legalisation of the class B drug and the former owner of a "cannabis café", had been supplying cannabis oil to a dying man free of charge in order to ease the pain of his terminal cancer. However, a judge at Liverpool Crown Court found that he had also been producing and selling "purple haze" for profit.
Youds pleaded guilty to production of cannabis, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of cannabis during an earlier hearing. He was jailed for three years after "commercially benefitting" from his farm.
Jack Williams
A man raped a woman while she slept and later bit her before demanding she perform oral sex on him.
Jack Williams committed a number of sexual offences against a woman, leaving her "emotionless" and "hollow". He forced her onto her hands and knees, ripped off her clothes, touched her sexually and refused to let her leave the room.
The 24-year-old admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, sexual assault, rape and sexual assault by penetration and another serious criminal offence in addition to a criminal damage charge, as well as robbery after targeting a 15-year-old boy for his bike. Williams was sentenced to 11 years and two months behind bars
Ryan Jones
A convicted heroin and crack cocaine dealer trafficked a boy in care to work in the supply of drugs hundreds of miles away from his home.
The teenager told staff at the children's home where he was living that he was going fishing in Wales before Ryan Jones put him on a train from Liverpool Lime Street to the south west of England.
The 27-year-old admitted arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation. He was jailed for an additional 43 months - to be served consecutively to his current four-year term - and given a 10-year slavery and trafficking prevention order.
James Quinn
A shooting plot unravelled when a gang member crashed his motorbike as he attempted to make his getaway from the scene of the incident.
Edward Dutton, Anthony Jones, Nathan Kelly and James Quinn travelled together in convoy in a hired Mercedes and on two motorcycles before opening fire with a pistol on the streets of Dingle while children played nearby. They then sped off through residential roads, but were forced into an unexpected "clear up" effort in a desperate bid to avoid detection when one of the bikers smashed into a car and broke his ankle.
Each defendant was found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fire of violence by a jury. Kelly was also convicted of dangerous driving, while Quinn admitted further counts of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and possession of criminal property.
He received a total of nine-and-a-half years behind bars. Dutton was jailed for six years, to be served consecutively to his current prison term, while Kelly and Jones were both handed five years.
Arron Waite
A man barged into a neighbour's flat and dragged him off his bed before battering him with a 'kettle'.
Arron Waite dragged his victim from his bed to the floor before repeatedly kicking him, then struck him in the face with a "heavy object" that was believed to be a kettle. The attack knocked the man out, and he awoke covered in blood at 6am the following day after being discovered by his landlord.
The complainant was left permanently scarred as a result. Waite admitted wounding and was jailed for two years.
Shaun Bennett
A convicted rapist embarked on a “campaign of violence” against a girl he sexually assaulted.
Shaun Bennett pulled his teenage victim into an alleyway before forcing her hand down his trousers and attempting to touch her indecently. The 19-year-old smashed her head against a wall before she managed to flee.
He then threatened to "stab her nan in the back" online. Bennett was sentenced to 13 months inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two years for making threats to kill, to be served consecutively.
Georgina Grant
A dealer caught with more than £1,000 of class A drugs in her knickers has been jailed.
Georgina Grant had the stash of heroin and crack cocaine hidden inside her body when police came knocking on the door of co-conspirator Mark Morley, who was caught red-handed dealing in a white van. Another man, Benjamin Williams, attempted to flee the clutches of officers but was then arrested in a shop in possession of a large stash of cash.
Grant, who appeared via video link to HMP Styal, admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine while Williams, who was screened remotely from HMP Buckley Hall, pleaded guilty to these charges and possession of criminal property. They were imprisoned for 2,045 days each, this being the minimum seven-year term for third-strike drug traffickers minus a 20 per cent reduction due to their guilty pleas.
Janette Mercer
The mum of Rhys Jones' killer Sean Mercer has been jailed after helping another of her sons to evade justice.
