A Netherton woman accused of leaving a baby alone in a house has denied a charge of child cruelty.

Ashley Mossman, 29, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday October 18 after police forced entry into a property in Hereford Drive, Netherton.

Mossman, of Hereford Drive, pleaded not guilty to neglecting a child at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today.

Sarah Gray, prosecuting, said police were alerted to a child being alone at the address.

Mossman, with black hair and wearing a white top, spoke only to confirm her name and address at the hearing.

She appeared distressed during the proceedings.

The court heard the child was not injured in the incident and is now in the care of relatives.

Mossman was released on bail with conditions not to have contact with the child unless under the supervision of social services.

The bench agreed the case was suitable to be heard at magistrates’ court.

A trial date has been set for January 11 at Sefton Magistrates’ Court in Bootle.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

Two men will stand trial accused of kidnapping two women before raping them in a Toxteth carpark.

The men are alleged to have attacked the pair in an area behind Cain’s Brewery, Stanhope Street, on July 21 this year.

Keith Anthony Marlow, 31, of Cooperage Close, Toxteth, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today after being arrested on Tuesday October 20.

A co-defendant, Anthony John Standish, 26, of Shelmore Drive in Toxteth, appeared in court on October 2.

Marlow faces one charge of rape, two charges of kidnap and one of assault, while Standish faces one charge of rape, one of kidnap and one of assault.

The court heard they deny the allegations and will plead not guilty.

Marlow, with dark brown hair and wearing a grey Nike jumper in the dock, showed no emotion as magistrates refused bail and remanded him in custody.

The case was passed to Liverpool Crown court where Marlow is due to appear for a preliminary hearing on November 5.

Standish also appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on October 16 and was remanded in custody.

A trial date for both defendants has been set for March 21 in the new year.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

This is the woman who claimed to be related to Steven Gerrard to swindle a disabled man out of £3,000 by offering him bogus shares in Facebook and Liverpool FC tickets.

Laura Mason, 29, used the name Louise Gerrard to suggest she was a family member of the Anfield legend as part of a “wicked fraud”.

Mason sobbed as Liverpool Crown Court heard how she led the vulnerable 51-year-old, who has a brain injury, to believe they were developing a “sexual and loving relationship”.

But Judge Denis Watson, QC, told the convicted benefit cheat: “I’m not impressed – pull yourself together” before jailing her for eight months.

Mason, of Lobelia Avenue, Walton, said she did not know at first that the her victim was struggling to cope with a serious head injury suffered in the 1980s.

However, Judge Watson said: “Once you began to speak to him you would have become aware of his vulnerability. But you had your claws into him by then.”

Mason told him she was related to the former Reds captain after seeing that he was a Liverpool fan and offered tickets in return for cash. He made 28 payments totalling £2,905.

Mason even arranged for the pair to meet at a pub in Southport, but she did not turn up.

Anya Horwood, prosecuting, said: “He was investing not only his finances but his emotional attachment.”

Mason, with red hair and glasses and wearing a black cardigan in the dock, admitted fraud.

She was previously sentenced to a community order for benefit fraud in December 2013.

Charlotte Pringle, defending, said her client knew the offence was “completely disgraceful”.

Judge Watson said: “You played on the names of people associated to Liverpool FC to lend an air of authenticity to the claims that there would be match tickets available.

“This was a particularly wicked offence of fraud, hot on the heels of a community order for benefit fraud.”

Mason wept as she was jailed and told to pay £300 in compensation.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A Merseyside PC who single-handedly tackled a robber armed with what appeared to be a handgun is up for a bravery award.

The incident took place when PC Paul Kirwin, 47, who is based in Maghull, was with a colleague on uniformed patrol in Litherland in July 2013.

While driving their marked police car through the shop precinct car park on Pendle View, Litherland, PC Kirwin became suspicious when he saw an agitated man standing in an alleyway.

PC Kirwin told his colleague to drop him off and drive to the rear of the shops. He then made his way to the end of the alleyway where saw the man leaning into the rear of one of the shops.

He saw that the man’s arm was outstretched and that he was pointing a black handgun at the terrified staff members inside.

As the man tried to look around PC Kirwin took hold of the male and grabbed his arm to prevent him pointing the gun.

A violent struggled then ensued during which PC Kirwin was able to restrain the man, causing him to drop the handgun, which turned out to be an imitation firearm.

He was then arrested for attempted armed robbery for which he was later charged.

The man, who has not been named, pleaded guilty at court to attempted robbery and possession of a firearm with criminal intent. He was given a 12-month supervision order.

PC Kirwin has now been nominated in the Police Federation Bravery Awards, which are presented annually to honour police officers who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off-duty.

He has already been recognised by Merseyside Police and received a Chief Constable’s Commendation and Award of Merit for the incident.

Merseyside Police Federation chairman Peter Singleton said: “There is no doubt that PC Kirwin’s quick thinking and outstanding bravery led to the arrest of a very dangerous individual, prevented the commission of an offence of a robbery, reduced the trauma that the shop staff suffered and prevented the male committing any further offences and trauma to other members of the public.”

The awards will take place on Tuesday, October 27 and nominated officers will attend a reception at Downing Street and an evening awards ceremony.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A student avoided jail after admitting conspiracy to supply ecstasy from Garlands nightclub.

