Latest news with #Huyton
BBC News
22-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Knowsley primary 'one of happiest schools ever visited' by Ofsted
Inspectors have described a Merseyside primary school as "one of the happiest" they have ever Primary School in Huyton, Knowsley, has been recognised by Ofsted for ensuring that "kindness is lived out in every aspect of school life".It was also rated "outstanding" for the first time following the inspectors' visit in school's head teacher, Tony James, said: "We sell ourselves as doing our very best for the community and if someone wants to come along and say that we're 'outstanding', that's brilliant." He added: "It's every little thing that you do - every little decision, every choice that you make, the culture that you establish, the expectations that you have, the value that you place on your children and your families."All of those little bits culminate and come together." The school, on Willoughby Road, was described by Ofsted as a place "where pupils flourish".It noted: "The school's value of 'kindness' is lived out in every aspect of school life."Pupils enter school full of smiles and eager for the learning that each new day brings. "They benefit from close relationships with staff, who know them and their families well. Pupils feel safe and happy here."The report also said children enjoy learning "and strive to meet exceptionally high standards... As a result, pupils achieve remarkably well. Behaviour in and around school is impeccable."Knowsley Council's cabinet member for children's services, David Lonergan, described the Ofsted report as "fantastic".He added: "It is very clear that pupils enjoy coming to school to learn and prosper and that all school staff – leaders, teaching staff and governors – play an integral role in helping pupils to thrive. Well done to you all!" Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
£20,000 found in Liverpool garden as girl, 13, and five others arrested
Six people, including a 13-year-old girl, have been arrested after a suspected stolen Sur-ron bike was spotted being ridden dangerously in the Huyton area of Liverpool on Monday (July 14). The following day (July 15), police carried out raids at two properties in the Bakers Green area, the Liverpool Echo reported. At one property officers found drug supply paraphernalia, a Sur-ron bike and a Ghost EAPC (e-bike) that were suspected stolen and subsequently seized. READ MORE: The 5 simple tricks to speed up your broadband READ MORE: 5 retro RPGs you can play right now guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again - you won't have heard of one of them According to Knowsley Police, a search of a neighbouring garden revealed three large bags containing a large quantity of cannabis, suspected cocaine and around £20,000 in cash. In a second property officers seized another Sur-ron that was suspected to be stolen. Police said following a search of another neighbouring garden, a bag containing cannabis, drug supply paraphernalia and a large amount of cash was found. Six people from Huyton were arrested and taken to police stations for questioning. A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis with intent to supply and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A and B drug (cannabis) with intent to supply and possession of criminal property. He has been released under investigation. A 42-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. A 38-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of criminal property. She has been released under investigation. A 13-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of criminal property. She has been released under investigation and is being safeguarded. A child protection enquiry is ongoing. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis with intent to supply, theft of a motor vehicle, driving a motor vehicle dangerously and not in accordance with a licence or insurance. He has been released under investigation. Local Policing Superintendent Karl Baldwin said: 'These arrests come as part of our ongoing work for EVOLVE Liverpool-Knowsley – our Clear, Hold, Build initiative that targets serious and organised crime, seeking to improve areas worst affected and build better futures. 'This is just the latest police operation in our relentless campaign to target criminality in the EVOLVE area and across Knowsley. 'We arrested three people on July 10, seized thousands in cash, two e-bikes and recovered drugs with a street value of tens of thousands after executing a series of warrants. 'Over the last few weeks, we've seized more than 20 illegal or suspected stolen e-bikes, and since May made more than 15 e-bike related robbery arrests. 'The message is clear - we're tackling crime and anti-social behaviour relentlessly across Knowsley and we know the vast majority of the public are with us. "If you're committing crime in Knowsley, we'll do everything we can to bring you to justice.' Superintendent Baldwin added: 'Drug-dealing and reckless riding of e-bikes brings fear and danger into our communities, and we are determined to take those responsible off our streets. 'To make the biggest difference we need communities to work with us. Every report matters and every voice makes a difference. 'When you come forward with information, whether it is directly to us or via Crimestoppers anonymously, you're standing up for yourself, your street and your family. 'We will listen and we will act – we will not let criminals create havoc in your communities.' You can contact Merseyside Police with information about crime via Merseyside Police Contact Centre on X, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress. An anonymous report can also be made to Crimestoppers online here:
