These five men will be starting the new year in prison
by Adam Everett · Liverpool EchoA thug who stabbed his girlfriend's dog to death, a finance director who stole nearly £2million and a 'hoodlum' who fled to New Zealand have been jailed
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A finance director who stole nearly £2million from his employer, a thug who stabbed his girlfriend's dog to death and a pervert who flashed teenage girls in a park were among the Merseyside criminals jailed this week. Also locked up was a stalker who subjected his victim and her family to a campaign of harassment over the course of nearly a year.
Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a gang of balaclava clad "hoodlums" stormed an innocent woman's home armed with a machete while hunting for drugs and cash in a "cash of mistaken identity". Here are the faces of five defendants from across our region who were put behind bars over the past seven days.
Jamie Critchley
A mum tearfully told a judge "he's ruined my daughter's life" as a pervert was locked up for flashing two teenage girls in a park. Jamie Critchley exposed himself to the youngsters before encouraging them to engage in sexual activity.
One of his victims now says that she "sees his face every time she closes her eyes". He was said to have engaged in his "dreadful behaviour" after a cocktail of alcohol and diazepam "had a disastrous effect on him".
Critchley was found guilty of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and exposure but cleared of sexual assault by a jury following a trial. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Berghaus tracksuit top, he was jailed for four years.
1 of 5(Image: Merseyside Police)Andrew Fleming
A man stalked a woman and tried to get her fired from her job. Andrew Fleming targeted his victim over an 11-month period, bombarding her with threats and messages.
The 41-year-old also tried to get her fired from her job and attended numerous addresses linked to her family looking for her. He pleaded guilty to disclosing private images and stalking before committing further offences against one her family members, later being convicted of two counts of intimidation, stalking and careless driving following a trial and being sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison.
2 of 5(Image: Merseyside Police)Allan Wood
The finance director of Cammell Laird stole nearly £2million from the company when his "predilection for gambling got out of hand". Allan Wood swindled his employer out of the staggering sum of money over the course of more than a decade.
This also saw him bill the company for tickets to the Champions League final and season tickets, later concocting a bizarre excuse that his fraudulent activities had related to suspect spying within the firm. However, his wife was ultimately left in tears as he was handed a lengthy spell behind bars.
Wood pleaded guilty to a total of four counts of fraud. Appearing in the dock in a wheelchair and wearing a green fleece and glasses, he was jailed for five years and three months.
3 of 5(Image: Merseyside Police)Ian Pender
A thug stabbed his girlfriend's dog to death when it bit him. Ian Pender knifed Staffordshire bull terrier Rolo, who later had to be put down as a result of his injuries, having hurled a coffee table at his partner when he became enraged by her pet's barking.
The ketamine addicted domestic abuser later stated that he had acted in self defence in stabbing the dog. While his victim magnanimously says that she "wants him to be home for Christmas", a judge told him: "If you continue to take drugs and treat women in your life in this way, the sentences will get longer and longer and longer."
Pender admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and breaching a community order, although the prosecution ultimately offered no evidence in relation to a count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal which he had previously faced. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for 27 months.
4 of 5(Image: Merseyside Police)Sean Slattery
A thug formed part of a gang of balaclava clad "hoodlums" who smashed their way into an innocent woman's home armed with a machete before fleeing to Thailand, New Zealand and China. The terrified victim was forced to lock herself inside her own bathroom as a team of four burglars ransacked her house.
Sean Slattery was later identified as being one of the culprits, having left a trail of blood strewn around the address. While his criminal associates remain at large, having apparently raided the wrong property while searching for drugs and money in a "case of mistaken identity", he was later arrested in Preston.
Slattery admitted one count of aggravated burglary. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool on Tuesday, he was jailed for six years and eight months while one woman sat with her head in her hands in the public gallery before bursting into tears.
5 of 5(Image: Merseyside Police)