Alex Kirkpatrick, 20, ​was arrested after an undercover Merseyside police operation ​in the Liverpool city centre venue​ in December last year.

Kirkpatrick, of Coppice Grove, Greasby, pleaded guilty to the charge at Liverpool Crown Court and was sentenced to 10 months in a youth offender’s institution, suspended for two years.

The popular club, in Eberle Street, was subjected to a three month closure order following a huge raid by Merseyside Police investigating drug supply in Liverpool’s clubland on February 12.​

Up to 200 revellers were turfed out into the street as officers raided the venue midway through a busy club night. ​Club bosses have since been given the go ahead to re-open after agreeing to stringent licensing conditions.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A woman who cut up her boyfriend from Runcorn’s T-shirt and shoe laces after she found text messages on his phone from another woman was then assaulted by him, a court has heard.

But Paul Perry avoided going to jail after a judge heard that his victim, Kerry Ferrow, had forgiven him.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday that she had spent the day drinking with Perry, having about 10 cans each, and they went up to bed at her home in Speke mid-evening.

At about 11.15pm she found the messages on his mobile phone and after she cut up the items they began arguing.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said: “He punched her in the face knocking her to the floor.

“While she was crouching on the floor he started to throw items at her including a television and chest of drawers.”

She went downstairs and he followed, calling her names and again punched her to the floor followed by further blows to her head.

He walked into another room and the terrified and shaking victim managed to leave and went to a friend’s home.

The police arrived and arrested him and she was taken to hospital and found to have a large cut to her forehead which required seven stitches and bruising to her back, shoulders and wrist.

Perry, 35, told police he could not remember what had happened very well but accepted he was responsible.

Perry, of Collier Street, Runcorn, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm on August 21.

Recorder Stephen Bedford, judge, told Perry, who has previous convictions including assault: “If I give you an immediate sentence you deserve I would be punishing the victim.

“You should think yourself very fortunate that she has a forgiving attitude because the court is not always so forgiving.”

The judge imposed a six-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months, ordered him to attend probation courses, carry out 180 hours unpaid work and to pay £500 compensation and court costs totalling £260.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A sacked Merseyside police officer accused of selling sensitive intelligence to a “major” cocaine dealer says payments into his accounts came from selling Liverpool FC tickets.

Ex-PC Barry Parkinson, 45, is accused of selling police information to underworld associates to keep them “one step ahead”.

The dad-of-two is also accused of passing on the addresses of suspected cannabis farms to criminals as part of a conspiracy to break in and steal the drugs.

He denies misconduct in a public office, conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to supply cannabis between January 1 and June 27, 2014.

Parkinson, of Beechburn Crescent, Page Moss , denied any knowledge of a conspiracy at Liverpool Crown Court .

Under questioning by Trevor Parry-Jones, defending, he said his links to Robert Gerrard Sloan, 44 – who prosecutors say “dealt cocaine by the kilo” – were actually due to their shared love of watching LFC.

He told the court he has known Sloan since he was a child and they became good friends in around 2002 and went to many away games together.

He said at one point he had to inform police of their friendship after another pal they were with was arrested for a public order offence at an away match in Reading.

Parkinson said he was a season ticket holder who has only missed two games at Anfield since 1984 due to his honeymoon and an operation.

He told the jury he got “lots of tickets” for games through friends with contacts at the club, some of which he sold at face value.

But the court heard he sold others for hundreds of pounds including to fans in Scandinavia.

Parkinson said: “I’ve always been known as someone who could get tickets. I’ve sold tickets to probably half of the bosses who work at Admiral Street police station.”

He said these officers would probably not “back him up”, but on Friday afternoons at work he would receive multiple texts and calls about trading tickets.

The defendant said: “I’m very well known, a lot of people know me from the football and obviously with my job people saw me as a trustworthy person.”

He said he had a friend called Ian Kelly who ran a sports company in Norway selling tickets and would regularly receive payments between £100 and £1,200 from him.

Parkinson said another friend called Tony Shields, who had contacts at Anfield and was good friends with former Reds striker Robbie Fowler, would also give him tickets to sell.

The Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, Liverpool Crown Court. File picture. Photo by Ian Cooper

He said: “He would pass me the tickets and say see if you can spin them and we will get a drink out of them.”

Parkinson worked in the police for more than 18 years, first in Manchester and then in Merseyside from 2003.

He was fired in May this year after pleading guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office.

He was a Field Intelligence Development Officer (FIDO) in Liverpool South Basic Command Unit from 2006 to 2014.

Prosecutors say he was plagued with debt and borrowed £30,000 from his sister-in-law in July 2013.

He also admitted borrowing £15,000 from his brother to help pay off two credit cards and other loans, including one run-up by one of his daughters, but denied having significant debts.

He said: “To me I was just like a normal person, I had some debts, I had some loans.

“I still went to the football every week, went out for some drinks and something to eat with my wife, my friends and family.

“I enjoyed a good social life to be honest.”

Sloan, of Steeple View Kirkby ; David Gould, 52, of Grange Avenue, West Derby ; and Shaun Blackburn, 30, of Kenbury Road, Kirkby; all deny conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Sloan has pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office.

David Nuttall, 44, of Bonnington Close, St Helens , denies conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

He has already pleaded guilty to production of cannabis and abstracting electricity.

