Connor Chapman's path from 'ASBO yob' to gangland killer of Elle Edwards
Connor Chapman's jailing for the murder of Elle Edwards was the last in a huge list of offences that first saw him hauled into court ten years ago with one judge ominously telling him he has "no regard at all for other people".
Growing up on the Woodchurch Estate, on Merseyside, and mostly living with his grandparents, Chapman attended Woodchurch High School but left before sitting his GCSEs. He was first in court as long ago as 2014, when he would have only been aged around 14, for shoplifting.
During his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, his own barrister, Mark Rhind KC, read out his criminal record in full which took several minutes.
He committed burglary, section 47 assault and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place in 2015. A year later he was before the criminal justice system for being found on an enclosed premises and being taken in a stolen car. This was followed up by breaching a conditional discharge, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
Then, in 2017, came theft of a vehicle, possession of cocaine and breaching a criminal behaviour order which banned him from parts of the Wirral.
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Chapman shown in a police custody photo in 2018 (Liverpool echo)In 2018, he was rapped for possession of cannabis and possession of a bladed article in a public place. A court also heard that year how aged 18 he drove a stolen Audi on New Hey Road in Woodchurch and when the police tried to stop him he reached speeds of 60mph in a 30mph zone in a bid to escape, reported the Liverpool Echo.
He went the wrong way around a roundabout and careered into oncoming traffic before smashing into a kerb, causing him to ditch the vehicle and run. When he was found hiding in nearby undergrowth by police, he simply replied: "I'm waiting for my mate."
The teen had already amassed 14 convictions for 30 offences by that time and Lionel Greig, defending, told the court on that occasion: "He is influenced by older peers and he has struggled with his own health problems, including ADHD and other medical prognoses."
Chapman photographed by police in 2021 (Liverpool echo)Chapman admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and breaching a criminal behaviour order. He was handed eight months in a young offenders' institute and banned from driving for two years and four months.
Sentencing, Recorder Mary Loram QC ominously told him: "You have a bad record despite your young age, and you have been given every possible chance. You have no regard at all for other people, it strikes me. Other people with such a diagnosis do not behave in the way that you do. They do not cause a nuisance to members of the public in the way you do."
Chapman would go on to add counts of failing to comply with a community order and failing to surrender custody to his rap sheet. He then received 10 months in January, 2020, for handling stolen goods, possession of a bladed article in a public place, driving while disqualified and breaching a CBO.
Chapman pictured after getting into trouble with police in 2019 (Liverpool echo)
Chapman's offending also saw him in police custody in 2020 (Liverpool echo)Records show that Merseyside Police issued public appeals for information on his whereabouts when he was a wanted man on no less than five occasions, and in his own words he was "in custody more than he was out".
In a court appearance in 2021, he was described as a "nuisance ASBO yob". By now aged 20 and with his record stretched further to 19 convictions for 43 offences, Chapman was found shacked up in a hotel with his girlfriend after going on the run from police and spending three months at large.
Released from the 2020 sentence in June that year on licence, by August he had "effectively dropped out of contact with his offender manager". A recall to custody was issued in September, the fugitive having failed to return to his hostel on Great Howard Street in Liverpool city centre and "dropped off the radar".
Elle Edwards was mistakenly gunned down by Chapman (PA)A letter would be sent to his nan's home on the Isle of Man, his last known address, demanding that he surrender within five days. But Chapman would belatedly be traced to a hotel on Holland Road in Wallasey, being arrested during a raid in the early hours of December 9 that year.
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Daniel Travers, appearing on his behalf during thiat appearance, stated that his client had not wanted to return to custody due to lockdown measures imposed amid the Covid pandemic, adding: "That played on his mind, knowing the regime that he would be returning to. He says he simply buried his head in the sand and couldn't come to terms with what would happen.
"I think, like all of us, he was hoping when he was back in custody he wouldn't be returning to this regime. But, unfortunately, he has."
Chapman pleaded guilty to remaining unlawfully at large following a recall to custody. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for four months.
Recorder Matthew Corbett-Jones told him: "The public need to have confidence in the system that operates so far as custodial sentences are concerned". The judge outlined his "12 previous offences of disobedience of his ASBO" and said: "Although this is a different offence, it shows your disregard for court orders."
Chapman was released from his most recent spell behind bars in summer last year. His first child had been born while he was inside, and - with a second daughter on the way - he would tell a jury that he felt the urge to turn over a new leaf and grow up.
He did so by turning away from the anti-social behaviour of his younger years and turning to dealing cocaine, as well as burgling a house in Noctorum and stealing two electric motorbikes in spite of being served with a gang injunction.
Elle Edwards family outside court (PA)Then on December 24, 2022, in the midst of a dispute between organised crime groups based on the Woodchurch and Beechwood estates, Chapman armed himself with a Skorpion submachine gun. He lay in wait for Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, members of the rival gang, outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey for three hours.
Shortly before midnight, an opportunity presented itself. Spotting the two men outside having a cigarette, Chapman opened fire 12 times. Both were seriously injured, but neither were killed.
But by chance Elle Edwards had been stood beside Salkeld at this exact moment and was struck in the head by two of the bullets. The popular beautician died aged only 26.
Detective Superintendent Paul Grounds, who led the investigation into her murder, said: "Connor Chapman is a ruthless and callous individual, and we've seen that by the sheer determination of what has occurred at the Lighthouse public house. He indiscriminately discharged that gun with no thought or care for anybody.
"Throughout his custody period and during the court trial, he's shown absolutely no remorse for his actions. In the words of Elle's father Tim, they have been given a life sentence. Elle was a young, 26-year-old woman with a full life ahead of her. She was the person who would light up the room.
"She was caring and compassionate for a family who loved her dearly and no Christmas, birthday, Mother's Day or Father's Day or any other family celebration will be the same for the Edwards family. I sincerely hope that, during his lengthy custodial period, the enormity of what Connor Chapman has done will stay with him for the rest of his life."
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