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Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Evil teen who murdered 12-year-old Ava White at Christmas light switch on is unmasked for first time as he turns 18
Ava's mother has spoken out after the teen was identified KILLER UNMASKED Evil teen who murdered 12-year-old Ava White at Christmas light switch on is unmasked for first time as he turns 18 THE teenager who fatally stabbed 12-year-old Ava White at a Christmas light display can be named for the first time as he turns 18. Harry Gilbertson was 14 when he carried out the attack on the schoolgirl in Liverpool city centre in November 2021. 5 Ava's family were sent a Snapchat picture of Gilbertson taunting them on her 15th birthday Credit: PA 5 Ava suffered 'devastating injuries' and tragically passed away shortly after being taken to hospital Credit: PA The following year, Gilbertson was convicted of her murder after a trial and sentenced to a minimum of 13 years in prison. Reporting restrictions preventing him from being identified were kept in place until he turned 18 - despite appeals from the media, which were supported by Ava's family. The schoolgirl was just 12 years old when she was killed after being stabbed in the neck outside a clothing shop at a Christmas lights display. Gilbertson had launched the devastating attack after a petty row over a Snapchat video. Ava suffered "devastating injuries" and tragically passed away shortly after being taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Her mother, Leeann White, 42, said: "I wanted the whole world to know who he was. "I think Liverpool had the right to know who he was as well. "I try not to think about him if I'm being honest, because if I do, I'm just taking a million steps back. "So I just try to focus on Ava and doing stuff for her legacy is more important to me than thinking about him." In January 2024, Ms White's family was sent a photograph from a Snapchat account which appeared to show Gilbertson with his arms crossed. In the picture - sent on Ava's 15th birthday - he posed with another male whose face had been covered up and who had his middle finger up. Ms White reported the photo and was told Gilbertson had been using an iPad for educational purposes, but a glitch had allowed him to access the internet. My daughter Ava White was killed by schoolboy… kids as young as TWELVE need to be searched or tragedy could strike again She was told he had been "read the riot act" but had no formal punishment. She added: "He didn't get any privileges taken off him. He just got a telling off basically. "I can never have a photograph with my child now so why does he have the right? "He lost his rights when he murdered my child." At the trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard that the killer had filmed Ava and her friends. He posted the footage to Snapchat, which Ava insisted he delete. Prosecuting KC Charlotte Newell told the court that he "thrust a knife into the neck of this unarmed child". The defendant claimed he stabbed Ava 'accidentally' and in self-defence, denying murder and manslaughter, but was found guilty of murder at Liverpool Crown Court. On July 11, 2022, Gilbertson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years after the jury deliberated for two hours and eight minutes. Appearing in the youth court via video link, he put his head in his hands and sobbed upon hearing the verdict. Ava's heartbroken family have been very vocal about the impact her death has had and about knife crime in the UK. Speaking 12 months after the horrific night, Ava's mother, Leanne, told BBC Radio Merseyside: "I just remember getting a phone call off my sister saying Ava had been stabbed. "I can remember thinking she's made some kind of mistake… Ava won't have been stabbed. "I went straight up to Alder Hey and then everything was just a blur. "It's easier for the offender to do the crime, get 13 years in jail and come out after that. "It's us doing the life sentence, and Ava." 5 Gilbertson launched the devastating attack after a petty row over a Snapchat video Credit: PA 5 Gilbertson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years Credit: PA
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Judge tells self-described psychopath 'we meet again'
Judge tells self-described psychopath 'we meet again' Aaron Kerr threw away his chance to reform and was locked up Aaron Kerr (Image: Merseyside Police ) A judge told a self-described psychopath dad "it's unfortunate that we meet again" after the man hurled an ashtray at a woman's head in a post-christening meeting in a pub. Aaron Kerr had previously been allowed to walked free from Liverpool Crown Court after it heard he had chased a man out of a bar brandishing a knife. But Kerr threw away his second chance after setting off fire extinguishers and threatening police officers with scissors during another episode of drunken violence in a pub. To make matters worse Kerr left another innocent victim with a bleeding injury after another drinking session, the same court heard. In a hearing on June 11 Liverpool Crown Court heard that Kerr, of St Oswald's Avenue in Beechwood, Wirral, drank for hours in the Stork Hotel in Birkenhead on March 27 this year. Hannah Darling, prosecuting told the court he "caused a nuisance" by trespassing behind