(Proceeding)

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A man disabled his smoke alarms and set fire to his flat after his doctor refused to give him a sick note.

Mark McCaffrey, 39, poured white spirit over a pile of his possession and climbed on to the roof of the building on Cawthorne Avenue, Kirkby , Liverpool Crown Court heard.

He pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered at an earlier hearing and was today locked up for four years.

Frank Dillon, prosecuting, said Sarah Eaton, who lived in the flat below McCaffrey, was awoken by her smoke alarm at 5.30am on April 23 this year.

She alerted Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service after noticing smoke outside her window.

Mark McCaffrey, 39, of Cawthorne Avenue, Kirkby jailed for four years for arson after setting fire to his flat because a doctor wouldn’t give him a sick note.

Mr Dillon said: “Around 25 minutes after Ms Eaton was awoken, police were called to the flat after reports of a male on the roof.

“Police attempted to negotiate with the defendant, who said he was unhappy with a Dr King because he wanted to be signed off from work.

“He told officers Dr King had laughed at him and said he was fine, but claimed he had a personality disorder and had conversations with himself.”

He claimed his benefits had been stopped and “that’s why he did it,” the court heard.

Mark McCaffrey, 39, of Cawthorne Avenue, Kirkby jailed for four years for arson after setting fire to his flat because a doctor wouldn’t give him a sick note.

The court heard five fire engines were required to attend the blaze, which took hold near a gas pipe running through to McCaffrey’s kitchen.

Mr Dillon said plastic bottles of an accelerant, believed to be white spirit, were found in the flat and that the fire had been started on a pile of “combustible material” in the lounge and on a settee.

Smoke alarms had been fitted in the flat but investigators found vital components had been removed, rendering them inactive. These were later found in a kitchen bin.

Mr Dillon said if the downstairs neighbour had not raised the alarm the “fast, free flowing fire” could have spread quickly and “endangered the lives of other occupants” in the block of flats.

McCaffrey was talked down from the roof and detained in Whiston Hospital under the mental health act. He was later deemed to be fit for custody and arrested.

Mark McCaffrey, 39, of Cawthorne Avenue, Kirkby jailed for four years for arson after setting fire to his flat because a doctor wouldn’t give him a sick note.

Augustine Iro, representing McCaffrey, said his client had thrown a set of weighing scales at Dr King’s PC after being denied a sick note, and had been subsequently sent a fine in the post.

He said his client was then sent threatening letters from bailiffs after being unable to pay the fine, and described this as the “catalyst” for the offence.

Mr Iro said: “I would like to suggest that Mr McCaffrey is a man for whom life’s difficulties have overwhelmed him.”

A spokesperson from Merseyside Police said: “It was only through sheer luck and the quick response of our partners in the fire service, that this fire didn’t seriously injure or even kill someone.

“Today’s sentencing shows just how seriously the courts take these types of crime and while it cannot undo the hurt caused to neighbours and the damage caused to their properties – we hope it goes some way to offering them some closure.”

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A former Merseyside police officer accused of being the “inside man” in a plot to burgle cannabis farms admitted lying to help out a suspected drug dealer.

Ex-PC Barry Parkinson, 45, is alleged to have sold sensitive intelligence from force databases to underworld associates to keep them “one step ahead”.

The dad-of-two is also accused of passing on the addresses of suspected cannabis farms to criminals as part of a conspiracy to break in and steal the drugs.

He denies misconduct in a public office, conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to supply cannabis between January 1 and June 27, 2014.

Parkinson, of Beechburn Crescent, Page Moss, told Liverpool Crown Court today that he did not know of any conspiracy.

Under questioning by his representative Trevor Parry-Jones, he also denied having any role in providing information about potential addresses to target.

However, Parkinson accepted that he agreed to help fellow Liverpool FC fan Robert Gerrard Sloan, 44 – who prosecutors say “dealt cocaine by the kilo” – with some problems.

He said Sloan told him he no longer wanted to work as a bouncer and bailiff but as a taxi driver instead “for an easier life”, but was being chasing for debts.

Parkinson said: “I came up with a plan. I said to him ‘to keep people away and get out of this sort of work, why not say you have had money seized and been up for money laundering?’

“Most criminals know if you lose something and you’ve lost money, you’re given a leeway by other criminals and that they won’t chase you for that money.

“I told Robbie ‘just say you’ve had your money seized for money laundering and people will leave you alone’.”

Parkinson said he did not think Sloan was a criminal, adding: “I didn’t believe he had ever been in trouble with the police”.

But he admitted creating a file on a work database saying that Sloan’s car had been stopped – using the name of an officer based in St Helens – despite the fact this never happened.

He went on to write that cash in Sloan’s car boot was seized because it was unaccounted for and that his pal was arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

Mr Parry-Jones said: “Was the content of that document true?”

“No,” he replied.

Parkinson was part of a team dealing with sensitive police intelligence on an electronic system known as Niche, covering F Division.

Prosecutors say he sold information to Sloan about suspected cannabis farms.

They say Sloan passed addresses to another alleged drug dealer, David Gould, who in turn told an associate called Shaun Blackburn to burgle them.

Parkinson – who says he was friends with Gould but had never heard of Blackburn – told the jury it was his job to go through daily report sheets.

