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Local News

Source: UK Community News Syndicate

Smiling killer, gang with guns in Sports Direct bag and 'Million Dolla' jailed 16 criminals from our region were locked up for a combined total of 102 years and 10 months over the past week A smiling killer who "saw red" at Cheshire Oaks, a thug who has battered three of his ex-girlfriends and a gang who stashed a gun in a Sports Direct bag after a drive-by shooting were among the Merseyside criminals jailed over the past week. Also locked up was a personal trainer who used the handle "Edible Tequila" to trade in wholesale quantities of cocaine on EncroChat. Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a thug battered a homeless woman with a stick and chased her with a knife for seemingly no reason. These are 16 defendants from our region who were imprisoned over the last seven days, being handed a combined total of 102 years and 10 months behind bars. Alexander Pearce A couple's international criminal scheme was brought down after their parcels were seized. Packages of class A drugs, disguised as multi vitamins, shipped by Alexander Pearce and Lauren Feeney were destined for the USA before being intercepted by UK Border Force. This led to police seized a total of 23,930 Nitazene tablets and 122,863 of Bromazolam, substances with an estimated street value of up to £300,000. Pearce was sentenced to six years while Feeney received a 12-month community order. Thomas Beverage, Johnathon Ford, Keiran Ingle and Reece Sands Two guns and £50,000 of drugs were discovered in a Sports Direct bag after a drive-by shooting. A volley of gunshots was fired from a BMW towards the gate of an alleyway where two men had been standing only seconds earlier. Thomas Beverage, Johnathon Ford, Keiran Ingle and Reece Sands were handed a combined total of nearly 35 years behind bars in connection with the incident as a judge told them: "Two men were close to the path of the bullets which were discharged in a residential street. This city has a terrible history of innocent victims being hit by stray bullets." Ford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm, as well as conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. Family members were seen in tears as he was jailed for 13 years and eight months and handed an additional two years on licence. Beverage admitted conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate. He was locked up for eight years and four months and given an extended licence period of a year and eight months. Ingle admitted conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, conspiracy to possess a firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate. He was imprisoned for seven-and-a-half years and told to serve an additional two-and-a-half years on licence. Sands pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm. He appeared close to tears, with his bottom lip quivering, as he was jailed for five years, after which he was seen wiping his eyes with his t-shirt as he was led to the cells. Neil Jones A speeding driver who had previously killed a 72-year-old woman then "saw red" at Cheshire Oaks a year later. Linda Donnelly, described by her family as a "devoted nan", died after being struck by a Ford Focus as she crossed Brewster Street in Bootle. Neil Jones, the man behind the wheel, went on to falsely claim that his victim had "just run out in front of him" before, just over a year later, nearly ploughing his vehicle into a family on a day out at the shopping centre. But, rather than apologising for yet more reckless driving, he instead flew into a frenzy during a terrifying episode of road rage, which also left another man "screaming in pain" when his legs were trapped between two cars. Jones admitted causing death by careless driving, dangerous driving, making threats with an offensive weapon and two counts of assault. He appeared emotional in the dock at times during the hearing, including wiping his eyes with a tissue, before he was jailed for 51 months. Stephen Rooney A couple's holiday to Turkey ended in violence after a serial domestic abuser cruelly stripped his girlfriend naked and pushed her out of their hotel room. Stephen Rooney "resorted to emotional blackmail" in order to convince his then partner to embark upon the trip in the first place, having previously left her with burns when he squirted a bottle of nitrous oxide in her face and threatened another man with a broken vodka bottle in a fit of rage. Once abroad, she was then forced to seek help from other guests while in a state of undress due to his appalling actions before the thug twice subjected her to savage beatings, one of which was so severe that it caused her to pass out. He has now been convicted of battering three of his ex-girlfriends, with his "manipulative" behaviour causing a judge to remain unconvinced by his apparent newfound remorse. Rooney was found guilty of three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation, making threats with an offensive weapon and criminal damage by a jury. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was seen with his head bowed at times during the hearing before being jailed for six years and handed an additional year on extended licence, as well as a 12-year restraining order. Carl Thornhill, Anthony Kirkpatrick, Jaron Hunter, Anthony Witterick and Paul Spencer Members of a gang who supplied more than £5million of drugs across the country have been jailed for nearly 40 years. The Merseyside-based plot, headed by Carl Thornhill, extended as far as Nottingham and Kent. Anthony Kirkpatrick meanwhile played the role of coordinator, arranging meetings between suppliers and customers. Jaron Hunter assisted in logistics by sourcing communication devices and facilitating transport, while Anthony Witterick acted as a trusted courier. Paul Spencer was linked to a key address used for storing and distributing drugs, with Michael Molyneux being the custodian of a property which was used as a stash house. Martin Winstanley operated as a customer and street level dealer, distributing drugs further down the supply chain. Thornhill was jailed for 15 years, with Kirkpatrick handed six years and three months behind bars. Hunter was sentenced to two years and three months, while Witterick was imprisoned for six years and eight months. Spencer was locked up for six years and eight months, and Molyneux received a 12-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months. Winstanley will be sentenced at a later date. Anthony Maguire A personal trainer suffered a panic attack as he was jailed over his secret activities under the pseudonym "Edible Tequila". Anthony Maguire utilised this handle on encrypted communications platform EncroChat in order to trade wholesale quantities of cocaine. This has now led to his third conviction for drug trafficking, with the armed forces veteran having turned to illicit substances after witnessing four of his friends being shot dead in Afghanistan and being seriously wounded himself during his service. While the kids' football coach was described as being "looked up to as a superhero" by his junior players, he was said to have returned to his old ways when the gym where he worked was closed amid covid restrictions. Maguire admitted one count of conspiracy to supply cocaine. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool his supporters hugged in the public gallery as he was imprisoned for nine years. Scott Gledhill A thug battered a homeless woman with a stick and chased her with a knife for no apparent reason. Scott Gledhill had to be tackled to the ground and disarmed by a brave passer-by as the shocking and seemingly unprovoked violence unfolded in front of terrified shoppers in Liverpool city centre. His reasons for attacking both her and a second stranger remain a complete mystery. But a judge told him as he was jailed: "One can only imagine what might have happened if you had not been taken to floor." Gledhill admitted affray, possession of a bladed article in a public place, two counts of assault and breaching a 12-week suspended sentence order imposed by the same court in 2024. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey prison issue jumper, he was locked up for a total of 17 months. Michael Burns A drug trafficker known as "Million Dolla" is back behind bars. Michael Burns once boasted that he had cocaine "coming out of his ears" while trading huge quantities of the class A substance via encrypted communications platform EncroChat. Having been handed a lengthy jail sentence five years ago, his past, and a £100,000 debt, came to haunt him upon his release when criminals further up the chain issued menacing threats against both him and his 79-year-old mum. This led to him agreeing to mind a further stash of cocaine in his house to keep his creditors at bay and, ultimately, serving another spell in prison. Burns admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of cannabis. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey Berghaus t-shirt, he was locked up for a further 34 months. Thomas Conder A thug "took the law into his own hands" when he found a man trying to kick down his girlfriend's front door. Thomas Conder tailed the culprit onto Scotland Road before ramming him with his van. The force of the collision knocked one of his victim's shoes off and left him flying through the air before he smashed into the back of a taxi. A judge told the dad: "Both you and he are extremely lucky that he was not killed by what you did. It is fair to say that the red mist descended to some enormous degree." Conder was previously charged with attempted murder in relation to the incident, but ultimately admitted the lesser offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and dangerous driving. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse wearing a grey Montirex t-shirt, he was jailed for two years and banned from driving for 22 months, after which he will be required to pass an extended retest.