Janette Mercer was previously locked up for three years back in 2009 for perverting the course of justice, having told lies to detectives investigating the 11-year-old schoolboy's fatal shooting at her son Sean Mercer's hands. The now 63-year-old appeared back before Liverpool Crown Court on having been convicted for a second time after pleading guilty to assisting an offender.
This charge relates to another of her three sons, Joseph Mercer, whom she helped to remain at large while he was wanted over drug supply offences. Janette Mercer was imprisoned for nine months.
Stuart Farrell
A wholesale drugs trafficker from Whiston was snatched by Spanish police in Madrid as he tried to board a flight to Dubai.
Stuart Farrell was one of hundreds of organised criminals exposed by the EncroChat encrypted phone network hack in 2020. An investigation revealed he was the man behind the handle "OutoOut", which had been used to trade "multi-kilos" of cocaine.
The 54-year-old fled the country in a bid to avoid arrest, but his luck ran out on October 2, 2021 as he tried to fly to the United Arab Emirates. He was convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and locked up at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, where he was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Shaun Byott
A woman suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung after she was pushed down the stairs by her ex-boyfriend.
Shaun Byott, of Lowerson Road in Clubmoor, attacked his former partner in the early hours following a drunken night in the pub. Her face was also left "covered in blood" following the assault.
Byott admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and possession of cannabis, in relation to a small quantity of the class B drug discovered upon his arrest. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for nine months.
Martin Lamb
A DJ turned dealer used his "big horrible Serbian mate" to enforce a £100,000 drug debt and saw £15,000 as small change.
Martin Lamb secretly used the codename "Masked Swan" as he trafficked up to 123kg of heroin, cocaine and cannabis. The profits of his involvement in the underworld and connections abroad allowed him to pay for a luxury apartment in an exclusive gated development overlooking Sefton Park as he shipped drugs as far afield as London and South Yorkshire.
Lamb admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis and possession of cocaine. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 10 years.
Sajmir Neziri
A van driver was caught with 20 bin bags filled with cannabis when he was pulled over by police.
Sajmir Neziri was tracked along a the M53 before being stopped near to the entrance to the Kingsway Tunnel. He later claimed he was being paid to dispose of the "waste material" from a large scale cannabis farm as an "odd job".
Neziri admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for six months.
Kevin Patten
A man who harassed his ex-partner for months and crashed his car into hers during a pursuit laughed in court as he heard how it affected her.
Kevin Patten "lay in wait" for his victim before tailing her, then intentionally smashed into her vehicle twice. He was jailed for 15 months.
Paul Crawley
A drug dealer found with £40,000 in cash allowed his flat to be used for drug production.
Paul Crawley pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply cocaine, one count of possession with intent to supply cannabis and one count of being in possession of stolen goods. He was jailed for four-and-a-half years and blew a kiss goodbye to his partner as he was taken down to the cells.
Kevin Connell
A known drug dealer was found with 97 wraps of cocaine hidden up his bottom.
Kevin Connell was caught red-handed when police spotted him completing an illicit transaction. He was jailed for 44 months.
Carl Price
Two county lines drug dealers exploited a teenager and told him to hide drugs inside his body.
Andrew Hansen, 49, of Yelverton Road, Anfield, and Carl Price, 29, of Curate Road, Anfield, both appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday. The two men were involved in transporting and selling drugs between Liverpool and Colwyn Bay, Wales, and used the boy as part of their operation.
Price was sentenced to nine and a half years imprisonment. Hansen was handed a seven-year sentence.
Peter Melia
A granddad was caught with more than £11m of cocaine and heroin hidden inside bags for life when his van was pulled over by police.
Peter Melia was stopped on the motorway while couriering the huge stash of class A drugs, which was concealed in a hidden compartment inside his vehicle.
Melia admitted possession of cocaine and heroin. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for 10 years and eight months.
Erland Spahiu
Eight men have been jailed for life after abducting and brutally murdering a former boxer.
