Couples and families whose crimes led to them sitting in the dock together
Drug trafficking plots, road rage incidents and guns led to lovers and relatives sitting beside each other in the dock during 2023.
Here, the ECHO takes a look back at some of the couples and family members who appeared in court[1] together over the past year. They included two brothers who beat a security guard to death.
Another set of siblings murdered a teenager in a Liverpool city centre internet café. Also locked up together were a mum and son who filmed themselves chanting “the roof is on fire” as they destroyed a canal boat by setting it ablaze.
Daniel Doran, Valerie Doran and John Butler
Daniel Doran (Image: Merseyside Police)
A mum called her son “disgusting” after he convinced her to launder drug money for him from behind bars.
Inmate Daniel Doran used prison worker Megan Woodham’s job as a healthcare assistant to conceal shipments of drugs into the jail where she worked, which she then handed over to him. She also used her home as the “safehouse” for a wider ring involved in the supply of millions of pounds of cocaine, members of which were handed lengthy spells behind bars.
A trial heard that Doran, of Hall Lane in Kirkby[4], was a serving prisoner at HMP Risley in Warrington[5] between December 2021 and February 2022, with Woodham having been employed as a health worker in the jail. David Watson, prosecuting, described how they – together with co-defendants Kelsey Higgins and John Butler – were “involved in the supply of a very large quantity of high purity cocaine”.
The inmate had access to a mobile phone while behind bars and “organised the moving of cocaine from location to location” from his cell “under the noses of authorities”. Woodham was said to have “formed some sort of relationship” with the 32-year-old through her work and would “willingly assist him by allowing her home address to be used for the storage of parcels” of drugs.
Higgins meanwhile was described as a close associate of Doran’s cousin Butler, who was arrested while travelling to his home in possession of 10kg of cocaine on January 8 last year. His Volkwagen Golf was stopped by police on Dunnings Bridge Road, near to the junction with Heyshaw Road in Netherton[6] and heading in the direction of the Bootle[7] area.
John Butler (Image: Merseyside Police)
Officers discovered a black bag in the passenger footwell which contained 10, 1kg packages of the class A drugs. These illicit substances had an estimated street value of up to a million pounds.
This seizure sparked an investigation by Merseyside Police, with Butler’s seized phone revealing his communications with co-conspirators. He was described as having been “used to carry out criminal tasks” by Doran.
The probe also uncovered a “separate agreement” between 30-year-old Woodham and Doran, in which she “agreed to assist him by taking delivery of packages of ketamine from his criminal associates”. She then smuggled these drugs into Risley prison, going undetected thanks to her job, and handed them over to the inmate.
Doran was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine but admitted conspiracy to supply ketamine and was jailed for 15 years by Judge Stuart Driver KC. Appearing on video from HMP Altcourse, he shook his head before laughing.
Higgins was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine by a jury. He was handed 13-and-a-half years and similarly reacted by shaking his head before taking off his glasses, leaning back and smiling.
Woodham, now of Ormskirk[8] Road in Pemberton, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine. She burst into tears after being jailed for six years then turned to members of her family in the public gallery and said: “I love you.”
Butler, of Clements Way in Tower Hill, was jailed for eight years in February last year. The 27-year-old admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
Doran’s mum Valerie Doran was found guilty of money laundering after texts revealed her involvement in the plot. The 54-year-old, also of Hall Lane, transferred a total of £1,300 in 11 transactions to her son.
Valerie Doran was sentenced in Liverpool on Friday (Image: Facebook)
In one exchange, Daniel Doran sent his mother a message that read “mum, I need to no about money in bnk asap” after which she replied “50 in”. He then asked her to transfer money for him, to which she replied: “Oh I will keep that money for you using my bank, everyone else money for you doing things for you so it’s mine.”
Ten minutes later, Valerie Doran followed with another text which read: “Sending your money don’t want dirty money in my bank talking to me as if you’re a big gangster. Who does that to there own mum, ur disgusting, feel ashamed”.
She was handed a six-month imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. Valerie Doran was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days.
Fiona Crooks and Vincent Horsfall
Fiona Crooks (Image: Merseyside Police)
A couple sold a firearm to a leading gangster with a history of violence in an Aldi[9] car park to fund “cosmetic dental work”.
