Steven Gerrard's "gangster fixer" absconds from court

Apr 14 2008

A mob fixer who stopped a gangster terrorising football star Steven Gerrard was on the run today after brazenly walking out of court moments before he was found guilty of robbery.

John Kinsella, 43, had earlier been found guilty of dangerous driving after he sped away from a haulage depot in Grantham, Lincs, where he and three fellow robbers had stolen £41,000 worth of detergents, crisps and Easter eggs.

But when the jury at Lincoln Crown Court finally found him guilty of the robbery, Kinsella was nowhere to be seen. When his solicitor rang him he said he was on the toilet but would not say where.

The court had earlier been read a letter from Paul Gerrard, the father of 27-year-old Liverpool star Steven Gerrard, who said that he had “total respect” for Kinsella after he stopped a gangster known as “The Psycho” from terrorising his son.

The court had heard how Kinsella was asked by Paul Gerrard to intervene. In a letter that was read out in court, Mr Gerrard Snr did not name George Bromley Junior, who was later named by Kinsella in his evidence.

Mr Gerrard Snr did describe him in the letter as a “notorious Liverpool gangster” who, he said, had threatened to shoot Steven in the legs.

He said his son’s car had been smashed up and that he was chased home after training. Paul Gerrard said that he contacted police while Liverpool Football Club had provided extra security, but it was only after he contacted Kinsella through a family member that the threats and intimidation stopped.

Paul Gerrard’s letter continued: “We were introduced by a family member to John Kinsella. I told him about the ongoing threats and violence. John then reassured myself and my family he would resolve this nightmare and not to worry.

“From that day until this day forward we have never had any more threats from the Liverpool underworld. Steven and I have total respect for John for what he did for us.”

Asked how he stopped the intimidation, Kinsella told the court: “I took steps. I spoke to George Bromley Junior. I told him to stop it and leave him alone. After I had spoken to him, he followed my advice.”

It is understood that Bromley Junior was “not happy” about having his name brought up in court and that his solicitor had been in contact with police officers.

Bromley Junior is currently serving a 10 year sentence for drugs offences after he was convicted in November 2005.

The court heard that on March 19 2006, Kinsella, from Mile End, Liverpool, and three other men had travelled from Merseyside to the yard of haulage firm James Irlam Logistics.

They over-powered a security guard before tying his hands and leaving him in the back of a container. They also took his mobile phone so that he could not raise the alarm, the court heard.

Their haul included £8,000 worth of Easter eggs and another £33,000 worth of crisps and detergents.

But plain clothes detectives who were in the area by chance saw Kinsella’s Vauxhall Vectra being driven suspiciously.

They stopped his car but before they could arrest Kinsella, he drove off up the A1 reaching speeds of up to 130mph, the jury was told.

Officers gave chase and he was finally stopped by road spikes deployed by police on the M62.

Until Friday, Kinsella, of Liverpool, had been granted bail. The court had heard he attended every day although he had been stopped on one occasion at an airport with a one-way ticket to Malaga, Spain. He claimed that he was on a business trip, the court heard.

But Judge John Machin said he did not want to take the chance of him absconding at the weekend and denied him bail.

Despite this he granted Kinsella bail at court this morning provided that he remained in the grounds of Lincoln Crown Court, which sits in a picturesque setting next to Lincoln Castle.

Shortly before the 1pm lunch adjournment, the jury had found him guilty of dangerous driving. Two of his co-accused - James Muldoon, 28, from Laken Heath Road, Liverpool and 49-year-old Stephen McMullen, from Phoenix Drive, Liverpool - were found guilty of robbery.

Kinsella, dressed in a well-fitted dark green suit and a black collared t-shirt, was given bail for the lunch break by Judge Machin on the same conditions. He had dressed smartly throughout proceedings. He wore rimless glasses and remained clean shaven.

But at about 1.30pm he was seen talking to two men before he walked out of the grounds unchallenged.

When the jury reached its final verdict, Kinsella was nowhere to be seen. His solicitor was asked to give an explanation, at which point he said that he had phoned his client who claimed he was on the toilet but would not say where.

The judge then issued a warrant for Kinsella’s arrest. He told the jury: “I can tell you that the defendants will receive substantial sentences.”

Muldoon is also on the run. A fourth man, Thomas Hodgson, 29, of Melwood drive, Liverpool, has admitted one charge of robbery.

All four men will be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday.

The jury was told that in 1990, Kinsella had been part of an armed gang dressed in boiler suits that had hidden inside a nightclub before forcing a member of staff to open the safe.

But the staff member had escaped and called police. Kinsella was jailed for nine years.

Detective Sergeant Helen Evans said: “The main thing is that there are a couple of very dangerous individuals who have been taken off the streets and we need to chase the two outstanding (defendants) down.

“Any members of the public who see him should contact police immediately, either at their local police station or via Crimestoppers.”