These are the faces of 16 Merseyside criminals who were jailed this week

A convicted rapist “wormed his way” into a struggling mum’s life by posing as a kind-hearted community volunteer before sexually abusing her daughter. Brian McCoy, who has been jailed twice previously for sexual offences, befriended the mother while she was struggling to feed her child.

He then went on to take the family out for meals and day trips and even offered his home to them. But, unbeknown to her, the “monster” was secretly taking advantage of the situation by repeatedly indecently assaulting the youngster.

McCoy admitted three counts of sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and failing to comply with notification requirements. He was jailed for six years, of which he must serve at least two thirds before becoming eligible for release, and an additional four years on licence.

Ryan Povey

A thug played a game of pool with a man in a pub before stabbing him in the face after being left “hell bent on revenge”. Ryan Povey repeatedly slashed at his victim with a knife as witnesses screamed for him to stop.

It came after “back and forth banter” in the early hours descended into drunken violence. The dad’s promising career has now “gone by the wayside” after he “lost it” when consumed by “red mist” and returned to the scene armed with the weapon.

Povey admitted wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Appearing via video link to HMP Hewell wearing a grey Montirex tracksuit top, he was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Francesco Vrapi

A man answered “no comment” throughout a police interview but what was inside his house gave him away. A large scale cannabis farm consisting of 458 plants and with a potential value of around £450,000 was found following a search of Francesco Vrapi’s address.

The 31-year-old was arrested at the scene. Despite remaining silent under questioning, he later admitted production of cannabis and was jailed for six months.

Sonny Daley

A teenager’s promising life came crashing down around him when police officers found him hiding in a bush and discovered a loaded firearm in his JD Sports bag. Sonny Daley was caught with the converted blank firing gun when he was out dealing heroin and crack cocaine in a park.

He was allegedly put to work in the drugs trade after racking up a cannabis debt. A judge told the former junior boxer and community volunteer that it was a “terrible shame” that he had “fallen so far”.

Daley admitted possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of ammunition without a certificate, possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse wearing a blue Under Armour t-shirt, he was jailed for five years and four months.

Craig Pryor

A motorcyclist was left with life-changing injuries after he was hit by a dangerous driver. Craig Pryor attempted to overtake another vehicle in his Mercedes when he hit a black Yamaha motorbike travelling in the opposite direction.

He was subsequently found to have traces of cocaine and cannabis in his system. The 46-year-old admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for four years.

John Reynolds

A sex offender left a fellow inmate with a broken cheekbone and in need of surgery after attacking him behind bars. John Reynolds subjected his victim to a series of “sucker punches” without warning while the two men were serving time at Walton prison.

The serial flasher was then freed from jail, but began drinking two bottles of vodka a day “with a side of cocaine”. A judge compared him to a “runaway mine train”.

Reynolds admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and failing to comply with notification requirements. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for two years.

Damien Rigby

A man has been jailed for a series of thefts at bowling alleys which caused more than £4,000 in damages. Damien Rigby pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and four counts of criminal damage and was sentenced to six months.

It came after the 38-year-old attended Superbowl UK in Golden Square Shopping Centre, Warrington, on three separate occasions, damaging and stealing from arcade machines during opening hours, just metres away from members of the public visiting the establishment. The first incident came on May 19 this year, when a total of £273 was stolen from two arcade machines after damage was caused to them and cash was stolen from the cash box inside.

Two months later, on 15 July, Rigby entered the same bowling alley and was captured on CCTV using a screwdriver to tamper with an arcade machine and empty money into his pockets. On this occasion, he stole a further £309.50.

Anthony Farrell and Christopher Fleming

Two men attempted to smuggle drugs into prison by shaking hands but were caught by an attentive guard. Anthony Farrell tried to sneak heroin and crack into Walton prison while paying a visit to inmate Christopher Fleming.

He has now been handed jail sentences totalling more than 27 years since the turn of the millennium. His visitor was meanwhile found with further illicit substances and hundreds of pounds in cash stashed in his sock and bag.

