Twelve criminals from Merseyside were jailed over the past seven days, receiving a combined total of 112 years and two months in prison. Among those sentenced were a burglar who led police to his own door after setting fire to his clothes, a woman labelled "evil to the core" for allowing her partner to rape two young girls, and a dad who fled police with £40,000 of cocaine but left behind nearly £300,000 in cash and a diamond ring.
Also locked up was a "cowardly" former Brookside actor who was extradited back to the UK following his arrest in Spain. Liverpool Crown Court also heard how a cocaine-fuelled man burst into an elderly couple's home with a fake gun while wearing only his underpants.
Burglar sets fire to clothes after stabbing neighbour
Aaron Carney, 24, of Abbey Road in Haydock, broke into his neighbour's house and stabbed him in the neck after drinking a cocktail of wine and drugs. The victim awoke to find Carney wielding a knife at his bedside, leading to a prolonged scuffle in which he was repeatedly stabbed and slashed, suffering permanent scarring.
Despite his injuries, the victim attempted to remove one of Carney's trainers to help police catch him. The intruder then set fire to his blood-stained clothing outside his own home, acting as a "beacon" for officers. Carney admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and aggravated burglary, and was jailed for seven-and-a-half years with an extended licence period of two years.
Woman labelled "evil to the core" over child abuse
Paula Lister, 55, of Creswell Street in St Helens, was described as "evil to the core" as she was jailed for allowing her paedophile partner to rape two young girls. Lister was pictured in the background of a video as Melvin Miller filmed himself sexually abusing his victims.
A judge told her she was guilty of an "inexcusable failure and absolute betrayal", while the mother of one of the victims called her "a monster in its truest form". Lister was found guilty of two counts of child cruelty and was handed 14 years behind bars.
Dad flees police leaving £300,000 cash
Mark Woods, 46, of Avondale Road in Maghull, admitted he had "no excuse" after nearly £300,000 in cash was found underneath the floorboards of his loft. When police came knocking, Woods fled into a neighbour's house carrying a bag of cocaine potentially worth more than £40,000, but left behind Rolex watches, a diamond ring, and the cash.
A judge described him as a "responsible family man who makes a positive contribution to his community", but added: "That has to be seen in the light that you were playing a part in an operation that would have involved a significant amount of cocaine being introduced into that community." Woods admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property, and was jailed for six years.
Other criminals sentenced this week
Maurice Dodd, 33, of Westminster Road, was jailed for five years after bursting into an elderly couple's home with a fake gun. A quick-thinking pensioner feigned a heart attack to end the ordeal. Dodd admitted possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, two counts of making threats to kill, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Michael Orr, 48, of York Road in Huyton, was jailed for 13 years and two months for conspiracy to import heroin, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis. Daniel Ingram was jailed for 23 years after being found guilty of 13 counts of rape and five counts of sexual assault. Christopher Kenny, 34, of Marsh Grove in Roby, was jailed for 20 years for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. Kevin Burke, 39, of no fixed address, was jailed for six years and eight months for robbery. Eifion Evans, 42, of Cranbrook Road in South London, was jailed for 20 months for arson. Bernard McCartney, 56, of no fixed address, was jailed for 38 months for wounding with intent. Ayden O'Brien, 38, of Bury Road in Birkdale, received a further three years for domestic abuse. Former Brookside actor Philip Foster, 51, was handed an additional six months after being extradited from Spain.
