LIAM SMITH: Victim from community forced to live with fear of guns

Aug 25 2007 by Deborah James, Liverpool Daily Post

LIAM SMITH came from a community forced to get used to gun culture and the fear it generates.

For a long time guns have been the weapon of choice for the notorious gang which wreaked terror in Croxteth and Norris Green.

Between October, 2004 and March, 2006 gang members of all ages, one as young as 15, targeted houses and people in Norris Green as part of the deadly feud.

November last year saw a trial at Liverpool Crown Court involving Liam Smith’s killer, Ryan Lloyd, and other members of the Croxteth Crew that can only be reported now.

During the case the jury watched clips of gangsters Wesley Brown, 22, and Anthony Fairfield, 18, brandishing weapons while 15-year-old Robert Whelan lounges on a bed surrounded by guns and bullets.

Fairfield is seen putting a gun in his waistband and pointing a gun at the camera.

One of the men in the video says: “Tote guns with the Crew”.

Lloyd was found guilty of plotting with others to possess guns and ammunition with intent to cause fear of violence.

A number of other gang members were jailed for their involvement in the dispute with Norris Green’s Strand gang.

In the course of the police investigation, youths stopped in the street were found to be wearing bulletproof vests. The feud was perpetuated by gang members writing letters to each other from jail threatening to kill the “dead dogs” of the Norris Green gang.

Police found two shotguns, three revolvers and ammunition hidden around Croxteth. The guns were not just for show. They were used to intimidate the Croxteth Crew's rivals and shots were fired at houses and people.

The gang was involved in an attack in which Thomas Whittingham's van was stolen. When he found it in Croxteth he was shot in the face.

Lloyd's fingerprints were found in the van and in a car used by the thieves.

He was charged with the murder of Liam Smith before the other gang members were sentenced.

Wesley Brown, of Sceptre Road, Croxteth, was jailed indefinitely for public protection and ordered to serve a minimum of three years and 50 weeks.

Anthony Fairfield, of Totnes Road, and Dean Scahill, 19, of Willow Way, both Croxteth, were also locked up indefinitely and both ordered to serve a minimum of three months behind bars.

Also jailed indefinitely was Joseph White, 20, of Whinhowe Road, Norris Green, who cannot apply for parole until he has served three years.

Robert Whelan, now 16, of Throne Road, Croxteth, was sentenced to 18 months’ detention and training.

They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to cause fear of violence.

Dean Brown, 20, of Sceptre Road, Croxteth, pleaded guilty to possessing a handgun and was jailed for four and a half years.