Mr Parry-Jones said: “Were you specifically keeping an eye out for premises being used for the growing of cannabis?”

He replied: “In relation to the F Division, I would keep a general look out for everything but we would look at cannabis farms – that was part of our role.”

Parkinson said he also looked at reports for other neighbouring divisions, despite it not being a regular duty, because he wanted “to keep abreast of what was going on”.

Sloan, of Steeple View, Kirkby; Gould, 52, of Grange Avenue, West Derby; and Blackburn, 30, of Kenbury Road, Kirkby; all deny conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Sloan has pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office.

David Nuttall, 44, of Bonnington Close, St Helens, denies conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

He has already pleaded guilty to production of cannabis and abstracting electricity.

(Proceeding)

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

Refresh automatically On | Off 2:51 pm Neil Docking BAIL REFUSED

Bail has been refused for Cooper and Smith.

All five defendants have been remanded in custody.

That concludes today’s hearing.

Thanks for following my updates.

2:32 pm Neil Docking BAIL APPLICATIONS

Bail applications are being held for Cooper and Smith.

The court has now gone into chambers while there are heard, meaning all members of the press and public must leave the courtroom.

We should know the result of the bail applications shortly.

2:32 pm Neil Docking DATES

Mr Unsworth says a trial was originally expected to last two to three weeks and will now last three weeks as there are five defendants.

Clarke can be heard crying over the video link. The other defendants are silent.

The court hears a plea and case management hearing will be held at this court on January 8 next year.

Judge Conrad says a trial has been set for March 7 next year before Mr Justice Davies at Preston Crown Court.

It is expected to last three weeks.

All five are currently in custody.

2:14 pm Neil Docking VIDEO LINK

The defendants are appearing via video link from HMP Altcourse, HMP Liverpool and HMP Styal.

Williams, with dark hair, is wearing a white sweatshirt. He is sat with Smith, with short black hair and wearing a grey sweatshirt.

VIEW GALLERY  

Stuart, with short dark hair, is wearing a white polo shirt.

Blonde-haired Clarke, wearing a white top and black cardigan, and Cooper, with dark hair and wearing a grey top, are sat together.

2:11 pm Neil Docking PRELIMINARY HEARING

Today is a preliminary hearing before Judge Alan Conrad, QC.

Ian Unsworth, QC, is prosecuting.

Williams, 18, is defended by Tim Forte.

He is alleged to have taken a Mitsubishi pick-up truck during a burglary in Birkenhead.

It is alleged that as he was being pursued by police, he drove the vehicle directly at PC Phillips, killing the dad-of-two.

Williams is also charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to PC Thomas Birkett, who jumped out of the way as the car ploughed into Pc Phillips.

He also faces additional charges relating to the initial burglary and aggravated vehicle-taking of the pick-up truck during a break-in at an estate agent’s in Oxton, on Monday, October 5, when a cash till, fishing equipment and electrical items were stolen.

1:55 pm Neil Docking PC DAVE PHILLIPS

A teenager accused of murdering Merseyside PC Dave Phillips is to appear at Liverpool Crown Court.

Clayton Williams, 18, of Wheatland Lane, Wallasey, is alleged to have taken a Mitsubishi pick-up truck during a burglary in Birkenhead.

He is accused of driving it directly at the dad-of-two while being pursued by police.

Solicitor representing Williams say he is “adamant he did not intend to injure, let alone kill” PC Phillips.

The officer was trying to use a “stinger” type device to puncture the pick-up truck’s wheels when he was struck in Dock Road, Wallasey. He later died in hospital.

Co-accused Philip Stuart, 30, of Mayfair Court, Prenton, is also due to appear on charges of burglary and aggravated vehicle-taking.

Three people charged with assisting an offender will then appear in court.

Georgia Clarke, 19, of Knowsley Road, Wallasey; Dawn Cooper, 34, of Wheatland Lane, Wallasey; and Michael Smith, 19, of Widmore Road, Gateacre; all face a single charge of burning and attempting to dispose of the clothing of a murder suspect.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A family dispute left a man with permanent brain damage after his heart stopped beating when he was assaulted by his sister’s partner.

Victim Craig Martin, 29, survived a massive cardiac arrest following the attack by Richard Hughes, 31, but has been left with life changing injuries.

Hughes has pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Martin and appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today.

The court heard he left his address in Challis Street, Birkenhead, at around 8am on Sunday, March 27, and travelled to Mr Martin’s home in Wallasey.

Hughes has accepted going into the house and punching the victim, who was asleep on a couch at the time.

But the court heard Mr Martin was born with a congenital heart defect, and suffered a cardiac arrest after the attack.

His brain suffered irreparable damage after being starved of oxygen for up to 45 minutes, leaving him unable to recognise danger and requiring constant supervision.

Mr Martin’s mum and brother desperately performed CPR before paramedics arrived to rush him to Arrowe Park Hospital, where he was eventually revived.

Hughes was due to be sentenced today but a dispute over whether the attack was premeditated has delayed proceedings.

Judge Graham Morrow, QC, ordered the case to be adjourned for a Newton hearing – when a judge hears evidence on disputed facts that could affect the severity of a sentence.

The issue revolves around Facebook messages allegedly sent by Mr Hughes in the run up to the assault.

Peter Hussey, prosecuting, said police had been unable to access Hughes’ Facebook account after he claimed he had forgotten his password.

