These are the faces of the defendants from our region who were locked up over the past seven days
From left; Laura Greenwood, Jordan Lytollis and Alexander Davidson(Image: Merseyside Police)
A former Countdown contestant who sent death threats to presenter Rachel Riley, a National Crime Agency officer and a dad who went berserk in Footasylum were among the Merseyside criminals jailed this week. Also locked up was a chef who violently raped a teenager during a party.
Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a thug stabbed a man in the back at a pharmacy during a brutal revenge attack after he was “ripped off” in a drug deal. Here are the faces of 16 defendants from across our region who were locked up over the past seven days:
James Elliott
James Elliott(Image: Merseyside Police)
A chef left a teenager bloodied, barefoot and in tears in the street after violently raping her during a party. James Elliott “didn’t seem like that sort of lad”, having apparently sought to comfort his victim when she became upset following a row.
But the dad-of-two then “started getting weird” and pinned her onto a bed before subjecting her to a harrowing sexual assault. He is said to have been left “disappointed” with the verdict of the jury and sat with his head in his hands as he was locked up.
Elliott was found guilty of one count of rape by a jury. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a black Technicals coat, he was jailed for eight years.
Mark Brockley
Mark Brockley(Image: City of London Police)
A judge told a fraudster “nice to see you” after he fled the country with his dog. Mark Brockley pocketed hundreds of thousands of pounds by selling pirated subscriptions which enabled his customers to stream Premier League and Champions League matches.
Having then scarpered with his profits, he spent years on the run in France and Spain. But he has now finally been tracked down on the continent and has been extradited back to the UK.
Brockley was found guilty of distributing articles infringing on copyright and fraudulently evading income tax by a jury in his absence, with the dock remaining empty as he was previously jailed for five years. But he was brought before the court last week for the execution of a warrant which was issued for his arrest, and he is now beginning his sentence.
Jordan Lytollis
Jordan Lytollis(Image: Merseyside Police)
A dad has been banned from every JD Sports and Footasylum store in the country. Jordan Lytollis attacked members of staff in a Liverpool ONE store with a metal bar after being caught shoplifting, warning them: “If you come anywhere near me, I’ll take your head off.”
It came amid a spree of thefts worth thousands of pounds at stores across Merseyside and Greater Manchester. A judge labelled him a “greedy and violent individual” and told him: “Violence and dishonesty seems to be second nature to you.”
Lytollis admitted affray, criminal damage and a total of 10 counts of theft. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey Montirex tracksuit, he shook his head as he was jailed for 27 months and handed a criminal behaviour order.
This will ban him from entering every branch of JD Sports, Footasylum and Blacks in the UK for the next four years. His partner was meanwhile seen in tears in the public gallery as he was led to the cells.
Paul Chowles
Former National Crime Agency officer Paul Chowles(Image: Crown Prosecution Service)
A National Crime Agency officer stole Bitcoin worth more than £4million from a criminal who ran a dark web black market for drugs. Thomas White was able to live a life of luxury on the back of his illegal Silk Road website, via which class A and B illicit substances were freely traded, before police raided his waterfront flat in Liverpool city centre.
Paul Chowles, who formed part of the NCA team which brought the dropout Liverpool John Moores University student down, seized on the opportunity to steal 50 Bitcoin from the man who he had been tasked with investigating. This stolen cryptocurrency was worth around £60,000 at the time of the theft, but its worth has since ballooned to more than £4million.
The former intelligence analyst and unit manager was said to have believed that he had “gotten away with” his crimes for years, quietly spending his ill-gotten gains on day-to-day expenses rather than expensive cars or exotic holidays. His brazen scheme was ultimately only revealed when White was released from prison and pointed out the missing coins to police, with the officer having now been put behind bars himself.
Chowles admitted theft, transferring criminal property and concealing criminal property. Appearing suited in the dock and sporting glasses, short mousey brown hair and a beard, he showed no reaction as he was handed five-and-a-half years behind bars.
Alexander Davidson
Alexander Davidson(Image: Merseyside Police)
A thug stabbed a man in the neck in a “revenge” attack after apparently being “ripped off” in a drug deal. Alexander Davidson was said to have carried out the brutal assault in a pharmacy while “desperate” for heroin and crack cocaine.
