Man who ‘protected’ Gerrard tricked into theft, court told

AN UNDERWORLD “enforcer” who stopped a gangster from terrorising soccer star Steven Gerrard was “hoodwinked” into robbing Easter eggs from a haulage depot, a court heard today.

Lincoln Crown Court had heard how John Kinsella, 43, was asked by Paul Gerrard — Steven’s father — to intervene after a gangster threatened to shoot Steven in the legs.

In a letter that was read to the jury, Paul Gerrard said his 25-year-old son’s car had been smashed up and that he was chased home after training.

Paul Gerrard had said that he contacted police while Liverpool football club had provided extra security, but it was only after he contacted Kinsella through a friend that the threats and intimidation stopped.

Paul Gerrard’s letter read: “I would like to say that in 2001 my son Steven was being terrorised by a notorious Liverpool gangster known as ‘The Psycho’, who was threatening to maim my son by shooting him in the legs.

“Also, he was trying to extort a large amount of money from Steven. We immediately contacted the police and asked for protection. This went on for a long time, during which Steven’s car was smashed up and the gangster chased him while he was driving home from training.

“We were introduced by a friend to John Kinsella. John then reassured me and my family he would resolve our nightmare. We have never had any more problems from the Liverpool underworld. Steven and I have total respect for John.”

Kinsella is on trial with two other men accused of stealing £41,000 (€51,400) of goods from a lorry depot in Grantham, Linconshire, on March 19, 2006.

Their alleged haul included £8,000 of Easter eggs and another £33,000 of crisps and detergents.

The court heard that officers had seen Kinsella’s Vauxhall Vectra being driven suspiciously.

They stopped his car but before they could arrest Kinsella, he drove off up the A1, reaching speeds of up to 210km/h, the jury was told.

Officers gave chase and he was finally stopped by road spikes deployed by police on the M62, the court heard.

But the jury was told yesterday Kinsella had been “hoodwinked” into taking part in the robbery.

Gordon Aspden, representing Kinsella, told the jury: “He [Kinsella] said he was hoodwinked and there’s a lot of evidence to back up his case that in advance of this robbery he did not know what was going to go off.”

The trial was adjourned to today.