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North Wales Live
17-07-2025
- North Wales Live
Omega watch, Canada Goose coat and Mallet trainers stolen in hostel burglary
A man who was "evicted" from a homeless hostel had £3,000 of his belongings stolen after he had gone. His possessions included an Omega watch worth £2,000. He later had to go to prison on remand in "tattered" clothes due to the burglary at the hostel in Flintshire. Samual Allan, 36, of Halkyn Road, Holywell, admitted committing burglary. Today a judge jailed him for 16 months. Mold Crown Court heard victim Robert Salisbury had been living in room 13 of the homeless hostel. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here Prosecutor Elen Owen said Mr Salisbury was then arrested on July 21 last year on suspicion of an offence and was granted bail on condition he didn't go back. He found himself in Wrexham where he was told there had been a burglary and his possessions had been stolen. The haul included the £2,000 Omega watch, a Canada Goose coat worth £750, Mallet trainers worth £400, some £300 to £400 in cash and even his pillow. Ms Owen said on July 26 last year police arrested Allan who tried to escape over a fence. They caught him wearing the Canada Goose coat and Mallet trainers. After a search officers found an Omega watch's box but it was empty. The victim Mr Salisbury proved to police they were his items by showing them photographs of them. The court heard he had had to wear "tattered clothes" in prison. Philip Clemo, defending, said the victim had been "effectively evicted" from the hostel but his client pleaded guilty to the offence. He said Allan has made some "bad choices and there has been a lack of self-discipline". He added: "The combination has put him in something of a doom loop where he is in and out of prison through a revolving door." But he is "tired" of this life and hopes for something better. The author of a pre-sentence report found the "green shoots" of a change in attitude, he added. He asked for a custodial sentence to be suspended, adding: "If he does not take the chance he's a fool. If he does take the chance he wins and so does everybody else." However, the judge Her Honour Nicola Jones said she did not think Allan is ready for rehabilitation. She said he believes he has post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and low mood yet there have been no formal diagnoses.
North Wales Live
15-07-2025
- North Wales Live
Ethan Ives-Griffiths endured 'pain and misery' before being murdered by his grandparents
The grandparents of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths have been found unanimously guilty of his murder. Michael Ives and Kerry Ives were also found guilty of cruelty to a child under 16. Ethan's mother Shannon Ives was convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child, and cruelty to a child under 16. Ethan, who was severely underweight and dehydrated, suffered 40 visible injuries to his body after he moved in with his grandparents in Kingsley Road, Garden City, Deeside, in June 2021. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here He collapsed on August 13 and again on August 14 that year. A Mold Crown Court jury heard Ethan had been shaken by Michael soon before he collapsed. For more updates, read our live blog A Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers found he had sustained a 'catastrophic' head injury. The jury of seven women and five men reached their verdict after hearing evidence during a trial lasting more than six weeks. Jurors heard Ethan was moved into his grandparents' home in Kingsley Road in June 2021. But the prosecution said his time there was "thoroughly miserable and he was targeted by the defendants (Michael and Kerry) as an object of abuse and neglect". He was "quiet and withdrawn, small and painfully thin". He was exposed to "casual brutality" and according to a medical expert would have experienced "distress, pain and misery" in the days and weeks prior to his death. The court heard on August 13 Michael heard a "bang" in the living room. He turned and saw Ethan on the floor "gazing". He was unresponsive for "four or five minutes". Michael said "it could have been a smack in the head". On August 14 at about 9pm Michael said Ethan's legs turned to "jelly" and he caught him and laid him on the carpet. This time he was "gasping" for breath, the court heard. Kerry said she shouted upstairs for Shannon to come down. Kerry said Shannon said 'two minutes' but Kerry said she herself said: 'Never mind two f****** minutes! The baby's collapsed.' Kerry admitted she Facetimed another daughter Nicole 'for advice' before ringing 999 at 9.20pm. She had waited six minutes between the end of the Facetime call and making the 999 call because she had been 'panicking', she said. She claimed she was 'unaware of the 40 visible injuries' on Ethan. She denied assaulting Ethan or encouraging anyone else to do so on August 14. She said she had seen Shannon hit Ethan in the past but not on August 14. Ethan was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital. Later he was transferred to Alder Hey children's hospital but died there two days later. Shannon said she saw Ethan at Alder Hey children's hospital. He had tubes coming out of him and a bandage around his head. She was in a 'really bad state…upset and crying and wondering what had happened to Ethan,' the court heard. She blamed her parents four days after he died on August 16. She said she never hit her child and that they were the only ones in the living room on August 14. She also insisted her parents had been 