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Premier League legend's uncle could now be set to take control of one of the UK's most secretive and dangerous drug gangs
Steven Gerrard 's 'Uncle Bobby' could now be set to take control of one of the UK's most secretive and dangerous drug gangs. The Merseyside-based Huyton Firm gang has for years flooded the UK with cocaine and heroin, making the godfathers who headed it millionaires. For over two decades Vincent Coggins led one of the UK's most powerful and secretive drug gangs, with his surname only whispered within criminal circles. The drug gang used grenades as their calling card, famously leaving one by accident outside the luxury home of then Liverpool FC boss Kenny Dalgish. But now the leadership of the Huyton Firm has been shattered after police penetrated an encrypted phone network used by the criminals to send messages to each other. Vincent Coggins, Paul Woodford, Robert Jarvis and Michael Earl are all now serving prison sentences. And a lower level tier of middle managers and street dealers have also been locked up. In the aftermath there have been two names mentioned as potential leadership candidates to take over the gang, both with connections to some of the biggest names in football. The first is Robert Gerrard, a second cousin of the famous footballer, who is already well known to the authorities. Known as being the footballer's 'Uncle Bobby' despite being cousins, he was photographed next to Steven's partner Alex during the World Cup in 2006. Robert had been wanted by police since 1998 in relation to a £1.5m plot to smuggle cannabis from Amsterdam to the UK. Despite this, the drug dealer cheered England along with Alex and fellow wag Coleen Rooney in Germany. The Liverpool man decided to hand himself in three years after appearing at the match after spending a decade on the run. He admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis resin, a controlled Class B drug and was jailed for four and a half years. But the sentence was cut by two years after the judge gave him credit for apparently 'renouncing his life of crime'. However, in 2017 he was again jailed, this time for 14 years in connection with a £60m drugs plot. To passersby, the Cafe De Ketel may have seemed like just another Rotterdam coffee shop where you could pop in for a cappuccino and croissant. But the cafe, which was open for around 18 hours a day, had a buzzer system that ensured only international drug dealers were admitted. Robert and his son-in-law, Michael Paul Moogan, used the cafe to discuss importing bulk quantities of cocaine into the UK. However a coordinated strike by elite police targeted the cafe, and officers seized two handguns, more than 100 mobile phones, £250,000 in Euros, a cash-counting machine, radio scanner and expensive watches. At other addresses in Rotterdam, officers seized nine handguns, two semi-automatic rifles, a cocaine press and a total of £160,000 in Euros. After the police raid the two men were named as wanted by the National Crime Agency. Robert handed himself in three years later and admitted conspiracy to import cocaine into the UK. The plot was said to be worth in the region of £60m. When he was jailed for 14 years during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Patrick Field QC told him: 'Yours was a highly sophisticated and well planned operation.' Despite being jailed for a second time, his criminal lifestyle continued. Last year, Irish crime journalist Nicola Tallant reported that Robert provided advice to crime boss Thomas Kavanagh. Kavanagh, who headed up the Kinahan Cartel's UK operation, was jailed after it emerged he attempted to pervert the course of justice by offering the NCA information about arms dumps in Northern Ireland. Ms Tallant claimed that Kavanagh was assisted by Robert, who he met at HMP Dovegate, who provided advice to him on how to pervert the course of justice. Robert, it is claimed, told Kavanagh to replicate the ruse used by John Haase in the 90s, when the heroin boss led the authorities to arms dumps he planted on the outside. Kavanagh apparently sent messages on the Encrochat network which referred to Robert as the 'scouser.' Ms Tallant suggested Robert provided casual advice to Kavanagh and was not personally implicated in the