Eleven criminals from the Merseyside region have been jailed for a combined total of 37 years over the past week. Among them are a thug who smashed a bottle of blue WKD over his neighbour's head, a drug dealer who suffered a seizure in Argos, and a man on the run who was found at a caravan park in North Wales. Also locked up was a carjacker who sped off with a woman still inside the vehicle, leaving her son fearing he would never see his mother again. Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a so-called 'Spanish Scouser' plotted to launder £5 million of Francis Coggins' drug money.
Liam Hunter: Blue WKD Bottle Attack
Liam Hunter, 27, of Morgan Street in St Helens, smashed a bottle of blue WKD over his neighbour's head, leaving the victim with 'the scars of that night'. Hunter intervened in an argument between the victim and his fiancée, then struck him with the bottle. The incident occurred months after Hunter had been spared prison for carrying a knife in public. A judge told him: 'They appeared to be having an argument which plainly had nothing to do with you, certainly nothing that could justify the action you then took. Your victim still bears, quite literally, the scars of that night.' Hunter pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding on the day of his trial and was jailed for 28 months, with a five-year restraining order.
Daniel Riley: Terrifying Carjacking
Daniel Riley, 39, of Ulverston Avenue in Warrington, carjacked a vehicle with a woman inside, speeding off at up to 70mph while she screamed. He kept her captive for around 10 minutes, asking: 'Do you want to die? I will kill us both.' He later drove directly at the car's owner, forcing him to cling to the bonnet. The victim said she 'relives the incident every day' and told the court: 'I don't think it will ever leave me.' Riley pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, making threats to kill, criminal damage, assaulting an emergency worker, and possession of cannabis. He was jailed for 26 months.
David O'Toole: Fugitive at Caravan Park
David O'Toole, 40, of no fixed address, fled from police custody after being found slumped at the wheel following a crash. He was located nine months later at a caravan park in North Wales, having vaulted fences and run onto train tracks to escape. O'Toole admitted escaping from lawful custody and possession of zopiclone and diazepam. He was jailed for nine months.
Alex Midgley: 'Spanish Scouser' and Money Laundering
Alex Midgley, 31, of Custley Hey in Stockbridge Village, known as the 'Spanish Scouser', plotted to launder £5 million of drug money for Francis Coggins' organised crime group. He described the gang as a 'heavy firm who don't f*** about' and planned to wash cash via Bitcoin. He also conspired to smuggle 90kg of cannabis in a Ford Transit van. Midgley, a new father, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis, conspiracy to convert criminal property, and possession of criminal property. He was jailed for four years and 10 months.
Rhys Carter: Seizure in Argos Reveals Drugs
Rhys Carter, 35, of Robins Lane in St Helens, suffered a ketamine-induced seizure in Argos while buying a wardrobe. An off-duty police officer came to his aid, but cocaine and crack cocaine fell from his jacket. Carter claimed the drugs belonged to a friend, but phone messages revealed weeks of dealing to fund his habit. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to supply and failing to surrender to bail. He was jailed for 43 months.
Louis Martin: Convicted Rapist's Harassment
Louis Martin, 41, of Wheatfield Road in Cronton, was discovered to be a convicted rapist when his partner searched his alias online. After she ended the relationship, he harassed and abused her, even assaulting her in front of her six-year-old daughter. Martin pleaded guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour, assault, and failing to comply with notification requirements. He was jailed for 27 months and given a 10-year restraining order.
Jason Mealey: Pregnant Partner Assault
Jason Mealey, 29, of Well Brow Road, punched his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach after a hospital visit. He continued to harass her from prison, urging her to drop the case in letters written under fake names. A judge called the attack 'frankly horrific' and 'wicked'. Mealey admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years with a five-year restraining order.
Rachel Lyon: Shoplifter Wants Jail
Rachel Lyon, 41, of Ringway Road in Belle Vale, was banned from every Tesco in Merseyside after a £9,000 theft spree. She ignored the ban and shoplifted from Farmfoods, saying she wanted to go back to jail to tackle her drug addiction. The judge said: 'It's a shame. It's a pity. If that's the reality... then so be it.' Lyon admitted theft, breaching a criminal behaviour order, and breaching a suspended sentence. She was jailed for two years.
Brandon McGee: 'Scouse Tommy' Drug Dealer
Brandon McGee, 21, of Church Walk in Bootle, known as 'Scouse Tommy', told a judge: 'I've made mistakes, but that's how you grow as a person.' He continued dealing drugs after being caught with heroin and crack cocaine in an Under Armour bag. He also took part in a pub brawl after his mother was slapped. McGee said spending his birthday in jail 'made him think about his future'. He pleaded guilty to multiple drug and affray charges and was jailed for 37 months.
Francis Collins: Teenager Points Police to Gun
Francis Collins, 18, of Moss Lane in Orrell Park, told police 'there's a strap up there' when they came knocking, leading to a gun and fake drugs found in his girlfriend's attic. He ran a 'G Wag' drug supply line. Collins pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon, ammunition, crack cocaine, ketamine, and other charges. He was sentenced to seven years in a young offenders' institute and banned from Southport for a decade.
Declan Goulbourne: 'Johno Line' Dealer
Declan Goulbourne, 25, of Capricorn Way in Bootle, was caught dealing drugs near Southport Model Village. After release on bail, he recruited a substitute to continue selling heroin and crack cocaine. He admitted multiple drug supply and possession charges and breaching a suspended sentence. He was jailed for six-and-a-half years.
