'I'm coming for you lad': 14 furious courtroom outbursts
One man said "it's all lies" while another called his victim a "f***ing rat" in court
Courtrooms can be a place where emotions run high and tempers are lost. This can sometimes lead both criminals in the dock and their supporters to launch tirades at judges, court staff and those in the public gallery.
Sometimes it's not just anger which spills out into the courtroom, but candid admissions and pleas for mercy. Just last week, a rapist was kicked out of court and screamed f***ing rat" towards the victim as he was escorted to the cells by two security guards.
In another incident, a mum's ex-husband ranted "it's all lies" as he was kicked out of court after her XL bully mauled a maintenance man at a caravan park. Another defendant shouted "I'm coming for you lad to" to a police officer as he was found guilty of attempted murder.
Take a look below at the 14 cases where defendants and their family members ranted and raved in court. It is not an exhaustive list, however we have taken a look at recent and prominent cases.
'F***ing rat'
Rapist Steven Osbourne, who subjected a man to a harrowing assault hours after meeting him on Grindr, branded his victim a "f***ing rat" as he was kicked out of court. Osbourne attacked the complainant as soon as he had lured him back to his flat, subjecting him to a "prolonged and violent" ordeal.
The "manipulative and predatory" chef then left him covered in blood after headbutting him when he tried to escape, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday, March 27. He has now been brought to justice over his appalling crimes, but delivered a series of foul mouthed tirades from the dock before he was removed from the courtroom.
When the prosecution went on to outline how Osbourne's previous convictions include an offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2016, which involved him "detaining his partner against her will". At this, he shouted: "Any chance I'm going to get to f***ing defend myself? He's just talking s*** and telling lies constantly."
Judge Katherine Pierpoint responded by warning him that he would be removed from court if he "didn't stay quiet". While she noted that these earlier events had not resulted in a conviction for false imprisonment, she added: "It is right that there is a pattern here of offending behaviour towards those with whom you have been involved in a relationship with."
When Mr Gibson then stated that the sexually transmitted disease was an aggravating feature in the case, Osbourne again ranted: "I've never given no one a f***ing STD. Why's he allowed to say this?"
This outburst saw the judge order his removal from the dock, to which he replied "f***ing happily" and shouted "f***ing rat" towards the victim as he was escorted to the cells by two security guards. He was however allowed to return at the close of the prosecution's submissions, saying "I'm sorry" after receiving a further warning over his behaviour.
Osbourne, of Windsor Street in New Brighton, was found guilty of three counts of rape following a trial but admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey Nike tracksuit, he was jailed for 12 years and handed an additional five years on licence and again shouted "f***ing rat, f***ing sl*g" as he was led downstairs.
Osbourne will be required to serve at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars before becoming eligible for release. He was also handed a restraining order banning him from contacting the complainant for life and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, as well as being told to sign the sex offenders' register for life.
'It's all lies'
A mum's ex-husband ranted "it's all lies" as he was kicked out of court after her XL bully mauled a maintenance man at a caravan park. Vanessa Brennan's dog Stan latched on to the worker's leg and savaged him with as many as 20 vicious bites, leaving him fearing that the limb would have to be amputated.
In contrast to her former partner John Brennan's behaviour, she sat tearfully and apologetically in the dock after the incident landed her with a criminal record. The sorry episode unfolded as the couple battled hangovers following a drunken night out.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday, February 7 that Christopher Steele had previously worked at Edwards Leisure Park in Towyn, North Wales, for 33 years and was taking a reading from a gas meter beside Brennan's plot on the site at around 10am on June 22 last year.
As he did so, he became aware of the 41-year-old, of Snaefell Avenue in Old Swan, opening the door to her caravan, at which stage her dog made a beeline for him and "quickly took hold" of his left leg.
Zahra Baqri, prosecuting, described how he "genuinely felt scared for his life" as the XL bully "repeatedly bit into his flesh". At this stage, Brennan's former partner shouted "it's all lies" from the public gallery.
Judge David Swinnerton ordered him to leave the courtroom as a result of this outburst. The man obliged with this request but added "I can't listen to lies" as he departed.
Brennan meanwhile sat in tears in the dock and said "I'm sorry". When the judge told her it was "not her fault", the mother-of-three replied "it is" before being reassured: "It is not your fault that he behaved like that in my courtroom."