the bar, hurling drinks and igniting fire extinguishers. After being told to get out of the premises by manager Michelle Clark the 38-year-old warned her that "he was a psychopath". Kerr snatched her phone out of her hands as she tried to ring the pub's owner and threatened to "put her in the ground", the court heard. Kerr then grabbed another customer, Paul Watson, by the neck and pulled him to the floor and repeatedly punching him in the face. When Ms Clark and another member of the public tried to stop him Kerr told Ms Clark: "Get off my hand before I slap you." Realising police had arrived the defendant took a pair of scissors out of his pocket and threatened to stab them. The PCs were forced to draw their tasers in order to stop him. Kerr told detectives that he "felt s***" after being shown CCTV footage of the incident, the court was told. Article continues below The defendant subsequently went to the Coach and Horses pub in Moreton on May 17 and drunkenly put a metal ashtray onto the head of a woman named Natasha Harvey as an apparent joke. When she did the same to him he responded by throwing the blunt object at her head from across the table. The victim was left with a wound of three to four centimetres long and one to two centimetres wide. Interviewed afterwards Kerr said he had gone to the pub after a Christening while "intoxicated" but "wouldn't have done something if someone else hadn't started it". His criminal record shows he had seven previous convictions for 12 offences, including an affray in 2010. He was then handed a 17-month community order with unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement by Judge David Swinnerton, the same judge who he appeared before during his latest court date, for the same charge in June last year. This came after he chased his victim out of a pub armed with a Stanley knife. Defending Kerr Joanne Maxwell told the court: "One can see that this is a man who is capable of staying out of trouble. There is a gap in his offending between 2010 and 2020. "2020 is when his sister lost her life suddenly and unexpectedly, and he turned to drink. All of these offences have been fuelled by alcohol, and that is the real evil in this case. This is a man who clearly needs help. He needs a period of abstinence, and a lengthy period of abstinence." Kerr admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, assault, possession of a bladed article in a public place and breaching a community order. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a navy blue Moose Knuckles jumper, he was jailed for two years. Sentencing, Judge David Swinnerton said: "It is unfortunate that we meet again. You had demonstrated, until June 2024, an ability to stay out of trouble. That was what was in my mind when I gave you an opportunity with the community order. "You had been out of trouble, aside from one conviction for shoplifting, for more than 14 years at that stage. But you went to the Stork Hotel bar. You got drunk. It is clear that that is your problem. You let yourself down. You have let yourself down time and time again lately through drink. "For no real reason, you became abusive towards customers. You began punching him and continued to punch him on the floor. You persistently and repeatedly punched him. You then armed yourself with some scissors from the bar and made threats that you were going to stab the police officers when they came to try to sort you out. "You pleaded guilty to those matters and were bailed awaiting sentence. You went to the Coach and Horses pub, where, again, you got drunk. I am pretty certain that everyone had had a drink. "You put an ashtray upside down on her head. That was intended as a joke. That was then put back on your head, and that was not taken as a joke despite you having done exactly the same to her. You threw it with some force at her from across the table, less than a metre away. Again, you lost your temper for no good reason whatsoever other than you were in drink. "On that occasion, I gave you an opportunity to serve a sentence in the community, which was designed to assist you and, to be fair, you made a good job of that. You have done all of the hours of unpaid work and 10 out of 20 RAR days. "In terms of changing your ways and learning anything, the five offences for which I have to sentence you demonstrate not. I take the view that, once you have had a chance, as you had from me last year, to rehabilitate yourself in the community and you go on to commit five further offences on two occasions of a similar nature, the only appropriate sentence is one of immediate custody. Article continues below "You will have a relatively long time now, sober and clear of alcohol. If you want to spend your life working hard and looking after your family, as you are perfectly capable of doing, you need to think carefully about how much you are drinking upon your release."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Son beat dad to death after he made horrific accusation about his dog, jury told