conspiracy. Dublin thug Liam Byrne, whose son Lee is in a relationship with Steven Gerrard's daughter, was also jailed for his role in the same firearms plot. Steven's daughter Lilly announced earlier this year that she is expecting a child with Lee, who has been pictured with the family. The other potential well placed to assume a leadership position with the feared Huyton mob is Mark Quinn. Quinn, whose brother Micky once played for Everton FC, had strong links to the worlds of football and boxing. Everton legend Duncan Ferguson recently spoke of his close friendship with Mark Quinn and other members of the Huyton Firm, who were close to him during his playing career at the blues. Ferguson said he felt a degree of 'protection' from the friendship with the gangster who had a neck 'like Mike Tyson.' Ferguson told of how Quinn, a feared individual in Liverpool, once punched a doorman out who disrespected him. However sources on Merseyside have told the Mail that Quinn and other members of the Huyton firm often carried weapons with them in the city, and were dreaded by nightclub operators and bar staff who had to deal with them. Ferguson, on watching a BBC documentary about the Huyton gang said: 'I nearly dropped dead. I knew every one of them, I drank with every one of them, I played pool with every one of them. Some had been at my wedding. 'They all looked after me. They were my mates. I couldn't believe it when I saw the programme. I was in shock.' Quinn was also a well known boxing coach on Merseyside, and helped guide former professional boxer Tony Bellew during his career. Bellew in his own autobiography told of how Quinn 'taught him to box.' However insiders have claimed Quinn's quick temper also caused problems ahead of Bellew's clash with Nathan Cleverly. Nathan's dad Vince claimed he was provoked by Mark Quinn, which led to a fracas at the Marriott Hotel in Cardiff. Mark's older brother Michael ran the Black Angus pub in Stockbridge Village, which police linked to drug dealing and crime. Liverpool City Council's Licensing Sub-Committee heard that staff at the pub had often watched drug deals take place in plain view. Licensing Officer Stuart Moore, from Merseyside Police, said: 'We believe that the Black Angus played a significant role in relation to the supply of class A drugs in the Stockbridge Village area. 'CCTV did not act as a crime prevention tool and wasn't a deterrent for drug deals taking place within the pub.' Hugh Derbyshire, representing licencee Michael Quinn, told the hearing that the licensee felt 'victimised.' Despite the issues at the pub there was no suggestion that Michael Quinn was linked to his brother's more serious criminality. However The Black Angus was in the heart of a postcode very much controlled by the Huyton Firm - most of its senior members had grown up in the area. Quinn, from the Croxteth area of the city, was implicated in a plot to flood Scotland with Amphetamine and named as a wanted man. At one point his mugshot was circulated in Spain by Crimestoppers in an attempt to highlight British fugutives thought to be hiding out on the Costa Del Sol. He was eventually arrested in Maastricht and extradited to Scotland when he was jailed for seven years. The Mail understands he is still serving out his sentence in Scotland. A source who knows Mark Quinn said to the Mail: 'When he comes out Mark will be the biggest name in Liverpool.' The source told the Mail that Quinn had distanced himself from Class A drugs in the past due to the risks involved and had invested most of his money into property ventures. Quinn's son Jordan is also a well known drug dealer. The Huyton Firm drug gang held Liverpool in a vice like grip over recent decades, using sadistic violence to protect their interests. Vincent Coggins and his associates used their drug money to corrupt the communities across Merseyside. Cash was handed out to street gangs and scrambler yobs, who could then be used to target and intimidate the mob's enemies. Local drug dealers such as Nicky Ayers and Karl Bradley were shot dead in the street. Both men had been drawn into disputes with the Huyton Firm prior to their deaths. For years the Coggins crime firm seemed beyond the reach of the police, until the Encrochat hack which represented a major breakthrough. While Coggins and Woodford are now expected to grow old inside the prison system, police also managed to compromise the middle managers who worked for the crime bosses. Paul Fitzsimmons acted as a 'banker' for the gang and stored dirty cash for the organised crime group. Kevin Rimmer, Dean Borrows, and Darren Tierney were couriers, delivering drugs and money across the UK for Jarvis and Fitzsimmons. Paul Glynn lived in and controlled the stash house where the firm stored over £1m worth of cocaine. Glynn and his son were both attacked during the stash house raid. The Mail understands that Robert Gerrard was released on licence in 2023. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and can be sent back to prison if they break the rules.'
