Sean Mercer now: What happened to Rhys Jones’ killer and associate James Yates?

Everton fan Rhys, 11, had been on his way home from football practice when he was caught in the deadly gangland crossfire in the Liverpool suburb of Croxteth in August 2007.

Mercer was a gun-obsessed 16-year-old and a leading member of the Croxteth Young Guns gang when he fatally shot Rhys with a stray bullet from a battered World War One revolver.

None of his intended targets was hit.

During his trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mercer’s ‘Crocky Crew’ were involved in a turf war with the Strand Gang, aka the ‘Nogga Dogz’, from the neighbouring Norris Green estate.

There had been more than 20 reports of shots from cars or bikes between 2004 and 2007.

When told that three Strand Gang members had been seen on Crocky Crew territory, Mercer raced there on a BMX, armed with the Smith & Wesson .455 revolver.

He fired three shots – the second of which hit Rhys in the back.

The youngster died at the scene, in the arms of his mother Melanie who rushed to the scene when she heard the news.

Mercer was arrested within days but denied murder, claiming he had been at a friend’s watching a DVD when Rhys was killed.

It took eight months for Mercer to be charged. When his case came to court, in December 2008, the jury convicted him unanimously.

A string of his fellow gang members were also jailed for trying to protect Mercer.

PA:Press Association

Where is Sean Mercer now?

Sean Mercer has served 11 and a half years in jail, as part of a minimum 22 year sentence.

He has been serving his sentence in Frankland Prison, Durham, and the earliest he will be let out is 2030 – when he will be 40 years old.

The infamous prison is nicknamed “Monster Mansion” – and is home to serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, aka the Yorkshire Ripper, and child murderer Ian Huntley.

He was first held in HMP Manchester and later spent time at Doncaster’s Moorland jail and HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes.

After the past four years at HM Prison Wakefield, West Yorks, he was moved 92 miles north to Frankland in County Durham.

What happened to James Yates?

Known to his friends as “Yatesy”, James Yates, now 30, was a member of the Croxeth Crew gang.

Yates gave killer Sean Mercer the Smith and Wesson gun with which he shot Rhys.

And as Rhys lay dying, Yates helped Mercer dispose of his bike, clothes and the gun he had provided him with mere minutes before the shooting.

He was sent down for a maximum of twelve years for his crime in 2009.

After being sent down, Yates requested “vulnerable prison” status and was taunted with the nickname “Baby Killer” by fellow inmates.

He won parole after convincing officials that he is no longer a threat to society, and was released in 2014.

In March, 2017, Yates and fellow gang member Dean Kelly were cleared of running a drug ring after witnesses refused to point the finger at them.

But Yates is now back in prison for breaching the terms of his licence.