Brendan Carville, representing Hughes, says his client admits he was aware that Mr Martin had a medical conditions, but claims he did not realise the full extent of it.

A basis of plea, signed by Hughes, said: “On the morning of the assault I went to speak to Craig but I lost control.

“I hit him once on the head and he put his arms and legs up. His mum came into the room and said stop fighting in my house, and then I woke up and stopped hitting him.

“I didn’t appreciate the extent of the injuries I had caused or I would have stopped and helped; when I left he was sitting up on the couch.”

The incident followed an argument between Hughes and his partner’s sister’s new boyfriend.

Mr Carville said his client claimed threats had been made that he would be shot, and he wanted to speak to Mr Martin to find out where the boyfriend lived.

Mr Hussey said the prosecution does not accept that Hughes went to the address simply to speak to Mr Martin, but with “intent to assault.”

A Newton hearing is due to take place before Judge Morrow on December 18. Hughes was released on bail.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A former school dinner lady from Huyton was jailed after slashing her neighbour’s neck with a broken wine glass.

Elaine Murphy, 53, had invited the Lynne O’Neill into her home to resolve a previous argument before attacking her on July 22.

Murphy, formerly of Wetherby Court in Huyton but now of no fixed address, was jailed for two years and seven months at Liverpool Crown Court today after pleading guilty to wounding.

The court heard the victim needed nine stitches to a 4cm laceration on her neck following the attack, and had been left permanently scarred.

Murphy had also made been the subject of a two year suspended prison sentence for arson in February, after she cut the wires to smoke alarms before setting fire to her own property in an apparent suicide attempt.

Chris Taylor, prosecuting, said: “The complainant returned to her home address around 8pm on July 22.She and this defendant were neighbours.

“She heard the defendant banging around near her property and went to speak to her. It is accepted that there had been some tension between the parties.

“She decided to take the opportunity to discuss things and smooth them over so there would not be any conflict between them.”

Mr Taylor said Murphy invited the Ms O’Neill into her home for a drink, and at first the atmosphere was “amicable,” with the parties drinking vodka and listening to music together.

However the mood soon changed after Murphy made a comment about the victim’s son, who had recently been attacked with a bottle causing “severe injuries and disfigurement.”

Mr Taylor said: “The complainant readily accepts losing her temper and hitting the defendant with a closed fist, but the defendant reacted by breaking a wine glass and sticking it into her head and neck.”

A medical report said the victim suffered a superficial wound to the right side of her head, a 3cm wound below her right ear and a “full thickness” 4cm wound to the side of her neck.

The court heard police were called shortly after midnight and Murphy was arrested, shouting: “I get attacked and I get f****** arrested? F****** d********.”

A victim impact statement from the victim said: “I have suffered a permanent scar on my neck and as a woman I feel self conscious, and I feel that people are looking at it and judging me.”

Frances Hertzog, representing Murphy, said the attack was not premeditated and that the complainant had attacked her client first.

The Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, Liverpool Crown Court. File picture. Photo by Ian Cooper

The court heard Murphy had developed a serious drinking problem after the death of her parents in the late 1990s, which was exacerbated when she lost contact with her children.

Ms Hertzog said: “The Elaine Murphy that presents without a drink in her would never dream of doing what Elaine Murphy with drink inside her did.”

She said her client “wanted to die” and had no motivation to stop drinking, because it was the only thing that “numbed the pain.”

The court heard she formerly worked as a dinner lady and a cleaner but had to give up work due to her drink problem.

Ms Hertzog said Murphy had amassed 10 convictions for 13 offences since 2010, despite having never been in trouble before the age of 48.

She said: “When she drinks alcohol, bad things happen.”

Judge Andrew Hatton, sentencing, said the offence was aggravated by the use of a weapon and the fact that Murphy broke the glass before striking the victim.

He handed down a 12 month prison sentence for the latest offence and re-sentenced Murphy to 19 months in prison for arson, to run consecutively.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

An aggressive hospital patient – high on cocaine and booze – lost part of his hand after being Tasered and leaping from a window.

Patients and staff at Southport hospital were left terrified by Alan McClean’s erratic behaviour, which included roaming around the premises in a threatening manner and twice jumping out of a window.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that before his leap, which left him with life-changing injuries, a police officer was forced to Taser him but it had no effect and he ripped the barbs from his torso.

PC Darren Regan Tasered him again but again to no effect and McClean jumped out of the window severing an artery in his left wrist and injuring his hand.

He was chased and found to be trying to get into the rehabilitation room and making threats to staff and patients who had barricaded themselves in.

McClean, 40, lost a finger, a large part of his hand and was told he was lucky to be alive.

The court heard that McClean first turned up at the hospital on July 26 and was admitted for tests for stomach pains.

Police were later called to calm him down as he had become agitated and was walking up and down the ward frightening everyone.

At 9.50 am the next morning “he again became agitated and threatening and was roaming around causing fear and distress,” said Mr Bisarya.

He left the medical aid unit and after jumping out of the window in the physiotherapy ward and then ran back round to the medical aid unit and was found in a small room where a terrified nurse was cowering against a table to keep away from him.

PC Regan and another member of staff saw McClean was displaying signs of extreme paranoia including saying that the officer was not real and refusing to calm down.