'horrible' and that her dad Michael 'tortured' Ethan by making him put his hands on his head. She further insisted Michael had been mimicking Ethan's walk in footage captured on CCTV, not hers, as he said. And she argued her parents had told her to lie to social worker Michael Cornish and say Ethan was sleeping. The prosecution said: "What must have been a forceful attack on Ethan that night (August 14) must have been the culmination of physical and emotional neglect and abuse upon him by those who should have cared for him the most." Michael and Kerry entered a "pact of silence" about what they did to Ethan that night. They chose to blame their own daughter Shannon, said prosecutor Caroline Rees KC. Today the judge Mr Justice Griffiths said Michael and Kerry would be jailed for life. He will consider the minimum term of imprisonment before a sentencing hearing on October 3. He said it is "unlikely" that Shannon Ives will not receive an immediate custodial sentence of "many years" on that day. He extended her conditional bail with new terms. The judge also said the jury had given "rational consideration" to the evidence. Given the "unusually distressing" nature of the evidence he excused them from further jury service for life, if they wish it. Speaking following today's verdict, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Chris Bell said: 'Michael, Kerry and Shannon Ives held positions of responsibility and should have shown Ethan love, care and protection. 'Instead, Michael caused distress, pain and misery to his grandson before brutally taking his life nearly four years ago in August 2021. Kerry and Shannon both watched and took no action as the abuse unfolded in the home they all shared. 'Their behaviour was beyond comprehension, and it is impossible to imagine the terror a two-year-old would feel in suffering the horrific injuries he endured - inflicted upon him by those regarded as his closest family. 'We saw from images of Ethan how he significantly deteriorated over the seven-week period he had lived with his grandparents, up until his murder. 'It is not possible to be sure exactly what Ethan experienced behind closed doors during that time, but sadly, we know from the evidence gathered that he suffered significantly. 'I commend the immense strength and courage Ethan's paternal family found to assist my investigation team over the past four years, and to conduct themselves with dignity throughout what was a lengthy, harrowing, and complex trial. 'My thoughts and condolences remain with them. 'I want to thank colleagues, other emergency workers, medical experts and prosecutors for the exceptional work they have carried out, through what has been an incredibly emotive, complex and protracted investigation. 'They have been driven by the determination of seeking justice for Ethan, often to the detriment of their own welfare. 'This investigation has brought out the best in policing and I personally want to thank my team for everything they have done to secure this outcome for Ethan and his family today.'
BBC News
15-07-2025
- BBC News
CCTV exposed lies of Garden City couple who murdered grandson
Two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths arrived at hospital covered in bruises, thin and malnourished, and with a severe brain was nothing more the medical team could do to save him so, two days later on 16 August 2021, his life-support machine was turned would be nearly four years before what happened to Ethan was finally revealed in what senior detectives described as one of the most difficult investigations they had ever faced."What happened, happened behind closed doors," said Det Supt Chris Bell from North Wales Police."Nobody has been prepared to tell the truth." Warning: This article contains details that readers may find distressing. Over the course of more than a month, jurors at Mold Crown Court learned how Ethan came to it was at the hands of his own grandfather Michael Ives, with Ethan's grandmother Kerry making a pact with her husband to hide what Tuesday, the pair were found guilty of murder and child mother Shannon Ives also played her role, with the jury deciding she did nothing to prevent her son's death and, in her own way, was just as responsible for the cruelty he was convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. Ethan went to live with his grandparents towards the end of June 2021 after a domestic dispute which saw Shannon separate from her son's father, Will Griffiths.A few weeks later, Shannon also moved in with her parents at their home on Kingsley Road in Garden City, Ives told her trial that Ethan was a "a bubbly little child" and "chubby" when he arrived in their home, but that all changed over the next two the time Ethan was taken to hospital on the night of 14 August, he was painfully discovered he was covered in bruises and injury marks - 40 in total - as well as being dangerously dehydrated, with cracked, dry jury heard nursing staff thought Ethan looked "very malnourished" with paediatric nurse Antonia Chaddar telling them he "seemed like a child that hadn't been looked after".She added: "He had a pot belly you would see in very malnourished children. I see a lot of children who are ill and they don't look like that." Medical evidence also revealed the true extent of the head injuries suffered by neurosurgeon at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, Jayaratnam Jayamohan, said the whole of Ethan's brain was very swollen and he was essentially "having a stroke to a whole half of his brain".He told the trial any operation to save Ethan would have been "hopeful" at best and