Legal News

A five-member gang from Liverpool has been jailed for a total of 101 years for their parts in a domestic robbery, during which two men were subjected to extreme violence and the pet dog of one of the victims was stabbed.

At a previous hearing, all five men had pleaded guilty and were sentenced at Hull Crown Court.

John Tuffey, 25, of St Helens in Lancashire pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and S18 wounding with intent and was given a jail sentence of 22 years.

Daniel Jones, 26, of Knowsley on Merseyside pleaded guilty to the same charges and was also sentenced to 22 years in jail.

David Llewelyn, 29, of St Helens in Lancashire also pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and S18 wounding with intent and received a 22-year prison sentence.

Mark Platt, 30, of St Helens in Lancashire was also jailed for 22 years after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and S18 wounding with intent.

Jamie Hayes, 30, of St Helens in Lancashire pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and was jailed for 13 years.

After sentencing, Principal Crown Advocate, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, Jonathan Sharp, said:

“These defendants inflicted a truly horrifying level of traumatic violence on their two defenceless victims.

“Both suffered a catalogue of brutal injuries – both were repeatedly stabbed.

“Mr Davidson's Achilles tendon was severed in an attempt to forestall his escape – and the other victim had his ear partially cut off.

“Even Mr Davidson's small dog was gratuitously stabbed.

"The motive appeared to be robbery.

“The defendants were acting on inaccurate information that there was a substantial sum of money at the house.

“They used a mixture of extreme violence and terrifying threats - including credible threats to the life of Mr Davidson's elderly mother – to instil absolute terror in their victims.

“The gang eventually made off with watches, jewellery and a Range Rover, leaving their victims gagged and bound with electrical cables.

“Mr Davidson managed to free himself and raise the alarm – four members of the gang were apprehended in Manchester, after a high-speed motorway chase; and the fifth man was arrested the next day.

“Today, at Hull Crown Court, they have been sentenced to a total of 101 years between them.

“I hope this brings some level of comfort to their victims – and that they can begin to rebuild their lives after this truly traumatising incident.”

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

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