Local News

Source: UK Community News Syndicate

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Local News

Source: UK Community News Syndicate

Need to know Huge police scene after car crashes into lamppost Merseyside Police received a report that a black Cupra had come of the road What we know so far about Huyton crash - Emergency services are currently on Liverpool Road following a serious road traffic crash in Huyton in the early hours of this morning, Friday July 24. Just before 2am Merseyside Police received a report that a black Cupra had come of the road causing damage to a lamppost on Liverpool Road - A large police scene is currently in place and there are road closures on Shellingford Road, Prescot Road, Liverpool Road, Somerset Road, Back Dovecot Place, Dovecot Place, Taurus Road, Turriff Road, Dinas Lane, Lordens Road and Fincham Road. - On X, Merseytravel said: "Due to a police incident on East Prescot Road between Finch Lane and Page Moss Dovecot, Arriva service 7, 8, 9, 10, 10A & 10B are diverted via Finch Lane and Princes Drive in both directions. We currently have no timescale for this diversion" - This is just one large cordon currently at the scene. This is near Ashover Avenue and where the main investigation work appears to be taking place. People in the area were woken up by a helicopter low in the area at around 2am - ECHO reporter Megan Banner is now at the scene. She said debris is all over the road. It appears the car hit a lamppost on a grassy verge in the middle of Liverpool Road at the junction with Ashover Avenue - Members of the public are advised to avoid the area whilst an investigation into this incident continues - Merseyside Police said: "If you witnessed this incident or have any information, CCTV or dashcam, please contact us @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with reference log 80 of Friday 24 July." - Follow the Liverpool ECHO's live updates here

