A number of criminals in Liverpool, previously granted leniency by the courts, have been sentenced to significant prison terms after committing further serious offences. These cases highlight the judicial challenge of balancing rehabilitation with public safety, as individuals given suspended sentences or community orders returned to crime, resulting in violent assaults, large-scale drug trafficking, and other major violations.
Key Takeaways
- Several offenders in Liverpool breached suspended sentences by committing new crimes.
- New offences ranged from violent assaults to operating as high-level drug and weapons traffickers.
- Sentences for the new crimes were severe, often combining punishment for the new offence with the activation of the original suspended term.
- The cases include a murderer released on licence who became an underworld arms broker and an EncroChat dealer who ran a multi-million-pound drug operation.
The Judicial Gamble of Leniency
When sentencing, judges in the UK are required to consider alternatives to immediate imprisonment, especially for sentences of two years or less. Options like suspended sentences, community orders, and unpaid work are designed to offer a chance at rehabilitation while still serving as a punishment.
A suspended sentence means an offender will not go to prison unless they commit another crime or breach the conditions of their sentence within a specified period. However, as several recent cases in Liverpool demonstrate, this opportunity is not always taken, leading to more severe consequences when offenders reappear in court.
From Minor Offences to Major Crimes
The following individuals were all given an opportunity to avoid immediate custody but went on to commit further crimes, leading to substantial prison sentences.
Aaron Kerr: A Pattern of Public Violence
Aaron Kerr, 38, was already on thin ice after being spared jail for chasing a man from a bar while armed with a knife. A judge's hope for his reform was dashed when he engaged in another violent episode in a pub after a Christening.
During the incident at the Coach and Horses pub in Moreton, a drunken Kerr threw an ashtray at a woman's head from less than a metre away, causing a wound. This assault occurred while he was on bail for a separate incident involving setting off fire extinguishers and threatening police with scissors. A judge told him, "it's unfortunate that we meet again."
Kerr admitted to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, and possessing a bladed article, among other charges. He was jailed for two years for his repeated violent conduct.
Matthew Lee: Dispute Over Dogs Ends in Knife Attack
Matthew Lee, 31, had previously been convicted for drug dealing but received a suspended sentence. He lost this freedom after a bizarre and violent argument with his flatmate over the mess created by his 13 dogs.
The dispute escalated dramatically when Lee threatened his victim with a "zombie knife." During a struggle over the weapon, the flatmate's finger was sliced open. Lee then continued the assault with a stick. He later admitted to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and making threats with a bladed article.
For breaching his suspended sentence and the violent attack, Judge Brian Cummings KC sentenced him to three-and-a-half years in prison and imposed a seven-year restraining order.
What is a Suspended Sentence?
A suspended sentence is a custodial sentence that is not carried out immediately. The court sets a period during which the offender must not commit any further offences and must comply with any requirements set. If they breach these conditions, the court can "activate" the sentence, sending them to prison for the original term in addition to any new sentence.
High-Level Criminality Following Leniency
Some offenders used their second chance to escalate their criminal activities, moving into organised crime involving encrypted communication networks and significant drug operations.
Anthony Duncan: The EncroChat Dealer 'MossyJade'
Anthony Duncan, 32, was already serving a 12-month suspended sentence for intent to supply cannabis and money laundering. Instead of reforming, he deepened his involvement in organised crime, using the encrypted EncroChat network under the handle "MossyJade."
Investigations revealed Duncan was trafficking drugs "on a commercial scale." He was responsible for supplying 25 kilograms of cocaine and 88 kilograms of cannabis. A police search of his Vauxhall home on January 8, 2024, uncovered £30,000 in cash, three Rolex watches, and various weapons.
Duncan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and breaching his suspended sentence. He was jailed for 12 years and eight months.
EncroChat and Organised Crime
The EncroChat network was an encrypted communication platform heavily used by organised crime groups. Law enforcement agencies infiltrated the network in 2020, leading to thousands of arrests across Europe for offences including drug trafficking, murder, and firearms conspiracies.
Jacob Bullen: Cocaine Found in Girlfriend's Fridge
Jacob Bullen, then 26, was serving an eight-month suspended sentence for dealing cannabis when police raided his partner's home in Walton on December 16, 2020. Inside the fridge, they discovered two large blocks of cocaine with a potential street value of up to £50,000.
Forensic analysis showed one block was 77% pure cocaine. Bullen admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and breaching his suspended sentence. For this significant escalation in his drug dealing activity, he was sentenced to a total of six years and eight months in prison in 2021.
The Gravest Breaches of Trust
In the most serious cases, offenders given a second chance went on to commit crimes that caused profound harm to individuals and society.
James Blundell: Depraved Paedophile Reoffends
James Blundell, 36, from Haydock, was handed a suspended sentence in 2016 for a range of child sex offences, including distributing and making indecent images. He was also given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) designed to stop him from reoffending.
However, Blundell went on to commit horrific new crimes. He groomed young boys with money and sweets before raping and sexually abusing them. Appearing at Liverpool Crown Court on March 31, 2024, he admitted to multiple counts of rape, attempted rape, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as breaching his SHPO. He was jailed for 14 years and five months, with an additional five years on licence to protect the public.
Michael Hoy: Murderer Turned Underworld Arms Broker
Michael Hoy, formerly known as Michael Brown, was convicted of murder in 2001 for the stabbing of 21-year-old Colin McGinty in a case of mistaken identity. He was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years but was released on licence in 2017 after serving 16 years.
After his release, he changed his name and started a landscaping business in an apparent attempt to leave his past behind. However, he became deeply embedded in Liverpool's underworld, using the EncroChat handle "TimelyBeta." Under this alias, he attempted to broker deals for guns and grenades while also dealing drugs.
In January 2022, Hoy was given a new life sentence for his crimes. He will serve a minimum of 13 years before he can be considered for parole, a stark conclusion for a man once deemed safe enough to be released back into the community.