Police then discovered a second loaded firearm stashed inside a Berghaus man bag next to a pair of children’s wellies when they raided the home of Fiona Crooks and Vincent Horsfall. The mum shouted “we’re f***ed here” as she learned officers had stormed their address.
Vincent Horsfall (Image: Merseyside Police)
Horsfall – who appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool – admitted selling a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition and three counts of fraud and was jailed for six years and nine months. Crooks pleaded guilty to intentionally encouraging the commission of an offence and was handed two years.
Keiron Williams, Anthony Williams and Michael Williams
Anthony Williams, left, and Keiron Williams, right, jailed for life over the murder of Michael Toohey
A drug dealer snarled “I’ll show you who the gangster is” before beating a terrified teenager to death in an internet café.
Three brothers, their friend and a 14-year-old boy were jailed for life for the ferocious and brutal murder of 18-year-old Michael Toohey on London Road in Liverpool city centre[10] on April 16 last year. Leading the attack was Keiron Williams – described as either the head or near the top of an Everton-based organised crime group involved in a “turf war” with another gang, although the full facts of the rivalry are not clear.
The 28-year-old, of no fixed address, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years in prison. Anthony Williams of Hillbrook Drive, Walton[11], was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years in prison.
Michael Williams of Carlake Grove, Walton, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years in prison. Steven McInerney, of no fixed address, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years in prison.
Steven McInerney, left, and Michael Williams, right, who have been jailed for life over the murder of Michael Toohey (Image: Merseyide Police)
The 14-year-old boy was sentenced to life in detention with a minimum term of eight years in prison.
Michael Shaw and Paul Shaw
Michael Shaw (Image: Merseyside Police)
Two brothers who stole £15,000 from gaming machines over the course of nine months.
Michael Shaw, 38, and Paul Shaw, 39, committed 21 offences of fraud targeting gaming machines in pubs and bookies using an adapted banknote, usually to the value of £20, to create fraudulent credits on fixed odds gaming machines. The note was modified and laminated with small parts of it cut away and had a handle attached to two corners, which allowed it to be withdrawn once the machine had registered the £20 credit.
They then played low value games to build the credit in the machine and then exchange the voucher printed off for cash at the counter. Paul Shaw would also sometimes take a winning pay out slip from one machine and use that value on a separate machine which could then be cashed.
The two defendants were identified using CCTV footage, but it appeared as though other accomplices shielded the Shaws from the view of the staff and cameras. In total, the two men stole £15,258.90.
Paul Shaw (Image: Merseyside Police)
Hours after he left court after pleading guilty, Michael Shaw streamed a TikTok live bragging about his crime to over 70,000 followers. In it, he boasted that he “had no shame” and had “beat the bookies”.
Paul Shaw was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. Michael Shaw was handed 16 months imprisonment.
Jay Byrne and Joseph Byrne
Jay Byrne admitted the manslaughter of Christopher Molloy (Image: Merseyside Police)
Two brothers and a 15-year-old boy beat a security guard to death.
Jay and Joseph Byrne pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Christopher Molloy, although they were cleared of murder after a trial. The schoolboy was convicted of murder by a jury after three hours and 41 minutes of deliberations.
The teen was jailed for life with a minimum terms of eight years. Jay Byrne was jailed for 10-and-a-half years, while Joseph Byrne was given nine years and nine months.
Jurors previously heard an initial altercation between the parties erupted near to Burger King on Bootle Strand at around 12.45am on July 12 last year after Mr Molloy was accused of “touching” the teenage defendant’s girlfriend. Jay Byrne – of Leyland Road in Southport[12] – was said to have either punched or pushed the stranger, who then fled to the McDonald’s opposite and sought assistance from staff “because he was concerned as to what was happening, trying to get help”.
The victim remained in the doorway of the fast food branch for several minutes before walking away, at which point he was chased by 25-year-old Joseph Byrne – of Linacre Road in Litherland[13] – and the then 14-year-old. A second confrontation near to the junction of Stanley Road and Strand Road was captured on CCTV footage which was played to the court.
Joseph Byrne admitted the manslaughter of Christopher Molloy (Image: Merseyside Police)
It showed the younger Byrne “landing an extremely forceful punch” with his right hand, knocking Mr Molloy to the floor. He fell backwards and “cracked his head on the pavement”, rendering him unconscious.