Christopher Hughes' mutilated body was discovered on a country road on the outskirts of Skelmersdale by a dogwalker after he was bundled into the back of an Audi by and viciously attacked. The 37-year-old suffered nearly 100 separate injuries, having been hunted down by a vigilante gang who wrongly believed the dad had raped a teenager.
Erland Spahiu, of White Moss Road in Skelmersdale, was found guilty of murder and kidnapping. The 34-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 35 years.
Curtis Balbas, of Matheson Drive in Wigan, pleaded guilty to murder and kidnapping. The 30-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 34 years.
Martin Smith, of Greenwood Avenue in Wigan, was found guilty of murder and kidnapping. The 34-year-old shook his head, took a sip of water then threw his plastic cup to the floor after he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 33 years.
Razgar Mohammed, of Plane Avenue in Wigan, was found guilty of murder and kidnapping. The 40-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years.
Alan Jaf, of Ridyard Street in Wigan, was found guilty of murder and kidnapping. The 52-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 26 years.
Khalil Awla, of Greenwood Avenue in Wigan, was found guilty of murder and kidnapping. The 48-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 26 years.
Dean O’Neill-Davey, of Conrad Close in Wigan, was found guilty of murder and kidnapping. The 30-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years.
Erion Voja, of Peall Road in Croydon, was found guilty of murder and kidnapping. The 21-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum of 23 years.
He ranted at the judge after learning his sentence, saying: "I know myself, I'm no murderer. I'll get my justice one day you t***."
Voja continued his outburst after being led into the cells, where he reportedly began punching walls. He added: "I don't give a f*** any more."
Andrius Uzkuraitis, of Holly Road in Wigan, was acquitted of murder and kidnapping but convicted of assisting an offender. The 27-year-old was jailed for six years.
Nathan Benjamin
A thug told police "it happens" after kicking a man in the head when fighting erupted outside a chicken shop in the early hours.
Nathan Benjamin left his victim seriously injured and requiring surgery to have metal plates fitted to his face when a drunken brawl broke out following a night out in Liverpool city centre. He has been left permanently scarred by the vicious blow, which was delivered as he ran away while being chased by two attackers.
Benjamin admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and was jailed for a year.
Liam Southart
A drug dealer was taken to hospital after stashing a Kinder Surprise egg filled with heroin and crack cocaine up his bum.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Liam Southart was spotted by police riding around Rimrose Valley Country Park conducting drug deals at around 9pm on April 11 last year. Peter Hussey, prosecuting, described how officers stopped the 22-year-old and found he was in possession of more than £1,200 in cash, while his iPhone was "constantly ringing".
He refused to provide the pin number for this mobile, and then had to be escorted to hospital as he had secreted a Kinder egg internally. Once produced, this was found to contain 14 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine worth up to £140.
Southart admitted possession of heroin of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply during an earlier hearing. He was jailed for 32 months.
Alan Thomley
A tearful pervert cried and wailed as he was jailed after being caught in three paedophile hunter stings.
Alan Thomley engaged in lewd online chats with three decoy accounts posing as what he believed were teenage girls aged as young as 13. The 51-year-old asked one of the supposed youngsters what colour her underwear was and exposed himself on video while in the bath to the others.
Thomley admitted three counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of attempting to incite a child to watch sexual activity and three counts of attempting sexual communications with a child. He was jailed for 45 months, handed a new lifetime SHPO and told to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
Curtis Byrne
A burglar and drug dealer was rumbled as he lay in a hospital bed after being shot in the legs.
Curtis Byrne's secret life of crime was exposed when police became suspicious of his behaviour as he recovered from injuries sustained in the terrifying attack. Messages, videos, screenshots and notes which were subsequently found on his phone then linked him to a whole host of offences.
Byrne admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and theft and being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis. He was jailed for seven years.
