These are the latest ECHO headlines this morning.
Thug broke wife's back in vicious assault then refused to take her to hospital
Jonathan Hall repeatedly kicked his partner as she lay defenceless on the floor, continuing to rain down blows even after she pleaded for him to stop. The incident came only weeks after the couple were married, and was followed by two further domestic assaults.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, that the 47-year-old and his victim Amanda Lomax had been in a relationship for around six years before being wed in September last year. But her mum refused to attend the ceremony as she was "appalled at the prospect" of him marrying her daughter, with their romance having been marred by a troubled history.
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Police had been called to their house in Warrington "on several occasions", including once in 2019 when Hall allegedly broke her elbow - although he never faced criminal charges in relation to this accusation. The joiner was handed a non-molestation order banning him from contacting Ms Lomax during 2020 - a court order which he later breached - and a domestic violence protection order imposed similar restrictions for a short period in May 2021.
On October 16, the couple had been drinking at home. The complainant was lying on the floor when Hall began repeatedly kicking her to the lower back.
Read the full story here.
Barman sent naked pictures of himself to '12-year-old girl' over Snapchat
A barman sent naked pictures of himself to a "12-year-old girl" - but unbeknown to him, he was actually being caught in a sting by undercover police.
Louis Howard claimed to be aged 15 as he attempted to solicit indecent images from the decoy Snapchat account. The 22-year-old also collected a sick stash of videos of children being raped and distributed such materials online.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, that the university student sent a friend request to the profile - which was being operated by an officer from the regional crime squad - in October last year. Howard, of Trouville Road in Anfield, falsely stated that he was a 15-year-old boy, and over a four-week period "engaged in conversation which was evidently sexual".
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The paedophile asked the youngster for photographs of her naked and in her underwear, instructing her to take off her top and skirt. He also sent her pictures of himself in his boxers, then removed his pants and sent snaps of his penis - telling her: "You have made me very hot."
Merseyside Police then raided Howard's home, with the defendant being present and arrested. His mobile phone was seized, and was later found to contain 37 indecent images of children. Read more here.
Locksmith's warning after seeing rise in 'new burglary trick' that 'takes seconds'
A Merseyside locksmith has issued a warning after noticing a "new burglary trick" being used to gain unwilling access to people's homes.
Lynton Christian, a locksmith based in Wirral, sent the warning this week after seeing what he called a "new burglary trick" used multiple times to gain access to people's homes. Lynton told the ECHO the "trick" involves putting a magnet, or some other flat object which can be stuck, across the bolt-hole of the door of the home they wish to enter during daylight hours when the occupants are home.
The trick "takes seconds" meaning homeowners could even be in the front room when the object is placed, blocking their door bolt from closing and preventing the lock from working. All it requires is that the door is left unlocked or ajar by the homeowners for a moment.
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He said the burglars' intention is to then return to the home later, as the occupants are sleeping or out of the house, so they can enter freely due to the lack of a working lock.
Lynton stressed he wasn't warning people with a view to profit as a locksmith, but hoped people would take extra care to "Stop, look and check," their locks before going to bed. He said the "new trick" relies on the homeowner not discovering the reason why their door isn't locking and hoping for the best, or putting off acting on it until the next morning, by which time the criminals may have already struck.
Read the full story here.
