Thomas Cashman, who was chasing a convicted drug dealer in Liverpool, fatally killed Olivia Pratt-Korbel, 9, and received a hefty sentence for her death. Where is he now? His life and crime explored.
On 22 August 2022, a masked gunman fatally shot Olivia Pratt-Korbel in her home in Liverpool, England, and was pronounced dead the same day at the city’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Later, authorities revealed the identity of the man as Thomas Cashman, 35.
Olivia was not the intended target of the shooting, but an innocent victim of gun crime. The suspect was rather chasing a drug dealer.
He was handed a mandatory life sentence with a minimum term of 42 years.
Here we look at the life and crimes of Thomas Cashman.
Who is Thomas Cashman?
Thomas Edward Cashman (born on 4 September 1988) is a 35-year-old man from West Derby, Liverpool.
He reportedly lived with his parents just a 15-minute walk from his victim’s house on a terrace of council housing when he was growing up.
His parents are Stephen – a meat porter – and Angela.
He grew up in Liverpool with four siblings.
At the age of 13, he dropped out of school and started working in Wales at a fairground. He then joined a gang and became a drug dealer who sold cannabis on a small scale upon his return to Liverpool.
His cannabis dealing scale increased as time went on and even earned between £3,000 and £5,000 a week by selling large quantities.
Cashman’s marital status remains unclear but he has been in a relationship with his girlfriend Kayleeanne Sweeney who attended every day of his trial at Manchester Crown Court.
He is also believed to be a father of two.
He gained worldwide attention after he was convicted of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel at her home in Dovecot on August 22, 2022.
Cashman was part of a failed gangland hit when he fatally wounded Olivia as she was seeking protection behind her mum.
What did Thomas Cashman do to Olivia Pratt-Korbel?
A young innocent girl, Olivia Pratt Korbel‘s life was cut short after she was brutally killed at age 9.
On August 22, 2022, Olivia was shot and killed when a gunman forced his way into her home in Dovecot, Liverpool.
In a tragic turn of events, Olivia was not the intended target of the shooting, but a harmless victim of gun crime.
At around 10pm on Monday, August 22, 2022, two men were walking along Kingsheath Avenue from the direction of Finch Lane — close to Olivia’s family home.
The men were approached by a man wearing a black padded jacket, black balaclava with a peak, dark pants, and black gloves.
Responding to the sound of gunfire, Olivia’s mum Cheryl opened the door to her property to see what was going on outside.
As she did, one of the men — Joseph Nee, who was fleeing the gunfire — noticed the front door open and made his way towards it.
Despite her best efforts to try and close the door, Nee forced his way inside the home, followed by the gunman.
Nine-year-old Olivia was believed to have been standing behind her mother when the gunman opened fire once more, hitting Cheryl in the wrist and Olivia in the chest.
A further two bullets were fired at the man who forced his way into the home as the gunman continued to try to gain entry.
Just moments after the gunman fled the scene, a black Audi arrived outside to take the injured man to hospital.
Both Olivia and Cheryl were left in the doorway bleeding from their injuries.
The mother and daughter were taken to two separate hospitals.
However, the injuries Olivia suffered were fatal, tragically resulting in her death.
Where is Thomas Cashman now?
On September 29, 2022, a month after the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, the gangster was arrested.
Cashman is currently in prison after receiving a hefty sentence by Judge Mrs Justice Yip.
He was charged with murder, Possession of an illegal firearm, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, and assisting an offender (Paul Russell).
He had 18 previous convictions for 33 offences.
How long has Thomas Cashman been sentenced for?
Cashman was found guilty of the murder of Olivia on March 30, 2023.
He denied all of the charges, including murder, but was convicted after a three-week trial.
He was ordered to serve a minimum of 42 years before being considered for parole. He was sentenced to 10 years for the wounding of Olivia’s mother and received two 18-year sentences for both counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, with all of the sentences to run concurrently.
He will become eligible to be considered for parole on 22 March 2064, at which time he will be in his mid-70s.
Cashman was not in court to hear his sentence.
Cashman was 34 years old at the time of his sentencing.
In late April 2023, it was reported that Cashman was to appeal to have his sentence reduced. In July 2023, he was refused permission to appeal his sentence.
Speaking about the appeals, Tory MP Nigel Mills said:
“It feels like this is just a gravy train of legal aid. These appeals are a disgrace and the taxpayer will be funding them. A jury took a proper look at this case and so did the judge and he has been given a very appropriate sentence. And let’s not forget he was a coward and didn’t even attend his own sentencing hearing.”
Thankfully he failed in both bids to get his sentence reduced and will serve the full term.
Cashman sparked fury when he refused to appear in the dock for sentencing.
Trial Judge Mrs Justice Yip said of the sentence:
“A young child was shot and killed in her own home. Olivia was coming downstairs to seek reassurance. Cheryl Korbel should have been able to give that reassurance and tuck Olivia back into bed. What happened was chilling. Shooting into a family home with no regard for who may be caught in the crossfire is obviously a very significant aggravating factor.”
Yip sealed his fate, sending him down with convictions of murder, attempted murder, and wounding with intent.
Cashman denied murder throughout the entirety of the trial.
A second man, Paul Russell, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.
Prior to Cashman’s arrest, Merseyside police arrested nine other men as part of the investigation who have all been bailed.
There was public outrage in November 2023 as Cashman’s taxpayer-funded legal aid fee topped £220,000.