Kyle Johnson
A teacher's head was stamped on as he lay unconscious outside a takeaway after a night out in Liverpool city centre.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that CCTV operatives were alerted to an incident outside Mamos Gourmet Kitchen on Bold Street shortly after 2am on November 4 2021. Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, described how victim Ryan Barndon was seen on camera lying unconscious in street before defendant Kyle Johnson stamped on his head, walked away briefly then returned and delivered another stamp to his body.
Johnson admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for six months.
Lee O'Donnell
An EncroChat dealer was caught by police after he admitted in messages who he was and how he drove a hackney cab.
Lee O’Donnell, 28, of Mostyn Avenue, Old Roan, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, February 16 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis, money laundering and possession of criminal property. O’Donnell used the Encrochat handle "ToxicMantis" from March 2020 to June 2020 and was given the nickname ‘Scarface Anfield’ by other users due to a scar on his face and Anfield being where he used to live.
Officers were able to identify O’Donnell after he revealed his own first name and that he was a hackney cab driver. Officers managed to find out he used his cab to transport drugs during the Covid-19 lockdown.
O’Donnell also bragged on Encrochat about purchasing a television from a specific store and officers were able to find evidence and further details about the transaction. He was jailed for nine years at Liverpool Crown Court.
Alan Cashman
A pyromaniac who was previously jailed for life for setting fire to a curry house said "I feel sick" after he was outed as a paedophile.
Alan Cashman held daily lewd chats on Facebook with what he believed was a 14-year-old boy and exposed himself during a video call. But, unbeknown to him, he was being ensnared in a paedophile hunter sting.
Cashman admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity and attempting sexual communications with a child. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 20 months as well as being handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period.
Kyle Dickinson
A man's eye popped out after he was hurled into a fruit machine during a sickening attack at a pub.
Kyle Dickinson continued stamping on his innocent victim's face even after inflicting the horror injury, which has blinded him for life in one eye. The thug then began boasting about his unprovoked attack by playing pranks using a fake plastic eyeball while retelling the events.
Dickinson admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and was jailed for 28 months. He fist bumped a supporter in the public gallery behind the dock before being led down to the cells, having also been handed a restraining order banning him from contacting Mr Norris for 10 years.
Philip Slater
A drug dealer was caught after police on patrol noticed a strong smell of cannabis.
Police officers on patrol in St Helens spotted Philip Slater on a bike and they could smell cannabis coming from him. He was searched and found with 35 bags on him, and a red “zkittlez” snap bag pouch with 3.47 grams of cannabis in it.
More clear bags were found containing 3.44 grams of cannabis, packaged into one ounce deals worth around £30-50 each. A further 34 grams of the drug was found in another bag, split into £10 street deals totalling around £380.
One bag of cocaine holding to 0.68 grams, and £288.94 in cash, were also found. Slater was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment after admitting possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
Christopher Smith
A paedophile has been sentenced to six years in prison for a number of child sex offences.
Christopher Smith, 41, of New Brighton, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on after pleading guilty to a number of offences. The charges included engaging in sexual activity with a child, making indecent photographs of a child, distributing indecent photographs of a child and taking indecent photographs of a child.
Anthony McGee
A drug dealer broke down in tears and confessed that he had heroin and cocaine stashed between his buttocks after being caught "red handed" by a drone.
An airborne camera captured Anthony McGee in the act of selling illicit substances on the streets of Liverpool city centre. Despite initially making attempts to hide his drugs, he then revealed that he had hidden hundreds of pounds worth in his underwear.
McGee admitted possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 34 months.
Kieran Salkeld
A street gang thug told a judge "nice one" after being locked up for stamping on a man's head as a woman screamed for him and his accomplice to stop.
Kieran Salkeld, 28, and Jake Duffy, 22, were recorded on a Ring doorbell camera cornering victim Sam Searson in the front yard of a property on Highfield Road, Rock Ferry, at 11.45am on December 23 last year. Some of the footage had been shared on social media and showed both Salkeld and Duffy kicking, punching and stamping on the helpless Mr Searson for around a minute.
