Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mum clung to a pink bear made from her daughter's pyjamas as her killer was jailed for life today.
Thomas Cashman, 34, was found guilty last week of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel as he chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into their home in the Dovecot area of Liverpool on August 22 last year.
Today, Cashman, who refused to appear in court for sentencing, was jailed for a minimum of 42 years.
Gasps were heard from the public gallery as the sentence was announced and Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel and other members of the family were seen crying.
Cashman also received life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years for the attempted murder of drug dealer Joseph Nee.
Cheryl arrived at court today with a teddy made out of her daughter's pyjamas.
She told the court: “I cannot get my head around how Cashman continued to shoot after hearing the terrified screams and utter devastation he had caused.
“He doesn’t care. His actions have left the biggest hole in our lives.
“That man set out to do a job and he didn’t care about anyone else or who got in the way. He certainly couldn’t own it either.”
In a victim impact statement Cheryl added: "It’s so very lonely without her" and recalled Cashman continuing to shoot even as Olivia's cries were heard.
Tearfully, she said: "One thing I miss most is hearing her say ‘mum’, I just miss hearing her voice, it’s just so quiet...I can’t cope with the silence."
She added: "I cannot even think of rebuilding our lives without her... Now I have to drive to the cemetery to be close to my daughter."
A statement on behalf of John Francis Pratt, Olivia's dad, was read to the court.
"No words can truly make you understand the pain I am feeling at the loss of my beautiful daughter Olivia,” the statement said.
He added: "I am heartbroken, sometimes I just want to end it so I can be with Olivia again."
It continued: “You have changed my life and my family’s life forever... We will never be a whole family again”.
Olivia's older sister said the her birth was "the best present I ever received" and "I just loved her so much."
Before court, Chloe said: "My family and I are living in a real-life tragedy, and there’s nothing we can do to change that.”
She added: "I miss Olivia, I miss my baby sister, and I miss my best friend. I grieve for what we will never get to do together.”
