Jason McKinney, 26, and an accomplice broke into a flat on Whetstone Lane in Birkenhead on November 7, 2024, while the occupant was visiting family. They kicked down the front door, ransacked drawers, and made themselves a round of toast, leaving crumbs on the kitchen countertop and a smashed plate. They stole electronics worth approximately £2,500, including an Xbox, a Nintendo Switch, controllers, headphones, a security camera, and the victim's passport. McKinney was linked to the crime via fingerprint evidence.
Robbery at Formby Station
Six days later, on November 13, 2024, at around 10.30pm, McKinney and co-defendant Callum McCaughery approached friends Benjamin Hughes and Callum Wyatt as they walked along Ennerdale Road after alighting from a train at Formby Station. The pair were masked, and McCaughery claimed to have a gun, warning the victims not to run or they would be shot. Prosecuting, Sarah Egan told Liverpool Crown Court that McCaughery was the "ringleader" while McKinney appeared nervous and was "actually shaking while he spoke".
The victims handed over their phones. McCaughery demanded the passwords, saying "Give us the password, or something's going to happen". He then prodded an item into Mr Wyatt's back as the pair were walked toward a wooded area. Mr Hughes pleaded "please don't do this" but was told to "shut up" and threatened with being "slashed up". The phones were factory reset and pocketed by McCaughery, who then threatened to follow the men home. Mr Wyatt managed to run away in a "zig zag motion" fearing he would be shot, while Mr Hughes was put in a chokehold before being freed and running home.
Sale of stolen phones and arrest
The following day, McKinney sold one of the stolen phones at CeX in Strand Shopping Centre, Bootle, and later returned with McCaughery to sell the second. Upon their arrest, weapons including an imitation firearm were recovered from their shared address, though both denied ownership and their DNA was not found on the items. McCaughery, 25, of Ruthven Road in Litherland, was not charged with robbery due to insufficient evidence but was fined for handling stolen goods and possession of cannabis by magistrates in April. Egan noted, "It is clear that McCaughery was the leader in this enterprise and made the majority of the threats."
Sentencing
McKinney, of Denman Drive in Tuebrook, has 28 previous convictions for 49 offences, including burglary in 2023 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in March 2025. Brendan Carville, defending, said McKinney had served a two-year prison sentence since November 2024 and was homeless at the time of the offences. He added, "He felt, once there, that he was stuck with it." McKinney admitted two counts of burglary and one of robbery. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for a total of 37 months by Recorder Anna Pope KC, who noted the delay in bringing the case to court and McKinney's remorse, difficult upbringing, and mental and physical health needs.