Farrell, who appeared in court via video link to HMP Liverpool, admitted two charges of conveying a prohibited article into a prison, being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine and possession of cannabis. Fleming, appearing remotely from HMP Berwyn, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine. Both were jailed for three years each.

Martin Ward

A thug booked a one-way flight to Europe after becoming embroiled in an acid attack but was arrested as he boarded the plane. Martin Ward was part of a gang of men who hunted down their victim before hitting him with a car, squirting ammonia over him from a water bottle and repeatedly striking him with a baseball bat.

He chased after the other man and handed his own son the weapon while shouting “give it to him”. But the target of their shocking assault later filmed a video in which he taunted his attackers, posing topless and bragging “there’s not a mark on me” before adding: “Good one lads, you done a good job.”

Ward admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Appearing in the dock wearing a navy blue Under Armour tracksuit top, he was jailed for 15 months and handed a seven-year restraining order.

Beth Tate

A hooded burglar who stormed an elderly man’s house and brandished a knife as he sat helpless in his living room was unmasked as his former carer. Beth Tate broke into the 80-year-old’s home two days after she lost her job due to turning up under the influence of drugs.

But, before the 21-year-old could make off with his wallet, she was “spooked” by the arrival of an Amazon delivery driver and ran away as her victim called the police. She was jailed for five years and eight months.

David Finn

A thug “acted the hard man” outside a pub but quickly regretted it. David Finn hurled a glass bottle towards police officers as violent scenes erupted on County Road in Walton following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar in Southport in July.

He was captured on CCTV footage shortly before 8.30pm throwing a bottle towards police at the scene before retreating to the Royal Oak pub, speaking to a child on the street outside and then putting on a face mask. He was arrested at the same public house nearly two months later, at which stage he told officers “all of this because I acted the hard man and threw a bottle”.

Finn admitted violent disorder. Appearing in the dock two days before his 38th birthday, he nodded to a woman in the public gallery and said “you alright?” as he was led to the cells after being jailed for 22 months.

Jake Joseph, Kevin Underwood and Nicholas Mooney

A man went to support his brother in court but ended up in the dock himself. Jake Joseph sat in the public gallery as he watched his younger sibling being sent down for his part in violent scenes which erupted in Southport following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar.

However, an eagle-eyed police officer who was also present in the courtroom last week recognised him too as being present during the riot. His thuggish actions saw him jump on top of a carrier van and hurl bricks and concrete slabs at PCs.

Joseph admitted violent disorder. Appearing in the dock wearing a blue Nike tracksuit top, he was jailed for 34 months.

Appearing alongside him in the dock on Friday was Kevin Underwood, who whipped off his t-shirt and hurled a bin bag as his night of shame was captured on a TikTok video. The grandad pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years and two months.

Nicholas Mooney meanwhile jumped on top of a police van and ripped off the windscreen wiper. He admitted the same offence and was locked up for 30 months.

Edward Jarvis

An EncroChat heavyweight instrumental in the operation of the notorious Huyton Firm played an “integral” role in a menacing blackmail plot. Edward Jarvis a key figure in the organised crime group led by Vincent Coggins, was involved in trafficking huge quantities of class A drugs worth millions of pounds.

The 59-year-old helped to orchestrate the gang’s supply of large consignments of cocaine and heroin to mid-level dealers across Merseyside and the rest of the country. Coggins’ men were involved in the supply of a total of 150kg of cocaine and 215kg of heroin during the early months of 2020.

Along with his boss and co-conspirators Paul Woodford and Michael Earle, Jarvis also hatched a violent vendetta against a number of individuals who they suspected had robbed one of the gang’s stash houses and made off with over £1m of cocaine. However the gang’s plans, made over EncroChat, were monitored by police officers after the encrypted messaging platform was hacked in April 2020 by European law enforcement.

Jarvis was found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and conspiracy to commit blackmail. He was jailed for 25 years.