Former killer faces new sentence after Liverpool bar attack

An ex convict linked to a prior killing receives fresh penalties after a street assault in Liverpool left a man with life threatening injuries.

Former killer faces new sentence after Liverpool bar attack

In Liverpool city centre, December 27 2023, a night of violence spilled from a Safehouse bar onto the street as Delton Jones joined a larger group in an attack that left Anthony Dodson with life threatening injuries. Dodson was stabbed twice in the chest and collapsed outside McDonald’s; police and paramedics acted quickly to save him. Jones fled abroad, was arrested in Marbella in December 2024, and extradited to the UK in May this year. He had previously been jailed for manslaughter at 19 and released on licence in 2021. He was convicted this time of wounding with intent and violent disorder, receiving nine years plus an additional five on licence.

The court noted that other defendants in the same incident—Critchley, Draper, Miller, Quinn, Kinsella, Duffy and Mason-Lamb—also faced long sentences ranging from four to twelve years, with several described as being close to the victim and part of the surrounding group. The judge described the attack as a group action fueled by alcohol and cocaine and said a person in the crowd stabbed Dodson, though Jones did not wield a knife himself. The victim required immediate critical care and continues to have impaired heart function.

Jones is the son of former boxer Tony Dodson. He had already spent years in custody after a 2017 manslaughter conviction for beating a heroin runner to death. Prosecutors said the violence was spontaneous but deadly, and the defence argued for consideration of his age and his attempts at reform while in custody. The case also highlighted cross border policing efforts as Jones was extradited back from Spain after being apprehended in Marbella.

The case exposes how violence can leave a lasting imprint on a city and on the people involved. It shows a routine night out turning into a calculated group assault, and it underscores a justice system that grapples with prior criminal history when deciding penalties. The court’s emphasis on dangerous offending signals a signal to deter similar acts, yet the lengthy sentences also raise questions about rehabilitation and rehabilitation prospects for young defendants.

Beyond the courtroom, the affair invites discussion about how communities respond to street violence near nightlife hubs. Extradition and international arrests illustrate how crimes connected to one city can pull in suspects across borders. The outcome aims to balance accountability with the complexity of reform, especially for individuals who have already spent years in custody. The broader question remains: can the cycle of violence be disrupted through harsher sentences or targeted prevention and support programs for at risk youth?

Highlights

The real test lies in preventing such violence from taking root in city nightlife.