WARNING - DISTRESSING CONTENT: John Sarawanskyj, 52, is accused of murdering his father Ivan at his home - a court heard the 'deliberate and sustained attack' followed a previous accusation about the son's dog A man accused of murdering his dad is alleged to have attacked his father on a previous occasion after being accused of performing a sex act on his dog, a court was told. Ivan Sarawanskyj, 73, died after suffering dozens of injuries in a "deliberate and sustained attack" at his home in Southport. His son, 52-year-old John Sarawanskyj, is currently on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of his murder. After the incident in December, the son was said to have visited a neighbour's house and made a "remarkable confession" that he had "jumped all over his father's head", before telling paramedics who arrived at the scene: "I'm not bothered he's dead. He wasn't a nice man." It came after a series of arguments between the two men concerning money and the John dog Zeus, whose death around three months previously had left the 52-year-old "deeply upset", reports Liverpool Echo. This was said to have sparked a "desire for revenge" in him after he accused his dad of plotting with vets to poison the American bulldog. Having previously said that he was not present at the time of his dad's death and suggesting that another person may have killed his father, or that Ivan had suffered his "extensive injuries" during a fall, Sarawanskyj now claims to have acted in self-defence during the course of a physical confrontation. Russell Moss, who visited the family home twice on the day of Ivan's death, was called to give evidence to the jury yesterday. He recalled drinking apple-flavoured Jack Daniel's whisky with John, and said: "We was having a drink. John had 80 quid on him in cash and a couple of scratch cards and this bottle of whisky. To buy, it's 50 quid. "He wanted to get some amphetamine with it. We both did. But there was only £80 there, and it was £100. He started getting a bit aggressive. He goes, 'well you chuck the 20 quid in'. I said, I haven't got any money. "He started balling up, because he'd had a drink. He was getting a bit angry. His head had gone. "I asked him where his dad was again. He slammed the back door open. He goes 'stop going on about my dad'. He stormed out the back garden and he goes 'Zeus, that's all I'm bothered about'." Mr Moss said Sarawanskyj then marched him into the other room, saying 'I'll show you where my dad is'. He added: "His eyes were totally black. He wasn't there. Its not the John I know." Asked about Ivan's appearance at this time, Mr Moss said: "It happened that quick. For me, he just looked asleep. There was that much going on at the time, I didn't think. He was just like wedged in between his table. He's known for falling over. I don't know whether he's fell off his bed or whatever. "The anger in John was that severe, I just had to get out the house I feared for my own life... He said, 'say anything, I'll f****** kill you as well.'" Asked about a previous reported incident at Ivan's former home, Mr Moss said Sarawanskyj had "laid into" his father after his father "said he was... abusing his dog". Nick Johnson KC previously told a jury during the prosecution's opening last week: "On Sunday the 22nd of December last year, this defendant kicked and beat his 73-year-old father to death in his own home by delivering multiple blows to his head, his chest and his abdomen. "He caused 46 external injuries to his head and neck alone, including bone fractures and lacerations. He caused multiple fractures to multiple ribs and his sternum. "He then told friends and neighbours and police that he was not even in the house at the time. He told them that he had no issues with his dad that day and that his dad was prone to falling over and could have caused the injuries himself, although he let slip to one neighbour while in drink that he had jumped all over his father's head. He went on to suggest to the police that someone else might have got into the house and killed him." Jurors heard Ivan had lived at the address for "a couple of years or more" before being "joined by his son in more recent months", together with Zeus and his XL bully. But they were said to have had a "difficult relationship", with both men being described as having a "history of alcoholism" and neighbours "hearing arguments and swearing on a regular basis". Donna Larkey, who lived opposite the father and son, recalled hearing "loud shouting" from the property in the early hours of December 22 as an "angry" Sarawanskyj apparently demanded money. After Mr Moss left, Sarawanskyj knocked on the door of Christopher Caldwell, his next door but one neighbour, at around 9pm and allegedly told him: "He's dead, my dad. I jumped all over his head. I didn't like him anyway." When Mr Caldwell asked him whether he had called an ambulance, Sarawanskyj said he had not, before walking away again. Mr Johnson said of this: "If the defendant did indeed say that, the prosecution say that it is a remarkable confession." It was claimed that Sarawanskyj went on to visit his friend, Gary Buckley's home on nearby Eden Avenue shortly after 11.30pm and told him: "He's dead. I don't know what to do." Mr Buckley then returned with him to Braemar Avenue, at which stage he saw Ivan "clearly dead" on the floor next to the bed and called 999. Sarawanskyj went on to answer the door to paramedics upon their arrival shortly before midnight, telling them: "He's dead. I know he's dead, but you can come in and take a look." The "intoxicated" defendant went on to state he was unsure when he had last seen his dad alive and said he had been "out all day", adding: "I'm not bothered he's dead. He wasn't a nice man." Ivan was meanwhile found with "multiple injuries" in a bedroom, where the walls, floor, side tables and mattress had been left "covered in blood". His son went on to tell police at the scene that he had last seen his dad at around 8am, adding: "I've been to town today, check the CCTV footage. He's a drinker right, I go out. I'm not gonna kill me old fella, am I?" Sarawanskyj denies one count of murder. The trial, before Judge Brian Cummings KC, continues.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Ex-teacher faces permanent classroom ban after what police found at his house
