themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-03--Locked Up in April: The criminals put behind bars last month

From the vile boyfriend who tried to blame his domestic violence on girlfriend 's abortion - to the woman who 'pretended to fall over ' at Superdrug store jailed for 'exposing ' people to 'risk ' during coronavirus crisis .
The region 's courts have given out hefty prison sentences for all manner of crimes in April .
Locked up itself , however , may look a bit different as we reach the later half of the month and those to come .
With the coronavirus outbreak and recent UK lockdown announcement by the Prime Minister , judges are having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases are heard and which are not .
But while it may not be as busy as usual , justice is still being done in Manchester , just not quite as we know it .
So , despite current circumstances , prison sentences have still been handed out and people have been locked up for their offences .
An open , transparent criminal justice system is an important part of how our democracy works - so we make no apologies for devoting so much time to letting you know what happens in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court cases our reporters have covered in April 2020 .
The Travelex manager who stole £70,000 then went on the run to America for FIVE months A manager at an exchange currency company in Tesco has been jailed after stealing over £70,000 in cash from the safe on Christmas Eve - then going on the run in the US for five months .
David Aspden , 34 , had encouraged other members of staff at Travelex to go home to spend time with their family and friends around the festive period , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money .
He was seen on CCTV in the store in Middleton emptying the cash from the safe , then going shopping around Tesco , before returning to collect the bags and leaving , Manchester Minshull Street heard .
Aspden , of no fixed abode , booked a flight two days later , on Boxing Day 2018 , to the United States , where he disposed of £30,000 then spent the rest .
The trainee manager , who had been at the company for less than a month , returned five months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship to the UK .
Aspden pleaded guilty to theft by employee and was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment .
He appeared at court via video link .
His case was one of the first to be heard via videoconferencing at Manchester Minshull Street .
Thug pulled clumps of hair from girlfriend 's head after seven cans of Strongbow A drunk and aggressive thug who pulled out the hair of his girlfriend and dragged her around the room in a violent attack has been jailed .
Michael Smith , 38 , attacked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend 's house , kicking her to the face and body after drinking seven cans of Strongbow .
Clumps of her hair were pulled out and she was left with major bruising and swelling to her forehead , Minshull Street Crown Court heard .
The woman , now his ex-partner , was unable to fight him off until she was helped by her two friends .
She fled from Smith before spending the night in her car as she was ‘ scared of him coming after her ’ .
After two days the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , believing he had gone , but the police were called by neighbours after they discovered he was still there .
Smith , of Bury , pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment .
Smith , of Warth Road , was said to have previous convictions including grievous bodily harm , criminal damage and assaults .
Man jailed for coughing at police officer who was then forced to self-isolate for a week A police officer has been forced to self-isolate for at least a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man deliberately coughed in his face , a court heard .
Anthony Crawley , 28 , who said he had downed a full bottle of whiskey and had no memory of the incident , has now been jailed .
Police were called to Crawley 's house in Bury after concerns were raised over his welfare , a court heard .
When they arrived he initially would n't open the door .
When he did he was holding a stanley knife .
However he was holding it by his side and did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said .
Crawley , of Spencer Street , Elton , Bury , pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting an emergency worker at Manchester Magistrates Court , which is currently only hearing custody and other urgent cases , on Friday morning .
He was sentenced to 14 weeks behind bars .
Teenagers told victims to hand over their phones during early morning knifepoint robbery spree Two teenagers have been jailed after three men were forced to handover their possessions during an early morning knifepoint robbery spree in Salford .
Caine Owens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been locked up following the incidents committed on December 28 , just after Christmas .
Owens , of no fixed address , was jailed for four years and three months , and Allan , of Corporation Road , Eccles , was sentenced to two years in prison .
They both appeared in court via video link from Forest Bank prison in Salford .
The pair both pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery .
Owens was also dealt with by Judge Rachel Smith for a further three counts of robbery and two counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Warrington in January last year .
