Liverpool Crown Court Sentencing Results

On the evening of September 6, 2024, Carl Dawe, 52, argued with his affair partner the victim at her home in Tuebrook over a fridge freezer. After she went to the neighbour's house, Dawe smashed the windows of the neighbour's caravan in jealousy. Just after 3.30am on September 7, he returned, set the caravan on fire using a cigarette lighter on the curtains, destroying it and an attached trailer. A gas canister exploded, spreading the fire to the victim's home where her 14-year-old son and pets were inside. The victim re-entered the burning house to save them, suffering first and second degree burns to her face, neck, and hand, fearing permanent scarring. The fire also damaged two neighbouring properties and a car. Dawe was arrested later that morning in Newsham Park while intoxicated.

Andrew Talbot, a former GMP detective, stole just under 4kg of cocaine from the GMP property store between February 2018 and January 2020 and supplied it on the streets of Manchester. He abused his position by conducting unauthorised searches of GMP’s confidential computer systems for known or suspected drug dealers to aid sales and provided confidential police information to a friend under investigation for assault. He conspired with convicted drug dealer Keith Bretherton to help recover a drug debt worth more than £20,000. On February 13, 2020, CCTV captured him dropping a bag of cocaine at a primary school after dropping off his daughter. The bag was reported, leading to an investigation and his arrest at work three days later. Searches revealed more cocaine on him, drug-related notes in his car, and paraphernalia at his home.

Curtis Critchley was found with a paedophile manual containing advice on sexually abusing children during a prison search at HMP Risley on August 6, 2024. The manual included graphic stories of sexual activities involving children and details on grooming children via Snapchat and TikTok. This follows prior offenses where he stole children's clothing from a washing line in Doncaster, possessed indecent images, and engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl he met on Snapchat while lying about his age; she was found with him in a Holiday Inn in Rotherham.

Shortly after midnight on Monday, January 22, 2024, Kyle Foster, 28, was driving a Volvo S60 along Liverpool Road in Crosby at speeds exceeding 65mph when he hit a 19-year-old pedestrian crossing the road. The victim suffered serious injuries requiring multiple surgeries and remains on a long road to recovery. Following the incident, Foster failed to stop and made efforts to conceal his involvement by attempting to repair the damaged vehicle. The car was later found at an industrial estate outside a vehicle body shop, with its registration plates removed.

Peter Stanley posted videos depicting the torture of baby long-tailed macaque monkeys on a private Facebook site linked to intentional animal harm. The videos, which included sexual torture, were spotted by an animal protection group member who reported them to police. Screenshots showed Stanley posting the content and commenting approvingly, such as 'A fave of mine this one'. Police traced him via his Facebook ID, searched his home, and seized his mobile phone containing 75 such videos, one matching the posted clip. He had also searched terms like 'How to tell if a baby monkey is distressed' and 'Horse Porn'. Stanley claimed he joined the group to assess the content's severity and posted three videos to gain entry, but stopped in October 2023 after viewing around 70 videos.

Graham Goodchild, an 82-year-old former children’s nurse from Southampton, Hampshire, sexually abused four boys between 1966 and 1976 while employed at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Hospital. He was convicted of four counts of buggery, one count of attempted buggery, and 11 counts of indecent assault. Goodchild abused three boys from the same family after one was admitted to the hospital in the 1960s; he befriended the family under the pretence of aftercare and abused the boys, all under 10, at his home, on trips, and in his car. He also abused another boy who was a patient at the hospital, as well as at his flat and on a trip. The abuse was reported after one victim saw an online article about Goodchild. He denied the allegations during questioning in July 2020 and March 2021 but was found guilty at trial.

Adam Goodier participated in a violent and sustained attack on June 12, 2024, at the junction of Chiltern Road and Southport Street in Parr, where a man in his 40s was assaulted, sustaining injuries to his back, arm, and face. A member of the public intervened, and the victim required hospital treatment. Goodier was one of three men arrested and convicted in the investigation.

Dylan Ladner was involved in a violent and sustained attack on June 12, 2024, at the junction of Chiltern Road and Southport Street in Parr, where a man in his 40s was assaulted, suffering injuries to his back, arm, and face. The victim was taken to hospital, and the incident involved three men who were arrested and convicted following a police investigation.

Luke Moran, 38, father-of-three, attempted to smash the window of a police van using a large piece of concrete three times during disorder in Southport on July 29, 2024, following the knife attack that killed three children and injured eight at a Taylor Swift themed event.

William Nelson Morgan, 69, of Walton, participated in violent disorder in Merseyside after the Southport stabbings and was also involved in possessing an offensive weapon.

John O'Malley, 43, of Southport, participated in violent disorder in Merseyside after the Southport stabbings.

Liam Riley took part in violent unrest in Liverpool city centre on August 5, 2024, causing disorder with a racially aggravating element.

