A carer who bludgeoned her 90-year-old patient with a flask and a man who strangled his wife to death then went to Costa Coffee were brought to justice
From left; Amanda McDonnell, Christopher Daly and Glyn Jones(Image: Merseyside Police)
A murderer who stabbed his own cousin to death in a row over a woman, a carer who bludgeoned her 90-year-old patient with a flask and an Audi driver who was “off his box” on crack cocaine were among the Merseyside killers who were jailed during 2024. Among the most notorious criminals brought to justice last year were the gangland thugs who shot 19-year-old Nyle Corrigan dead.
Also beginning 2025 behind bars is a grandad who strangled his wife to death then went to Costa Coffee for a cup of tea. These are the faces of 28 criminals who were locked up over the past 12 months after being convicted of murder, manslaughter, death by dangerous driving and death by careless driving.
READ MORE: The face of every Merseyside criminal jailed in 2024READ MORE: 7 of the most high profile trials due to take place at Liverpool Crown Court in 2025
Connor Mears
Connor Mears(Image: Merseyside Police)
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, which then crashed into a bench 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, the drug driver 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. He was jailed for 12 years.
Kevin Marsh
Kevin Marsh was convicted of causing his girlfriend Michelle Atherton’s death by dangerous driving(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man was branded “callous and dishonest” by a judge as he was found guilty of causing his girlfriend’s death by dangerous driving. Kevin Marsh drank gin and snorted cocaine as he watched a Bear Grylls show on Netflix hours before getting behind the wheel.
When he did so, he smashed his Ford Fiesta into a bin lorry in a head-on collision. His partner Michelle Atherton died aged 47 in the crash.
Marsh attempted to pin the blame on her, claiming that she had grabbed the steering wheel immediately beforehand. But he was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and jailed for 16 years.
Paul Wright
Paul Wright, 31, of Westernra Avenue, Ellesmere Port, killed a woman in a crash outside the Countess of Chester hospital(Image: Cheshire Police)
A man killed a mum as he was on the way to see his partner who had just given birth. Paul Wright, who was already on bail for drug driving, killed Jane Hickson when he crashed his BMW X5 into her Vauxhall Grandland. The 31-year-old was jailed for nine years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
Glyn Jones
Glyn Jones(Image: Merseyside Police)
A pensioner was repeatedly warned that he was not fit to drive before he struck and killed two grandmas. Marie Cunningham and Grace Foulds both died after being hit by Glyn Jones’ Audi in Southport.
The lecturer, who had been told more than 10 years previously that he had a degenerative eye condition which meant that his vision was “well below the standard required” to be behind the wheel, remained emotionless as he was locked up. He admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for seven years and four months.
Felipe Figuieredo
Felipe Diglio Figueiredo, 28, of Birleywood, Skelmersdale(Image: Lancashire Constabulary)
A man was jailed for life for the murder of a schoolboy he thought was responsible for stealing his wife’s motorbike. Felipe Figuieredo stabbed 15-year-old Dylan Bragger more than 23 times on Digmoor Road in Skelmersdale.
The 23-year-old denied murder but was found guilty by a jury who took just three hours to convict him. He was told he must serve at least 23 years in prison before becoming eligible for release.
Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe
Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, who have been named as the murderers of Brianna Ghey, 16, who was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times(Image: PA)
Brianna Ghey’s killers will serve decades behind bars. The 16-year-old died after being stabbed 28 times in Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington.
Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, who were previously known as Girl X and Boy Y due to reporting restrictions, were found guilty of her murder. They were locked up for life with minimum terms of 22 and 20 years respectively.
Mohamed Mahari
Mohamed Mahari, formerly of Whithorn Street in Wavertree but now of Rowan Avenue in Bristol(Image: Merseyside police)
A “dignified and elegant” 92-year-old woman who “valued her independence” was killed by a careless driver while she was on her way to church. Mary Grazulis was crossing the road at the junction of Catherine Street and Canning Street in Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter when she was hit by Mohamed Mahari.
The 33-year-old was a driver for JustEat and Deliveroo and was on his way from a delivery on nearby Percy Street when he crashed into the elderly woman, who was walking with the aid of a rollator. He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and causing death by driving while uninsured and was jailed for seven months.
