A series of significant court cases concluded at Liverpool Crown Court and Preston Crown Court this week, resulting in lengthy prison sentences for individuals involved in violent crimes, organised drug trafficking, and severe stalking. The rulings address separate incidents of robbery, county lines drug operations, a violent abduction and rape, and the exploitation of women online.
Key Takeaways
- Neil Reid received a 20-year sentence for a knifepoint abduction and rape in Leyland.
- Jason Carson and Shaun O'Toole were jailed for five years and three months each for two robberies.
- Ross Keegan, 20, was sentenced to three years for running a county lines drug network in Wrexham.
- Christian Adamson was imprisoned for two years for stalking and threatening to share private images of women.
- Members of organised crime groups, including Philip Waugh, received substantial sentences for firearms and drug conspiracies.
Robbery Duo Jailed for Five Years
Jason Carson and Shaun O'Toole have been sentenced to over five years in prison for committing two robberies in Wirral. The pair pleaded guilty to the offences at Liverpool Crown Court and were sentenced on Friday, 19 September.
Their first crime occurred at a Londis store on Wellington Road in Oxton Village. Carson, 40, and O'Toole, 55, hid in the stockroom before emerging to threaten a female staff member. They grabbed her arm and stole cash and cigarettes.
Second Incident on Hoylake Road
The second robbery took place on July 16 at the Post Office on Hoylake Road, Bidston. The men arrived on bicycles and kicked the door to gain entry before stealing the entire till. Police were able to identify and charge Carson and O'Toole following public appeals with CCTV footage.
Sentence Details
- Jason Carson: 5 years and 3 months in prison.
- Shaun O'Toole: 5 years and 3 months in prison.
Both men pleaded guilty to robbery, which was considered during sentencing.
Detective Inspector Phil Ryan commented on the impact of their actions. He stated that the incidents left the staff members involved "extremely shaken."
"We work closely with all businesses and partners in our communities to pursue those who commit such crimes, and both Carson and O’Toole have been removed from the streets for the foreseeable future," said Detective Inspector Ryan.
Young Drug Boss Jailed for County Lines Operation
A 20-year-old from Knotty Ash has been sentenced for his role as the head of a county lines drug network. Ross Keegan, of Rennell Road, controlled the "Scouse Kane line," which supplied crack cocaine and heroin in the Wrexham area.
Keegan was arrested in Wrexham in July on an outstanding warrant. He later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. The investigation was part of Operation Toxic, a Merseyside Police initiative targeting county lines drug dealing.
At Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, 19 September, Keegan was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institution. In addition to his custodial sentence, he was given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order. This order restricts him to owning only one mobile phone and prohibits him from entering Wrexham.
Detective Sergeant Shaun McNee of Operation Toxic stated the investigation successfully disrupted a significant drug supply chain. "We are pleased that this investigation has disrupted the chain of supply and taken a significant quantity of drugs off the streets," he said.
Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Knifepoint Abduction and Rape
Neil Reid, 43, has been sentenced to 20 years and six months in custody for abducting a woman at knifepoint and raping her. The incident occurred on April 16 in Leyland as the victim was leaving work.
Reid forced his way into the woman's car around 11pm, brandishing a knife and ordering her to drive. She was taken to a secluded area where Reid subjected her to a terrifying ordeal, raping her both in the car and on a nearby grass area. The court heard that Reid was under the influence of crack cocaine during the attack.
The victim managed to escape when Reid became distracted while searching for the car keys with his phone's flashlight. She fled to a nearby pub to seek help.
Judge's Remarks and Sentence
During sentencing at Preston Crown Court, Judge Robert Altham highlighted the severity of the crime. "She was, throughout, in fear for her life," he said, noting her fear was entirely justified.
After the attack, Reid drove the victim's car to Preston and broke into the flat of his ex-partner's father. He was later arrested near his home at 3am.
Reid pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, kidnap, and several other related offences. The judge imposed a sentence of 20 years and six months, with an additional eight-year extended licence period. Reid will also be registered as a sex offender for life.
Stalker Jailed for 'Revenge Porn' Threats
Christian Adamson, 36, has been jailed for two years for stalking multiple women and threatening to publish private images of them online. Adamson, of Penny Lane in Haydock, used social media and dating websites to contact his victims.
The court heard that Adamson would trick women into sending intimate photos on Snapchat, a platform where images are designed to disappear. He would then secretly save these images by taking screenshots, which he later used to threaten and control his victims.
In one case, after being arrested and bailed in April 2024 for threatening one woman, he went on to target two more. He also sent abusive messages to the teenage daughter of one victim, telling her "she would be better off dead."
Police discovered that Adamson was in breach of a sexual risk order from 2015, which prohibited him from having certain electronic devices. He pleaded guilty to stalking, making threats to disclose private images, and breaching the sexual risk order.
His defence stated that Adamson is neurodiverse with autism and ADHD, which causes him to become fixated and struggle with impulse control. Judge Richard Pratt sentenced him to two years in prison.
Organised Crime Group Members Receive Long Sentences
Several members of organised crime groups were also sentenced for their roles in large-scale drug and firearm conspiracies, revealed through the encrypted EncroChat network.
EncroChat Drug Plot
Lawrence Hill, 52, and Joseph Toole, 55, were sentenced for their managerial roles in a plot to distribute hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin. Hill, known as "FrostyHand," acted as a trusted coordinator, while Toole, or "SummerHillNew," managed logistics and payments for the group.
Hill, of Knowsley Village, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for conspiracy to supply 262kg of cocaine and 111kg of heroin. Toole, of West Derby, received a 16-year sentence for his part in supplying cocaine, heroin, and cannabis.
Firearms and Acid Attack Plot
Philip Waugh, 40, was sentenced for supplying illegal firearms and for trying to organise an acid attack on a rival. Using the EncroChat handle "TeflonWool," Waugh offered an enforcer £20,000 to blind a man and his girlfriend, telling him to "rub acid all over his face."
Waugh, along with Robert Brazendale, supplied guns to various criminal groups between March and June 2020. The Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary, sentenced Waugh to a total of 26 years and eight months, with a five-year extended licence, describing him as dangerous.