GREAT NEWS! Jayden, 13, who had been reported missing from Eastham earlier, has been found safe and well. Thank you to everyone who shared our appeal - it can make a real difference. 🙂

A man has been jailed after admitting causing the death of a teenager by dangerous driving following a collision involving illegal electric bikes in #Wirral. Leon Jones, 20, of Ford Way, Upton, appeared before the court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He was also sentenced for a separate and unconnected offence of arson. The court heard that on 30 November 2024, Jones was riding an illegal electric bike on Hoole Road, #Woodchurch Estate, when it was involved in a collision with another bike ridden by Spencer Crofts. Evidence presented to the court showed that the bikes were being ridden on a public road in a dangerous manner. CCTV footage of the collision was played during proceedings. The electric bike ridden by Jones was never recovered after it was removed from the scene before police arrived. The collision resulted in the death of 17 year-old Spencer. The court was told that Jones’s bike was travelling at speeds estimated between 27mph and 33mph in a 20mph zone and had been performing a wheelie immediately before the collision. Evidence also established he had used cannabis prior to the incident. Jones was sentenced to five years and four months' imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving. He was also disqualified from driving for five years, with the disqualification commencing upon his release from custody, together with an extended re-test. Jones was separately sentenced for an arson offence committed on 28 June 2026 involving a mobility scooter belonging to a man whose wife was seriously ill and receiving end-of-life care inside their home. The court imposed consecutive sentences, resulting in a total custodial sentence of five years and 10 months. Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson, of Merseyside Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Spencer Crofts, who continue to live with the devastating consequences of this incident. "This case demonstrates the very real dangers associated with the use of illegal and unroadworthy vehicles on our roads. Tragically, the actions of those involved resulted in the loss of a young life. "The defendant and Spencer were described as best friends, making the outcome all the more upsetting. "Merseyside Police will not tolerate the dangerous use of illegal bikes on our roads and in our communities. We hope this sentence serves as a warning to others about the potentially devastating consequences of such behaviour. "Through Operation Gears, we continue to target offenders, seize illegal bikes, prevent harm and protect the wider community across Merseyside." Operation Gears is Merseyside Police's ongoing force-wide response to tackling the dangerous and anti-social use of illegal bikes, improving road safety and reducing the risk of serious injury and death.

A man has today, Friday 28 August, been jailed for 14 years following a robbery in #Birkenhead in which the occupants of a property were threatened with a knife. Officers were called at 12.20am on Wednesday 26th January 2022 after reports that a number of males wearing balaclavas had entered a property on Borough Road. One of the males was armed with a knife and threats were directed towards the occupants, which included a young child. A man and woman were also assaulted during the incident. The offenders made off with a quantity of cash and jewellery. Following a long and complex investigation, Haneef Chowdhury, 29, of no fixed abode, was charged and pleaded guilty to robbery in July. Today, at Liverpool Crown Court, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Officer in charge of the case Hollie Stott said: “This was a shocking incident in which a family, including a young child, were threatened in their own home with a knife. “Being a victim of a robbery can have a profound effect on the lives of victims, from the shock and unease felt by having somebody invade your home and the upset and inconvenience of losing property, through to the often-severe long-term psychological impacts. “Chowdhury pleaded guilty to robbery and is rightly behind bars for a considerable period of time. I hope knowing this allows his victims to move on with their lives knowing he can’t target other people.” If you have any information about anyone acting suspiciously in the vicinity of homes or businesses, or being in possession of suspected stolen goods, please contact our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or pass information via their secure online form at: orlo.uk/qBVex Crime prevention advice can be found at: orlo.uk/5aN9Z