Liam Thomas
Liam Thomas, 25, of Woodend Avenue, Crosby, jailed for life for the murder of his cousin Matthew Horton(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man who stabbed his own cousin to death in a late night row outside his girlfriend’s flat was jailed for life. Liam Thomas knifed 32-year-old Matthew Horton three times in the back, shoulder and thigh after confronting him in a car park on Sefton View in Litherland.
The dad-of-two had turned up at the flat block where his ex-girlfriend Chelsea Shaw lived and began acting aggressively, “shouting abuse and throwing a bottle of water repeatedly against Ms Shaw’s window”. Thomas, who was Ms Shaw’s new partner, then went outside at 11.30pm and confronted his older cousin.
The two men were said to have grappled with one another before Thomas stabbed Mr Horton three times in full view of a number of horrified residents, who had been alerted by the commotion outside. The 26-year-old killer said he initially believed Mr Horton had been armed with an axe, bat or metal bar during the altercation and that there had been “another guy with his face covered nearby”.
Thomas also alleged Ms Shaw had “passed him some sort of sharp item” and that he had “waved it about to try and fend Matthew off to defend himself, and never intended to hit him”. He denied making any stabbing motion and maintained that Mr Horton had been wounded by coming forward onto the knife.
However, a jury rejected his version of events, finding him guilty of murder and possession of a bladed article following a two-week trial. Thomas was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years.
Henry Houghton
Henry Houghton, 19, of Barrison Green, Scarisbrick was found guilty of the murder of Matthew Daulby
A teenager was handed a life sentence for his role in the killing of Matthew Daulby. Henry Houghton attacked his 19-year-old victim with a rock which he had stuffed into a sports sock and used in a mass brawl in Ormskirk.
The teen suffered a serious injury which damaged his skull and frontal lobe, although the injury itself was not fatal. He also suffered a knife wound to his chest and collapsed in the aftermath of the attack, later dying in hospital.
Houghton, also aged 19, was found guilty of murder by a jury. He was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years behind bars.
Haydn Patterson
Haydn Patterson, of Barons Close in Widnes
A drug driver killed his best friend after a night in the pub. Haydn Patterson lost control of his Mini Cooper and careered onto a grass embankment, where his car rolled onto its roof.
His 41-year-old passenger Kevin Viles died in the crash while the driver fled on foot. Patterson pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the drug drive limit for cocaine and cannabis and was jailed for nine years.
Stuart Robertson
Stuart Robertson(Image: Merseyside Police)
A grandad who killed his wife then went to Costa Coffee for a cup of tea was jailed for six years. Stuart Robertson strangled his partner Dawn to death aged 62 before placing a crucifix in her lifeless hands, taking a bus into St Helens town centre and handing himself in to the police after “pausing for a cup of tea” at the coffee shop.
He told a jury during a trial that he that he had attacked his spouse after “feeling a burning anger and rage” when she told him his son was not his. The 69-year-old was unanimously cleared of murder, but admitted the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Benjamin Moglione
Benjamin Moglione(Image: Merseyside Police)
A university student who killed his stepdad by knifing the ex-police officer 17 times in his own bed with “no warning” was given an indefinite hospital order. Andrew McDiarmid, a former detective inspector who served Merseyside Police for 30 years, died aged 64 after being brutally stabbed inside the family home on Oldfield Way in Heswall, Wirral.
His wife’s son Benjamin Moglione had been accused of his murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter midway through a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, having been suffering from postictal psychosis as a result of an epileptic seizure at the time of the incident. The now 23-year-old showed no reaction as he was handed a section 37/41 hospital order, meaning he will receive treatment as an inpatient until the Secretary of State deems it appropriate for him to be discharged.
Amanda McDonnell
Amanda McDonnell(Image: Merseyside Police)
A woman stabbed her boyfriend to death then claimed that a “fella had jumped in through the window and attacked him”. Amanda McDonnell left Gerard Hand with a fatal knife wound to the chest after arming herself in self-defence, the couple having become embroiled in a drunken row at a friend’s flat on Church Walk in Bootle.
After being found cradling her dying partner in her arms, she told police officers “I haven’t done nothing to him”. McDonnell admitted manslaughter on the basis of excessive self-defence and was jailed for eight-and-a-half years.
Craig Griffiths
Craig Griffiths
Craig Griffiths caused the death of 13-year-old schoolboy Harry Kinney-Ryan. The teenager tragically died after he was hit by a car on the East Lancashire Road, close to the Showcase Cinema.