he was "probably going to die"."Sadly, everything was stacked against him by this point."Asked how the fatal injury suffered by Ethan would have been caused, Mr Jayamhohan said there were two potential Ethan had been subjected to an impact or "physical contact" such as a fist, hand or knee, or he could have been "shaken vigorously". It was the job of North Wales Police's major incident team to find out who was responsible - and their focus was on Ethan's grandparents and Supt Bell said it was clear that the fatal injury Ethan suffered was no accident, and all the medical evidence pointed towards an almost instantaneous were also able to confirm that Ethan's mother Shannon had been upstairs on her phone at the time Ethan collapsed."The only people that were inside that room - and it's not in doubt, it's from their own evidence themselves - was Kerry and Michael," said Det Supt said he was convinced that the couple "developed a pact" between themselves to hide the truth, with an ambulance not called for nearly 20 minutes after Ethan collapsed."I think Kerry has stuck to a pact to defend Michael and only she can answer why that might be." Both Kerry and Michael Ives denied they were responsible."I loved him," claimed Michael Ives in his wife was pressed, she told the jury: "It wasn't me or Michael."Asked who it could have been, Kerry Ives responded: "Nobody."During the trial, both grandparents attempted to deflect blame to their daughter, claiming she was quick tempered and would hit Ethan - an allegation she Ives said she blamed her father Michael for Ethan's death, telling the court that she hated him and was scared of him. While blame was being thrown everywhere by the Ives, the investigation team had crucial evidence - the family home was covered by CCTV was this footage that was critical to showing how Ethan was treated - in particular by Michael Ives."We had around 1,100 hours of footage from three different cameras front and back, 24 hours a day, that gave us a real insight, a detailed high-definition insight into what was happening to Ethan," explained Det Con Lee Harshey-Jones."The CCTV clearly shows Michael Ives was the main physical abuser of Ethan." Ethan is seen being placed or taken from the family car by his grandfather, held by just one happened repeatedly, including harrowing footage of Ethan being pulled from a trampoline in the back garden and carried the length of the lawn by one arm."You held him like a rag doll, didn't you," barrister Gordon Cole KC asked replied: "Yeah."Asked why he had carried him in that way, he said: "No reason. There's no excuse, I know."Quizzed in court about, Michael Ives admitted being "cruel and neglectful" but claimed he was "ashamed" about how he was captured carrying CCTV showed Ethan stood with his hands on his head, which the court was told was a hallmark punishment from his Ives told police Ethan would be made to stand in the corner of the room for up to two hours by her father and slapped if he three, under oath and in front of the jury, accepted more should have been done to get Ethan help and protect him."I should've done more," agreed Michael Ives."Contacted the social worker, got him to a doctor's, got him checked."Kerry Ives told the jury she regretted that she and Shannon did nothing to protect Ethan from Michael Ives "every day"."I regret I didn't do more for the baby," she said. The trial also heard how help was thwarted at every had been placed on a child protection register, which meant he should have been seen every 10 days by a social was seen just once towards the end of July at the Ives' home, where it was noted he was a "small two-year-old boy who was quite shy".A return visit was booked for 5 August, but the social worker was turned away on the doorstep and told the household was isolating due to Covid, and Ethan was visit was booked for 12 August, but no-one answered the door or phone in court Shannon Ives admitted these excuses were lies and that if social workers had seen "how skinny he was" then Ethan would have been taken into care.A day later, events began to spiral out of control and a final opportunity to save Ethan was toddler collapsed for the first time on 13 August, becoming unresponsive for at least five minutes before of seeking medical help, Ethan was taken mother also cancelled an appointment for a health visitor to see him the same next evening, the Ives were dialling 999 as Ethan lay motionless on the living room floor time he never recovered. 'I just can't forget about it' The convictions mark the end of what police have described as an emotional Harshey-Jones said it had affected the entire team: "I can't just leave it in the office and forget about it for the weekend. I'll take it home with me in my mind."It won't be a case I'll be able to forget easily.""I personally feel very proud that we were able to do that for Ethan. He had his life ahead of him and he didn't deserve any of what happened to him."Det Supt Bell said Michael and Kerry Ives stuck to their pact of silence and had shown no remorse, which he said left him "numb"."It should have been the safest place for Ethan. It should have been somewhere he can be loved, where he can express himself, where he can develop a safe space to have fun," he said."It wasn't the case. In fact it appears he was treated completely differently to everyone else and only Michael and Kerry can answer as to why that was." If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story you can visit the BBC Action Line for details of organisations who can offer support
Wales Online
17-06-2025
- Wales Online