When he approached the officer and refused to step back he was Tasered twice before leaping from the window.

Mr Bisarya said: “He was bleeding heavily from his artery and it was believed if he did not receive immediate medical attention he might die.”

More police officers arrived and McClean was restrained. The nurse who had been trapped with him in the room was unable to return to work for several days because of anxiety.

When questioned McClean, who had taken cocaine and alcohol, said he had no recollection of the incident.

He said he had gone to a friend’s home in Croxteth for a few drinks and the next thing he woke up in hospital with his hand in a cast.

McClean, of Waddicar Lane, Melling, who has previous convictions including wounding, pleaded guilty to affray and was jailed for 16 months.

Judge Jonathan Foster, QC, said, “I don’t know what got into you that day, you cannot remember anything of it. The likelihood is you were high both on alcohol and cocaine, both of which you admitted you had taken. That day something went terribly wrong.”

John Rowan, defending, told the court that McClean had turned to drugs as a means of escape.

He lost almost a third of his hand as a result of the incident, partly because of gangrene and has voluntarily referred himself to a drugs rehabilitation team.

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Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A Liverpool man has been found guilty of leaking sensitive, personal data relating to almost 100,000 Morrisons supermarket staff, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Andrew Skelton, 43, a senior internal auditor at Morrisons, of Water Street in the city centre, was jailed for eight years after he posted the data on the internet and sent it to newspapers due to a “grudge”.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court heard that Skelton leaked the information in response to a warning he was given after the company found out he used the mail room at Morrisons’ HQ to send out eBay packages.

The data breach cost the Bradford-based company more than £2m to rectify.

Today the jury of seven women and five men found Skelton guilty of fraud by abuse of position, unauthorised access to data with the intent of committing an offence and disclosing personal data, the CPS said.

The trial, which began on Monday, heard that data containing information including salaries, national insurance numbers, dates of birth and bank account details were sent to The Guardian, Trinity Mirror Newspapers and the Bradford Telegraph & Argus last year. It was also uploaded to data-sharing websites.

Prosecutors told the jury the defendant was subjected to disciplinary action in 2013 after a package was found in the mail room at Morrisons’ HQ.

Skelton admitted he had been using the mail room to conduct eBay deals and he was given a warning.

The police investigation into the data breach led to detectives discovering a draft resignation letter that Skelton has written around the time of the disciplinary matter.

The jury heard the letter spoke of the “anger and frustration that had not diminished with the passage of time” and how Skelton had “scant regard” for the firm.

David Holderness, of CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “Andrew Skelton was in a position of considerable trust with access to confidential personal information as senior internal auditor at Morrisons.

“He abused this position by uploading this information, which included employees’ names, addresses and bank account details, on to various internet websites.

“He then attempted to cover his tracks and implicate a fellow employee by using this colleague’s details to set up a fake email account.

“The potential loss to his victims and the sheer quantity of potentially-compromised data was very significant and could have resulted in employees’ identities being stolen.

“The sentence imposed today sends out a very clear message that we will robustly prosecute serious fraudsters such as Skelton who believe they are above the law."

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A Liverpool primary school headteacher neglected an elderly dog until the animal smelt like “rotting flesh”.

Susan Horncastle, 60, of Brookthorpe Close, Wallasey, left West Highland terrier Snowy “suffering on numerous levels” until it had to be put down.

Horncastle, the headteacher at The Our Lady of Good Health Primary School in Wavertree, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Wirral Magistrates’ Court today.

The court heard that an animal welfare officer called at her home on July 10 after concerns were raised about the welfare of the dog.

There was no answer but the officer could smell an “overpowering” stench of “rotting flesh”.

The 17-year-old dog, which had an untreated ear infection and an infected tumour on its rear, was later taken to a Wallasey veterinary surgery, where staff initially thought it was dead.

Upon examination it was found to be alive, but was put to sleep to end its suffering.

Magistrates were told Horncastle was a “lady of good character” with no previous convictions.

She pleaded guilty to one charge of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to seek veterinary treatment.

Chris Murphy, prosecuting, said: “When the dog was found he was in a very poor condition and he had to be put down on humane grounds.

“Inspector Anthony Joynes from the RSPCA took the carcass to Holly Jones, a vet, who said his ribs could clearly be seen and he was covered in faeces.”

Further analysis from a second vet found the dog to have “greasy and matted” fur and loose teeth.

Mr Murphy added: “The vet said the dog was in a shocking condition after several weeks, if not months, of suffering on numerous levels.”

The court heard Horncastle had initially denied owning any animals.

She later said that she had looked after the dog for four years on an ‘on/off basis’ when her sister, who lives in London, was in Australia.

Matthew Harvey, defending, said that Horncastle suffers from two forms of arthritis and has limited mobility.

He said: “My client has never appeared in court in her life and the experience has been terrifying for her.”

Horncastle will be sentenced at Wirral Magistrates Court on November 30.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

FORMER Everton and England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been fined and made subject to a restraining order after he pleaded guilty to sending a series of abusive tweets, phone calls and messages to his ex-girlfriend.

The 48-year-old also pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court to the common assault by beating of paparazzi photographer Steven Shepherd and damaging his glasses after spotting him secretly taking shots of him.

Gascoigne admitted harassing Amanda Thomas, his girlfriend of five years, during a two-week period in March following their split at the end of last year.

