Hundreds of criminals appeared before the law courts in Merseyside during 2024, with scores of men and women put behind bars following rioting in Southport, Liverpool city centre and Walton. Liverpool Crown Court, Liverpool Magistrates' Court, Sefton Magistrates' Court and Wirral Magistrates' Court remained as busy as ever with all manner of cases.
Among those jailed was David McCrimmon, who entered Bootle Town Hall armed with a pair of scissors and demanded 'give me all the money'. He admitted attempted robbery and was jailed for five years. James Shacklady, one of two men who violently snatched a Sainsbury's worker's handbag as she closed up for the night, was locked up for 45 months after dragging her around the forecourt and kicking her.
Connor Mears admitted causing death by dangerous driving after being 'off his box' on crack cocaine when he killed a rough sleeper in Liverpool city centre. He was jailed for 12 years. Anthony Hill was found guilty of wounding with intent and jailed for 12 years for a depraved 'revenge' attack in which he 'tortured' a sex worker over several days.
Stephen Finnigan, a paedophile army cadet instructor, was jailed for 29-and-a-half years for sexually abusing five children over several decades. Emma Skinner, a carer who stole a dementia patient's wedding ring days after his wife of nearly 60 years died, admitted theft and was jailed for 18 months. Kevin Marsh was jailed for 16 years after being found guilty of causing his girlfriend Michelle Atherton's death by dangerous driving, with a judge branding him 'callous and dishonest'.
Other notable cases include Conrad Simmons, who harassed the family of a paedophile's victim and was jailed for three years for witness intimidation; Jack Winter, a carer who assaulted a 91-year-old woman and was jailed for 11 months; and Joshua Dunn, a stalker who bombarded a woman with 'sexual threats and comments' and was jailed for two-and-a-half years. Paul Gallagher, an inmate who fled from prison and was found nearly two years later in a pub with only a toothbrush and £6, admitted escaping lawful custody and was jailed for an additional six months.
