A killer Audi driver, a thieving carer and a a paedophile army cadet were among the Merseyside criminals jailed during the first week of 2024.
Also locked up was a robber who attempted to raid a town hall armed with a pair of scissors. Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a man smashed a cup of tea over his neighbour's head after being called a "nonce".
Here are the faces of eight criminals from our region who were imprisoned over the past seven days:
READ MORE: Driver 'drank gin and snorted cocaine while watching Netflix' before fatal crash
David McCrimmon
A man entered Bootle Town Hall armed with a pair of scissors and demanded "give me all the money".
"Institutionalised" serial robber David McCrimmon held up a receptionist with the weapon as he plotted to be sent back to prison. He got his wish, but moaned that his sentencing was "taking too long" as he was locked up.
McCrimmon admitted attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He was jailed for five years and handed an extended three-year licence period.
James Shacklady
A member of staff at a petrol station was dragged around the forecourt and kicked by two robbers as she closed up for the night.
James Shacklady was one of two men who violently snatched the Sainsbury's worker's handbag, leaving her "fearing for her life". He sobbed as he was jailed over the sickening attack.
Shacklady admitted robbery on the second day of his trial. He wept and wiped tears from his eyes with a tissue in the dock throughout the hearing as he was locked up for 45 months.
Connor Mears
A man was "off his box" on crack cocaine when he killed a rough sleeper in Liverpool city centre.
Connor Mears was flying down the Strand at 90mph in an Audi TT following a five-day drink and drugs binge when he smashed into the back of an Uber. This taxi then crashed into a bench near to the Liver Building, where homeless man Robert Williams had been sleeping in the early hours.
The 44-year-old was left in an induced coma as a result and died of his injuries just over a week later. In spite of the devastation he had caused, Mears callously fled the scene of the collision and was not apprehended until the following day – when he attended A&E and said he had been "on a mad one".
Mears admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while uninsured, failing to stop after an accident and driving while unfit through drugs. Appearing in the dock wearing a khaki green bodywarmer and a maroon Montirex t-shirt, he showed no reaction as he was jailed for 12 years.
Paul Daord
A man smashed a mug of tea over his neighbour's head after being called a "nonce".
Paul Daord left his victim with permanent facial scars following a rumbling feud between the two parties. He ran home covered in blood following the street attack before collapsing in front of his distraught toddler.
Daord admitted unlawful wounding. He was jailed for 15 months and handed a 10-year restraining order.
Anthony Hill
A drug dealer "tortured" a sex worker as he held her in his flat over the course of several days in a depraved "revenge" attack.
Anthony Hill repeatedly assaulted his victim with a samurai sword, stubbed a cigarette out on her and urinated on her during a "harrowing ordeal", having "frogmarched" her to his apartment with an accomplice. She suffered numerous broken bones across her body, including both arms, before managing to flee the horrific violence when her assailant fell asleep.
Hill was found guilty of wounding with intent by a jury following a trial, but cleared of false imprisonment. He was jailed for 12 years and handed an additional four-year licence period.
Reece Talbot
Reece Talbot was first caught selling heroin and crack cocaine in St Anne's, Lancashire, on August 21 2021. He was arrested and released under investigation, during which time he once again became involved in the selling of class A drugs in his hometown of St Helens – using a graft phone to send out 1,900 messages advertising "powerflake and lemo til late" between September and October 2023.
The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine, being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession of a class B drug and escaping lawful custody. He was jailed for 32 months.
Stephen Finnigan
A paedophile army cadet instructor sexually abused five children over a number of decades.
Stephen Finnigan, of Longfield Road in Litherland, was convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault, gross indecency and other sexual offences following a two-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The 63-year-old was jailed for 29-and-a-half years.
Emma Skinner
A carer stole a dementia patient's wedding ring by slipping it from his finger as he slept only days after his wife of nearly 60 years died.
Arthur Hughes had only been living in the care home where Emma Skinner worked as agency staff for just over a week when she callously pinched the item of jewellery from him, as well a gold signet ring which the 86-year-old widower had inherited from his late father. The mum then sold her pilfered goods to be melted down, with her actions being branded "wicked" by a judge.
Skinner admitted theft on the day she had been due to stand trial. She was jailed for 18 months.
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