A former teacher at a prestigious school admitted to police that he found indecent images of children while downloading music, according to a teacher misconduct panel. Juan Torrecillas Molina confessed to the offences last year. After a hearing on June 16, the misconduct panel will recommend to Secretary of State Bridget Phillipson whether Mr Molina should be barred from teaching. He was formerly a teacher at St Anselm's College, a top Merseyside school located in Prenton, Wirral. The panel was told that Mr Molina pleaded guilty to several charges at a hearing at Wirral Magistrates Court on February 27, 2024. The case was subsequently referred to Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing, with another hearing scheduled for March 26, 2024. READ MORE: I worked on Boots' perfume counter - there's one fragrance everyone gatekeeps READ MORE: Coronation Street confirms 'devastating' party that goes wrong for nine characters The misconduct panel were told Mr Molina pleaded guilty and was convicted of possession of three Category B, three Category C, and 36 Category A indecent photos or computer-generated images of children, as well as possessing 42 indecent images of children. The panel heard he received a suspended prison sentence of a total of 20 months as well as unpaid work, rehabilitation, and was made to sign a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. Mr Molina was not in attendance at the hearing, but it was confirmed that correspondence had been sent to his address and an email response was received. James Lloyd, representing the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), told the panel that Mr Molina had communicated that he no longer teaches, is barred from working with children, and has no plans to return to the profession, reports the Liverpool Echo. After Merseyside Police executed a search warrant of Mr Molina's address, police found he was not at home as he was teaching at school at the time. Police then attended St Anselm's and told Mr Molina someone had been accessing indecent images of children over the internet at his house. According to Mr Lloyd, Mr Molina told police he "was downloading music" and that he was "shocked" when he saw the images. The solicitor told the panel a hard drive on the home computer was later found by police, adding: 'This is dangerous conduct which gives rise to an ongoing and pressing safeguarding risk.' Arguing the case for a prohibition order, he said: 'The public interest in this case is pressing. Safety of pupils and young people is paramount. That is a stark position. It is a fundamental principle of members of the public to expect of members of the profession,' adding the conviction highlighted behaviour that undermined public confidence in teaching. In coming to its decision, Peter Whitelock said the panel felt the conviction was relevant to Mr Molina's previous career in teaching and the matter was referred to the TRA in May last year. The panel will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State. If it is proven conduct amounts to serious misconduct, the decision along with a summary of the evidence and the reasons for the decision will be published on the government's website. Serena Cubbin, the headteacher at St Anselm's, told the ECHO the offences were not linked to Mr Molina's time at the school or any pupils at the school, adding: 'As soon as we were informed, we took immediate action and worked with the relevant authorities.' In March 2025, an OFSTED ungraded inspection found safeguarding was effective at the school and the college was highly praised in all areas. A report published last month said: 'Pupils are proud to be part of this welcoming and inclusive school. 'They enjoy coming to school because they appreciate being part of a close-knit, friendly community. Pupils benefit from strong relationships with their teachers. 'They feel safe when they are in school and know who to speak to if they are worried or upset. The school is ambitious for all pupils. 'Staff are determined that all pupils gain the knowledge and skills that they need to thrive in their future lives. Overall, pupils achieve well.' Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Man caught hurling makeshift Peroni petrol bomb in revenge attack on own dad
