Cromie was pictured in the Evening Post in 1992 at an event at his Preston nursery.

But Cromie - who is now starting an 18-year sentence for the murder of David Cornall – began his descent into crime as a young teenager, the LEP can reveal.

>> Cornall killer to serve 18 years

One man who knew 21-year-old Cromie eight years ago said he was a teenager who worshipped local criminals and had a complex about his size.

The man, who who spent 12 months working with the young Cromie, said: "He had a real issue with his height and had major issues with authority – he wanted to be the authority."

On Friday Cromie, dressed in a grey Nike sweatshirt, sniggered as he was led away from the dock at Preston Crown Court.

The court heard he inflicted a single stab wound which went 13cm into David Cornall's body. Judge Mr Justice Flaux told Cromie he was "devoid of normal emotions" and said: "Only you know what the motive was for this savage and unprovoked attack.

"For some time you have terrorised this community in Preston. It's difficult to imagine a more cowardly attack, on a man who was doing nothing more than making his way home and who seems to have been trying to run away from you.

"You went out on the night in question with other members of the gang, armed with knives and weapons and looking for trouble."

The judge said Mr Cornall's death was a consequence of young men like Cromie roaming the streets with knives, and that the psychological effect on Mr Cornall's family had been devastating.

He added: "You used the commission of this offence to talk yourself up and make yourself look big. It seems the only loyalty you have is to your associates and your gang."

His mother fled from court with her face covered.

The unnamed source, who worked with 13-year-old Cromie, said he had warned the youth he could either mirror his criminal idols on Callon or "break the mould" and make something of his talent for football and pool.

He had met him when Cromie was just 13, already a hardened smoker and attending Sherburn special needs school in Preston.

He says: "Our first conversation consisted of him reeling off the names of criminals and asking if I knew them. He wanted people to sit down in the same way and say 'Do you know Liam Cromie?'

"The only way he thought he could get respect was either through having money – which was usually by criminal means – or by intimidating people.

"Tell tale signs of Cromie's temper flared up at school, but I never thought he would be capable of such a crime."

Today the officer who led the murder investigation, Det Supt Steve Brunskill, said police were pleased with the 18 year sentence – a significant victory as they continue stamping out gang culture and knife crime.

He said: "Cromie has no morals and no remorse. It is not just Liam Cromie who shares this attitude, it is his family, who seem to be accepting of this behaviour.

"He wilfully engaged himself in the violence and criminality of gang culture that has become a feature of Callon Estate.

"The sentence should be a deterrent for other young people thinking of carrying a knife or committing such serious offences. We have begun the process of stamping out gang culture and knife crime.

"Now it is about neighbourhood police and communities working together and making sure youngsters are diverted away from this path."

David's parents, Bill and Val Cornall who live in Portugal, were not in court but later Bill said: "I hope Liam Cromie will spend the next 18 years reflecting upon what he has done. He should use that time to educate himself so he can become rehabilitated and of use to society."

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