Jake Duffy and William Duggan were caught throwing packages from the back of an Amazon van in panic
Two thieves stole an Amazon van full of packages a week before Christmas, then filmed themselves bragging: “That guy just took the whole Amazon van, you know.”
Key evidence uncovered as part of investigations into a brutal assault believed to have played a role in events leading up to the murder of innocent Elle Edwards has helped lead police to the pair. Jake Duffy, of Hornby Road, Walton, and William Duggan, of Broadfield Avenue, Beechwood, and an unidentified man were spotted on Pennystone Close in Moreton on December 16, 2022, throwing parcels from the back of an Amazon van in a panic.
The pair had stolen the parked van, containing £3,793.50 worth of items, from Franklin Road that day. They were in the process of loading the contents into a grey Ford Kuga, which had itself been stolen from a house in Liverpool on December 6.
The car was found on Boundary Road, Birkenhead, on December 19, 2022, with its registration plates removed. Police GPS tracking revealed the car had been driven in the Liverpool and Wirral areas between December 6 and 19. At 1.30pm on December 16, shortly before the Amazon van was stolen, the car was parked outside a cafe in Wirral. CCTV footage from the shop showed three men, two of whom have been identified as Duggan and Duffy.
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The car was then driven to the scene of the theft on Franklin Road and on to Pennystone Close, where the men, who at the time were wearing “masks or hoods”, were seen. The car was also seen parked near Duggan’s home on Broadfield Avenue, Beechwood and Duffy’s former address on Arley Close.
But the most damning evidence came on December 23, when Duffy and another man, Kieran Salkeld, were caught on a doorbell camera brutally beating a man named Sam Searson. At the scene of the attack on Highfield Road, Rock Ferry, police found an iPhone that Duffy had dropped and examined its contents.
Prosecutor Daniel Bramhall, at Liverpool Crown Court today, July 5, said: “On the device, police discovered a short clip of a man driving while he recorded a video of himself on the phone. The man is filming a large van driving in convoy behind him. There is audio of the man in a Liverpool accent saying ‘the man’s just taken the whole Amazon van, you know’. This recording was made shortly after the Amazon van was stolen.
“The man in the video appears to be wearing a hooded fur coat similar to the one Duffy is wearing.”
During the trial of Connor Chapman for the murder of Elle Edwards on Christmas Eve, it was suggested that the attack on the Rock ferry may have been the ultimate trigger for the attempted murder of Duffy and Salkeld. Duffy was jailed with them for the incident in February 2023.
Duggan’s home was searched by police on January 5, 2023, and a number of items were found from the Amazon van, including a bottle of whiskey, cleaning fluid, multivitamins and a battery pack. An e-cigarette kit and an Amazon firestick were found in Duffy’s home.
Both men pleaded guilty to theft, while Duffy pleaded guilty to a charge of handling a stolen motor vehicle.
Daniel Travers, defending Duffy, who has two convictions for three previous offences including the attack, said: “Duffy was involved in relatively serious criminality and he was also the subject of a gang injunction. He was released from a prison sentence on January 4, 2024.
“Duffy was disappointed that this process came at the end of his sentence, or at least the part about custody. Even for someone who is not on probation, the yo-yo effect of going in and out of custody and back in is understandable. Duffy has done everything beyond anyone’s expectations to comply with his strict conditions and gang injunction. So far he is a success story. He literally could not have done more to prove that he wanted to break away from the life he was leading. I invite the court to give him the chance to prove himself.”
David Birrell, defending Duggan, who has five convictions for eight previous offences, said: “He does have convictions but four of them are for simple possession of cannabis. You may not think that suits him. He has not offended since. He is frankly ashamed to be in this position. He is remorseful. He seems to have impressed the probation officer who says he has been a good team player and has good interpersonal skills. He is a young man, only 24, and it may be that immaturity played a part in this offence.”
Jake Duffy, 24, of HMP Walton, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation days and pay £250 costs.
William Duggan, 24, of Broadfield Avenue, Beechwood, was sentenced to eight months, suspended for 18 months, and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation days and pay £250 costs, and take part in a thinking skills programme.
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