Five of the most shocking court cases we covered during August
Gary Toomey
The defendant’s actions were heard at Liverpool Crown Court on August 1 to be a reaction to a heated argument that was taking place between the pair during the journey. As the car began to spin, it then collided with a central reservation along the motorway between junctions seven, Rainhill Stoops, and eight, Burtonwood. Toomey, who worked as a professional HGV driver, then opened the door and immediately left the vehicle and stood along the grass verge ‘screaming’ for his ex-partner.
The driver, and victim of the crash, exited the vehicle too, but was struck by an oncoming vehicle, a silver Mercedes SUV, and died as a result of her injuries. The 34-year-old victim lived with her mother in Huddersfield and that her and the defendant were in a short-term relationship. Toomey, of Hollin Hey Road, Bolton, was handed a prison sentence of seven years and four months for manslaughter of which he will serve two-thirds of before being released on licence.
He was also banned from driving for 82 months and two weeks. Read the full report here.[1]
Paul Whitfield
Paul Whitfield, 54, of Hammond Street, in Parr, appeared in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court on August 6 to be sentenced. He had pleaded guilty in a previous hearing to causing 21-year-old Adam Cunliffe’s death by driving a Mazda 3 dangerously. The court heard that Whitefield, who was driving home after having been out drinking in St Helens town centre on January 11, 2022, was around two and a half times in excess of the legal limit.
He was “oblivious” as his car drove over his victim who was lying in the carriageway of Washway Lane at around 12.30am on January 12, and failed to notice “frantic” efforts by other motorists to alert Whitfield to the “unfolding horror”. Sentencing Whitfield, judge Andrew Menary KC said that Whitfield’s failure to realise he had hit Adam “demonstrated how badly affected drink you were.” Whitfield was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison, two-thirds of which he must serve in custody.
He was also disqualified from driving for five years, in addition to his time in custody. Read the full report here.[2]
Liam Porter
Liam Porter, of Phoenix Brow, Fingerpost, was given a prison term as he appeared before a Liverpool Crown Court judge on August 13. His co-defendant Zach Dowling, 27, of Winter Grove, Parr, who had been convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) following a summary trial in the magistrates’ court, and of using threatening words and behaviour, was jailed for nine months on June 14 this year.[3] Porter, who was also convicted, did not attend court that day.
CCTV footage played to Liverpool Crown Court during Dowling’s sentencing hearing showed Porter and his co-defendant launching the “unprovoked” assault on their vulnerable victim in the street in St Helens town centre. A judge had branded the assault, which happened on Church Street shortly after 6am on June 23 last year, as one of “gratuitous” violence, during June’s hearing. During the assault numerous kicks and punches were delivered by Porter.
A judge described the assault during Dowling’s sentencing as one of “gratuitous” violence on a “defenceless vulnerable man”. Porter, 36, was given a jail term of 11 months and two weeks in total at his sentencing. Read the full report here.[4]
Jeorgia Thompson
Jeorga Thompson attacked two ‘innocent passers-by’ while drunk following a Craig David concert which was held at Haydock Park Racecourse last year.
Thompson, who is now eight months pregnant, left both victims, a 15-year-old girl and a man, with serious injuries. Appearing before Liverpool Crown Court, the 30-year-old was told how usually an immediately prison sentence would be handed to someone who committed two unprovoked attacks while drunk. But Recorder Richard Leiper said that Thompson’s son and unborn child would suffer if she was jailed, so handed her a suspended a sentence.
Thompson had pleaded guilty to two offences of inflicting wounding. It was heard that a bottle of water had been kicked towards a group Thompson was in and that the contents went on them. Following this, Thompson, of May Sinclair Close, Wirral, approached her first victim, a man.
He was knocked to the ground and was unconscious after Thompson hit him with a blow, using her high heels. After this attack, Thompson approached her next victim, a 15-year-old girl, who was at the concert with her boyfriend and his family. The victim said ‘I am only a child’, but Thompson hit her with her fist and then again, with her high heel.
Thompson was handed a 45-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. From November, following the birth of her child, she will also be subjected to an electronically-monitored curfew for three months. Read the full report here.[5]
Andrew Jackson
A St Helens man was jailed for his role in the recent riots in Southport. Andrew Jackson became involved in the violent disorder which took place in St Luke’s Road, in Southport on Tuesday, July 30. The disturbances came following the stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar.
Jackson, 41, of Ramford Street, Parr, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, August 20. In an earlier hearing last week it was heard that Jackson was seen on CCTV footage at the disturbance. It was heard that he threw items, including bottles, at police officers.
Jackson was seen holding open a bin to allow others to grab items from the bin and proceed to throw them at officers who had cordoned off a local mosque. Jackson was later charged with violent disorder and possession of cannabis, to which he was convicted. The defendant was jailed for two years and eight months.
References
- ^ here. (www.sthelensstar.co.uk)
- ^ here. (www.sthelensstar.co.uk)
- ^ Zach Dowling, 27, of Winter Grove, Parr, who had been convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) following a summary trial in the magistrates’ court, and of using threatening words and behaviour, was jailed for nine months on June 14 this year. (www.sthelensstar.co.uk)
- ^ here. (www.sthelensstar.co.uk)
- ^ here. (www.sthelensstar.co.uk)
- ^ here. (www.sthelensstar.co.uk)