One man claimed he was ‘sitting in a courtroom full of lies’ while another threatened ‘I’m coming for you lad’
From left; James Byrne, Aaron Quinn and Stuart Devany(Image: Merseyside Police/Facebook)
Courtrooms are famously a venue where emotions can become heightened and tempers frayed. This can sometimes lead to furious tirades from both criminals in the dock and their supporters in the public gallery alike, as well as candid admissions and pleas for mercy.
Here, the ECHO has taken a look back at 21 cases from 2024 where defendants and their family members ranted and raved in court. These include one man who claimed he was “sitting in a courtroom full of lies”, while another shouted “I’m coming for you lad to” to a police officer as he was found guilty of attempted murder.
‘Woah, eight years?’
Lee Groves(Image: Merseyside Police)
“Joyrider” Lee Groves left nine injured after crashing a stolen car into the back of a taxi. He brought “chaos and destruction to innocent people” when he flipped the vehicle he was driving and wrote off two others, then fled the scene “in a cowardly way”.
Groves, who admitted aggravated vehicle taking, wept as a judge told him that it was “miraculous that no one was seriously injured or worse”. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 16 months and banned from driving for eight years and eight months – at which he was heard to say: “Woah, eight years?”
‘Fat nonce’
Reece Martin(Image: Merseyside Police)
A teenager who was part of a two-man team who fired five bullets into a house as a mum and son slept inside called a judge a “fat nonce” as he was locked up. Reece Martin and Anthony Milton unleashed a volley of gunshots at the family home on Central Drive in West Derby as part of an ongoing “vendetta”, which had been sparked by a vicious stabbing and also saw a pub gutted by fire.
Anthony Milton(Image: Merseyside Police)
They laughed and joked as they were told that it was “only by chance that no one was injured or killed” during the shooting. Martin and Milton admitted possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.
Both men received 12 years behind bars plus an additional five years on licence. Martin shouted “fat nonce” as he was being led down to the cells.
‘I need help’
Dean Hearne(Image: Cheshire Police)
A homeless man was allowed to sleep in a woman’s back garden but repaid her kindness by threatening to burn down her house and kill her pet dog. Dean Hearne also continued his campaign of abuse against another victim, whom he previously threatened to throw acid into the face of amid a dispute over a Cadbury’s Creme Egg.
He told Liverpool Crown Court “I need help.” Hearne admitted two counts of harassment, assault, threatening behaviour and two charges of criminal damage. After being locked up for 16 months and handed a new seven-year restraining order, he replied: “Thank you, see you again.”
‘Ha ha ha, minor’
Kyle Ashton(Image: Cheshire Police)
A drug dealer replied “ha ha ha, minor” after being told how long he would spend in prison. Kyle Ashton sold heroin and crack cocaine to users on the streets and orchestrated deliveries by others as part of a county lines operation, as well as arranging “throw overs” of cannabis into a prison.
One of his supporters left court asking “who grassed?” as he was locked up. Ashton admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, conspiracy to convey a prohibited article into a prison, possession of criminal property and breaching court bail and was jailed for three and a half years.
‘I can’t do prison again’
Aaron Quinn(Image: Facebook)
Aaron Quinn’s Facebook romance soured when he demanded £80 from his online partner while threatening that he would send intimate pictures of her “worldwide”. He exchanged photos of his “lower half” with his victim before attempting to blackmail her for cash by claiming that he would post images she had shared with him on the internet.
Quinn then tearfully begged a judge not to send him to jail, saying “I can’t do prison again”. He admitted blackmail, threatening to disclose private images and harassment and was imprisoned for 10 months.
‘I’m sitting in a courtroom full of lies’
Scott McGuffie(Image: Cheshire Police)
A domestic abuser who sent an intimate video of his ex to her new partner on WhatsApp ranted “I’m sitting in a courtroom full of lies”. Scott McGuffie subjecting his pregnant former girlfriend to a campaign of harassment following the breakdown of their relationship, including lurking outside her house in the dead of night and bombarding her with phone calls.
The 41-year-old admitted disclosing private sexual images with intent to cause distress and breaching a non-molestation order. He was heard to remark “I’m sitting in a courtroom full of lies” moments before Recorder Jeremy Lasker began his sentencing remarks.
The judge then said: “Save for a short honeymoon period, this relationship has been turbulent. On her account, she has been the recipient of both abuse and violent behaviour from you over an extended period of time.”
McGuffie sat shaking his head in the dock at this stage. When Recorder Lasker began to address the intimate film, the defendant added: “I only sent the video because she told me to do it. ” He was then warned to “be quiet”. McGuffie was jailed for three years, to which he replied: “Thank you very much, your honour.”
