Adam Everett

Taxi driver Robert Cretu admitted submitting 30 fraudulent pet insurance claims to five insurers between December 2023 and August 2025 for dogs that did not exist. He fabricated deaths, forged veterinary records and used false identities and other people’s bank accounts, obtaining £31,700 while additional claims failed or were rejected. Cretu said financial difficulties and family circumstances contributed to the offending. Liverpool Crown Court sentenced him to 20 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity, citing his admissions, remorse, previous good character and prospects of rehabilitation.

Natalie Riley, a 44-year-old serial burglar with a history of drug addiction, admitted entering the Liverpool home of a man with advanced dementia after falsely claiming to be his daughter. Security footage showed her searching the property and placing items in a bin bag; she was ultimately found to have taken Fairy washing-up tablets and fabric softener. Liverpool Crown Court heard about her extensive criminal record and class A drug dependency, while the defence cited bereavements and her previous period of sobriety. Judge Neil Flewitt KC called the offence particularly mean because it targeted a vulnerable person and sentenced Riley to three years in prison with a five-year restraining order.

David Molloy, a businessman from Alderley Edge, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting grievous bodily harm without intent in a road-rage attack on the M62. Following an argument after he cut in front of another driver, Molloy stopped on the hard shoulder and punched the man repeatedly, causing a fractured tibia that required surgery and a hospital stay. He received an 18-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, rehabilitation requirements, £1,000 in costs and a two-month driving ban. The judge cited the seriousness of the aggression but avoided a prison sentence because of Molloy’s genuine remorse, charitable work, successful business career and long period without offending.

Liam Redmond snr and his sons, Liam Redmond jnr and Luke Redmond, admitted affray after a funeral wake at Prenton Golf Club in October 2024 escalated into a large brawl. Witnesses described glasses being thrown and the defendants attacking mourners, including attempts to gouge victims’ eyes. HGV driver William Donaldson suffered a split nose requiring nine stitches, glass fragments in his eye, permanent scarring and time off work. Redmond snr received a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, while his sons received 12-month community orders; all three must pay Donaldson £250 compensation. The judge called the incident disgraceful and noted that Redmond snr had a previous conviction for violence at another wake.

Neil Jones was jailed for 51 months and banned from driving after admitting causing the death of 72-year-old Linda Donnelly by careless driving and committing a violent road-rage attack at Cheshire Oaks. Prosecutors said he was travelling at about 45mph in a 30mph zone when he struck Donnelly in Bootle, and later drove aggressively toward a family, assaulted two men and wielded a claw hammer while children watched. The court heard about Jones’s previous convictions and speeding offences, while the judge accepted his remorse but described the driving and subsequent attack as serious. Jones was also given restraining orders and ordered to take an extended driving retest if he drives again.

Annika Sands admitted stalking Bradley McCreath and his new partner, Corinne Roberts, over a period spanning much of 2022 and early 2023. The court heard that she repeatedly followed or confronted McCreath, appeared at his home and workplaces, contacted Roberts, searched for information about both victims and drove near their homes. The harassment caused serious distress, disrupted McCreath’s work and social life, and led both victims to move house. Sands received an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years, six-year restraining orders banning contact with both victims, and an order to pay £700 in costs.

Neil Jones was jailed for 51 months after admitting causing the death of 72-year-old Linda Donnelly by careless driving and committing further offences at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet a year later. Jones had been driving at about 45 mph in a 30 mph Bootle road when he struck Donnelly, who later died from her injuries. In the later incident, he drove close to a family, confronted them after they objected, assaulted two men, wielded a claw hammer and injured Jonathan Adamson while reversing his car to escape. The court took account of Jones's previous convictions, speeding offences and genuine remorse, but also noted the similarity between the two incidents. He was banned from driving for 51 months, ordered to take an extended retest and made subject to seven-year restraining orders.