Criminal cases that the Crown Prosecution Service take to court are in the news every day. This section also covers many issues related to our work, including violence against women and girls, hate crime, support for victims and witnesses, statistics, and speeches by the Director of Public Prosecutions and other senior staff.
Latest news
You can find our latest news stories here and search for older stories. You can also find more information about high-profile cases and the work of the CPS.
Five people have been sentenced for a far-reaching fraud involving tickets for Liverpool Football Club matches.Louis James, 37, of Lapford Crescent, Kirkby, Joseph Johnson, 42, of Chelford Road, Eccleston, Liam Rice, 36, of Roughwood Drive, Kirkby, Lee Smith, 38, of Winmoss Drive, Kirkby, and James…
Press ReleaseFraud and economic crimeMersey-Cheshire
A jobless fraudster who claimed to be the “British Kardashian” has been jailed for swindling people out of thousands of pounds in a handbag sales hoax.At Chester Crown Court on 6 October 2025, Jack Watkin, 26, of Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge in Cheshire, was sentenced to four years and six months…
Press ReleaseFraud and economic crimeMersey-Cheshire
A jobless fraudster who claimed to be the “British Kardashian” has pleaded guilty to swindling people out of thousands of pounds in a handbag sales hoax.At Chester Crown Court today, Jack Watkin, 26, of Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge in Cheshire, pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud by false…
Press ReleaseFraud and economic crimeMersey-Cheshire
A woman who worked for the Department of Work and Pensions has been sentenced for stealing from the agency’s sports and social club.Emily Spencer, 28, of Devizes Drive in Irby, Merseyside, was appointed co-treasurer of the club in October 2023 and stole £2,328 by paying the club’s money into her…
Press ReleaseFraud and economic crimeMersey-Cheshire
Two Merseyside men involved in a Liverpool FC ticket scam have been sentenced.John Stuart, 42, of Jarrett Road in Kirkby was jailed for 8 months and Greg O’Neill, 41, of Beaconsfield, in Prescot, was given a two-year community order at Liverpool Crown Court today (27 August 2024).Mr Stuart was the…
Press ReleaseFraud and economic crimeMersey-Cheshire
A farmer has been sentenced for organising the illegal felling of trees shortly before he was imprisoned for another environmental offence.John Pudge Price, 69 of Day House Farm in Leominster, pleaded guilty today (31 January 2024) to illegally felling a large area of alder, willow, hazel and thorn…
Press ReleaseFraud and economic crimeMersey-Cheshire
A care home worker who stole a wedding ring and signet ring from an elderly resident whose wife had died just days before has been jailed.Emma Skinner, 42, of Thackray Road, Thatto Heath on Merseyside, was working at a care home in Maghull when she stole the rings.The victim had been married to his…
Press ReleaseFraud and economic crimeMersey-Cheshire
A former councillor in Cheshire has been sentenced for fraudulently claiming around £5,000 in expenses over five years.
Between 2009 and 2015 William Livesley, 66, was an elected councillor on Cheshire East Council, firstly representing the Prestbury and Titherington area and later representing…
Press ReleaseFraud and economic crimeMersey-Cheshire
Press Office contact details
Please note that our Press Office is NOT able to deal with issues or queries from members of the public - these contact details are for accredited journalists ONLY. Do not call this number unless you a member of the press. For all general enquiries, please visit contact.cps.gov.uk.
If you are a national or international journalist with a media enquiry, you can contact the CPS Press Office on 020 3357 0906 or email [email protected] (9am-5pm weekdays only).
For out-of-hours media enquiries please call 020 3357 0906 to reach the duty press officer.
If you follow us on social media, you can expect posts covering some or all of the following:
Operational updates on decisions to prosecute or take no further action;
Reactions and statements on trial outcomes;
Policy updates from the Director of Public Prosecutions and other prosecutors;
Updates on media appearances by CPS staff
Content that explains the role of the CPS and how we work
Highlighting of relevant work by our criminal justice partners and other stakeholders
We will aim to be fair and accurate in all the information we publish. We will aim to correct any inaccuracies as soon as possible.
We are unable to monitor social media round the clock. We are not able to engage with all those who seek a response from us due to resources but also due to privacy and the sensitive nature of some of our work. The best way to contact the CPS is through our website.
Please do not try to report crime using social media. To report crime, please call 101 or visit your local police station. In an emergency, always call 999.
If you follow us on social media we will not automatically follow you back. Being followed by us does not imply endorsement of any kind.
Media protocol
To ensure greater openness in the reporting of criminal proceedings, the CPS, the police and media representatives developed a joint protocol for working together. We are currently in the process of updating the protocol.