The juvenile was then seen repeatedly slapping him in the face, a total of eight times, as he lay helpless on the floor. Both attackers walked away in the direction of the Natwest bank, being caught on camera fist bumping as they did so.
The boy returned shortly afterwards alongside 26-year-old Jay Byrne, who kicked a still unconscious Mr Molloy to the head. The youth then delivered a second kick to the head, described as a “particularly ferocious kick, like kicking a football hard”.
In the aftermath, a patrolling police car was flagged down by a taxi driver who reported that there was a man lying unconscious in the road. Another member of the public had alerted the attentions of a passing ambulance, and it became “immediately obvious that Mr Molloy was extremely unwell”.
He had a host of cuts, bruising and swelling to his face and head and began vomiting once placed in the back of the ambulance. After being rushed to the Walton Centre, he underwent emergency surgery shortly before 5am.
But Mr Molloy had suffered internal bleeding and fractures, and his life support was ultimately withdrawn. He died on July 19 2022, a week after the assault.
Jackie Lloyd and Adam Lloyd
Jackie Lloyd, 54, of Riversdale, Frodsham, was jailed for 40 months after her ex’s barge was “completely destroyed” by arson. (Image: Cheshire Police)
A mother and son recorded themselves “dancing” and “openly celebrating” as flames engulfed a barge they had set fire to in a “truly despicable act”.
Adam Lloyd, 36, chanted “the roof is on fire” after using a cigarette lighter to ignite a cushion on the boat, leading to the fire that completely destroyed it. Accompanying him at the scene on the Bridgewater Canal in Runcorn on was his mum Jackie Lloyd, 54, who moments earlier had called the barge’s owner Peter Hill, her former partner, and threatened to set fire to it after their relationship ended.
Adam Lloyd, 36, of Riversdale, Frodsham, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for arson. (Image: Cheshire Police)
They were jailed for three years and four months each.
Jonathan Jackson and Katie Jones
Jonathan Jackson, 34, and his girlfriend Katie Jones, 26, were caught with 250g of cocaine after being stopped on the M4 (Image: South Wales Police)
A couple claimed they were “visiting family'” when they were stopped on a motorway with £10,000 of cocaine.
Jonathan Jackson, 34, and Katie Jones, 26, were pulled over by police on the M4 motorway when they were on their way back from Liverpool. The car was searched and 250g of cocaine was found in a central console.
Jones initially claimed she had travelled to Liverpool to see her family but they weren’t in. Recorder Andrew Hammond sentenced Jackson to a total of 33 months imprisonment and Jones to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months.
Helen McPartland and Michelle McPartland
Helen and Michelle McPartland (Image: Cheshire Police)
Two sisters wept and wailed in the dock as they were jailed for framing their brother-in-law for a crime he did not commit.
Helen and Michelle McPartland made up the false allegations amidst an ongoing family feud, sparked when they were left out of their late mother’s will. Victim Graham Potter was being wrongly convicted of a criminal offence as a result of their brazen lies, which followed a jibe over a “tummy tuck”.
Both women admitted perverting the course of justice. They were locked up for 10 months each.
Suzanne David, Tiffany Baker and Shannon Baker
Suzanne David, of Church Road, Tranmere (Image: Merseyside police)
A furious mum led a vicious attack on her daughter’s love rival after an argument in a tanning salon.
Suzanne David, 51, and her daughters Tiffany and Shannon Baker, 26 and 20, brutally attacked Melanie Park outside Tropical Heat on Corinthian Street, Rock Ferry. Video footage of the incident, filmed by a passerby, showed David and Tiffany Baker pulling Ms Park to the ground.
Tiffany Baker, of Rock Close, Rock Ferry (Image: Merseyside police)
The former then sat on top of her and banged her head on the pavement, shouting: “You f****** little sweat, dirty f****** sweat. Don’t you dare talk to my f****** kids.
Tiffany was seen punching the complainant to the face at least four times, pulling her hair and dragging her into the road. Shannon then kicked her twice in the head.
Shannon Baker, of Church Road, Tranmere (Image: Merseyside police)
All three women admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. David was jailed for one year and three months, while the sisters received 10 months.
Sara Oliveria and David Lee
Sara Oliveria (Image: Merseyside Police)
A paedophile couple met for the first time in the dock at court after being convicted of a series of disturbing child sexual offences.
