These are the defendants from across Merseyside who were locked up over the past seven days
These are the defendants from across Merseyside who were locked up over the past seven days
A drug trafficker who spent years on the run in Spain, a burglar with a secret past and rapist facing life behind bars were among the Merseyside criminals jailed this week. Also locked up was a former window cleaner who began smashing up his phone when he realised the police were on his case.
Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that police seized a Rolex watch from the wrist of a man’s girlfriend after finding cocaine in his underwear. Here are the faces of six defendants from across our region who were imprisoned over the past seven days:
Anthony Finnigan
A drug trafficker’s years on the run ended with gunshots being fired at police in Spain. Anthony Finnigan fled the country after becoming involved in a nationwide plot to supply hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of amphetamine and cannabis.
While he was said to have left the UK as he was “under immense stress which got the better of him”, Interpol would later catch up with him on the continent in possession of a bounty of dozens of firearms. He has now finally been brought to justice, nearly five years on, over a £100,000 haul of drugs which was found hidden inside a freezer.
Finnigan admitted possession of amphetamine with intent to supply, production of cannabis, abstracting electricity and failing to surrender to custody. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey prison issue jumper, he was jailed for six years and two months.
Joshua Caldwell
A Rolex watch was seized from the wrist of a drug dealer’s girlfriend after wraps of cocaine were discovered in his underwear. Joshua Caldwell’s “nervous” behaviour aroused the suspicions of police, leading to the seizure of a quantity of cash and illicit substances.
His third conviction for drug trafficking offences came after he “fell back into his old ways” following his release from prison. A judge has now warned him that he is “wasting his life”.
Caldwell admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and two counts of possession of criminal property. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 2,035 days. This is the minimum seven-year sentence for a third drug trafficking offence minus credit of 20 per cent for a guilty plea.
Liam Coatsworth
A dad immediately began smashing up his phone when he realised he had aroused the suspicions of the police. Former window cleaner Liam Coatsworth resorted to working in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine after “falling on hard times”.
The 32-year-old admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a green North Face jumper, he was jailed for three years.
Eugen Popescu
A burglar was able to keep his past life in Italy secret and continued his criminal career undeterred. Eugen Popescu targeted the empty home of a man who had fled his address in fear, having already been subjected to two break-ins within the space of less than a fortnight.
The 39-year-old was previously handed 11 years and two months in prison for robbery by a court in Bologna in 2016. The Romanian national still remains subject to this sentence, despite having successfully claimed asylum in the UK in the interim period.
Popescu admitted burglary and breaching a suspended sentence order. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a maroon Puma tracksuit top and assisted by an interpreter, he was jailed for 23 months.
Marc Noonan
A paedophile who violently raped and sexually assaulted three teenage girls after befriending them on social media has been jailed for life. Marc Noonan, who was already a previously convicted sex offender, groomed his “young and naïve” victims online via platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat.
He then went on to rape two of the teenagers while physically assaulting them and telling the third “I don’t care, I’ll do what I want” as she begged him to stop his abuse. A judge labelled him “every parent’s worst nightmare” and a “predator lurking online”, who would have continued to exploit further victims had he not been caught.
Noonan admitted three offences of sexual activity with a child, four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, meeting a child after grooming and two charges of engaging in sexual communications with a child against his first victim. However, he was found guilty of a further 10 offences of rape, six counts of sexual assault, three charges of assault by penetration, three of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two of engaging in sexual communications with a child and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, concerning the other two girls, by a jury.
Five of the jurors returned to court in order to attend this morning’s hearing. He also pleaded guilty to disclosing a private sexual image of his second victim, breaching a suspended sentence order and breaching a sexual harm prevention order in relation to a PlayStation console which he failed to disclose to Merseyside Police.
Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey fleece and sporting a shaved head and beard, Noonan showed no reaction at any stage as he was handed a life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years behind bars. Gasps were meanwhile heard amongst his victims and their family members as he learned his fate.
Darren Davies
A thug pulled out a samurai sword outside a pub. Darren Davies produced the weapon after he made a phone call to a man who he believed had assaulted his younger brother.
Once his victim arrived at the Five Bars Rest pub, the 23-year-old exited the bar wielding the fearsome weapon and chased him away. He admitted affray and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and was jailed for 18 months.
