Steven Gerrard's underworld 'fixer' on the run after escaping from court moments before guilty robbery verdict

An underworld enforcer who claims he saved Steven Gerrard from a gangster has sensationally skipped bail.

John Kinsella, said by police to be dangerous, was released from custody at lunchtime as his robbery trial neared a close.

But when the jury reassembled in the afternoon, he had fled the building.

The case came to prominence when Kinsella, 43, cited his work for Gerrard as an example of how he collected debts and "sorted out" problems.

Lincoln Crown Court heard that he was contacted by the Liverpool FC midfielder's family after Gerrard was "terrorised" by a mobster known as The Psycho.

Kinsella told the court: "I spoke to his father in 2003. One of his family approached me and said this person was making Steven's life a misery.

"He was demanding money with menaces and threatening to shoot Steven in the legs. He ambushed Steven outside his apartment."

Kinsella said the man responsible, George Bromley Junior, was a violent figure.

"Steven was given armed police protection because they feared for his safety that much.

"His father came with one of his family to ask me to do something about this. I took steps. I spoke to George Bromley Junior.

"I told him to stop it and leave him alone. After I had spoken to him, he followed my advice."

The court was read a letter from Gerrard's father Paul, who said for two years The Psycho tried to extort money from his son and threatened to "maim" him.

He wrote: "We were at our wits' end when we were introduced by a family friend to John Kinsella.

Scroll down for more...

"He reassured me he would resolve our nightmare. From that time until this day we have never had any more problems from the Liverpool underworld."

Mr Gerrard said his son had "total respect" for Kinsella.

Kinsella, of Liverpool, denied the £41,000 robbery at a haulage depot in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in March 2006, but was convicted.

Stephen McMullen, 49, and James Muldoon, 28, both of Liverpool, were also found guilty of robbery.

Thomas Hodgson, 29, of Liverpool, pleaded guilty. They will be sentenced on Thursday.