A child-killer, a Strangeways protester and an armed robbery gang… these are the criminals locked up in Greater Manchester in April

The killer of an eight-year-old girl, a Strangeways protester and an armed robbery gang are among the serious criminals who were locked up in Greater Manchester in April.

Also jailed was a seasoned cocaine dealer whose criminal world was rumbled, as well as a drunk thug who killed a man with one punch after seeing him talking to his girlfriend.

The Manchester Evening News has dedicated court reporters on the press benches of the most notable cases.

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Below is a selection of the most serious:

Thomas Cashman will spend decades behind bars for the murder of Liverpool schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel after he was handed a life sentence at Manchester Crown Court.

The 34-year-old shot nine-year-old Olivia dead as he chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into her home on August 22 last year. Olivia's mother, 46-year-old Cheryl Korbel, was also injured in the incident, which took place in the Dovecot area of Liverpool.

After a 19-day trial, Cashman was found guilty of murder and wounding with intent. The jury also found him guilty of the attempted murder of Nee and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Mrs Justice Yip said Cashman's attack of Nee was an 'attempted, planned execution attempt'. She sentenced Cashman to a life sentence with a minimum of 42 years.

The judge said: "For the murder of Olivia there is only one sentence that can be passed. That is of mandatory life imprisonment." She said a life order is not merited because the planning and premeditation was not directed at the child but Joseph Nee.

However, she warned Cashman that he may "spend the rest of his days in prison", telling the court that his release would be