Local News

Source: UK Community News Syndicate

Overseas investigation into £17m East Lancs ketamine haul Cocaine addicted Paul Farrelly pulled over on the East Lancashire Road in September last year A specialist unit is looking into the "upstream and overseas" connections to a £17m ketamine find when a van was stopped on the East Lancashire Road last year. The detail surrounding the investigation comes as a specialist team looking at bringing down the biggest crime gangs operating in Merseyside marks five years since its inception. A staggering 108 criminals have been sentenced to a combined 851 years for crimes including importing drugs, supplying guns and laundering money linked to serious and organised crime. These convictions came following investigations from the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership (OCP), which sees National Crime Agency and Merseyside Police officers work in tandem. The specialist unit, formed in 2021 as part of the government's 10-year drug strategy, tackes high-risk organised crime groups using Merseyside as a base for their criminal plots. One of the key cases the partnership was responsible in bringing through the justice system was that of cocaine addicted courier Paul Farrelly. Farrelly appeared in Liverpool Crown Court via video link from prison on Thursday, October 23 last year, after he was pulled over by police officers. Farrelly was driving down the East Lancashire Road on the afternoon of September 16 when he was stopped by officers at around 4.30pm. When they approached the van he was acting nervously with officers before they searched the Volkswagen Crafter van to find 22 sacks of ketamine. It was upon further inspection of a stack of kitchen countertops that officers found a further 13 sacks, with each of the 35 sacks containing 25kg of the class B drug totalling a "truly staggering" 875kg. Farrelly, of Redbank Close, Fazakerley, was arrested following the stop and search check before being charged with possession of Class B controlled drugs with intent to supply. He pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing before Liverpool Crown Court heard how he had been addicted to cocaine, as well as testing positive for the class A drug when he was pulled over. Speaking to the ECHO this week, the NCA’s Jon Hughes, joint head of Merseyside OCP, explained the specialist team are looking at the overseas connections to the drugs which were found to have a street value of around £17m and a wholesale value of £2m. He said: "The only thing I would say is, as, as you'd expect, with the scale of that criminality, it involves international elements and it would involve significant financing, and significant organisation and communications. "That isn't somebody working independently, and where we can investigate upstream and overseas, we absolutely will do that working with our international partners, again, a unique area of the NCA. "We're also working it down to those end users. I think with ketamine, what's often lost is the sort of public health harm. You've got our young people who consider it as a recreational drug, perhaps not initially realising the harm it's causing, but these people are presenting at health services with bladder issues. "They're unable to have a functioning bladder for the rest of their lives and the mental health impacts as well, associated to use of the drug. "I can't talk about the wider network with our investigations, we do what we can to investigate the upstream and the overseas element of it, but I would like to get the message across that those involved in this scale of criminality, we are absolutely focused on identifying evidence and prosecuting all those involved in this type of criminality." The team, comprised of a variety of specialist officers, has taken 33 firearms off the streets, secured the forfeiture of £1.8m criminal cash, and identified a further £51m in criminal benefit which is subject to confiscation proceedings. OCP Merseyside have managed to seize a total of 1,945kg of drugs with a street value of approximately £70m in the UK. This includes: - 340kg cannabis - 323kg heroin - 405kg cocaine - 877kg ketamine Sending a message to the criminals who operate in and around Merseyside, senior manager and branch commander Jon Hughes said: "We're committed to protecting the communities of Merseyside, and we will do that through ruthlessly pursuing anyone involved in serious and organised crime that will impact in the communities of Merseyside. "We'll use the unique capabilities of both our respective agencies and organizations to identify your criminality, to evidence that, to prosecute you such that you will spend significant periods of time in jail. "Not only that, we will also tirelessly go after all the assets that have been accrued as part of your criminality. There is very much a focus on the communities of Merseyside, the good, honest people of Merseyside, working hard. People involved in serious and organised crime, making vast amounts of money, that is an injustice, and what I would urge is those people in Merseyside that see that, I would urge that you report that." Merseyside Police’s Det Supt Tony Roberts, co-lead of the OCP, said: “Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership has struck a blow to criminals in the county. Every day we are closing the net on more criminals who are intent on committing serious and organised offences in the area. "Our specialist officers are using every tactic available to them and working with police in the UK and overseas in order to stop drugs and firearms being brought into and distributed from Merseyside. We’re also hitting criminals where it really hurts by depriving them of their millions in illicit profits’. "We’re determined to keep communities safe and I urge anyone with information on drug, gun and financial crime to report it to police, because even the smallest piece of information could assist our investigations and help us protect communities.” Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said: "These results demonstrate the power of a relentless, coordinated approach to tackling serious and organised crime. Through the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership, Merseyside Police is working hand-in-hand with the National Crime Agency and partners across the UK and beyond to identify, target, prosecute and ultimately put behind bars the individuals who bring misery, violence and exploitation into our communities. "Behind every arrest and conviction are countless hours of surveillance, intelligence gathering and painstaking investigative work. These successes are only possible because of the dedication of specialist officers and staff, working alongside local policing teams and national partners to dismantle criminal networks from the streets of Merseyside right through to those operating at the highest levels of organised crime. "Communities also play a vital role in helping bring these criminals to justice. Information provided by residents, businesses and local partners can be the crucial piece of intelligence that helps build a case, protect vulnerable people and take dangerous offenders off our streets. "I would urge anyone with concerns about drug dealing, weapons or organised crime to continue coming forward, because together we are making Merseyside a hostile environment for criminals and a safer place for everyone."

Westminster power shifts north to Manchester

Source: Manchester Evening News

Prime Minister Andy Burnham opens Number 10 North in Manchester, marking a decisive move away from centralised decision-making. This new hub serves as a "situation room for growth," ensuring economic strategy reflects local needs rather than Whitehall directives. Ministers and mayors will collaborate regularly to drive investment across every postcode.

Regional 17Dcd25B

Source: UK Community News Syndicate

The local community is rallying around Coronation Street icon Tracey Shaw following a deeply personal health update. The beloved actor, who was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, has shared that her chemotherapy treatment has not yielded the expected results. Her emotional disclosure has resonated widely, prompting an outpouring of support from fans and colleagues alike who are standing by her side during this challenging period.