Four court cases that shocked Star readers in July

Harry Holcroft

The attack happened in October last year, near to the Duke pub (Image: Merseyside Police)

A teenager high on ketamine and alcohol who joined in a screwdriver attack with two other men after they chased their victim down a darkened street has avoided jail.

In the early hours of October 21, 2023, Shantosh Surendra was repeatedly stabbed in the back and suffered a punctured lung close to the Duke pub on Duke Street, although it was unclear which of the trio inflicted the wounds.

Two of his attackers, Jack Mather, of Gerards Lane, and Dillon Smith, of Lakemoor Close, were both put behind bars for 22 months last month, with the 19-year-olds pleading guilty to wounding.

The third man involved was 18-year-old Harry Holcroft, of Lowfield Lane, who had also been found guilty of wounding after a trial.

Holcroft's sentencing was held at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, July 8.

Holcroft, who was “substantially affected by ketamine and alcohol”, was said to have left the scene after the attack.

Judge Potter said: “You joined that chase and did so I am sure half-heartedly and out of mis-placed loyalty to people you hardly knew. You jogged behind the leading chaser.

“The assault had begun by the time you arrived on the scene and you joined in that assault. It cannot be said you inflicted any wounds.”

Judge Potter said that Holcroft has now expressed “significant remorse” and unlike his co-accused has no previous convictions

The judge said that only a custodial sentence was appropriate, but as there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, he would take an exceptional course and suspend a term of 18 months detention for 18 months.

He also ordered him to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and 20 days rehabilitation activities.

Read the full report here.

Taysir Abdullah

The victim was hit on King Street (Image: Google Street View)

A motorist who decided to make an illegal right turn to shave minutes off his homeward journey ploughed into dad-to-be on a pedestrian crossing, catapulting him through the air, was sent to prison.

The victim sustained serious injuries, including a bleed on the brain and broken bones and he was detained in hospital for a month.

The driver, businessman Taysir Abdullah, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was put behind bars for 26 months.

The 37-year-old, of Stevenson Crescent, Newtown, St Helens, was also banned from driving for three years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the incident happened at about 10.30 pm on March 22 last year on King Street as the victim, Keiran Haddock and his teenage step-son were on their way to eat after playing snooker.

The defendant, who had just finished work, drove along the service road and ignored the clear signs to turn left at the end and instead turned right and struck Mr Haddock, a chef, and just missed his step-son

Abdullah stopped at the scene and told the boy, “it’s going to be OK”.

The victim was taken to hospital where it was found that as well as a bleed on the brain, leading to loss of memory and speech, he had fractures to his pelvis, vertebrae and left ankle.

Read the full story here.

Amanda Wilkie

Victim Christine Potts after she was attacked by an XL bully dog (Image: Submitted)

A “drink” woman who was in charge of two XL bullies that attacked women and other dogs at a park and then went home to drink alcohol has avoided prison.

Amanda Wilkie narrowly avoided jail despite her “catalogue of irresponsibility” as the two dogs embarked on their vicious attacks at Willow Park, in Newton-le-Willows, on August 17 last year.

Wilkie had been on Crown Court bail at the time of the offences, having been charged in relation to the stabbing of her then partner on April 14, 2023.

Wilkie, 44, of Southworth Road, Newton-le-Willows, pleaded guilty to two counts of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, and two counts of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control in relation to the attacks at Willow Park. 

She avoided being sent to prison as the judge accepted her “personal mitigation”.

One of the victims, Christine Potts, who was bitten on the face and also on her lip and finger, was left needing hospital treatment from the attack and has suffered from PTSD.

Passing sentence, judge Brian Cummings KC said the attacks at Willow Park represent “a catalogue of irresponsibility” from Wilkie.

He said: “You are not a big person, you are a slight woman. You went out with two large dogs, you had no proper collar and lead and were under the influence of alcohol.

“And, very seriously, you abandoned the dogs at the scene, you left others to deal with the situation as best they could. There were children at the park, though not affected, very fortunately for all concerned.

Judge Cummings said to Wilkie, who was wearing a pink and black jumper in the dock: “In my judgement, the balance in this case just comes down in your favour, I’m going to make a further suspended sentence order.”

The gave the 44-year-old two concurrent jail terms of 10 months, both suspended for two years for the counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

She must also do 10 days of rehabilitation activity and 200 hours of unpaid work.

The judge ordered Wilkie, who is on benefits, to pay £500 compensation to one victim and £300 to another.

Read the full story here.

Jack McCarthy

Jack McCarthy (Image: Merseyside Police)

A SERIAL thief who stole more than £1,600 worth of items from a store during a spree across several months has been put behind bars.

Jack McCarthy appeared before Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates' Court last Tuesday, July 23.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to six counts of theft. He stole from a Boots shop, in St Helens, on six separate occasions between September last year and March 2024.

According to a court sheet, his offending was "so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified". It added the defendant was jailed because of his "offending history".

It was stated that it was the "same retailer affected by multiple offences" and the stolen property was "not recovered".

The 31-year-old, of HMP Altcourse, was given concurrent 16-week jail terms for each count.

Read the report here.