Gangsters who murdered grandmother-of-five on her personal doorstep are jailed for complete of 124 years

Four men have been jailed for the cold-blooded murder of a ‘loved’ grandmother-of-five on her doorstep in a revenge attack by a drugs gang. 

Jacqueline Rutter, known as ‘Jackie’, was fatally shot in the chest after Ms Rutter’s sons stole a mobile phone used to sell drugs, leaving the gang feeling ‘humiliated’. 

In retaliation, James Byrne, 24, murdered the 53-year-old at her home in Moreton, Merseyside, at around 1am on October 30 2022. 

Byrne and another man, both wearing masks, murdered the mother-of-six in the early morning after they were driven to her house in a stolen Vauxhall Insignia driven by Glynn, the court heard.

Byrne, who is already serving a life sentence for attempted murder in an unrelated case, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 40 years at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday. 

Ms Rutter’s daughter-in-law Jemma Rixon described Byrne as a ‘pathetic coward’.

Ms Rixon, the partner of Ms Rutter’s son Steven, told him in court: ‘You picked on Jackie as an easy target. A grandmother, isolated, late at night. What a big man. 

‘We hope you rot in hell for what you have done to our beautiful Jackie.’ 

Simon Allen, 55, of no fixed address, was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 28 years and David Harrison, 59, of Pensby, Wirral, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 26 years. 

Jacqueline Rutter, known as ‘Jackie’, was fatally shot in the chest on her doorstep in a revenge attack by a drugs gang

James Byrne (L) murdered Ms Rutter on her doorstep and was driven to her home by Barrie Glynn (R) in a stolen car

Simon Allen (L) and David Harrison (R) assisted with the murder of Ms Rutter

Byrne, Allen and Harrison were found guilty on charges of murder, possession of firearm with intent to danger life and arson. 

Barrie Glynn, 47, of Heswall, Wirral, was sentenced to 30 years for manslaughter, possession of firearms and ammunition and arson.

While sentencing Byrne, Mr Justice Goose said: ‘It was decided by you, Byrne, and others, that what had happened, described as a taxing, would not go unpunished. You did not want to lose face.’

Mr Justice Goose said Byrne played a leading role in Ms Rutter’s death and its planning, along with another man, who is currently wanted by the police. 

The judge decided Allen, Harrison and Glynn’s involvement in the murder was because of their drug addictions and not because they were exploited by Byrne.

While speaking in court, Ms Rixon added: ‘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.

‘Jackie’s final moments should have been surrounded by her loved ones telling her how much she loved. Instead she died in fear.’

Ms Rutter, who was a life-long drug addict, was one of four female victims of gun crime in 2022.