Olivia's killer 'to die behind bars'

THE KILLER of nine-year-old Olivia PrattKorbel may never be released because the underworld's disgust at his crime will encourage gangsters to inform against him, sources insist.

- Jon Austin

Thomas Cashman, who will receive a life sentence tomorrow, has little information to trade with police because most of the crime syndicate he was involved with are already behind bars.

A more likely outcome is that gangland members will turn on him - handing police information that could see him investigated for more offences, one source said.

Cashman could have been involved in at least three unsolved gangland murders in the Liverpool area from 2010 to 2016, according to several sources.

In 2013 he was arrested as a suspect during the investigation of one of the unsolved cases, the execution of Karl Bradley. He was never charged but his name was also "in the mix" for two other killings.

All three victims were shot at close range near to their homes. Cashman, 34, was not charged with any of the murders.

He was so notorious in the area as a suspected hitman that within days of Olivia's murder he was named in a YouTube podcast as chief suspect, leading to Merseyside Police writing a cease and desist letter to the YouTuber, who then removed the video.

Cashman was found guilty of Olivia's murder, the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, 35, of wounding Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel and of possessing firearms with intent to endanger life. He will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court tomorrow.