‘K***head’
Leslie Garrett(Image: Merseyside Police)
Showcase Cinema gunman Leslie Garrett shouted “k***head” as he was jailed. The 49-year-old, of Ternhall Road in Fazakerley, raided Sangha’s newsagents in Norris Green in his flip flops and shot into a protective screen with an AK47 on the evening of January 3 this year.
He then went for a drink in the pub before continuing onwards to the Showcase Cinema in Croxteth, where he had worked as a security guard before losing his job three months earlier for “being under the influence of alcohol”, and firing further shots outside. Garrett pleaded guilty to eight offences including possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, attempted robbery and possession of ammunition without a certificate.
Appearing in the dock wearing a grey Nike jumper and with a cross on show around his neck, he was handed 14 years in prison plus an extended licence period of four years. He gave a thumbs up to his supporters in the public gallery as he was led down the the cells and said “see you later, it’ll be alright” before shouting “k***head” as he left the dock.
‘Scumbags’
Michael Strange(Image: Merseyside Police)
A thug who battered a man with his crutches branded his co-defendants “scumbags”. Michael Strange and his then partner Cassandra Shaw attacked their victim after he refused to lend them money.
His ex-girlfriend and a second woman, Chelsea Stanley, also fell to be sentenced in connection with a robbery which saw another man tipped out of his wheelchair before his assailants rifled through his pockets and stole cash from him. Shaw admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, criminal damage and theft and was handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for two years plus rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.
Strange pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm. He was jailed for 16 months, after which he turned to his girlfriend in the public gallery as he was led to the cells and said: “See you in a minute.”
Stanley admitted theft. She received a 15-month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.
‘I would do anything to take back my actions’
Alexander Brady(Image: Merseyside Police)
A DJ threatened to track down and “merk” his victim before following through on his promise. Alexander Brady smashed the innocent man’s window with a hammer, leaving him too scared to visit the shop for a pint of milk.
The squatter told a judge he would “do anything to take back his actions”. Brady admitted two counts of threatening behaviour, criminal damage and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and was jailed for nine months.
‘You’re lying’
James Jackson(Image: Merseyside Police)
James Jackson claimed that he armed himself with a meat cleaver after being attacked by a homeless person at a Tesco store. He then brandished the weapon towards the police on a Liverpool city centre street, having claimed to have found the item discarded in a bin behind a hotel.
Jackson ranted “you’re lying” as he was locked up. He admitted possession of a bladed article in a public place and was jailed for 14 months.
‘Joke that you know’
Anthony Wilson(Image: Merseyside Police)
An EncroChat drug trafficker known as “Piggy Wilson” kept tens of thousands pounds stashed inside a Valentino box. Anthony Wilson used the encrypted communications platform to trade in wholesale quantities of heroin and cocaine, including plotting deals with his cousin. He admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.
Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Under Armour zip-up top, Wilson was jailed for 14-and-a-half years. He responded by shaking his head and saying: “Joke that you know.”
‘F***s sake’
Stuart Devany(Image: Merseyside Police)
A gang loitered outside takeaways, restaurants and shops in order to fit tracking devices to the owners’ cars before breaking into their homes. Stuart Devany was part of an elaborate plot which saw tens of thousands of pounds of jewellery and cash stolen during a string of burglaries across the suburbs of South Liverpool.
When the police came knocking at his door, he bluffed “I don’t do burglaries” then delivered a 16-word rant from the dock as he was locked up. Devany admitted conspiracy to commit burglary an was jailed for six years and five months, to which he responded: “How the hell do the travellers get away with it? That’s your job, not mine. F***s sake.”
‘Love you mum, don’t be angry’
Daniel Carrigan(Image: Merseyside Police)
Rioter Daniel Carrigan claimed he visited Southport to “pay his respects” to the victims but instead snorted cocaine and trashed a police van. The 41-year-old was seen kicking at a police van and throwing two items “one after the other” at one of its windows.
Carrigan, who made a love heart sign with his hands towards his supporters in the public gallery at one stage during his subsequent court hearing, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and criminal damage. He nodded and said “thank you” after being jailed for 32 months, then added “love you mum, don’t be angry, love yous all” as he was led to cells.
‘Nothing happened though’
Ryan Canavan(Image: Merseyside Police)
A mechanic ranted “nothing happened though” as he was jailed for sexually assaulting a woman as she slept. Ryan Canavan crept into the bedroom where his victim, who was in her 60s, was sleeping before groping her after downing a dozen beers and smoking cannabis.
The campervan business owner was convicted of one count of sexual assault by a jury. He was locked up for 18 months this morning, to which he reacted by shaking his head and puffing out his cheeks as he said: “Why? This is a nightmare. Why?”
A woman in the public gallery told him “come on mate”, but he continued: “Why though? I’ve got a business. Nothing happened though. There’s nothing.”
‘I’m coming for you lad’
From L to R: Curtis Byrne and James Byrne(Image: Merseyside Police)
A pair of twins who formed a “pack” and “hunted” down and shot a rival gang member in the leg were jailed for life. Gunman James Byrne and his brother Curtis Byrne travelled in convoy on electric bikes before locating their target near to a social club and firing six bullets at him.