Vanessa Brennan, of Snaefell Avenue in Old Swan, admitted being the owner of a dangerous dog causing injury. She was handed a 20-month imprisonment suspended for two years on March 26.
Judge David Swinnerton also imposed a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days and disqualified her from owning dogs for 10 years. This means she will be required to surrender her two other XL bully mixed breeds.
'Woah, eight years?'
"Joyrider" Lee Groves left nine injured after crashing a stolen car into the back of a taxi. He brought "chaos and destruction to innocent people" when he flipped the vehicle he was driving and wrote off two others, then fled the scene "in a cowardly way".
Groves, who admitted aggravated vehicle taking, wept as a judge told him that it was "miraculous that no one was seriously injured or worse".
Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 16 months in February last year and banned from driving for eight years and eight months - at which he was heard to say: "Woah, eight years?"
'Fat nonce'
A teenager who was part of a two-man team who fired five bullets into a house as a mum and son slept inside called a judge a "fat nonce" as he was locked up. Reece Martin and Anthony Milton unleashed a volley of gunshots at the family home on Central Drive in West Derby as part of an ongoing "vendetta", which had been sparked by a vicious stabbing and also saw a pub gutted by fire.
They laughed and joked as they were told that it was "only by chance that no one was injured or killed" during the shooting. Martin and Milton admitted possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.
Both men received 12 years behind bars in February last year plus an additional five years on licence. Martin shouted "fat nonce" as he was being led down to the cells.
'I need help'
A homeless man was allowed to sleep in a woman's back garden but repaid her kindness by threatening to burn down her house and kill her pet dog. Dean Hearne also continued his campaign of abuse against another victim, whom he previously threatened to throw acid into the face of amid a dispute over a Cadbury's Creme Egg.
He told Liverpool Crown Court "I need help." Hearne admitted two counts of harassment, assault, threatening behaviour and two charges of criminal damage.
After being locked up for 16 months in January last year and handed a new seven-year restraining order, he replied: "Thank you, see you again."
'Ha ha ha, minor'
A drug dealer replied "ha ha ha, minor" after being told how long he would spend in prison. Kyle Ashton sold heroin and crack cocaine to users on the streets and orchestrated deliveries by others as part of a county lines operation, as well as arranging "throw overs" of cannabis into a prison.
One of his supporters left court asking "who grassed?" as he was locked up. Ashton admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, conspiracy to convey a prohibited article into a prison, possession of criminal property and breaching court bail and was jailed for three and a half years.
'I'm sitting in a courtroom full of lies'
A domestic abuser who sent an intimate video of his ex to her new partner on WhatsApp ranted "I'm sitting in a courtroom full of lies". Scott McGuffie subjecting his pregnant former girlfriend to a campaign of harassment following the breakdown of their relationship, including lurking outside her house in the dead of night and bombarding her with phone calls.
The 41-year-old admitted disclosing private sexual images with intent to cause distress and breaching a non-molestation order. He was heard to remark "I'm sitting in a courtroom full of lies" moments before Recorder Jeremy Lasker began his sentencing remarks.
The judge then said: "Save for a short honeymoon period, this relationship has been turbulent. On her account, she has been the recipient of both abuse and violent behaviour from you over an extended period of time."
McGuffie sat shaking his head in the dock at this stage. When Recorder Lasker began to address the intimate film, the defendant added: "I only sent the video because she told me to do it. " He was then warned to "be quiet". McGuffie was jailed for three years, to which he replied: "Thank you very much, your honour."
'K***head'
Showcase Cinema gunman Leslie Garrett shouted "k***head" as he was jailed. The 49-year-old, of Ternhall Road in Fazakerley, raided Sangha's newsagents in Norris Green in his flip flops and shot into a protective screen with an AK47 on the evening of January 3 this year.
He then went for a drink in the pub before continuing onwards to the Showcase Cinema in Croxteth, where he had worked as a security guard before losing his job three months earlier for "being under the influence of alcohol", and firing further shots outside.
Garrett pleaded guilty to eight offences including possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, attempted robbery and possession of ammunition without a certificate.
Appearing in the dock wearing a grey Nike jumper and with a cross on show around his neck, he was handed 14 years in prison plus an extended licence period of four years. He gave a thumbs up to his supporters in the public gallery as he was led down the the cells and said "see you later, it’ll be alright" before shouting "k***head" as he left the dock.
