After a female prison officer was jailed earlier this month, the ECHO is looking back over the women sent to prison this summer.
Deborah Nilsson
The 52-year-old grandmother kept thousands of pounds that her mum had earmarked to the hospice that cared for her.
Nilsson, of Evelyn Street, St Helens, was only caught after her estranged daughter reported her for crimes.
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The greedy grandmother spent some of the money on a new kitchen and bathroom, a family holiday and a new washing machine
She then lied and claimed her late mum had changed her mind and made a “death bed” will leaving her the money intended for the hospice, which is a charity, as staff had not looked after her properly.
Judge Anil Murray told her he did not believe her claims and jailed her for 15 months on July 9.
He said: “You say you have learned a lesson - but you maintain that you did nothing wrong….There is no remorse. During the course of this case you have thought only of yourself and continue to do so.”
Elaine Hindley
The mum-of-two, of Shelmore Drive, Toxteth, was jailed for running a large scale drugs supply operation.
Hindley, 42, had a "tick list" which was uncovered by detectives searching her Toxteth home, where Merseyside Police also found a Cartier watch.
Hindley, of Shelmore Drive, ran the drugs supply operation to fund her cocaine habit and was only found out when police stopped her Ford Focus as she drove along Church Road, Wavertree, on April 10 last year.
Officers also recovered dealer tick lists and paraphernalia including sealable pots and scales.
Hindley pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.
Judge Stuart Driver, QC, said that from her home she had been “supplying cannabis on a significant scale.”
Hindley was jailed for 12 months on July 13.
Corrina Smith aka Corrina Baines
A mum murdered her husband after she was told 'distressing' allegations about him sexually abusing their children.
Corinna Smith, called Baines at the time, but now listed in court papers as Smith, was left devastated on the evening of June 14, last year, when her daughter made the claims of historical abuse suffered, she claimed, by herself and her sibling.
Before a planned polygraph test, Smith returned to the home in Neston, Cheshire, where she lived with the 80-year-old, and attacked him by pouring sugary boiling water over his body.
He was left horrifically burnt, and died in hospital about a month later following numerous operations and skin grafts.
The wife decided to cause her husband really serious injuries in an act of vengeance, but not to intentionally kill him, Chester Crown Court heard.
It took 13 minutes to concoct the final mixture, one of the reasons why a jury decided to convict Smith for murder, and disregard her defence of a loss of control, which would have downgraded the offence to manslaughter.
Smith was found guilty of murder after a trial.
Smith was jailed for life, and ordered to serve minimum of 12 years, which was reduced from the starting point of 15 years.
Rachael Roche
A woman, high on cocaine and alcohol, was caught on a Ring doorbell camera deliberately holding up a naked flame which she used to set fire to a wheelie bin.
Roche, 30, of Bridge Lane, Netherton, used the cigarette lighter to set fire to the bin, which led to smoke and toxic fumes filling a house in Netherton.
Fortunately the occupants, John McDonough and his partner Joanne Kenny, weren't in because they had moved out and put their home up for sale.
Judge Woodhall told the defendant, who appeared via video link from Styal prison, that had the neighbour not called the fire brigade “that fire would inevitably spread and clearly put lives at risk.”
Jailing her for 27 months Judge Gary Woodhall said: “Only a custodial sentence can be justified.”
Roche, of Bridge Lane, Netherton, had pleaded guilty to arson being reckless whether life would be endangered.
Helen Hartley
Hartley, 35, was jailed after admitting possessing criminal property but a court heard that she continues to deny wrongdoing.
The court heard she was the wife of a major drug dealer who lived a lavish lifestyle including luxury holidays funded by his ill-gotten-gains.
In April, Liverpool Crown Court heard how brothers Alan and John Tobin's drug business began to unravel after a massive seizure of drugs on the M6.
Alan Tobin was jailed for 20 years and John sentenced to 19 years and eight months. Both men had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
The court then heard a total of £220,000 was paid into Helen Hartley’s bank account between January 2016 and September last year but it was accepted she had some legitimate income as a beautician and she was sentenced on the basis that between £120,000 - £150,000 was the proceeds of crime.
Hartley, who only pleaded guilty on the second day of her trial - tried to claim that it came from her husband’s wages as a mental heath nurse and cars he sold.
But Judge Bryne told the court her excuse was "quite frankly ludicrous."
Hartley, of Regency Park, Widnes, who is also known by her married name of Ellie Tobin was jailed for nine months.