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
The 'cruel' dog owner hauled before courts after throwing pet over fence
This is the cruel dog owner who was caught throwing his own pet over a fence. Kieran O'Connor, 35, was caught on camera picking up his dog Prince up by the skin on his back and neck, and then hurling him over the front gate of his house. The dog, a brown male bull breed called Prince, then appeared to pick himself up off the concrete path and run around after the shocking incident. Bizarrely, O'Connor, of Parbrook Road in Huyton, then opened the gate and let himself in, the Liverpool Echo reports. READ MORE: Boy, 4, dies after gravestone falls onto him at cemetery READ MORE: 'I jumped from the wing of a Ryanair plane as crews screamed brace' O'Connor's actions were shared widely on social media after the CCTV footage was posted. Now, following the completion of criminal proceedings against him, the ECHO can now confirm his identity and that he is the one responsible for the cruel actions. O'Connor appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (July 2) to be sentenced after he was charged under the Animal Welfare Act in a case brought by the RSPCA. He entered a guilty plea in relation to the incident at an earlier hearing on May 15. A charge sheet says O'Connor "failed to meet the need to protect his dog from pain, suffering, injury and disease by the infliction of physical abuse and emotional distress" during the incident on October 1 last year. He received a community order which involves 26 programme requirement days and was ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £114. He was also banned from owning, keeping or dealing with animals for five years under section 34 of the same act. RSPCA inspector Caren Goodman-James said afterwards: "The most surprising thing about this case is that Kieran did not seem to understand that what he did was wrong. "This attitude meant that he would not sign Prince over to us - even when the prosecution had run its course. "We had to obtain an order from the court to make sure we could take him into our care and get him into a safe and secure environment. "Every animal has the right to be treated with kindness and respect. Nobody should be cruel or neglectful towards any animal and the kind of violence we saw here is absolutely unacceptable. "Thankfully we were able to rescue Prince and he is now doing very well in our care." She added: "I would also like to thank the kind member of the public who reported this attack to us. Without their intervention and without the video evidence they allowed us to use, this prosecution would have been more difficult. "It shows that people don't accept that animals can be treated in this way and also how helpful it is when those who witness cruelty can somehow provide footage to help us rescue animals in danger."
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Everton's enforcer... and courage personified'
Dave Watson? Thomas Gravesen? Martin Keown? Who is the ultimate Everton hard man? Phil McNulty has been revealing his top five on Wednesday. In third spot... Peter Reid Peter Reid was Everton's great midfield general, the master of dictating tempo and the engine of the great mid-80s team in partnership with the vastly underrated (although not by anyone at Goodison Park) Paul Bracewell. Advertisement Reid was courage personified, not simply in the manner in which he battled back from career-threatening injuries, but in his fearless approach on the pitch. No battle was too intense for the hugely popular Huyton-born Reid, who revelled in an era when no quarter was given in midfield. He would stand toe-to-toe with Graeme Souness at Liverpool, Norman Whiteside and Bryan Robson at Manchester United, who all had total respect for Reid, both as an opponent and a personality. There is no doubt at times he took on the role of Everton's enforcer. A boyhood Red, Reid joyously tells the tale of how he was being verbally abused by a Liverpool fan at Anfield after fouling John Barnes - only to find the supporter in question was his Uncle Albert. Reid was so much more than a hard man, as his success with Everton and England proves, but he also had that cutting edge required in what was hostile midfield territory in the 1980s. And come back in a few hours to see who McNulty has at the top of his list, plus the chance to have your say on who should have made the cut.
