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| Mob 'fixer' jailed for 14 years | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An underworld fixer praised by the father of football star Steven Gerrard has been sentenced to 14 years in jail. | |
| John Kinsella, 43, of Mile End, Liverpool, was sentenced in his absence after absconding from Lincoln Crown Court when the judge granted him bail. | John Kinsella, 43, of Mile End, Liverpool, was sentenced in his absence after absconding from Lincoln Crown Court when the judge granted him bail. |
| Kinsella was found guilty of a robbery from a haulage firm in Grantham. | Kinsella was found guilty of a robbery from a haulage firm in Grantham. |
| During his trial the jury was read a letter from Paul Gerrard saying he had "total respect" for Kinsella after he stopped a man from terrorising his son. | During his trial the jury was read a letter from Paul Gerrard saying he had "total respect" for Kinsella after he stopped a man from terrorising his son. |
| Easter eggs | Easter eggs |
| Police are still searching for Kinsella. | Police are still searching for Kinsella. |
| Judge John Machin jailed Kinsella for 13 years for the robbery, 12 months for dangerous driving after a police pursuit at speeds of up to 130mph, and three months for breaking his bail conditions. | |
| Steven and I have total respect for John for what he did for us Paul Gerrard | |
| Judge Machin said: "This was a highly professional undertaking." | |
| Earlier the judge told the court: "Mr Kinsella has decided that to surrender to bail is an optional activity and has disappeared." | |
| It was claimed in court that Kinsella was a "fixer" who had stopped an intimidation campaign against Gerrard. | It was claimed in court that Kinsella was a "fixer" who had stopped an intimidation campaign against Gerrard. |
| Paul Gerrard's letter said his son was "being terrorised by a notorious Liverpool gangster known as the "The Psycho" who was threatening to maim his son by shooting him in the legs. | |
| "I told him (Kinsella) about the on-going threats and violence. | |
| "John then reassured myself and my family he would resolve this nightmare... 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." | |
| Kinsella and three fellow robbers were convicted of stealing £41,000 worth of detergents, crisps and Easter eggs in March 2006. | |
| He had been granted bail at court provided that he remained in the grounds of Lincoln Crown Court. | He had been granted bail at court provided that he remained in the grounds of Lincoln Crown Court. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Muldoon is also on the run. A fourth man, Thomas Hodgson, 29, of Melwood Drive, Liverpool, admitted one charge of robbery. | Muldoon is also on the run. A fourth man, Thomas Hodgson, 29, of Melwood Drive, Liverpool, admitted one charge of robbery. |