One of the defendants can be heard in the clip shouting to a screaming woman "mind your own business alright, he's a little ken robber" before the victim of the assault mumbles "I don't rob kens lad". Salkeld replied "nice one" after he was jailed for 27 months while Duffy was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to unlawful wounding without intent and affray at an earlier hearing.
Thomas Barton
A homeless man was slashed with a knife outside a Tesco store by another rough sleeper after an argument erupted about a stolen "pitch".
Thomas Barton repeatedly stabbed his victim Robert Jones in front of shocked shoppers, having apparently moved in on his usual spot in the car park outside. He has been left with permanent injuries as a result of the vicious and "potentially deadly" attack.
Barton admitted wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for six years and handed an extended two-year licence period.
Ahmed Hassan
A man has been jailed for holding stolen motorbikes for thieves operating across the north west.
Ahmed Hassan, 34, of Ullswater Street, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to five counts of handling stolen goods. He was jailed for nine months.
Christopher Cheyney
A drug dealer who was freed from jail on day release failed to return for nearly six months.
Christopher Cheyney racked up a cocaine debt while serving his sentence in an open prison, and went on the run having apparently been put under pressure to smuggle illicit substances inside in order to pay off these monies.
Cheyney admitted being a temporarily released prisoner unlawfully at large. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, the dad was handed an additional eight months behind bars.
Lucel Tugui
A taxi driver carried out a sickening sexual assault on his passenger after she fell asleep in the back of his vehicle.
Lucel Tugui drove past the woman's home and instead took her to a remote location, where he performed a series of vile acts on her. But the "devious predator" was caught out after the incident was recorded by a CCTV camera inside his car, with the footage having captured him "smugly" saying "she has no clue what happened" after dropping his victim off following his attack.
Tugui admitted causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault by a jury last month. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for 12 years.
Samuel Hulmes
A man with martial arts training who “knew he had a hard punch” followed and attacked a man in an act of “revenge”.
Samuel Hulmes, 34, of Haydock Street, Newton-Le-Willows, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to one count of causing actual bodily harm. Hulmes was sentenced to 16 months, saying “wow, wow” as he was taken down to the cells.
Kevin Spaine
A child actor's life spiralled into drugs and crime before he became a killer.
Kevin Spaine was the boy who delivered the iconic "Acrrington Stanley, who are they?" line in the famous 1980s advert for the Milk Marketing Board. But he was this week convicted of murdering Learoy Venner at a flat on Belmont Drive in Anfield in summer last year.
The 53-year-old was viciously punched and kicked to death. Spaine was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years.
Finley Griffiths
A teenager pretended to be an Amazon delivery driver before trying to force his way into a vulnerable victim's home.
Finley Griffiths, 18, of Neville Close in Prenton, targeted a man who he wrongly suspected of being a sex offender while armed with a knife. Griffiths was given a total custodial sentence of five years and five months.
Adam Gilbert
A prolific robber who targeted a Halifax bank and post office pointed an imitation gun at staff.
Adam Gilbert, 37, of no fixed abode, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery and two counts of possessing an imitation firearm on September 9 last year. Gilbert was sentenced to ten and a half years imprisonment, plus an extended licence of 5 years.
Catalin Iordan
A man has been jailed after spending two years on the run for breaking his victim's jaw behind the Everyman Theatre.
Catalin Iordan, of Vandyke Street, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to one count of causing actual bodily harm. He was imprisoned for two years.
Craig Lyon
A former bantamweight boxer broke a man's ankle during an “unprovoked assault” in a Bold Street restaurant.
Craig Lyon appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on after pleading guilty to one count of wounding and to assaulting an emergency worker following the incident at Elif in November 2021. Recorder Tania Griffiths KC sentenced him to 99 weeks imprisonment.
