These are the faces of the defendants from our region who were locked up over the past seven daysFrom left; Lewis Tucker, Lee Houghton and Lee NicholsFrom left; Lewis Tucker, Lee Houghton and Lee Nichols(Image: Merseyside Police)

A robber who was locked in a toilet by his victim, a drug dealer who called himself “Harry Pothead” and a thug who battered a 72-year-old deaf man were among the Merseyside criminals jailed this week. Also locked up was a “monster” subjected his girlfriend to a sickening beating because he didn’t like her vaping.

Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a woman was left covering under the covers after a stranger crept into her bedroom while she slept. Here are the faces of nine defendants from across our region who were locked up over the past seven days:

David CrokeDavid CrokeDavid Croke(Image: Merseyside Police)

A robber begged to be set free after being trapped inside a convenience store by his victim but was instead locked in a toilet until police arrived. David Croke told a shop assistant that he was armed with a knife, a claim which he quickly backtracked on when the worker lowered the external shutters in order to prevent him from leaving.

Desperately seeking an alternative escape route, he then made his way into the staff bathroom. And the quick thinking employee seized upon this opportunity by closing the door behind him and locking him inside the WC.

Croke admitted one count of robbery. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey prison issue jumper, he was jailed for 25 months.

Lee HoughtonLee HoughtonLee Houghton

A thug stripped naked and called his own solicitor a “slag” after being arrested. Lee Houghton found himself in custody having attempted to snatch a pensioner’s medication as she collected her prescription from the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

The victim, a walking stick user in her 60s, was sent flying to the floor as a result of the assault. A judge warned her attacker to “get a grip of his life” and “sort himself out” or face “ever longer” prison sentences.

Houghton admitted attempted robbery and assaulting an emergency services worker. Wearing a grey prison issue jumper while appearing via video link from prison, he was jailed for 34 months.

Peter MeliaPeter MeliaPeter Melia(Image: Cheshire Police)

A “monster” battered his girlfriend when she refused to perform degrading sex acts on him. Peter Melia also turned violent because he didn’t like his partner vaping, strangling her and attempting to bite her on the nose during a campaign of disturbing domestic abuse.

The dad-of-three was left in tears with his head in his hands over what he labelled “the biggest mistake of his life”, telling a judge: “There’s no excuse for what I did. I will never forgive myself.”

Melia admitted engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation. Appearing in the dock wearing a black Ralph Lauren jumper, he nodded and replied “thank you” after being jailed for two-and-a-half years and handed a five-year restraining order.

Lee NicholsLee NicholsLee Nichols(Image: Merseyside Police)

A violent thug took retribution against a 72-year-old deaf man after being told to “f*** off” in Wetherspoons. Lee Nichols battered the pensioner in the street as he waited for a bus home from the pub.

The dad first shattered the OAP’s glasses when punching to him floor, where he then stamped on and repeatedly kicked his stricken victim. A judge branded the incident a “wholly unprovoked, unwarranted attack”, which came in revenge for the perpetrator being told to “f*** off” when he had earlier asked for money.

Nichols admitted one count of unlawful wounding. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey Columbia t-shirt and sporting short grey hair and glasses, he was jailed for 21 months.

Jack HartleyJack HartleyJack Hartley(Image: Merseyside Police)

A drug dealer called himself “Harry Pothead” and kept his stash hidden in a cement mixer. Jack Hartley used an Instagram account under this Harry Potter-inspired moniker in order to sell cocaine and cannabis to customers via social media.

The three-time convicted drug trafficker is now facing yet another spell behind bars as a result. His own counsel even conceded that he is “wasting his life” in prison, although he is now apparently keen to “prove himself” on the outside.

Hartley admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of criminal property and two counts of failing to comply with a serious crime prevention order. Appearing in the dock wearing a navy blue and grey Reprimo t-shirt, he was jailed for five years and eight months.

Ian ThompsonIan ThompsonIan Thompson(Image: Merseyside Police)

A woman was left cowering under the covers for what “felt like a lifetime” after she woke up to find a burglar at the foot of her bed. Ian Thompson crept into his victim’s bedroom as she slept and rifled through her belongings during a string of break-ins.

The mum initially believed that she had been woken by her husband returning home from work in the early hours, but instead cried “what the f***” and was left with her “heart pounding” after being greeted by the site of the complete stranger “glaring” at her. She implored a judge to “throw away the key” over the “petrifying” incident.

Thompson admitted five counts of burglary and asked for a further two offences of burglary, occurring on Buttermere Gardens on November 4 and Desmond Grove on November 5, to be taken into consideration in sentencing. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a blue Berghaus t-shirt, he was jailed for three years and four months.

David RobertsDavid RobertsDavid Roberts(Image: Cheshire Police)

A burglar who broke into a church, a mosque and a food bank was arrested in a priest’s bath. David Roberts attempted to hide from police in the bathroom of the rectory after being caught red-handed stealing cash during a break-in.

His crime spree came against the background of the £200-a-day drug habit which has “consumed his life”. The “prolific offender” was left telling his wife he loved her as he was locked up yet again.

Roberts admitted three counts of burglary, criminal damage and failing to surrender to bail and asked for a further burglary, on Foregate Street in Chester, to be taken into consideration. Appearing in the dock wearing a short sleeved blue and red checked shirt, he was jailed for two years and two months.

Michael FlanaganMichael FlanaganMichael Flanagan(Image: Merseyside Police)

A “jealous” ex-boyfriend deliberately crashed his car at high speed with his former partner inside after telling her “I’m going to kill us both”. Michael Flanagan ploughed his vehicle into a tree while travelling at around double the speed limit following his disturbing reaction to the end of their short-term relationship.

The incident came only a day after he had crept into his estranged girlfriend’s home armed with a knife and threatened “I was going to stab yous”, having been under the “paranoid” belief that she was seeing another man. While he “intended to cause really serious injury” to his passenger during the subsequent collision, she miraculously escaped from the chilling smash relatively unscathed.

Flanagan admitted attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and making threats with a bladed article in a private place. Appearing in the dock wearing a black suit over a white shirt and blue tie, he was jailed for four years.

Lewis TuckerLewis TuckerLewis Tucker(Image: Merseyside Police)

A thug told a victim of the Manchester Arena bombing “I’m going to be a terrorist” before battering her in her own home. Lewis Tucker “snapped” and repeatedly punched and kicked the woman as she lay stricken on the ground, having earlier threatened to burn her house down.

While she was “just starting to get her life back on track” seven years on from the explosion which killed 22 innocent people during an Ariana Grande concert, she is now “at rock bottom” once again following the “worrying and terrifying” assault. She has meanwhile branded her attacker a “danger to society”.

Tucker admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey t-shirt and sporting mid length brown hair, he was jailed for 16 months and handed a five-year restraining order.