It came after a third defendant, Mason Smith, was hit by a car, as well as another incident which saw a volley of shots fired at a drug dealer in the street. One of the Byrnes later jumped out of a bedroom window when police visited his mum’s house.
All three stood trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in July. The Byrnes were unanimously convicted of these charges, although Smith was cleared of both counts and the lesser offence of wounding with intent.
The brothers appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool, with James Byrne sporting a dark grey puffer coat and Curtis Byrne wearing a light grey Monterrain tracksuit. Both were handed life imprisonments with minimum terms of 18 years and eight months.
As James Byrne was led down to the cells following the guilty verdict, he turned to police officers who were sat within the courtroom and told told one: “You fat little b***end. Look up lad, you fat c***.”
He then began ranting at another officer, shouting: “I don’t know what you’re looking at, you little nonce. I’m coming for you lad.”
‘You’re a little paedophile’
Milne Critchley(Image: Merseyside Police)
A “pack of animals” called a judge a “nonce” and a “little paedophile” as they were locked up for more than 50 years. Boxer Anthony Dodson was left with life-threatening injuries when he was stabbed in the heart after fighting broke out in a Liverpool city centre nightclub and spilled out into the street.
Some of those who became embroiled within the vicious incident burned their designer clothing in a park and attempted to flee to France as illegal stowaways on a lorry in the aftermath of the near fatal assault. Milne Critchley was found guilty of wounding with intent in relation to the incident, having admitted violent disorder.
Groans were heard in the public gallery and one woman left the courtroom in tears as he was jailed for 10 years. He must serve two thirds of this term behind bars before becoming eligible for release.
Adam Draper was convicted of unlawful wounding by a jury. The 21-year-old was handed four years and will be subject to a two-year serious violence reduction order upon his release.
Adam Draper(Image: Merseyside Police)
George Miller admitted violent disorder but was found guilty of wounding with intent. Further groans were heard in court as the 20-year-old was locked up for 10 years, of which he must serve at least two thirds in custody.
George Miller(Image: Merseyside Police)
Cameron Quinn was convicted of two counts of wounding with intent, having pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He stood with his arms folded in the dock then shrugged as he was imprisoned for 12 years, of which he must serve two thirds, while a co-defendant patted him on the back.
Cameron Quinn(Image: Merseyside Police)
Jordan Kinsella was found guilty of unlawful wounding, having admitted violent disorder. The 29-year-old nodded as he was jailed for four years.
Jordan Kinsella(Image: Merseyside Police)
Lee Duffy was convicted of unlawful wounding, attempted unlawful wounding and possession of a bladed article in a public place. He also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was given six years in a young offenders’ institute. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of two counts of wounding with intent and admitted violent disorder. He was given five-and-a-half years in a young offenders’ institute.
Lee Duffy(Image: Merseyside Police)
‘I’m really sorry’
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.”
‘Oh God’
Joshua Saxton was jailed for 10 months(Image: Cheshire Police)
Joshua Saxton repeatedly punched another man in the face during a night out, leaving him permanently blind in one eye. The “nasty and cowardly” assault occurred outside the Block 1 nightclub in Warrington at around 2am on November 19 last year.
The victim, Dominic Robinson, had been attempting to break up an argument when he was attacked. He suffered serious injuries and needed emergency surgery to save his eye.
Saxton admitted a single count of affray and was sentenced to 10 month in prison. His supporters were heard crying “no” and “oh god” in the public gallery as he was led to the cells.
‘I’m sorry about that’
John Charlton(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man came up with an “incredible” excuse after his DNA was found on a murder weapon. John Charlton was forensically linked to a Glock pistol which was used in a fatal shooting and was also fired at a house on another occasion.
But he then cooked up a bizarre story that he had handled the weapon believing it was merely a toy gun, having stumbled across it while delivering firewood to a house. He told a judge “I’m sorry about that” as he was locked up.
Charlton admitted possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition without a certificate. He was jailed for five years and seven months.
‘Sound, nice one’
Shaun Wilkinson(Image: Merseyside Police)
A thug stabbed a 15-year-old boy with a machete as he sought “revenge” for his stepdaughter. Shaun Wilkinson confronted the teenager at his own home and plunged the gruesome weapon into his side as he attempted to flee for safety.
It came after the victim had fended off a “mob” of bullies who earlier congregated outside the address as they seemingly sought to harass his sister. His assailant chillingly told the teenager’s mum “just ask anyone about me” and threatened to burn down their house before launching his vicious attack.
Wilkinson admitted wounding with intent, possession of a bladed article in a public place and two counts of theft. After being jailed for eight years and handed an additional five years on licence, he replied: “Sound, nice one.”