A pitiless drug dealer who was found guilty of murdering a nine-year-old girl had cocaine, cannabis and an iPhone stashed in his prison cell, sources have claimed.
Thomas Cashman, who was 34 at the time, shot Olivia Pratt-Korbel in her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, in 2022 while trying to kill a drug dealer.
He is serving life, with a minimum of 42 years, at Long Lartin prison, near Evesham in Worcestershire.
But he is suspected of dealing drugs in the E wing of the Category A prison, with the contraband thought to have been dropped in using drones and the killer facing further punishment.
The schoolgirl’s murder horrified Britain and shone a light on the gangs blighting the lives of ordinary families who live in daily fear of organised crime in Liverpool.
The career criminal was also found guilty of the attempted murder of the intended target of the shooting Joseph Nee, 36, as well as wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Olivia’s mother. He was also convicted of two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
A source told The Sun: ‘He is said to have been selling drugs on the wing and has established himself there as a top dog. He has totally failed to learn the error of his ways and is still dealing drugs behind bars.’
Cashman, from Liverpool, was making up to £5,000 a week working as a drug dealer before he was locked up.
Drug dealer Thomas Cashman (pictured) was convicted of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Nine-year-old Olivia was fatally shot in the chest at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, in 2022
Cashman is serving life, with a minimum tariff of 42 years, at Long Lartin prison, near Evesham, Worcestershire
A section of the prison reportedly went into lockdown on Tuesday while a search was carried out.
A ‘substantial amount’ of cocaine and cannabis was found in his cell, the source said.
There was also an iPhone, which he allegedly used to ‘organise drops’ into the prison grounds through drones.
The Ministry of Justice declined to comment on the incident to the newspaper but said: ‘The availability of drugs and other illicit items in prisons is yet more evidence of the crisis the new Government inherited.
‘We have a wide range of security measures in place helping us to seize more contraband and a specialist team to bear down on drugs and serious and organised crime.
‘Anyone caught smuggling items into prison will be punished.’
A spokesman for the Prime Minister, speaking after Cashman was found guilty, said: ‘The Prime Minister’s thoughts remain with the family and friends of Olivia during what must be an incredibly difficult time.’
Terrifying footage showed the gangster chasing his intended victim Nee down Olivia’s street in Dovecot, Liverpool. The bangs of his gun firing were heard.
Artist impression of Thomas Cashman giving evidence at Manchester Crown Court
Aerial view shows a forensic tent outside Olivia’s home on Kingsheath Avenue
Cheryl Korbel (centre), mother of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, with family members at Manchester Crown Court where the trial was being heard
Nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed during the botched hit job on a convicted dealer
But as he towered over Nee at just before 10pm, his Glock-style handgun malfunctioned.
This sparked a disastrous chain of events that saw Nee flee, pursued by Cashman, who was armed with two guns.
His attempts to kill him ‘at all costs’ then went ‘horribly wrong’ when Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, opened her front door after hearing bangs.
As Nee tried to force his way into the house, Cashman opened fire and struck Mrs Korbel in the hand.
The bullet travelled through her and hit Olivia in the chest just as she ran downstairs saying: ‘Mum, I’m scared.’ Armed police rushed the youngster to hospital but she was pronounced dead a short time later.
Cashman had tried to hoodwink the jury at Manchester Crown Court during the lengthy trial, lying he had been elsewhere smoking a spliff and counting £10,000 when the murder happened.
But the jury took a matter of hours to find Cashman guilty on all charges. It was the sheer bravery of the prosecution’s star witness – whose identity can never be revealed – who had a relationship with him that was key in convicting him.
Bullet casings found by police in Kingsheath Avenue after the death of Olivia Pratt-Korbel
A bullet found at the crime scene after the little girl’s death
Terrifying CCTV footage showed a gun-wielding Cashman (in blue) hunting his intended target, Joseph Nee (in red)
A bullet hole in the front door of Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s family home, where the schoolgirl died
The star witness revealed Cashman had come to her house after the shooting where she heard him say he had ‘done Joey’ – a reference to Joseph Nee.
The woman said she had now left Liverpool but was still ‘terrified’ of giving evidence against Cashman but had chosen to do so because a child had died.
When there’s a little girl involved, there’s no form of grassing in my world,’ she said.
‘Because of this little girl. I just feel like if he was any sort of man, he would just… own it.
‘I can’t believe he’s making her family go through this. It’ s child, it’s a child. They all should be ashamed of themselves who are supporting him as well.’
Cashman, of Liverpool, had denied murdering Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Olivia’s mother, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
At the time of the killing he had said he was smoking ‘a spliff’ and counting £10,000 in cash.
He said in court: ‘I hold my hands up, I’m a drug dealer.
‘I’m not a bad drug dealer who sells Class A drugs, I don’t do anything bad.’