'Joke that you know'
An EncroChat drug trafficker known as "Piggy Wilson" kept tens of thousands pounds stashed inside a Valentino box. Anthony Wilson used the encrypted communications platform to trade in wholesale quantities of heroin and cocaine, including plotting deals with his cousin. He admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.
Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Under Armour zip-up top, Wilson was jailed for 14-and-a-half years. He responded by shaking his head and saying: "Joke that you know."
'I'm coming for you lad'
A pair of twins who formed a "pack" and "hunted" down and shot a rival gang member in the leg were jailed for life. Gunman James Byrne and his brother Curtis Byrne travelled in convoy on electric bikes before locating their target near to a social club and firing six bullets at him.
It came after a third defendant, Mason Smith, was hit by a car, as well as another incident which saw a volley of shots fired at a drug dealer in the street. One of the Byrnes later jumped out of a bedroom window when police visited his mum's house.
All three stood trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in July. The Byrnes were unanimously convicted of these charges, although Smith was cleared of both counts and the lesser offence of wounding with intent.
The brothers appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool, with James Byrne sporting a dark grey puffer coat and Curtis Byrne wearing a light grey Monterrain tracksuit. Both were handed life imprisonments with minimum terms of 18 years and eight months.
As James Byrne was led down to the cells following the guilty verdict, he turned to police officers who were sat within the courtroom and told told one: "You fat little b***end. Look up lad, you fat c***."
He then began ranting at another officer, shouting: "I don't know what you're looking at, you little nonce. I’m coming for you lad."
'You're a little paedophile'
A "pack of animals" called a judge a "nonce" and a "little paedophile" as they were locked up for more than 50 years. Boxer Anthony Dodson was left with life-threatening injuries when he was stabbed in the heart after fighting broke out in a Liverpool city centre nightclub and spilled out into the street.
Some of those who became embroiled within the vicious incident burned their designer clothing in a park and attempted to flee to France as illegal stowaways on a lorry in the aftermath of the near fatal assault. Milne Critchley was found guilty of wounding with intent in relation to the incident, having admitted violent disorder.
Groans were heard in the public gallery and one woman left the courtroom in tears as he was jailed for 10 years. He must serve two thirds of this term behind bars before becoming eligible for release.
Adam Draper was convicted of unlawful wounding by a jury. The 21-year-old was handed four years and will be subject to a two-year serious violence reduction order upon his release.
George Miller admitted violent disorder but was found guilty of wounding with intent. Further groans were heard in court as the 20-year-old was locked up for 10 years, of which he must serve at least two thirds in custody.
Cameron Quinn was convicted of two counts of wounding with intent, having pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He stood with his arms folded in the dock then shrugged as he was imprisoned for 12 years, of which he must serve two thirds, while a co-defendant patted him on the back.
Jordan Kinsella was found guilty of unlawful wounding, having admitted violent disorder. The 29-year-old nodded as he was jailed for four years.
Lee Duffy was convicted of unlawful wounding, attempted unlawful wounding and possession of a bladed article in a public place. He also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was given six years in a young offenders' institute. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of two counts of wounding with intent and admitted violent disorder. He was given five-and-a-half years in a young offenders' institute.
'I'm sorry about that'
A man came up with an "incredible" excuse after his DNA was found on a murder weapon. John Charlton was forensically linked to a Glock pistol which was used in a fatal shooting and was also fired at a house on another occasion.
But he then cooked up a bizarre story that he had handled the weapon believing it was merely a toy gun, having stumbled across it while delivering firewood to a house. He told a judge "I'm sorry about that" as he was locked up.
Charlton admitted possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition without a certificate. He was jailed for five years and seven months.
'Sound, nice one'
A thug stabbed a 15-year-old boy with a machete as he sought "revenge" for his stepdaughter. Shaun Wilkinson confronted the teenager at his own home and plunged the gruesome weapon into his side as he attempted to flee for safety.
It came after the victim had fended off a "mob" of bullies who earlier congregated outside the address as they seemingly sought to harass his sister. His assailant chillingly told the teenager's mum "just ask anyone about me" and threatened to burn down their house before launching his vicious attack.
Wilkinson admitted wounding with intent, possession of a bladed article in a public place and two counts of theft. After being jailed for eight years and handed an additional five years on licence, he replied: "Sound, nice one."