Four men have been handed prison sentences totalling 124 years for their roles in the brutal doorstep murder of a beloved grandmother in Merseyside. Jacqueline Rutter, aged 53, was fatally shot in the chest at her home in Moreton, Wirral, in October 2022, in what a judge described as a thought-out act of extreme violence.
A Calculated and Tragic Attack
In the early hours of Sunday, 30 October 2022, Merseyside Police were called to an address in Moreton following reports that a woman had been found inside with gunshot wounds. Tragically, Jacqueline Rutter was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation revealed that three men had arrived at the property in a black Vauxhall Insignia around 1am. Two passengers, including James Byrne, exited the vehicle and approached Mrs Rutter's front door.
When the unsuspecting grandmother answered, she was shot twice at close range. The assailants then returned to the car, which was driven by Barrie Glynn. The vehicle was later set alight in the Moreton area by a fourth man, Simon Allen, who had been waiting nearby with two other vehicles—a silver Ford and a Yamaha motorbike. The four men subsequently fled the scene, with three escaping in the silver car and one on the motorbike. David Harrison was later implicated in transporting the other men before and after the murder and assisting in the clean-up operation.
Lengthy Trial and Substantial Sentences
Following a trial lasting more than three months at the High Court, three of the men were convicted of murder, arson, and possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Simon Allen, 55, of no fixed abode; James Byrne, 24, also of no fixed abode; and David Harrison, 59, of Old Meadow Road in Pensby, were all found guilty on these charges. Barrie Glynn, 47, of Westway in Heswall, was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter, alongside possession of firearms and ammunition and arson with intent to endanger life.
Detailed Breakdown of the Sentences
The sentences handed down by High Court Judge Justice Goose on Thursday, 29 January, reflect the severity of the crimes:
- James Byrne received a 40-year sentence for murder, with an additional eight years for firearms offences and two years for arson to run concurrently.
- Simon Allen was jailed for 28 years for murder, plus 14 years for firearms offences and three years for arson, also to run concurrently.
- David Harrison was sentenced to 26 years for murder, with 10 years for firearms offences and two years for arson to run concurrently.
- Barrie Glynn was given a 30-year sentence for manslaughter, of which he must serve at least two-thirds before being eligible for release.
In his sentencing remarks, Justice Goose stated, "This murder was thought out and carried out by you, James Byrne, Simon Allen and David Harrison. She (Jacqueline Rutter) was an innocent victim of the extreme violence which is common currency among drug dealers. Her death has caused profound grief for the family, with which she must live forever."
A Family's Heartbreaking Loss
A victim impact statement from Jacqueline Rutter's daughter-in-law, Jemma Rixon, was read aloud in court, painting a poignant picture of the loss. "To us she had a heart of gold and loved everybody, Jackie didn't have a bad bone in her body," Ms Rixon said. "She will not be defined by what's happened to her. Instead, she will be remembered as the beautiful mother and grandmother she was. Because of you all, Jackie's life was so cruelly cut short. She has been robbed of her future and will miss important milestones. You had no right to take her from us."
Jacqueline, affectionately known as Jackie to her family and friends, was a mother of six and a grandmother of five. Her family emphasised that she was in her own home, where she had every right to feel safe, when her life was tragically ended.
Police Response and Community Impact
Following the sentencing, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Stephen McGrath of Merseyside Police commented on the case. "Four men have today been jailed for the murder of Jacqueline Rutter in Moreton over three years ago. The callous actions of Byrne, Allen, Harrison and Glynn on that night, firing at their victim at close range as she opened her front door, shows how violent and calculated this murder was," he said.
DCI McGrath added, "As a result of their reckless actions, Jackie's family and friends were left devastated by their loss. Today all four convicted men are behind bars where they rightly belong. I hope that this result brings Jackie's family some small amount of comfort and that it serves as a deterrent to anyone carrying a gun in Merseyside. Our officers remain committed to removing guns and those who choose to store, carry and use them from our streets."
The detective also extended thanks to the Crown Prosecution Service and the officers and staff from Merseyside Police whose dedication over the past three years was instrumental in securing the convictions and achieving justice for Jacqueline Rutter and her grieving family.
