The criminal past of dad Keano Byrne can now be revealed by the Manchester Evening News as police continue to investigate his death last month.
The 26-year-old from Gorton had been reported missing almost two weeks before his body was found in the water at Reddish Vale Country Park on April 7.
Greater Manchester Police initially launched a murder investigation. One suspect, aged 30, has been bailed pending further enquiries to establish his cause of death, which remains unclear.
It can now be revealed that the 26-year-old had a string of previous convictions, including robbery, assault, dangerous driving, possession of drugs and criminal damage. The Manchester Evening News reported how he was jailed by a judge for his crimes in 2019.
One of his victims, a 20-year-old woman, had parked close to Stockport town centre at around 9am on April 29 2019, before walking to the shop where she worked.
It was then that Keano demanded the keys to her Vauxhall Viva, threatening to 'batter' her if she didn't comply. A court was told he had 'targeted' her and that she was left 'petrified' by the ordeal.
He sped off in the car before approaching another member of the public and asking her to 'hide' him in her house.
Byrne was later seen in another area of Stockport and was followed by a police officer. However, during the pursuit, he reversed the car to 'deliberately cause damage' to the vehicle and then broke sharply, causing the police car to go into the back of the stolen Viva.
During the collision, the police officer sustained injuries to his arm, knee and back, and £15,000 worth of damage was caused to his car. As the chase progressed, Byrne threw out quantities of heroin, cocaine and cannabis, which were later recovered by police.
At court, Byrne pleaded guilty to robbery; dangerous driving; assault by beating; driving while disqualified; criminal damage; and possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis.
In another incident, in July of 2018, Byrne was driving a stolen VW Golf, which contained another man, 21-year-old Kyle Warburton. The keys to the car had been stolen from the bag of its owner in Ancoats.
Police spotted the car after they believed it was driving at excessive speed. The Golf was then crashed into another vehicle and flipped onto its roof and slid for 50 yards. Byrne was caught at the scene.
It was later discovered the car contained drugs with a street value of £3,430, including more than 200 wraps of heroin, and more than 100 wraps of cocaine, with Byrne pleading guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
Keano, who had been released from prison, was reported missing on March 27 of this year. Numerous police appeals and CCTV images were issued following his disappearance before he was found dead in the water almost two weeks later.
Keano's body was discovered at 12.10pm on April 7 with a section of woodland at the bottom of Reddish Vale Country Park near the River Tame was taped off throughout the day. Specialist search teams, divers and Tactical Aid Unit officers attended the scene.
The Manchester Evening News understands that Keano's cause of death still remains unclear and that police are awaiting further results from the post mortem. It is not clear whether it is a formal murder investigation at this time and no new arrests have been made.
