A Bootle man who dumped a killer's body in a wheelie bin was jailed for 28 months at Liverpool Crown Court. Steven Wales, 61, admitted one count of preventing a lawful and decent burial after Paul Smith, 40, was found dead in an overgrown garden outside a derelict house on Thirlmere Road in Everton.
Smith had died of mixed drug toxicity in the bath of Wales' then home on Coniston Street in Everton, reportedly no later than the Sunday night after the weekend of July 19 and 20 last year. Wales, now of Pope Street in Bootle, told police he had "panicked" upon finding his friend dead while out of prison on licence, leading him to move the body to a wheelie bin in a nearby garden.
Body found concealed beneath litter
Officers were led to the overgrown garden where attempts had been made to conceal the body beneath litter, green waste and furniture. Wales was arrested on suspicion of murder, later telling detectives under interview that Smith had asked to use his flat to bathe and wash his clothes. He said he returned to find Smith dead in the bath and "was worried about going back to prison", leading to him placing the body in the bin.
Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, told the court: "He has violated the most fundamental of dignities to be afforded to someone. His actions were deeply disrespectful." Smith's cause of death was given as mixed drug toxicity, having died "no later than Sunday night".
Extensive criminal record
Wales has 32 previous convictions for 64 offences, including receiving eight years for manslaughter in 2009 and five years for possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply, affray, possession of a bladed article in a public place and being in charge of a dangerous out of control dog causing injury in 2023. He was recalled on licence for nine months in relation to the latter sentence as a result of his arrest in connection with Smith's death, having been released in October 2024.
Joanne Maxwell, defending, said Wales experienced "immediate, significant shock" and "panicked" upon finding Smith dead. She added: "He knows that he should have contacted the emergency services immediately, and certainly before he moved Mr Smith's body. He has accepted full responsibility for his actions, and he is only too aware of the seriousness of those actions."
Judge cites aggravating factors
Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "This is not a case where you committed this crime with the intention of preventing an investigation into the cause of an unnatural death. But it is an offence where the body has been deliberately concealed and, although the police were not actively misled, that concealment had the effect of leaving up in the air what had happened to Mr Smith in that period."
The judge noted aggravating factors including that the offence prompted a murder investigation, was committed on licence, and that Wales has an extensive criminal record. Mitigating factors included the relatively short period of concealment, that Wales called police after two days and took them to where the body was hidden, and his genuine remorse.
As Wales was led to the cells, Smith's brother shouted "you little scumbag" from the public gallery. Wales showed no reaction as he was jailed.
Smith had previously been convicted of manslaughter for setting fire to the home of Eric, 77, and Sheila, 83, on South John Street in St Helens in the early hours of July 15 last year, killing both occupants. The arson attack was ordered by Kevin Weetman, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years. Kylie Maynard was handed 23 years, while Owens was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years.