Taking Ethan Ives-Griffiths to Tesco instead of the doctor was 'incomprehensible'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info It was "incomprehensible" that the grandparents of a toddler who "collapsed" failed to seek medical help and took him to Tesco instead, a murder trial jury heard today. Dr Sarah Dixon, a consultant paediatrician, said that failure was "motivated in part by a desire to avoid professionals making a diagnosis of child abuse". Dr Dixon was giving evidence on day eight of the trial of Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, who are accused the of murdering their grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths. The couple, of Kingsley Road, Garden City, Deeside, deny murdering Ethan at their home in August 2021. They and their daughter Shannon Ives, 28, of Nant Garmon, Mold, all deny other charges of causing or inciting the death of a child, and cruelty to a child under 16. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here Mold Crown Court has heard Ethan sustained 40 external injuries akin to those in the victim of a high speed traffic collision. The prosecution say Ethan suffered what would prove to be a fatal head injury was on August 14, before his death at Alder Hey children's hospital on August 16. You can follow all the latest updates from the trial on our liveblog here. Dr Dixon told prosecutor Caroline Rees KC the "very high number of injuries was an outlier from what would be expected during day to day life". She said Ethan had an "extremely high number of bruises". She said: "The high number of the bruises co-existing with the head injuries and abdominal injuries lead me to the conclusion that they were inflicted, non-accidental injuries due to blunt force impacts." (Image: North Wales Police handout) She also said Ethan was "very underweight" and he had a "perilously low" body mass index (BMI). She said 99.6 per cent of boys of that age would be heavier. He had a body mass index of 11.8. Dr Dixon said Ethan's weight would put in jeopardy the chemical balance for his heart function. Others with a similar BMI would have been "critically ill" and at a "risk of death". Dr Dixon said Ethan's carers should have sought medical help from a GP at a much earlier stage. She told the court that Ethan's grandparents and mother had been "grossly neglectful" in their care of the two-year-old. 'Extraordinary' Dr Dixon said it was likely Ethan had bleeding and a brain injury in CCTV footage of him trampolining from August 4, 2021. "The footage supports that Ethan had suffered an inflicted traumatic head injury on or prior to 4 August in addition to the fatal inflicted traumatic head injury inflicted on 14 August," she told the court. Taking him to Tesco later was "extraordinary", she said. Ethan was also "manhandled" by being carried into a car by Michael Ives which was "humiliating" and put his arm at risk of being dislocated, Dr Dixon said. She said it was "incomprehensible" that capable adults sought to "self-manage" a collapse by Ethan on August 13. But Dr Dixon added: "The failure to seek health care is likely to have been motivated in part by a desire to avoid professionals making a diagnosis of child abuse." David Elias KC, representing Michael Ives, put it to Dr Dixon that studies show "52 to 87 per cent" of children of walking age have bruises with a range of one to 27 bruises. Dr Dixon agreed. He also suggested that Ethan's chipped tooth, torn frenulum (skin under the lip attached to gum) and lip injuries could have been sustained accidentally. Dr Dixon said Ethan was independently mobile so could have been injured himself that way although Ethan may not have had the reflexes, because of an earlier injury, to save himself after a fall. Dr Dixon also agreed Ethan bit his lip at times. The trial continues. Find crime figures for your area
Leader Live
06-06-2025
- Leader Live
Teenager flips car stolen from Flintshire auction site
Hasnain Ahmad, of Frobisher Close, Manchester, appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday (June 5). The 18-year-old had previously admitted a string of motoring offences – including dangerous driving. He was also without a driving licence. Myles Wilson, prosecuting, said that Ahmad was with another man, who remains at large, when a Skoda, worth £17,000, was stolen from the Wilsons Auctions site in Queensferry on October 22, 2024. Ahmad, who wasn't charged in connection with the theft of the car, later drove the Skoda into Cheshire and onto the M56 motorway before a flipping the car in a collision. Another man was in a Volvo on false plates driving with the defendant in convoy, the court heard. Ahmad turned off the motorway at Hapsford then onto Hog Lane, a single-track road. Dashcam footage from a police car showed Ahmad initially stop, before pulling off and reaching speeds of 80mph as the police car pursued. The defendant turned onto the A56 at Helsby – where the narrowly avoided head-on collisions with a number of vehicles. At the end of the three-minute clip, the Skoda flips after being involved in a collision with a van. Ahmad attempted to flee on foot, but was arrested near the scene. He tested positive for cannabis, and had cannabis and a cannabis grinder with him. MORE NEWS: Judge Simon Mills described Ahmad's driving as "horrific', and that he is 'very fortunate' to be alive. The judge sentenced Ahmad to nine months imprisonment – which, due to his age, was suspended for two years. He was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activity, and disqualified from driving for two years. Ahmad then he must take an extended test to obtain a driving licence.
