In a significant development within the Merseyside criminal justice system, 21 individuals received prison sentences over the past week, following a series of serious offences. The cases, heard at Liverpool Crown Court, featured a range of crimes from drug trafficking to violent assaults.
Ciaran Clark, a 46-year-old from Widnes, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor and facilitating a child sex offence. He was apprehended when an undercover officer caught him in the act while he was en route to meet a 12-year-old girl.
Mark Evans, 37, from Southport, was sentenced to five years and seven months after being found with 65 wraps of crack cocaine and 39 wraps of heroin during a police stop search on Eastbank Street. His conviction was for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
John Thompson received a five-year sentence for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13. He was convicted on multiple counts, including engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a minor.
Peter and Paul Wilson, along with Andrew Brennan, were implicated in a multi-million-pound smuggling operation involving drugs and cigarettes. The brothers used the encrypted communications platform, EncroChat, to traffic cocaine and illegal tobacco. Peter Wilson was sentenced to 10 years and eight months, while his brother Paul received a nine-year sentence. Brennan, who sourced over £5 million worth of illegal products, was jailed for eight years.
Neale White, who attacked his girlfriend with a knife while she was holding their three-year-old daughter, received a four-year prison term. Following a violent outburst after his partner disposed of his drink, White barricaded them in a room and attempted to stab a police dog when they managed to escape.
Anthony Judge, a 51-year-old from Liverpool, faces a lengthy 16-year sentence after admitting to a conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs, alongside possessing nearly £48,000 in cash found hidden under his mattress. His offences involved significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, and ketamine.
Further notable cases included Daniel Rea, who was sentenced to seven years for dealing in heroin and crack cocaine and Graham Jones, a pensioner jailed for 32 months for trafficking cocaine and cannabis worth over £20,000. The former school teacher's descent into crime was attributed to ill health.
Jamie Crawford, a 19-year-old involved in a knifepoint robbery in Sefton Park, threw a shotgun into a neighbour's garden when police arrived. He received a five-year sentence for possession of a prohibited weapon and handling stolen goods.
David Keating broke into an elderly woman's flat in Formby and was sentenced to two years and five months for burglary after stealing valuables while she was not home. His DNA was found on a bottle of Babycham at the scene.
In a noteworthy incident linked to post-crime riots in Southport, Kevin Clark, involved in violent unrest, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for his actions, which included assaulting a police officer by throwing objects during the chaos. His actions occurred shortly after a tragic incident involving the deaths of three young girls at a nearby event.
The group behind a scheme to hide £1 million worth of drugs within citronella candles also received sentences ranging from four to six years for their roles in the smuggling operation.
This latest wave of sentencing demonstrates a firm response from law enforcement and the judiciary in addressing serious criminal activity across Merseyside, seeking to deter individuals from engaging in such actions in the future. The diverse range of cases underscores the complexities of criminal behaviour within the region, influencing public safety and community trust in the justice system.
Source: Noah Wire Services