LIAM PERKINS SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND VIOLENT OUTBURSTS IN ST HELENS
Liam Perkins, a 30-year-old from Meridith Street, Garston, was involved in multiple serious offences related to child abuse and violent behaviour.Police had previously uncovered his disturbing collection of child exploitation images when they raided his home in St Helens on March 18, 2020.
Prosecutor Cheryl Mottram revealed that during the raid, officers confiscated two Samsung phones containing a total of 17 Category A files (depicting child rape), 17 Category B, 89 Category C files, along with two images of animal porn.
These images were sent via Kik Messenger over a four-day span, with Perkins also communicating with another paedophile who remarked, 'Damn man your stuff is great.' The children in the images ranged from five to 15 years old, mostly between nine and 13, and Perkins had searched for terms like 'young baby porn pics' and 'teen boy.' Although he admitted ownership of the devices, he denied possessing a sexual interest in children.
Following his initial investigation, Perkins was released under investigation, but his conduct escalated.
Around 3:30 am on January 2, 2021, police responded to a report from his mother, who stated he was intoxicated and causing a disturbance at his home.
Officers found him in his bedroom, where he was described as 'very aggressive' and uncooperative.
When officers attempted to detain him, Perkins kicked an officer in the face, causing a nosebleed, and had to be restrained with incapacitant spray.
He later claimed he had a drinking problem and couldn't recall the assault.
His violent tendencies continued when he visited his ex-girlfriend’s house in St Helens on February 1.
She closed the door on him, but he repeatedly banged on it, breaking a glass panel, and later told police he had been drunk during the incident.
Perkins pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of downloading and distributing indecent images of children, possessing extreme porn, assaulting an emergency worker, resisting arrest, and criminal damage.
He also has previous convictions for public disorder, criminal damage in 2012, and theft in 2017.
Defense lawyer Desmond Lennon stated that Perkins expressed remorse and recognized the wrongfulness of his behaviour, particularly his sexual interest in children and his violence.
He attributed his actions to underlying issues with alcohol and cocaine use, proposing he was suitable for a sex offenders treatment programme and community rehabilitation.
Lennon argued that jail would likely cost Perkins his job and home, but Perkins was 'sorry and ashamed for his behaviour,' and would welcome the chance to make amends.
Judge Gary Woodhall remarked that the Kik Messenger chats demonstrated Perkins was 'fully aware' of what he was sharing, with the images showing children aged five to 15.
The judge noted that Perkins’ parents had been hesitant about his return to their home before the January 2 incident and acknowledged that although Perkins damaged furniture at their property, no criminal charges were pressed by them.
The court observed that Perkins had barricaded himself in his bedroom to prevent officers from arresting him, during which he threatened to push them down the stairs and attempted to kick them.
When taken to the ground, he kicked an officer in the face 'full force,' which required officers to use incapacitant spray.
Further, during the incident at his ex-partner's residence, Perkins injured his hand and sent threatening messages afterward, calling her a 'grass' and a 'rat'.
The judge noted that Perkins had shown remorse in a pre-sentence report but was no longer permitted to see his daughter due to his crimes.
Addressing his previous admissions of being attracted to young teens while under the influence, the judge emphasized that the offences were too severe for anything but a custodial sentence.
Perkins was sentenced to two years and one month in prison, along with a five-year restraining order to protect his ex-girlfriend.
He was also ordered to register as a sex offender and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.
During sentencing, Perkins shouted from the dock, 'Bulls***!
You let a guy walk with 32,000 images the other day!' He paused to call out to his father in the gallery saying, 'love you dad,' before continuing his rant: 'As for that five-year-old, I've never seen pictures like that, f***ing k***head!' and added, 'They sent it, I didn't, f***ing k***.'