Harry was on his way home after he had been to buy some sweets from a nearby petrol station when he ran across the dual carriageway and was hit by a silver Vauxhall Astra which had been travelling at around 10mph over the speed limit and died in hospital two days later from his injuries. Griffiths admitted causing death by careless driving and was jailed for 12 months.
Gary Toomey
Gary Toomey(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man killed his ex-girlfriend by “yanking” on the handbrake of her Audi as she drove on the motorway after a “feeling in his gut exploded”. Victoria Bell died aged 34 after her vehicle crashed into the central reservation of the M62, being struck by another car as she attempted to flee to safety on the hard shoulder.
It came after she and her “on off” partner Gary Toomey had rowed while attending a music festival. The 37-year-old claims that his fatal actions were a “spontaneous reaction to stop the car in order to get away from the ongoing argument” and says he “was not intending to cause any harm”.
Toomey admitted manslaughter. He was jailed for seven years and four months, a term of which he must serve at least two thirds behind bars.
Paul Whitfield
Paul Whitfield was jailed for seven years and four months for causing death by dangerous driving at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Merseyside Police )
A mindless driver who spent seven hours in the pub was so drunk he did not realise he had run over a person lying prone in the road until the police knocked at his door. Paul Whitfield embarked on an all-day drinking session before he got back behind the wheel of his car to go home.
The 54-year-old was said to have been so intoxicated that he failed to notice Adam Cunliffe, an animal technician, lying prone in the road. Whitfield ploughed his car into the 21-year-old, who had tripped into the road, before dragging his body under his car for 1km in front of horrified onlookers.
He pleaded guilty to a single count of causing death by dangerous driving. The killer driver was jailed for seven years and four months.
Christopher Daly
Christopher Daly(Image: Merseyside Police)
A “cowardly” van driver sped through a red light and struck an elderly jogger before leaving him dying in the street. John Newton was out jogging on February 25 this year when he was hit by a Ford Transit van as he crossed Utting Avenue East in Norris Green.
The “fit and healthy” grandad, who still worked as a part-time mechanic, died in hospital aged 81 the following day as a result of his “catastrophic” injuries. Motorist Christopher Daly, who has been banned from the roads for more than 20 years, callously fled the scene of the crash then denied that he had been driving when the police came knocking at his door.
He was unanimously found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving by a jury of six men and six women, having previously admitted causing death by careless driving. He also pleaded guilty to causing death by driving while disqualified and uninsured and was jailed for 12 years.
John Harkins
John Harkins
A man who struck and killed a 10-year-old boy while driving at more than double the speed limit sobbed and told his victim’s family “I’m really sorry” as he was jailed. “Intelligent, bright and loving” Charlie Lowe died the day after he was hit by a car in front of his devastated mum and younger brother.
Driver John Harkins had been travelling home from work at over 50mph in a 20mph zone when the horror collision occurred. A judge told him that his actions would “haunt him for the rest of his life”.
Harkins admitted causing death by dangerous driving. He was imprisoned for six years and eight months, after which he turned to Charlie’s family in the public gallery and tearfully told them: “I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.”
Liam Elms
Liam Elms, 41 and of Whiston Lane, Huyton, sentenced to an extended sentence of 18 years for manslaughter
A man threw his vulnerable uncle around his flat “like a rag doll” before he dragged him out “like rubbish” and left him dying in the street. Liam Elms’ actions left Paul Lavery suffering a bleed on the brain after he punched him in the face, strangled him and then dragged him down a flight of steps and out of the block of flats on Eaton Road in West Derby.
Elms had denied killing his uncle but was convicted of manslaughter by a jury following a trial. The 41-year-old was sentenced to 14 years in prison and an additional four years on licence.
Alec Keiran
Alec Keiran, 52, of Daisy Meadow, in Bamber Bridge, pleaded guilty to the offence at a previous hearing and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.(Image: Merseyside Police)
A HGV driver who hit and killed a sleeping woman with his lorry said he mistook her for a “bin bag and a folded duvet”. Nicole Cummings, 24, was sleeping rough outside the Shell garage on Scotland Road when she was hit by Alec Keiran as he mounted the kerb in his Volvo truck.
The 52-year-old pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. He was jailed for 12 months.