The court heard the couple met after Gascoigne moved to the Bournemouth area where he underwent rehab treatment for his alcoholism.

Paul Gascoigne signs an autograph outside Bournemouth Magistrates Coourt today

Gascoigne, who now lives in Poole, Dorset, sent a number of foul-mouthed and threatening messages and Tweets accusing Miss Thomas of being a “slag” after she began a new relationship with Andrew Stone, another photographer who works with Mr Shepherd.

The defendant’s solicitor, Gavin Harris, told the court that Gascoigne had felt harassed by the pair of photographers.

He said that Gascoigne was prescribed “extremely strong psychiatric medication as a direct result of the behaviour of the Press towards him.

“He feels pressure was coming at him from all sides and he cracked. He was unwell at the time, he has recovered and is regretful of his actions towards Miss Thomas.”

District Judge Stephen Nicholls sentenced Gascoigne to a community order for 12 months with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was issued with a restraining order for two years prohibiting him from contacting Miss Thomas or making comments or posting material about her on social media.

Judge Nicholls warned Gascoigne, who wore a dark suit and grey shirt with no tie, that if he breached the restraining order he could face up to five years in prison.

Gascoigne was also fined £100 for the harassment and ordered to pay £235 court costs and £1,000 compensation to Miss Thomas, £100 to Mr Shepherd and £200 for the broken glasses, as well as a £60 victim surcharge.

A further charge of harassment in relation to Mr Stone was dropped by the prosecution.

Judge Nicholls told Gascoigne: “The harassment is aggravated by your use of Twitter. You were aware you have many followers on Twitter and as a result of the harassment it spread to many people. You wouldn’t know how people would respond and gave no thought to how people would respond.”

After sentencing, the former footballer did not speak to reporters and was driven away in a waiting car.

Mr Harris said: “Mr Gascoigne would like to thank the court and furthermore he has made great strides in putting his life back on track in the past year and he would appreciate the opportunity to continue in his recovery. We do not wish to say anything further about the charges faced today.”

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

The court case against a Merseyside MP accused of assaulting a woman at a polling station has been adjourned for a third time.

Marie Rimmer, Labour MP for St Helens South and Whiston, is accused of attacking a pro-independence campaigner during the Scottish referendum campaign more than a year ago.

The sheriff at Glasgow Sheriff Court today granted permission for the case to be adjourned again until November 25.

Marie Rimmer, 67, was one of many Merseyside MPs who travelled to Scotland to support the No campaign last year, urging Scots not to abandon the union.

But the MP has been charged with assaulting a campaigner for independence outside a polling station in Glasgow’s east end on September 18, the day of the referendum.

She did not appear in court today, and has not yet entered a plea.

Labour MP Marie Rimmer

The MP, who previously led St Helens council, previously pleaded not guilty to assault at a hearing last year.

But she walked free as the case collapsed after an alleged mistake by prosecutors, with the sheriff throwing out the case when he noticed that the location, Glasgow, was missing from the charge.

Scotland’s prosecution service re-raised the case against the MP, but it was adjourned in August, September and now this month pending consultation with lawyers.

Marie Rimmer, a former Pilkington employee and councillor for more than 30 years, only joined the Commons in May this year after increasing Labour’s majority in St Helens South and Whiston by 50%.

She was appointed to a top Westminster justice committee role earlier this month despite the upcoming trial.

The trial date is yet to be confirmed.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

Stephen French’s 10-year campaign to portray himself as a reformed gangster and born- again Christian today lay in tatters as he was locked up over a dramatic city centre gun showdown.

The 53-year-old, nicknamed The Devil because he struck such fear into the drug dealers he “taxed” and tortured, claimed a Road to Damascus-style conversion had put an end to his evil ways.

Today, in a letter to the ECHO, French issued an apology “to the whole of Merseyside” as he began a three-year spell in jail.

He was jailed for pistol-whipping a city businessman with an imitation gun over a money dispute – before dumping the weapon and a machete into the Mersey.

The armed siege to accost him saw parts of the city centre cordoned off as stunned locals and tourists watched on.

VIEW GALLERY

A two-page letter – signed off as “ST French, formally ‘the Devil’, now ‘the Fighting Preacher’ claimed: “I pistol-whipped a punk and I believe it saved my life. I truly do.”

Liverpool Crown Court yesterday heard how French, a partner in a successful debt collection business, and his victim, Paul Smith, traded insults and threats by text before arranging a “confrontation” at the offices they both rented out at the Il Palazzo complex, in Water Street.

He pulled out a £90 Sig Saeur air pistol he bought hours before at a store in Whitechapel as a skirmish spilled into the public lobby before a terrified receptionist.

Ninety minutes later, an “agitated” French, dressed in his trademark suit, was seen near the Museum of Liverpool cradling an item wrapped in a handkerchief, which he dumped in the river.

A stainless steel air gun and an eight-inch machete were later pulled from the water.

Judge Stephen Everett accused French of “hypocrisy”, after hearing how he had worked as an anti-gun campaigner helping city youths avoid a life a crime.

Character references written in support of French described him as a “humanitarian” who had “chosen to turn his back on his old lifestyle”.

Judge Everett told French, formerly of Eleanor Park, Prenton, he was wrong to take the law into his own hands.

