Liverpool Crown Court Sentencing Results

David Barton, a crooked care home owner, defrauded and exploited wealthy elderly residents at Barton Park Nursing Home in Oxford Road, Southport, over 18 years from 1997 to 2013. He groomed six vulnerable residents, became their next of kin, obtained power of attorney, and manipulated their wills to steal around £4m. Tactics included threats, flattery, false rumours, and hiring psychics for 'magic spells'. Specific victims included Katy Willey and her husband Gordon, from whom he stole over £1m and attempted to claim £10m from their estate after isolating them from family; and Ronald Ward-Howlett, from whom he stole £831,000 by preying on his emotions and threatening to dispose of his ashes improperly. Barton liquidated victims' assets, sold them inflated luxury cars like Rolls Royces for £500,000 each, and stole vehicles back via inheritance. He lived luxuriously with flash cars and 19 properties funded by the fraud.

Chelsey Harwood advertised and performed illegal teeth-whitening services despite being warned it was unlawful unless done by dental professionals. She was exposed by the ECHO in January 2018 amid concerns of potential damage to customers' teeth and was caught by undercover investigators from the General Dental Council, whom she berated when their identity was revealed. This offence occurred just one year after she was jailed for conning taxpayers out of £25,000.

Rosemary Booth, general manager at Barton Park Nursing Home in Southport, conspired with David Barton to defraud elderly residents. Over 18 years, she assisted in exploiting vulnerable wealthy individuals, including pressuring victims like Katy Willey in her final days and participating in the isolation and financial manipulation schemes that stole around £4m from residents.

Michael Galea was involved in a series of gang raids from February 2015 to February 2016, where cash machines in locations such as Huyton, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Thames Valley, and Scotland were targeted with gas explosions. The gang stole about £500,000 and fled in high-performance stolen cars, utilising a modified Scania lorry for concealment and quick getaways from police.

Nanu Miah participated in a gang's criminal activities between February 2015 and February 2016, involving explosions at cash machines across Huyton, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Thames Valley, and Scotland. The group stole roughly £500,000 by blasting ATMs and escaped using stolen sports cars at high speeds, with operations supported by a converted lorry for hiding equipment and vehicles.

Anthony White was involved in a gang that conducted raids between February 2015 and February 2016, targeting cash machines in Huyton, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Thames Valley, and Scotland. The group caused gas explosions to access ATMs, stealing approximately £500,000, and escaped in stolen sports cars at high speeds, using modified vehicles like a Scania lorry to conceal their operations and evade police pursuits.

Carl Cavanagh participated in a gang's operations from February 2015 to February 2016, which involved blowing up cash machines using gas in various locations including Huyton, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Thames Valley, and Scotland. The gang stole around £500,000 and used high-speed stolen vehicles to flee from police, employing tactics like hiding cars in a modified lorry.

Andrew White led a gang that conducted a series of raids between February 2015 and February 2016, targeting at least 13 cash machines across locations including Huyton, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Thames Valley, and Scotland. The gang used oxyacetylene gas to cause explosions at ATMs, stealing around £500,000, and fled in stolen high-performance sports cars like Audi RS4s and Mercedes AMGs, reaching speeds up to 150mph to evade police. They utilised stolen vehicles, including a Scania lorry modified to hide cars and equipment, and were tracked by detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Anthony Conroy was part of a gang that carried out multiple raids between February 2015 and February 2016, targeting cash machines in Huyton, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Thames Valley, and Scotland. They used gas explosions to access the machines, stole approximately £500,000, and evaded capture by driving stolen sports cars at excessive speeds and using a lorry to transport and hide vehicles.

Gary Carey was involved in a gang that conducted raids on cash machines between February 2015 and February 2016 in areas including Huyton, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Thames Valley, and Scotland. The gang used gas to explode ATMs, stealing approximately £500,000, and relied on stolen high-speed vehicles and a modified lorry to evade police during chases.

Liam Wall, a gang member, was sent to prison in 2017 for unspecified crimes related to gang activity. He subsequently escaped from prison, prompting a high alert for the public.

On August 7, 2013, a gang including John Paul McCoy broke into Karl Allen's house on Woodrock Road, Woolton, in a targeted burglary. Allen, then 23, was stabbed, suffering horrific injuries that caused his heart to stop for several minutes. He remained in intensive care for four weeks, resulting in brain damage, confinement to a wheelchair, and the need for 24-hour care. He is now described as almost childlike, with life-changing physical and psychological injuries. The gang disguised themselves and their vehicle. McCoy attempted to evade arrest by fleeing onto a roof in Walton, leading to a nine-hour standoff before his arrest.

Dale Cregan murdered David Short, 46, and his son Mark, 23, and policewomen Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, in 2012. He was transferred from Ashworth hospital to Aintree Hospital in a high-security operation.

Karl McCluney attacked two-year-old Demi Leigh Mahon by kicking, punching, and biting her in July 2008 at a house in Eccles, Salford, while babysitting her on his 15th birthday. The assault caused 68 injuries and severe brain damage, leading to her being placed on life support for two days before it was switched off with her parents present.

In May 2008, during a boozy night out in Liverpool city centre with his brother Andrew and cousin Nadine Wilson, Joey Barton, aged 25, got into a row in McDonald's after being taunted about his brother Michael, who was jailed for the racist murder of Anthony Walker. Barton attacked a man outside in the street and then punched 16-year-old Jordan Spencer in the mouth after mistakenly thinking he had slapped Wilson.

Peter Sullivan was convicted of the rape and murder of 21-year-old Diane Sindall, who was attacked while walking through Birkenhead in the early hours of August 2, 1986. He was arrested on September 23, 1986, denied legal advice during initial interviews, and claimed he was beaten by police with truncheons under a blanket and threatened with additional charges to force a confession. Despite learning difficulties, he was not provided an appropriate adult. Crucial DNA evidence later identified another unknown perpetrator.

William Fish lured seven-year-old Emily Agnes Holland into his barbershop on March 28, 1876, under the pretense of running an errand. He raped her, then killed her by cutting her throat and dismembering her body with a cut-throat razor. He disposed of her body parts by wrapping them in newspaper, burning some in his fireplace, and hiding others in a chimney and drains. The crime was solved when dogs led police to the remaining body parts in his shop.