A drug smuggler who attempted to fly to Dubai with Kinder Surprise eggs hidden up his bum was linked to a shooting after his DNA was discovered on a bullet cartridge.
Michael Whitty, from Huyton, was caught with thousands of pounds of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine after arousing the suspicions of sniffer dogs at Manchester Airport. He later claimed that he had intended to consume the entire stash during a surprise holiday abroad.
The ECHO can now reveal that he previously appeared before Liverpool Crown Court in 2017, when the then teenager was arrested in connection with a shooting in Stockbridge Village. Whitty was initially accused of being the man who fired a self-loading handgun at 27-year-old Anthony Skyner, who was seriously injured after being struck in the hand by a bullet.
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READ MORE: Man tried to fly to Dubai with Kinder Surprise eggs full of drugs up his bum
Aged 19 at the time, he had faced a charge of wounding and firearms offences in relation to the incident. But the prosecution subsequently dropped these allegations, and he faced a jury charged only with possession of ammunition without a certificate.
However, Whitty, then of Parkside Close in Huyton, failed to explain the presence of his DNA on a bullet cartridge and was unanimously found guilty after a three-day trial. Judge Alan Conrad QC described the convicted burglar as being "close to whoever used the gun".
The court heard that three shots had been fired at Mr Skyner as he walked down an alleyway near to the Birches at around 9.45pm on March 27 that year. He was subsequently taken to hospital and underwent surgery to remove an artery from his thumb, having also suffered nerve damage to the hand.
Jonathan Rogers, prosecuting, told jurors that police discovered a 9mm Israel Military Industries cartridge at the scene. Forensic examinations then revealed a complete DNA profile matching Whitty's.
Stuart Mills, defending, said his "immature" client was not ordinarily associated with crimes of such severity, adding that it had been "unfortunate" that he could not provide an explanation for the discovery of his client's DNA. But he suggested that the teen, a "proud" dad, may have been "used" to mind the ammunition, adding: "Your honour will be concerned by the suggestion of association with local gangs and all that may entail."
Sentencing Whitty to 18 months in a young offenders' institute, Judge Conrad said: "There is no evidence that you were involved in the shooting, but you have given no credible explanation as to your handling of what was live ammunition before it was fired. I am satisfied on all of the evidence that you were close to the person or persons involved in the shooting.
"It should be observed that a firearm needs live ammunition in order to be effective. Gun crime in this city is sadly all too prevalent.
"The sentence I impose must punish you. But it must also deter others who are minded to become involved with firearms or ammunition."
The same court heard this week that the now 25-year-old was stopped by UK Border Force officers at around 9am on May 12 last year as he queued to board a flight which was due to take off for the United Arab Emirates from Terminal One 50 minutes later. It came after a drugs dog indicated that he had illicit substances upon his person.
Matthew Conway, prosecuting, described how Whitty, of Finch Lane, was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital following his arrest, but refused to comply with body scans. Once transferred into custody, no contraband was discovered during a strip search.
But he later went to the toilet in his cell, after which two Kinder eggs wrapped in cling film were recovered. When opened, these capsules were found to contain 40 ecstasy tablets and 31.22g of ketamine.
Whitty then produced a small package containing 12.6g of cocaine with a purity of around 77 per cent upon using the facilities again on May 14. He made no comment when subsequently interviewed by detectives.
The cocaine was estimated to have a street value of between £504 and £1,260, with the ecstasy valued in the region of £200 to £400. The class B drugs were meanwhile said to have been worth between £624 and £1,248.
Whitty subsequently claimed that they had been for "personal use" during his two to three week trip abroad as he was a "heavy user" who was "reliant" upon them. He also stated that friends had bought his one-way ticket, "surprising" him with this the day before his scheduled travel.
But a judge rejected his account and found that the drugs were intended for onward supply in Dubai, with the defendant having been acting "on somebody else's instruction". Whitty has a total of three previous convictions for three offences – those being burglary in 2012, possession of ammunition in 2017 and possession of cannabis in 2021.
Mr Mills, defending him again on Monday, told the court: "He has had a very bad addiction but, given his incarceration, that has allowed him to begin to conquer that addiction. He is obviously motivated to do so at this point.
"He knows he has to do something about his drug addiction, otherwise he is going to be in and out of custody for a long time. He has also undertaken education while in custody, again demonstrating an intention, willingness and motivation to try and better himself.
"He intends, when he is released, to seek work within the construction industry. This speaks of somebody who is looking to his future."
Whitty admitted being knowingly concerned in evading the prohibition on the exportation of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine. He was jailed for 35 months.
Sentencing, Judge Charlotte Crangle said: "I accept that you were doing this on somebody else's instruction. The account that these drugs were for your own personal use only was rejected.
"Those prepared to engage in this type of activity must expect significant custodial sentences. You are still young and relatively lightly convicted.
"You are exactly the kind of person, given your drug habit, who would be susceptible to agreeing to do this on somebody else's behalf. I would be failing in my public duty if I were not to impose an immediate custodial sentence upon you today."
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