Jayne Hill
Jayne Hill(Image: Merseyside Police)
A carer who hit her 90-year-old patient over the head with a metal flask before fatally suffocating her with a pillow was jailed for life. Jayne Hill sat in her car smoking cigarettes outside Myra Thompson’s home on Bolde Way in Spital, Wirral, as she waited for the pensioner’s bedroom light to go out.
Then, under the cover of darkness, the 52-year-old entered the address and brutally murdered the elderly woman. It came after the killer, of Norwich Drive in Upton, had been caught red-handed stealing cash from the OAP, having previously pinched necklaces and a gold ring from other service users whom she had been entrusted to provide care for.
Hill admitted murder and four counts of theft and sat with her head bowed in the dock throughout today’s hearing. She showed no reaction as she has handed a life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22-and-a-half years.
Anya Foster
Anya Foster of Gloucester Street, St Helens, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit for two separate controlled substances, driving while unfit through drugs, failing to stop after a collision and failing to report a collision.(Image: Merseyside Police )
A woman left a man to die and then wove a web of lies to police. Anya Foster was driving a Skoda Fabia on Islands Brow in St Helens when she struck cyclist David Burrows.
The 59-year-old died of his injuries shortly after the crash. Instead of staying at the scene to help him, the motorist callously fled the scene.
Foster pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit for two separate controlled substances, driving while unfit through drugs, failing to stop after a collision and failing to report a collision. She was sentenced to six years and eight months.
Ryan Cullen
Ryan Cullen(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man “went off his head” and killed his own grandad after watching an Everton match with him. Ryan Cullen battered his 73-year-old grandfather Brian Cullen, having watched the Toffees’ 2-0 defeat at Manchester City with him on the television, because he “wouldn’t give him money for drugs”.
The pensioner died two weeks later as a result of injuries sustained when he was subjected to a brutal assault in his own bed. It came after the killer became afflicted by mental health issues and drug use following the breakdown of his marriage.
Cullen admitted manslaughter, with a count of further murder having previously been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Appearing handcuffed in the dock for part of the hearing and wearing a black Adidas t-shirt under a black zip-up top, he was handed a five-year section 45a hybrid order.
This will see him treated in a psychiatric hospital, having been detained in Rowan View Hospital for the past nine months, before he is deemed suitable to be moved to a prison. Cullen will then serve the remainder of his sentence behind bars, becoming eligible for release on licence after serving half of the term.
Roger Brenninkmeyer
Roger Peter Brenninkmeyer, 60, of Hinderton Road, Neston, Cheshire, was jailed for six years and eight months for causing death by dangerous driving(Image: North Wales Police)
A dangerous driver was driving with his accelerator “fully depressed” when his BMW collided with another car, killing a “caring and gentle” man aged 20. Roger Brenninkmeyer’s BMW was travelling at nearly 100mph when it hit an embankment on a rural road, overturned, collided with victim Droy Darrock-York’s car and spun into a field, stopping 99 metres away.
The 60-year-old “wrongly” believed he faced bankruptcy from debts, but a court heard that he did not intend to kill himself during the journey. He was jailed for six years and eight months for causing death by dangerous driving.
Martin Wilson and Connor Smith
Martin Wilson convicted of the murder of Nyle Corrigan(Image: Merseyside Police)
Two men were found guilty of murdering a teenage boy who was shot once in the back in a “targeted and planned attack.” Nyle Corrigan was fatally shot in the back aged 19 when two gunmen ambushed him by the side of Boode Croft in Stockbridge Village at around 6.30pm on November 12 2020.
Jamie Coggins, Martin Wilson, Connor Smith and Anthony Llewellyn had been on trial accused of murder and conspiracy to possess a 9mm Glock self-loading pistol with intent to endanger life. Wilson and Smith were found guilty following 12 hours and eight minutes of deliberations by a jury and sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum terms of 32 years.
Connor Smith convicted of the murder of Nyle Corrigan(Image: Merseyside Police)
Coggins was found not guilty of murder but was convicted by the jury of assisting an offender and handed four years. Llewellyn was cleared of all charges.
Mason Hodgson
Mason Hodgson, of Glen Road, Morley(Image: Cheshire police)
A “boy racer” killed an innocent by-stander while speeding at 90mph in a 30mph zone. Mason Hodgson crashed into pedestrian Samuel Harding as he zoomed around an industrial estate in his Audi.
They were among several hundred people who had gathered at a car meet. The 23-year-old motorist admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to eight years in prison.