Seventeen criminals from Merseyside were jailed over the past week for a combined total of 95 years and five months. Among those locked up were a mum who stabbed a man to death, a van driver caught with 10kg of cocaine, and members of a people trafficking gang.
Also sentenced was a killer who battered his elderly dad while forcing him to sign a makeshift will, and a sex offender who attempted to rape a woman in an Airbnb before trying to flee the country from John Lennon Airport.
Killer who attacked elderly dad
Ian Griffin, who previously served 22 months for murdering his fiancée in a Paris hotel room, subjected his 83-year-old father to a brutal assault in his own home. The victim, who already had a brain injury from a car crash, was left with a broken nose and a knocked-out gold tooth.
Griffin told a judge his medication had made him "go funny" and said: "It was a one in a million. It will never happen again. I've been a great son, I really have." He admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and threatening to destroy property, and was jailed for five years with an extended licence period of one year. Restraining orders ban him from contacting his dad and his parents' neighbours indefinitely.
Drug dealers and trafficking gang
Robert Hampson, 37, of Cambridge Road, Bootle, was stopped on the M62 on July 3 and found with a shopping bag containing ten kilogram-sized compressed blocks of cocaine. A search of his home uncovered cash and packages of cannabis and ketamine. He admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and two Class B drugs, and was jailed for eight years.
Lee Campbell, 36, was identified as part of the "Postcode" county lines operation after his Land Rover Defender was stopped on the M6. The operation saw heroin trafficked from Merseyside to Aberdeen. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and was sentenced to six years and one month.
Five members of an organised crime gang smuggled migrants from Vietnam to Europe, where they were forced to work as cheap labour. The plot was uncovered when French Customs seized a parcel at Charles de Gaulle Airport containing 22 Vietnamese passports. Quang Van Nguyen was jailed for nine years and nine months, his twin brother Vinh Van Nguyen for 12-and-a-half years, Lia-Chien Trong for six years, Sy Trai Ho for four years, and Van Huy Nguyen for seven years and two months.
Violent and sexual offences
Kayleigh Smart, 40, stabbed 34-year-old Liam Collier nearly a dozen times during a schizophrenic episode. She initially blamed her former partner and claimed Mr Collier had drugged her, but later admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. She was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of eight years, plus a Section 45A hospital order meaning she will remain in a secure psychiatric unit until deemed fit for transfer to prison.
Klintis Duarta, 28, of Lisbon, sexually assaulted and attempted to rape a woman in an Airbnb. He hid under a parked van before trying to fly home to Portugal, but was stopped at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. He admitted attempted rape and assault by penetration and was jailed for six years and eight months with an extended licence period of four years.
Michael Williams, 45, formerly of Baden Road, barricaded himself inside his flat and threw a pan of hot oil over a police officer. He had earlier throttled a neighbour on a staircase "for no reason at all" and threatened to "scald the faces off" PCs. He admitted intentional strangulation and affray and was jailed for 32 months, with a restraining order banning contact with his former neighbour for seven years.
Sarah Slater, 36, of Scotland Road, was caught dealing heroin and crack cocaine in a park. She admitted possession with intent to supply and possession of a bladed article, and asked a judge to send her back to prison, saying it "is the best place for her at the moment". She was jailed for 33 months.
Derek Pike, 44, of Heydean Road, burgled his neighbour's flat as she was moving out, claiming he had entered while following his dog. A judge labelled the crime "mean and unpleasant" and jailed him for 18 months after he admitted burglary and three counts of fraud.
Keith McMillan, 51, of St James Place, Bootle, threw a loaf of bread at his wife's head and strangled her, weeks after receiving a community order for a previous assault. He admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for 16 months.
Paul Fry, 48, of Windsor Road, was found cowering in a cupboard after battering his girlfriend, who ran to a police station after he "threatened to burn her kids alive" and ripped out a clump of her hair. He admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for 21 months, with a restraining order banning contact with his victim for five years.
Joshua Smith, 29, of Seafarers Drive, Woolton, plotted to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis on EncroChat under the handle "Frosty Firm". When officers searched his home nearly six years later, they found Rolex watches, designer clothing and more than £80,000 in cash. He admitted conspiracy to supply drugs and possession of criminal property, and was jailed for nine years and nine months.
Kamalathasan Yogarajah, 42, of Billinge Crescent, St Helens, sexually assaulted two sleeping students on a National Express coach from London to Liverpool. He admitted two counts of sexual assault and breaching court bail, and was jailed for 28 months and placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