He told French: "Having […] taken part in high-profile campaigns, particularly to guns and knives, you will appreciate the strong sense of hypocrisy that comes across as a result of your actions.

“Here is a man who professes strong sentiments about gun and knife crime, when then, on February 21, resorted to using an imitation gun and taking at least, if not using, a bladed weapon.

“The hypocrisy comes through very clearly.”

French’s barrister, Peter Killen, told the court that French pulled the weapon on Mr Smith in fear for his safety.

The day before the showdown, Mr Smith sent a message to French warning: “If I lose money out of this pension s***, I will end you, you daft ****.”

Another message said: “If you want to meet, I’ll meet, if you want to fight, I’ll meet.”

Mr Killen said: “The defendant was disturbed by the threats he had received by Smith.

“That is the reason why he had purchased the items before the meeting.

“He was afraid of Paul Smith, who he believed to be capable of very serious violence – particularly with the text message to “end” him, which Mr French believed to be a threat to his life. He believed they were serious threats.

“He felt he couldn’t avoid Mr Smith.”

Mr Killen added: “It is of considerable regret to him that this conduct, this offending, will undermine the credibility of his work.

“As he said to me, it is 10 years’ work ruined by one day’s madness.”

The area of the waterfront that was closed off

While acknowledging that French was threatened, the judge said he had “no sympathy” and told French he should have gone to the police.

He told him: “You took the gun to meet fire with what you thought was going to be fire.

“What you did was more akin to a gangster than a businessman.”

On arrest, French told police he had been attacked and had wrestled the gun from Smith. He told police: “A man tried to kill me today. I took the gun off him.”

But he later admitted that he bought the gun and the machete, which he did not use in the confrontation.

Judge Everett told how the drama unfolding in the city centre had aggravated the offence.

French admitted possession of a firearm and possession of a bladed article.

SIGNED BY THE DEVIL: ‘I accept my crime. I will accept my punishment’

STEPHEN FRENCH today vowed to “accept his punishment” in a letter sent to the Liverpool ECHO.

He claimed that he pulled the gun on Paul Smith in fear for his life, and had been residing in the Hilton hotel for his safety.

In the candid letter, penned from his cell, he addressed a section to the “young men that trusted me and followed me”.

He wrote: “I accept my crime. I will accept my punishment.

“I take full responsibility for my actions.

“I have written to the receptionist to apologise for the distress that my behaviour caused her.

“For this I am truly sorry, I have to serve a prison sentence. This is only fair.

“The police in this instance never acted corruptively. They did not need to.

“I pistol-whipped a punk and I believe it saved my life. I truly do.”

A police officer climbs out of the River Mersey with the gun

French, once one of Britain’s most feared gangsters, tells how he took this “punk’s threat seriously” and admits: “I am a flawed man”.

He signs off with an apology “to the whole of Merseyside” and said he took matters into his own hands because of a distrust of the police. French, who claims that his house has been petrol- bombed and his family threatened, concludes: “I tried my best to live in peace but this punk just would not leave me. I do not trust the police.

“I know you think I should have gone to them but they wanted me dead as far I was concerned.”

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A man has been charged over an assault in Dovecot in which a man suffered facial injuries.

Alan Martin Brady, 33, of Seacroft Close, in Stockbridge Village , has been remanded in police custody and will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, October 30, charged with actual bodily harm.

Merseyside Police were called to a property on Alstonfield Road at 12.50am, this morning, following allegations that a 37-year-old man had suffered injuries to his face.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and Brady was later arrested on suspicion of assault.

Part of Alstonfield Road was cordoned off today while police carried out investigations.

Forensics officers could be seen in the street with cardboard and green sheets appearing to protect potential evidence lying on the road.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

A teenager stabbed a dad-of-five to death in Bootle before getting his older brother to dispose of the knife.

Steven Tucker, 51, died in hospital after being attacked in an apartment block in Wadham Road on Saturday, August 1 this year.

Andrew Blood, 17, today admitted his murder, while Kenneth Blood, 33, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Kenneth also accepted committing assault causing actual bodily harm against Mr Tucker, in the moments before he was stabbed by Andrew.

The brothers, both of Bedford Road, Bootle, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon via video link from HMP Wetherby.

Andrew, with short brown hair and wearing a grey sweatshirt, and Kenneth, also with short brown hair and wearing a white t-shirt, spoke only to enter their guilty pleas.

Members of Mr Tucker’s family cried in the public gallery during the brief hearing.

Defence barristers requested pre-sentence reports for the pair.

However, Simon Medland, QC, defending Andrew, accepted that his client was facing a life sentence.

Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, said the brothers would be sentenced on December 7.

The Recorder of Liverpool remanded both defendants in custody until their next court appearance.

Police officers found Mr Tucker after being called to the flat at around 12.15pm following reports of a disturbance.

Steven Tucker

Speaking after his death, Mr Tucker’s family described him as a “hard-working, decent, man”.

They said: “Everyone who knew him loved him for the kind man he was. This has sent a shockwave through the family.

“We are all absolutely devastated that dad’s life has been taken away.

“He was always the joker whether he was with the family around the table or with his friends in his local pub.

“He has left behind five loving children and all we want to do is to continue to make him proud.

“Rest in peace Dad, we will always love you.”

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/