EXCLUSIVEOlivia Pratt-Korbel's killer Thomas Cashman has FINAL option left to escape dying in jail after he loses court bid - but it will put a target on his back
Murderer Thomas Cashman who shot dead nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel may now consider the 'unthinkable' after he losing his bid to challenge his conviction.
Little Olivia died as Cashman tried to shoot dead drug dealer Joseph Nee as he tried to burst into the school girl's home in Dovecot, Liverpool.
Police bodycam footage showed horrific scenes as officers arrived at the family's home on Kingsheath Avenue and tried to save the schoolgirl's life.
Cashman was jailed for 42 years after being found guilty of murder following a trial last year at Manchester Crown Court.
On Wednesday the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against his conviction, months after they threw out an appeal against the sentence handed down to him.
The court's decision has led to increased speculation in the underworld about what Cashman's next move might be.
Earlier this week's barristers acting for the Liverpool man claimed jurors were issued with panic alarms during the high security murder trial. However the Crown Prosecution Service said there was no evidence to support this claim.
Cashman, a notorious figure on Merseyside, was linked to one of the UK's leading drug gangs responsible for shootings and contract violence across Europe.
Schoolgirl Olivia died after Cashman (pictured) tried to murder underworld rival Joseph Nee in the doorway of her Liverpool home - his appeal against his conviction has since been denied
Britain was horrified by the senseless murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel (pictured)
A bullet from Cashman's gun passed through the hand of Olivia's mum and into the youngster
Some observers believe Cashman might now consider the 'unthinkable' and disclose information to police about the so called kingpins who control crime on Merseyside and beyond.
Earlier this year the trial of crime boss Edward Jarvis heard how Cashman was a low level associate of the Huyton firm gang which was controlled by brothers Vincent and Francis Coggins.
The Coggins, who communicated on the Encrochat phone network, revealed how they used Cashman to knock on doors after £1million of cocaine was stolen from a stash house in the Huyton area of the city.
Vincent Coggins told his underlings how he wanted grenades thrown at the homes of the men he suspected of carrying out the drug raid, which challenged his authority on Merseyside.
But now the feared crime gang is in a state of flux after a police hack managed to penetrate the Encro network in the spring of 2020.
The individuals who controlled the gang such as Vincent Coggins, Paul Woodford and Edward Jarvis are now serving out massive prison sentences, along with the layer of middle managers who oversaw the gang's day to day operations on Merseyside.
Cashman, who was brought down through the bravery of a Liverpool woman who chose to give evidence against him, might now consider following in her footsetps and provide information to police.
A Liverpool man who has met Cashman in the past said to the Mail: 'Thomas now has some thinking to do. He can either be a soldier and look forward to growing old in prison, who start talking.'
The Liverpool man suggested Cashman might fold over time. He said: ' I have done a bit of a jail and it gets you down after a few years.
'You go in strong but after a few years on a wing you just want out. He will start to crack up in a few years and then the "unthinkable" might become an option.'
A graphic map showing the areas of Merseyside where the Huyton gang operate
Flowers left near the scene of the fatal shooting of little Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Investigators identified two guns used in the shooting - a .38 revolver that killed Olivia, and a Glock 9mm pistol (Pictured) that has been used in three attacks in Merseyside
Earlier this year the trial of crime boss Edward Jarvis (Pictured) heard how Cashman was a low level associate of the Huyton firm gang
The man suggested that although Cashman had been found guilty of a terrible crime in the big picture the gunman was 'small potatoes.'
He said: 'Look this is all about drugs and dirty money. Thomas shot Olivia by accident and we think he is linked to a couple of hits in Liverpool.
'But he is nothing to compared to the higher ups who ran crime in Liverpool for decades. I think a key question is how much does Thomas actually know about the business.'
A former prison officer who spent ten years at HMP Manchester poured cold water on the suggestion that Cashman could offer information in return for a reduced sentence.
He said: 'The last I heard Cashman was keeping his head down and getting on with his jail at HMP Long Lartin.
'In my experience people like Cashman know what is ahead of them and just want to get on with their jail.
'He will have a few mates around him and to him this is normal life now. In terms of providing information about crime bosses to the police, that would have consequences.
'His life would be in danger, and the lives of his family on Merseyside. If they can't get to him they will get to his family. That is a fact.'
The notorious Merseyside gang was ran by brothers Vincent (Pictured left) and Francis Coggins
Vincent Coggins' close friend Paul Woodford (pictured) who was also a member of the infamous Merseyside gang
The court's decision has led to increased speculation in the underworld about what Cashman's next move might be, including sharing information with police (Pictured: GV of HMP Long Lartin)
The trial of Edward Jarvis, a former associate of drug lord Curtis Warren, heard how the Coggins brothers imported drugs into the UK though a network of corrupt workers at the Port of Liverpool.
The brothers also spoke about paying money to a 'corrupt individual' who claimed to have access to police intelligence reports.
Merseyside Police later said that they found no evidence of corruption but the claims caused concern on Merseyside where the Coggins gangs ruled the estates of Huyton with fear.
Cashman has been linked to a number of other serious crimes on Merseyside in the past, including the murder of Liverpool man Karl Bradley.
Mr Bradley's body was found riddled with bullets in a snow covered garden in 2013. Cashman was linked to the crime by locals and last year detectives confirmed they arrested him in relation to the shooting but were unable to bring charges.
The murder remains unsolved.
The Court of Appeal is set to reveal the reasons for refusing Cashman's appeal later this year.
Lord Justice Holdroyde added: 'The effect, of course, is that Mr Cashman remains convicted as before.'
