Thomas Cashman’s first attempt to kill his intended target was foiled after by the man’s visit to a Screwfix shop. Cashman, 34, was sentenced to life by a judge at Manchester Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of murdering schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22 last year.

Cashman had attempted to kill Joseph Nee when he instead struck nine-year-old Olivia in her home in Kingsheath Avenue.

But an earlier bid to take Nee out ended in failure.

Jurors heard how Cashman, of Grenadier Drive, Derby, spent much of that day patrolling an area around Finch Lane.

He spotted convicted drug dealer Nee’s Volkswagen Transporter van parked in the street.

The vehicle was outside the home of Timothy Naylor.

Nee and Mr Naylor visited Aintree Retail Park, shopping in Currys and American Golf before getting food from Subway.

The pair returned to Finch Lane where Nee helped Mr Naylor to set up a TV he had bought.

At this point Cashman passed by the property in his Citroen Berlingo.

He later appeared on CCTV footage at the junction of Berryford Road and Finch Lane just before 4pm.

Cameras captured him standing on the street corner with his face covered, peering in the direction of Mr Naylor’s home.

He then did an “about turn” with Nee’s van no longer there. Nee had left the area around half an hour earlier and travelled back to Aintree Retail Park in order to visit Screwfix.

It was a trip which may have saved his life. The prosecution alleged in court that Cashman had been waiting to shoot Nee dead at that point. But Cashman kept an eye out for his target in Finch Lane throughout the day.

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In total, he made 12 trips past Mr Naylor’s home during the afternoon and evening of August 22. One such visit came minutes after a Liverpool vs Manchester United match kicked off.

Nee’s van was back in Finch Lane by this time, meaning he was where Cashman wanted him. The killer returned to his home for eight minutes before heading out again, parking his van in Aspes Road.

Dressed in black with his face covered, Cashman continued on foot. For over half an hour, Cashman lay in wait for Nee, holding two loaded guns.

At 9.52pm, the game finished. When Nee left the address with another man, Paul Abraham, Cashman approached them from behind. He opened fire with a self-loading, Glock-style pistol.

CCTV footage showed Mr Abraham running for his life as two loud bangs could be heard. Nee was shot in the midriff at this point. He stumbled to the floor because of his injuries.

David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, described how Cashman had “murder on his mind”, standing over Nee. He was preparing to shoot again as Nee begged: “Please don’t, don’t lad.”

The gun malfunctioned and Nee made his escape. Cashman continued his “ruthless pursuit” as Nee fled toward the Korbel family home.

Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, had stepped out of her house to investigate, but rushed back inside when she saw Nee running towards her. But Cashman fired another shot before Ms Korbel could get the door shut.

With a 0.3 caliber revolver, Cashman took Olivia’s life as the bullet passed through the door, went through Ms Korbel’s hand before striking Olivia in the chest.

Cashman was found guilty of Olivia’s murder; attempting to murder Joseph Nee; wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Cheryl Korbel and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 42 years on Monday.

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