Phillip Neill called his father a "lucky son of a b****" after the flaming beer bottle bounced off his van and smashed on the ground, causing a fire in the roadway outside his house CCTV footage captured the moments before an arsonist turned a bottle of Peroni into a makeshift petrol bomb and hurled it at his dad's van. Phillip Neill's Ford Focus was caught on camera driving up and down the road past his father's home on Birdwell Drive in Warrington in an apparent "recce", a court heard. Phillip Neill called his father a "lucky son of a b****" after the flaming beer bottle bounced off the vehicle to the ground, causing only minor damage to the road outside his house the jury was told. Liverpool Crown Court heard that Neill's relationship with his dad Robert Neill "had been strained over the years", after they became estranged following an incident in 2015 when the 31-year-old, of Lingmell Avenue in St Helens, threatened to set fire to his dad's van. But the pair had had a 'recent reconciliation' in January after Robert arranged building work for his son. However things took a sour turn, as Christopher Taylor, prosecuting described how the pair fell out again after the defendant failed to turn up to the job, the Liverpool Echo reports. This led to Neill junior sending a string of "angry and abusive" messages to his dad throughout March 12 2025, it was said. That evening CCTV captured the defendant's 'recce' with the same cameras showing him appear to set a glass bottle alight and hurl it in the direction of his dad's address, with the improvised device bouncing off his father's van and smashing in the road. Around 10 minutes later, he followed up the attack by messaging his victim: "You lucky son of a b****." Robert Neill reported hearing 'a loud bang' outside his house before discovering a fire and the remains of a glass Peroni bottle in the road. Police were called to the scene where officers "noted a smell of accelerant". Neill was arrested at 4am the following day, with the cap of a Peroni bottle and an air rifle being seized from his car. Mr Niell detailed how he had suffered a panic attack waiting for the emergency services to arrive. In a statement read to the court he said: 'I hadn't seen Phillip for many years. When he contacted me in January this year, I felt it was a set up. "I gave him the benefit of the doubt, as it was my son. Phillip needs support with his mental health, and I want him to have the right help to make him better. However, I have serious concerns regarding my personal safety should he be released back into the community." Mr Taylor further told the court that, while on remand in custody, Neill was reported to have commented "if I was outside, I would kill my dad". He has two previous convictions for drug driving and possession of cannabis in 2016 and 2023. Peter Barnett, defending, said on his behalf: "He and his father had a poor relationship. The defendant has no interest in reconnecting with his father in future. He was in a poor state of mind that night. There was no damage caused, effectively, to any particular property, only minor damage to the roadway, which did not need any form of repair. "With regards to the remark referred to, he has no understanding of where that has come from. Clearly, at the time of the commission of this offence, there had been that toxic relationship with his father from the past. They had not seen each other for a significant period of time. "A lack of permanent accommodation was a factor in his deteriorating mental health. He was unable to control his emotions, which were clearly exacerbated by the fact of his personality disorder. "He has, in the past 12 months, made attempts on his life. His mental health in custody has not particularly improved. He is medicated in relation to his depression. He wants to seek further help while in custody. He finds prison a safe space and wants to get help. It was impulsive. He has no relevant previous convictions or significant convictions on his record." Appearing via video link from HMP Altcourse Neill admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. He was jailed for 28 months and handed an indefinite restraining order on Friday. Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "You had, for some time, carried a grievance. Your relationship had been strained over the years. Although it appears that there may have been a recent reconciliation between you and your father, you fell out again over your failure to attend for work at a job he had arranged for you. "That resulted in a series of angry text messages from you to your father. Later that evening, CCTV footage captured your car pulling up close to your father's home then moving away again. I am satisfied that what you were doing was checking your father's van was on the driveway of his address. "At about 9.30pm that evening, you threw a petrol bomb at your father's vehicle. Happily, it bounced off the vehicle and into the road, causing little, if any, damage. "There has been a profound effect on him psychologically. It is the first thing he thinks about in the morning, and he struggles to get sleep. He recognises that you need support for your mental health, but remains scared for his own safety. "If that petrol bomb had exploded near to the van and set alight the petrol tank, that could quite quickly have spread to the house where you father was present. I do recognise, however, as a matter of fact, that very little, if any, actual damage was caused, and I shall take that into account. "This clearly was a revenge attack that involved a significant degree of planning. You completely lack remorse. You are a danger to your father. I have no idea when that will cease to be the case."
