They included a teacher, a woman accused of her partner’s murder and a man who declared that he was ‘proud to be a paedophile’
From left; Gerrard Charnley, Michael McCue and Anthony Miello(Image: Cheshire Police/Liverpool ECHO/Merseyside Police)
A paedophile teacher, a woman accused of murder and a drug dealer who was caught with cocaine down his trousers were among the defendants who appeared in court this week. The criminal justice system remained busy in the period between Christmas and New Year, and the ECHO has taken a look at some of the cases which have been heard over the past seven days.
They include a pervert who kept a diary documenting his sick thoughts and declared himself “proud to be a paedophile”. Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a burglar caused thousands of pounds of damage after causing a flood at an aparthotel.
READ MORE: The face of every Merseyside criminal jailed in 2024READ MORE: 7 of the most high profile trials due to take place at Liverpool Crown Court in 2025
Michael McCue
Michael McCue
A former maths teacher has told a court “I must plead guilty” after his sordid past came back to haunt him. Michael McCue subjected several of his pupils to a catalogue of sickening sexual abuse while working at the former Page Moss School, later Bowring Community Sports College.
The now 91-year-old has previously served time in prison over his vile actions and appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday after being charged with offences against another victim. He was not made to enter dock and instead stood at the back of the courtroom aided by two walking sticks.
Sporting short grey hair and glasses, as well as a black coat over a shirt and tie, McCue spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth. He was then asked to enter a plea to a charge of gross indecency with a child, occurring over the span of five years in the late 1980s and early 1990s, to which he replied: “I must plead guilty.”
A count of indecent assault against the same boy over the course of around 18 months in the early 1990s was then put to him. McCue, of Dolphin Road in Currie, near Edinburgh, responded: “Also, I have to plead guilty.”
He will now be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on January 27. Magistrates released him on conditional bail until this date.
Sebastian Kulik
Sebastian Kulik(Image: Facebook)
A man has appeared in court accused of racially abusing a kebab shop worker and assaulting police officers. Sebastian Kulik has been charged with a series of offences following an incident at Torino’s takeaway on Stanley Road in Kirkdale on Friday, December 27.
The 34-year-old, of Daisy Street in Kirkdale, appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Wearing a red coat over a grey prison issue tracksuit and sporting a shaved head in the dock, he spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth before pleading not guilty to a count of racially-aggravated threatening behaviour and three charges of assaulting an emergency services worker.
Kulik was not asked to enter pleas to further alleged offences of criminal damage and obstructing police. He elected to face a trial by jury at Liverpool Crown Court and was remanded into custody ahead of a further appearance on January 27.
Gerrard Charnley
Gerrard Charnley(Image: Cheshire Police)
A paedophile documented his perverted desires in “horrific” detail within a disturbing diary. Gerrard Charnley declared himself “proud to be a paedophile” in the secret book, which was recovered by the police alongside a list of children whom he wanted to rape.
He also trawled the dark web in order to amass a collection of hundreds of thousands of indecent images, having developed a “compulsive obsession” with such materials. His vile stash of child abuse pictures and videos was so huge that the police were unable to count just how many files he had downloaded.
Charnley admitted possession of indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent images, possession of prohibited images of children, possession of extreme pornographic images and possession of a paedophile manual. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey suit and glasses, he was jailed for 14 months.
Anthony Miello
Anthony Miello(Image: Merseyside Police)
A cocaine dealer was caught red handed when police stopped his car and looked down his trousers. Anthony Miello “succumbed to old habits” and became embroiled in a “classic street dealing operation” after losing his job and his girlfriend.
The 28-year-old admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply. Wearing a grey tracksuit in the dock and carrying two yellow JD Sports drawstring bags, he was jailed for 32 months.
Gillian Shaw
Police at the scene on Rothwell Street in Everton(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A woman is set to face a trial after being charged with murder after a man died following an assault on New Year’s Eve. Police were called to a domestic incident on Rothwell Street in Everton shortly after 4pm on Tuesday, December 31.
Steven Cox was found with “a number of serious injuries” at the scene. The 63-year-old subsequently died in hospital in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Gillian Shaw, who the ECHO understands is Mr Cox’s long term partner, has since been charged with his murder. The 61-year-old, of Rothwell Street, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday in order to face this count.
Appearing via video link to HMP Styal wearing a grey prison issue jumper and glasses, she spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth during the hearing and was not asked to enter any plea but wiped tears away with a tissue at times. A seven-day trial was however scheduled for June 23, with Shaw being further remanded into custody by the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC ahead of a plea hearing on March 28.
Keith White
Keith White(Image: Facebook)
A man rubbed his hands, said “lovely” and gave a judge two thumbs up as he was freed from prison. Keith White caused thousands of pounds of damage after leaving an an aparthotel flooded following a burglary.
It came after the serial “nuisance”, who now requires the use of a wheelchair after being shot in the leg in his native Ireland, callously stole from staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. His crime spree also saw him strike at a Tesco store and a coffee shop.
White admitted burglary, three counts of theft, attempted theft and possession of cocaine. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey prison issue jumper, he was handed an 18-month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 35 days and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.
James Bergin
James Bergin(Image: Facebook)
A man told the police it was “all a big mistake” after officers discovered the illegal contents of his phone. James Bergin collected hundreds of indecent images of children after becoming sucked into an “isolated existence” on online chatrooms.
The 31-year-old admitted possession of indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent images and possession of extreme pornographic images. He nodded as he was handed an eight-month imprisonment suspended for two years and handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.