A Liverpool man who executed contract violence on behalf of a crime boss was once subject to an anti-social behaviour order.
Jonathan Gordon carried out acid attacks on behalf of an underworld criminal who has not yet been named. Gordon was also linked to a spate of shootings in north Liverpool which resulted in a major police incidents.
Last week police praised one of Gordon's victims who bravely provided evidence against the man who threw acid in his face. Last week senior officers described Gordon as "a really dangerous offender."
READ MORE: 'Deli mob' enforcer charged £10,000 to blind people
In 2011 Gordon was one of six members of the so called 'Deli Mob' street gang hit with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO). North Liverpool Community Justice Centre heard that police were unable to charge the gang members with criminal offences due to the reluctance of witnesses to cooperate.
According to papers put before the court at the time the six individuals would: “Break into premises used for cannabis factories, steal the goods and anything else, sell the drugs and/or consume it themselves, use the money to purchase vehicles which they used to launder the money and supply the drugs and use their presence and violence to keep a hold on their territory around County Road.
“They started by opportunistic thefts from premises but this has developed over the past two years and they admit to targeting premises which are being used by other criminals for cannabis farms.
“On quite a few occasions they have actually been arrested for burglary at a premises used for a cannabis farm but they readily admit they are not scared as there will be no complaint as the owner will not come forward”.
Brothers Jake and Jamie Glenholmes were both subject to the same order. Paul Dwyer was also named as a gang member and made subject to the order.
The court heard that the Deli Mob ruled the Kirkdale area through fear. One resident, named only as Witness A, said that children were afraid of going to the shops for sweets when the 20 strong collection of thugs were on the street.
Police told the court that the gang would cruise around the area in uninsured cars, often five to a vehicle for protection, selling drugs. The witness said that police would stop the cars and discover large amounts of cash and mobile phones.
Gordon and his associates were made subject to a two year order which banned them from associating with each other. They were also banned from associating with a list of 14 individuals and prevented from entering a designated section of Kirkdale and Walton.
Speaking after the hearing Sgt Dave Bethom, from the Liverpool Anti-Social Behaviour Unit who brought the action, said: “Merseyside Police will not allow groups of people like the Deli Mob to exert influence over areas whereby it affects other people’s daily lives.
"We will use all legitimate means possible to disrupt their criminal and anti-social activities including applying for Asbos in order to break these personal loyalties and basically kick them out of the area.”
Jake Glenholmes was jailed for over four years in 2016 for drug offences. In 2018 Jamie Glenholmes and Dwyer were jailed for 15 years and 14 years respectively. Both men had been involved in gangland violence.
In 2013 Gordon was back before the courts after he was involved in a gang fight in the Hawthorne Road area of Bootle. Gordon suffered appalling injuries to his arm after he was slashed several times with a meat cleaver.
Andrew Redmond, who carried out the attack, was later jailed for over 12 years. Gordon admitted affray and was jailed for eight months.
Last week Gordon was found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm; two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, and one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life. The north Liverpool man was found guilty of the charges following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
The court heard how Gordon was responsible for a wave of gangland violence over 2019 and 2020. The Kirkdale man carried out acid attacks for an underworld boss, and was involved in a spate of shootings across north Liverpool.
The NCA linked to Gordon to two gunfights in north Liverpool. On the night of January 24 2020 Gordon sent an EncroChat message to his boss telling him he had “let off a clip in the street”.
The incident happened in the Wilburn Street area. Local sources have told the ECHO that the shooting was linked to a conflict between the Deli Mob and a rival gang from the Rice Lane area.
Police said Gordon was involved in a second gunfight on the night of May 25 2020 in the Carisbrooke Road area.
An enemy of Gordon's approached him and opened fire. Gordon, who was on an e-bike at the time, returned fire. One of Gordon's shots went through the bedroom window of an elderly couple who lived on Carisbrooke Road.
In the aftermath Gordon told his boss on EncroChat that he had lost his Grand Power handgun– and sent him an image of a newspaper story about the shooting.
His hand was visible in the picture and a finger print expert compared his palm with the palm in the photo and said both were Gordon’s.
Gordon's associate Dylan Johnston, 27, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life, and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. Stephen Anthony Wissett , 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.
The men were prosecuted as a result of the police penetration of the EncroChat phone network.
Speaking at the conclusion of the trial Ben Rutter, NCA Operations Manager, said: “I pay testimony to the victim in this case and thank him for his bravery and support in helping us bring Jonathan Gordon to justice.
“The victim suffered life changing injuries and the physical and mental toll of his attack cannot be overstated.
“Jonathan Gordon is an extremely dangerous offender. His actions were exceptionally wicked, he thought nothing of blinding victims for money.
“He brought a really high level of harm to the streets as an enforcer for his OCG (organised crime group) and it is lucky no one was killed in his chaotic and reckless use of firearms.
“I commend investigating officers from the National Crime Agency, Merseyside Police and Cheshire Police. This was a long, complex investigation spanning a number of years and the officers worked tirelessly to ensure the evidence gathered left the jury in no doubt about Gordon’s guilt.”
The three men will be sentenced later this month.
