This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of police activity in and around Wirral during the previous seven days.
Thomas Cashman found guilty of murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel
A killer who took two loaded guns onto the streets of Liverpool to shoot a man but instead fatally shot nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in her home, has been convicted of her murder.
Thomas Cashman, 34, from West Derby, Liverpool, set out to kill Joseph Nee on 22 August 2022, armed with two guns. He lay in wait for his target who he chased down Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot.
CCTV evidence presented at the trial recorded three loud bangs and showed how Joseph Nee, struck in the midriff, fell to the ground. He was able to get away from his attacker due to one of the guns malfunctioning. He then ran to a nearby unconnected house for safety. This was the home of Cheryl Korbel and her family.
Police investigate assault on teenage boy in Wallasey
Merseyside Police has confirmed that officers have been in Wallasey following an incident this afternoon, Monday 27 March.
At around 4.10pm, a report was received of a teenage boy being assaulted near to The Mosslands School on Mosslands Drive.
A teenage boy was taken to hospital for treatment of a facial injury.
Man threatened staff with metal pole during Rock Ferry shop robbery
Merseyside Police Detectives have launched an investigation following a robbery at a Wirral shop on Monday 27 March.
At around 9.25pm, officers were called to TLP Convenience Store on Bedford Road, Rock Ferry after a man reportedly entered in possession of a metal pole, making threat towards a member of staff and then assaulting him with the weapon.
Money was taken and the assailant made off.
Teenagers to appear in court over Parkgate marshland fire
Three teenagers have been summonsed to court to face charges of arson and damaging a site of special scientific interest without notice.
The three boys, one aged 14 and two aged 15 will appear at West Cheshire Youth Court on 5 April. They cannot be named for legal reasons.
The case relates to a fire on marshland in Parkgate near Neston on 19 March 2022.
Ellesmere Port business providing home boarding for dogs is prosecuted
A business trading as ‘Home from Home Dog Retreat’ providing home boarding for dogs in Ellesmere Port has been prosecuted this week (29 March) at Chester Magistrates Court.
Amanda Le Bretton, who now lives overseas, was fined £750 for each of four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs. Ms Le Bretton has been disqualified under section 34 (2), (3) and (4) of Animal Welfare Act 2006 and fined a total of £3,000 plus £1,235 prosecution costs and £190 victim surcharge.
Cheshire West and Chester Council originally revoked the licence of her home boarding business for dogs in Ellesmere Port in August 2022.
Man dies in flat fire in North Birkenhead
A man has been found dead following a flat fire in Birkenhead, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) has confirmed.
MFRS was called to Townsend Street, Birkenhead, on Sunday 19 March. Crews were alerted at 4.40pm and on scene at 4.45pm. Three fire engines attended.
On arrival crews found a first-floor flat to be well alight. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and used a hose reel jet to extinguish the fire.
Tougher measures introduced for retailers selling knives to children
Tougher measures for retailers selling knives to children come into force in England and Wales this week (1 April 2023).
Merseyside Police and its partners have welcomed the introduction of new sentencing guidelines relating to the sale of knives and related items to under-18s.
Published by the Sentencing Council, the two new guidelines – one for organisations and one for individuals – apply to offenders who fail to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent the sale of a knife, knife blade, razor blade, axe, or other article which has a blade or which is sharply pointed to under 18s either in-store or online.
Some images and information used with kind permission from Wirral Police/Merseyside Police.
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