Sara Oliveria and David Lee hatched their sickening plot, which saw her film herself performing sex acts as a young child watched, in a series of Facebook[14] and WhatsApp messages. She then sent these videos to the man, whom she had never actually seen in person, in order to fulfil his depraved “thrills and satisfactions”.
David Lee (Image: Merseyside Police)
Oliveria admitted two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. She was jailed for 16 months.
Lee pleaded guilty to encouraging an offender, possession of indecent images and three counts of making indecent images. He was imprisoned for two years.
Chelsea Mighall and Rory Pearson
Chelsea Mighall (Image: Merseyside Police)
A mum wiped away tears as she and her boyfriend were jailed for hunting a man down and brutally hacking at him with a machete.
Chelsea Mighall called in her boyfriend Rory Pearson to race to her aid and leave the dad with a gaping wound to his arm, a cut so deep that it reached the bone, after the red mist descended upon her following an extraordinary episode of road rage. The couple raced through the streets in their separate cars as they pursued their victim, whose nine-year-old daughter watched on terrified as her dad was cornered in a pub car park and savaged with the fearsome weapon.
Pearson admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and making threats with an offensive weapon. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was handed five years plus an additional two-year licence period.
Rory Pearson (Image: Merseyside Police)
Mighall pleaded guilty to wounding without intent and dangerous driving. Appearing from HMP Styal, she was sat in tears with her head in her hands after being imprisoned for two years and given a 26-month driving ban.
Diane Mansell and Gary Mansell
Diane Mansell aged 58, of Camp Road in Liverpool have been jailed for six years at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Merseyside Police)
A shameful husband and wife who “lived outside the lifestyle they could afford” defrauded an elderly couple leaving them with just 28p in the bank.
Gary Mansell, 61, and his wife Diane, 58, defrauded his vulnerable parents out of more than £117,000 over a three-and a-half-year period while acting as the pair’s power of attorney. Liverpool Crown Court[15] heard how they spent the money on extravagant holidays, designer accessories and house conversions, eventually leaving the elderly pair with just 28p in their bank account.
Judge David Swinnerton called the pair’s actions a “despicable display of greed and vanity”[16]. He said that the pensioners were left with “no comfort or security in their twilight years”.
Gary Mansell aged 61, of Camp Road in Liverpool have been jailed for six years at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Merseyside Police)
He sentenced the couple, of Camp Road in Woolton[17], to six years in prison.
Jonathan Weedall and Karen Hazelden
Jonathan Weedall and Karen Hazelden were sentenced to more than five years in prison for drug dealing (Image: Cheshire Police)
A drug dealing couple were caught after one of them was seen on CCTV putting credit on a graft phone.
Jonathan Weedall, 36, and Karen Hazelden, 43, appeared pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. They were caught after after officers from Cheshire Police received intelligence from Merseyside Police[18] about a mobile phone number being used by a county lines drug gang as a graft phone.
The number was used to send flare messages advertising the sale of drugs to repeat buyers. Police managed to trace the phone back to Weedall after he was filmed on CCTV topping it up with credit at a supermarket, with both subsequently receiving two years and eight months in prison.
John Madden, Bernard Madden and Marian Madden
A drug gang hid millions of pounds worth of Class A drugs in a lorry full of raspberry sorbet.
A drug gang hid millions of pounds worth of class A drugs in a lorry full of raspberry sorbet.
The huge haul of cocaine and heroin was imported into the UK from Belgium before being discovered by police at a frozen food warehouse unit in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire. The drugs were found stowed in 26 pallets of raspberry sorbet on a lorry trailer.
John Madden, of Kirkby, Merseyside, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of a class A drug and was jailed for 21 years. His parents, Bernard Madden, 72, and Marian Madden, 70, also of Kirkby, pleaded guilty to money laundering for their son.
The pensioners were not involved in the importation and they were handed two year prison sentences, suspended for two years.
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References
- ^ court (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Lufthansa suspends flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office Christmas Day weather forecast for every borough of Merseyside (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Kirkby (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Warrington (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Netherton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Bootle (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Ormskirk (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Aldi (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Liverpool city centre (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Walton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Southport (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Litherland (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Facebook (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Liverpool Crown Court (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Judge David Swinnerton called the pair’s actions a “despicable display of greed and vanity” (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Woolton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Merseyside Police (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)