Andrew Ratchford
A paedophile who offered a 14-year-old ‘girl’ money and clothes and asked to meet at a hotel room claimed he knew he was being duped by a paedophile hunter group.
Andrew Ratchford of Gainford Road, Knotty Ash, was found guilty after a four day trial of one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in a sexual act. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment.
Sonny Collins
Teenage boys texted each other they would "get something nice" as they planned to rob school children in Sefton.
Sonny Collins, now 19, of Maple Close, Bootle and Micky Teany, also now 19, of Hawthorne Drive, Kirkby, sent text messages to each other on February 23, 2022 where they planned to "target vulnerable school children as they were leaving school". In the messages, the pair said they would "get something nice" and "catch a few on their way home".
Collins was given a total custodial sentence of six years, to run consecutively with a two year custodial sentence for the previous section 47 assault. Teany was given a total custodial sentence of nine years.
Gyulhan Hyusein
A vile predator followed a teenager before dragging her into an alleyway to sexually assault her.
Gyulhan Hyusein, 25, attacked the woman as she was walking to her partner's home at 3am on Sunday, October 16, following a night out with friends. He admitted two counts of sexual assault and was jailed for 10 years.
Craig Roberts
A man throttled his ex-girlfriend with the cord of her dressing gown and threatened to "set her up" with a cigarette lighter.
Craig Roberts subjected his estranged partner to a horrific ordeal in her own flat over the course of nearly a whole day before she finally managed to flee. He also brandished a hammer and dragged her around by her hair after breaking into her home as she slept in the early hours.
Roberts admitted intentional strangulation, assault and criminal damage during an earlier hearing. He was jailed for 27 months and handed a five-year restraining order.
Keiron Williams
A drug dealer snarled "I'll show you who the gangster is" before beating a terrified teenager to death in an internet café.
Three brothers, their friend and a 14-year-old boy were jailed for life on Friday for the ferocious and brutal murder of 18-year-old Michael Toohey on London Road in Liverpool city centre on April 16 last year. Leading the attack was Keiron Williams - described as either the head or near the top of an Everton based organised crime group involved in a "turf war" with another gang, although the full facts of the rivalry are not clear.
The 28-year-old, of no fixed address, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years in prison. Anthony Williams of Hillbrook Drive, Walton, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years in prison.
Michael Williams of Carlake Grove, Walton, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years in prison. Steven McInerney, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years in prison.
The 14-year-old boy was sentenced to life in detention with a minimum term of eight years in prison.
Danielle Smith
Victims with learning difficulties were pursued by bailiffs after the deputy manager of their supported living accommodation stole £10,000 from them.
Danielle Smith helped herself to thousands of pounds belonging to three vulnerable service users whose finances she had been entrusted to oversee. She wept in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court as she was locked up for 18 months for her callous crimes while families of the residents celebrated her imprisonment.
Luke Hutchinson
A heroin and crack cocaine dealer was caught selling drugs outside an Iceland supermarket.
Hutchinson admitted possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 31 months.
Olivia Crutchley
A woman left her grandad penniless after inventing a legal battle with B&Q and billing him for her supposed solicitors fees.
Olivia Crutchley stole nearly £75,000 from the man she described as her "best friend", cruelly conning him over the course of more than 18 months in order to fund her drug addiction. The 23-year-old bombarded the pensioner with a slew of fake emails purporting to be from lawyers and the Citizens Advice Bureau as she apparently attempted to sue her former employer, despite having never actually worked for the DIY giant.
Crutchley, who has no previous convictions, admitted fraud during an earlier hearing. Appearing in the dock wearing a black Fred Perry t-shirt and with her brown hair tied back, she was jailed for two years as a supporter wept in the public gallery.
Alex Ward
A drunken man assaulted his victim and forcibly kissed her while she lay on the ground, a court has heard.
Alex Ward, of Pembroke Court, Tranmere, pleaded guilty to one count of assault and one count of sexual assault on a female. He was jailed for a year.
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