Liam James Riley, of Kirkdale, Liverpool, took part in the riots in Liverpool city centre following the Southport stabbings on 29 July 2024. He threw rocks and bricks at police during the disorder.

Declan Geiran, of Liverpool, took part in the riots in Liverpool city centre following the Southport stabbings on 29 July 2024. He tried to set a police van alight during the disorder.

Derek Drummond took part in violent unrest in Southport on Monday, August 5, 2024, causing panic and chaos on the streets. He assaulted an emergency worker during the disorder.

Derek Geiran took part in violent unrest in Liverpool city centre on August 5, 2024, setting fire to a police vehicle and engaging in malicious communication.

David Tilici, 28, of Luton, attacked his one-month-old baby boy in a room at the Campanile Hotel near Liverpool’s riverfront on 11 December 2023, while drunk and while the baby’s mother went to get food at a nearby McDonald’s around 10pm. The couple had checked into the hotel around 8pm, and the baby showed no injuries at that time. Tilici called the mother on Facetime, prompting her to rush back and find the child with significant injuries. She took the baby to reception, where staff called an ambulance. Paramedics deemed the injuries non-accidental, and police were notified. Tilici denied causing the harm, claiming the baby rolled off the bed. The child was taken to Alder Hey Hospital, where medics confirmed the injuries were not accidental.

Adam Wilson committed a burglary on July 19, 2024, at a property in Sutton, where he searched untidily and removed items, including a Rolex watch box. Three days later, on July 22, 2024, he returned with David Bowen, armed with a loaded firearm, intending to steal the Rolex watch to fund their drug habit. When confronted by a neighbour, Wilson pointed the firearm and shouted demands, then discharged it, shooting the victim in the leg and causing a 1cm entry and exit wound. The victim required hospital treatment and suffered ongoing psychological trauma.

David Bowen accompanied Adam Wilson during a burglary on July 19, 2024, at a property in Sutton, where items including a Rolex watch box were stolen. On July 22, 2024, they returned armed with a loaded firearm to steal the Rolex watch to fund their drug habit. When a neighbour questioned them, Bowen was present as Wilson pointed the firearm and shot the victim in the leg, causing a 1cm entry and exit wound. The victim endured hospital treatment and significant psychological impact.

On August 30, 2023, at around 9.30pm on Birchwood Way, Warrington, Bridie Trotter, then 36, who was over the drink driving limit and high on cocaine, drove her two young sons (aged five and four) and swerved onto the other side of the road, causing a head-on collision with a car carrying the 36-weeks pregnant victim, her partner, and two children (aged eight and six). The crash resulted in serious injuries to all seven people involved, including Trotter's five-year-old son who was placed in an induced coma for four days with fractures to his collarbone and pelvis, a scalp wound, broken nose, and mouth injury requiring surgery. The victim suffered bruising to her baby bump, was hospitalized for four days, and feared for her baby's life; her children had severe seatbelt burns and bruising. Trotter's blood alcohol was 137mg (over 80mg limit) and cocaine metabolite four times the legal limit six hours post-accident. She had been struggling with mental health, domestic violence, drinking, and drugs prior to the incident.

Raymond Hawthorne groomed and sexually abused two young boys between 1988 and 1995 while living on the Wirral in Merseyside. The offending was prolonged and serious, including touching the children, sexual assault, and rape over many years. He gained the trust of the children's parents by offering to look after the children, repeatedly abusing this trust. He plied the children with gifts and money, took them on trips or to his own home to isolate them, and as they got older, gave them drink and drugs. On several occasions, one victim was drugged without knowledge and sexually abused while unconscious. Hawthorne has a history of running a child sexual exploitation ring and committing sexual offences against children.

Thomas Dean, 36, of Whiston, carried out a violent and sustained attack on a woman on November 7 last year outside a shop in Prescot, leaving her with head injuries that required hospital treatment. The incident was captured on CCTV.

On 10 February 2024, Amanda Young, 49, was looking after her godson and the XL Bully dog Snoop, owned by her son Lewis Young, in their flat in Bootle, when an eight-year-old boy came to call and play. The banned breed dog attacked the boy, causing life-changing injuries. Amanda Young was unable to stop the attack. The dog was destroyed at the scene.

On 10 February 2024, an XL Bully dog named Snoop, owned by Lewis Young and kept in a flat shared with his mother in Wadham Road, Bootle, attacked an eight-year-old boy who had come to play. The dog, a banned breed, was not registered and had not undergone behaviour training. Lewis Young had taken the dog from a friend a few months prior and claimed he did not know it was banned. The boy sustained life-changing injuries, and the dog was destroyed at the scene.

Alan Cherry, 67, from St Helens, started a conversation with a 13-year-old child over the internet, inciting the child to engage in sexual activity. He was identified and arrested by police from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit on March 25 this year.