The addict thereafter ditched the weapon which he used to stab his victim before being arrested in Liverpool ONE later the same day. A judge today told him that he was “exceptionally lucky” not to be facing a murder charge in an incident that could have “easily” killed the other man.
Davidson admitted one count of unlawful wounding and, appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, was jailed for 33 months. Asked whether he understood his sentence, he replied: “Yes, but I don’t agree with your summarisation.”
Laura Greenwood
Laura Greenwood(Image: Merseyside Police)
A former Countdown contestant sent a string of alarming death threats to presenter Rachel Riley after developing a menacing grudge. Laura Greenwood made it to the quarter finals of the Channel 4 game show before being sectioned, after which the convicted arsonist began bombarding online fan forums with a series of vile posts.
These criticised the programme for descending into “kid’s stuff and b****cks” and accused a long serving producer of being a paedophile and a “slimy weirdo”. A string of further abusive messages then threatened that it was a “question of when, not if” he and Ms Riley would be murdered, with one ranting diatribe stating: “When I’m ready it’s him and Riley first, and then as many as I can possibly take before I go to prison.”
Greenwood, who appeared via video link to HMP Downview wearing a blue cardigan over a grey t-shirt and sporting long brown hair and glasses, admitted three counts of sending a communication conveying an offensive and three of sending a message threatening death or serious harm. Judge Brian Cummings KC imposed a further prison sentence of six months, which will run consecutively to a current prison term of two years and eight months.
Shaun Ashley
Shaun Ashley(Image: Merseyside Police)
A mum discovered a horrifying secret after looking at her daughter’s tablet computer. Messages contained within the device, which the teen had exchanged with her boyfriend via social media, revealed that the youngster had suffered repeated sexual assaults at the hands of Shaun Ashley.
The remorseless pervert then “bribed” his victim with cash in order to buy her silence. He remains “adamant” that he is an innocent man, however, having “refused to take responsibility for what he did”.
Ashley was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13 and one of sexual activity with a child following a trial. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a black t-shirt and glasses, he was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
Nathan Simpson, Nathan Davies, John Lally, Daniel R
Nathan Simpson(Image: Cheshire Police)
Seven EncroChat gang members who supplied class A and B drugs at an “industrial” level have been jailed for more than 55 years. The organised crime group was led by Nathan Simpson, Nathan Davies, and John Lally, who used the handles “Gardenfella”, “Chillifella” and “Silverfella” on the encrypted communications platform.
Daniel Roberts, Steven Dodd, Connor Lawton, and Dominic Bourdet were meanwhile evidenced as having significant roles and were trusted members of the crime group, helping to collect, store, and distribute the gang’s illicit products. Simpson and Davies meanwhile planned drive-by shootings of their rivals, while the former plotted a series of arson attacks alongside Lally and Roberts.
Lally was jailed for 12 years and 4 months years for conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, handling stolen goods, encouraging or assisting an offence and arson with intent to endanger life. Davies received nine years and eight months for conspiracy to supply cannabis, production of cannabis, possession of cannabis and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The gang has been sentenced to a combined 55 years in jail(Image: Cheshire Police)
Dodd was handed six years and nine months for conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis and possession of cannabis. Lawton was sentenced to three years and four months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
Roberts was locked up for three-and-a-half years for conspiracy to supply cannabis. Bourdet was given three years and eight months behind bars for conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of amphetamine and cannabis.
Simpson was jailed for 16 years and two months. He admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis, possession of cannabis and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Bridie Trotter
Bridie Trotter, 36, of Scott Street, Warrington(Image: Merseyside police)
A drug driving mum caused a head-on crash with her two young sons in her car. Bridie Trotter was high on cocaine when she swerved into the opposite lane and crashed into a vehicle carrying a heavily pregnant woman, two children and their day.
Her own five-year-old son suffered serious injuries and was placed into an induced coma as a result of the incident. The other boy, aged four, was also injured, having apparently not been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.
Trotter pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drug driving and drink driving. She was jailed for 27 months and banned from driving for four years.
Lee Smith
Lee Smith, 41, of no fixed abode(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man pressed a blade into a taxi driver’s stomach and threatened to kill him after he tried to collect his girlfriend’s unpaid fare. Lee Smith had been out of prison for just two months when he told the driver: “I’ll stab you, I’ll kill you”.
The 41-year-old pleaded guilty to threatening a person with a blade in a public place, and racially aggravated common assault. He was jailed for a total of 30 months.