Manchester Police killer Will Die In Prison

13 June 2013, 17:15 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Six men have today been jailed, five of them for life, for their roles in the murders of two police officers and a father and son in Greater Manchester.

Dale Cregan pleaded guilty to the murders of PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes, after he lured them to an address in Hattersley on 18 September 2012 with a fictitious report of a burglary, where he then launched a gun and grenade attack.

Cregan pleaded guilty at a later date to the murder of Mark Short and the attempted murders of three others on 25 May 2012, after Mark was shot in a pub in Droylsden.

Cregan and Anthony Wilkinson pleaded guilty to the murder of Mark's father, David Short, who was killed at his home in Clayton on 10 August 2012.

Two other men were also found guilty of Mark's murder, while one other man was found guilty of David's murder.

Mark Short and three others were seriously injured in a shooting at the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden as they played pool. Ten weeks later, Mark’s father, David Short, was killed during a gun and grenade attack at his home in Clayton, Manchester.

GMP’s biggest ever manhunt was launched to trace those responsible for David’s murder.

On 18 September 2012, PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes responded to what they believed was a routine burglary call in Hattersley, but it was in fact a trap set by Cregan. He shot the two officers repeatedly before throwing a grenade at them and then drove off at speed to a nearby police station where he handed himself in.

DEFENDANTS

10 defendants were tried together, in a high-security trial at Preston Crown Court. Today, 13 June 2013, the following people were convicted.

WHOLE LIFE - 30 year old Dale Cregan, pleaded guilty to the murders of Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes, Mark Short and David Short, three counts of attempted murder and causing an explosion. He was sentenced to a whole life term imprisonment and will never be released.

35 YEARS - 34 year old Anthony Wilkinson from the Beswick area, pleaded guilty to one count of murder (David Short) and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 35 years before he is eligible for parole.

33 YEARS - 24 year old Jermaine Anton Ward has been found guilty of one count of murder (David Short). He was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 33 years before he is eligible for parole.

7 YEARS - 32 year old Mohammed Imran Ali from the Chadderton area, has been found guilty of assisting an offender in connection with the death of David Short. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

33 YEARS - 38 year old Damian Gorman, from Glossop, found guilty of the murder of Mark Short in the Cotton Tree pub and the attempted murders of three others in the pub.

33 YEARS -28 year old Luke Livesey, from Hattersley were found guilty of the murder of Mark Short in the Cotton Tree pub and the attempted murders of three others in the pub. Life- minimum 33 years.

Cleared

35 year old Leon Atkinson, from Ashton-under-Lyne, cleared of the murder of Mark Short in the Cotton Tree pub and the attempted murders of three others in the pub.

29 year old Ryan Hadfield, from Droylsden, cleared of the murder of Mark Short in the Cotton Tree pub and the attempted murders of three others in the pub.

33 year old Matthew James, from Clayton, cleared of the murder of Mark Short in the Cotton Tree pub and the attempted murders of three others in the pub.

38 year old Francis Dixon, from Stalybridge, was acquitted of the murder of David Short, the attempted murder of Mrs Hark and causing an explosion with a hand grenade.