'Vile ' thug seen headbutting shop windows in city centre then spat at two cops A man spat at a police officer and a PCSO after being found wandering the streets of Manchester during the coronavirus lockdown Craig Haslam , 48 , lashed out after being apprehended in Manchester city centre on Thursday , just two days after being released from prison .
He was slammed by judge who called his actions 'vile ' and 'disgusting ' as she jailed him again .
Haslam was approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corporation Street in the city centre after he was seen headbutting shop windows on neighbouring Cross Street , the court was told .
He smelt of alcohol and initially gave them false details , so they tried to detain him however he began to struggle and told them to `` f**k off '' and `` suck my **** '' Richard Greenhough , prosecuting said .
He then cleared his throat and spat towards the PCSO .
He took evasive action and it landed on the pavement .
He then did the same again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the saliva landing on his shoe .
Haslam was arrested and taken into custody .
Haslam , previously of Milnrow Road , Rochdale , pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker .
He has 58 convictions for 108 offences and had only been released a few days earlier after he was handed an eight week custodial sentence for criminal damage and assault .
Haslam was sentenced to five and a half months behind bars .
A yob who claimed he had coronavirus and threatened to spit at two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who claimed he had coronavirus and threatened to spit at two officers has been jailed .
Police chiefs say it should serve as a warning that this kind of behaviour would not be tolerated as the country tackles the pandemic .
Shaun Sleigh , 31 , was arrested after officers were called to his flat at Hilltop Court in Walkden last Friday .
Greater Manchester Police ( GMP ) said he they had been called over criminal damage .
Sleigh was detained , however , in the process he assaulted a female officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and threatened to spit at the officer and her colleagues .
He had to be placed in a spit guard before being taken into custody .
He was charged with three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates Court on Saturday .
He was jailed for eight months and was ordered to pay compensation .
Woman who 'pretended to fall over ' at Superdrug store jailed for 'exposing ' people to 'risk ' during coronavirus crisis A woman has been jailed after 'pretending to fall over ' at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services and members of the public to risk ' during the coronavirus crisis .
Louise Adam , 58 , had already been hauled before the courts for assaulting a nurse and two security guards at the Royal Bolton Hospital on Saturday .
She was spared prison for that behaviour following a hearing on Monday , but was back out offending on Tuesday and Wednesday this week .
Now she 's been locked up for 22 weeks .
Adam , of Haydock Street , Bolton , pleaded guilty to one offence of causing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of pub made to look a right fool by landlord when he returned with fake gun A man has been jailed for threatening a pub landlord with a fake gun after he was thrown out because his outfit did n't meet the dress code .
Antuanne Elson , 34 , pointed the bogus firearm directly at the owner of the Overdraught pub in Radcliffe , Bury , after he and a friend had been earlier asked to leave .
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Elson was so angry about being chucked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up an imitation gun .
Drunk , Elson changed his clothing before returning to the pub wearing all black , covering his face with a balaclava .
He asked to have a 'chat ' with the landlord before producing the silver imitation firearm from his jacket , the court heard .
Elson shouted : `` You 're a p**** .
You know who I am .
I am bad man .
`` You barred me before .
I will get my boys , me and my boys will shut this place down .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers inside the pub said it was like a 'revolver you might see in a film ' .
Appearing in court via video link from prison , Elson , of New Church Walk , Radcliffe was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence .
Thug jailed after knocking homeless man unconscious with a crutch before stamping on his lifeless body A man has been jailed after knocking a rough sleeper unconscious with a crutch before stamping on his lifeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left a homeless man with life-changing injuries , after he tried to stop Fletcher assaulting two women on Market Street in the city centre .
His victim will require medication for the rest of his life , and still suffers from blurred vision , nearly four years on from the assault .
Manchester Crown Court heard how the homeless man had fallen asleep in the early hours of the morning on October 14 , 2016 .
He was awoken at around 1am by two females , one of whom was using a crutch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women began shouting at a man who was passing by , which later transpired to be Leon Fletcher .
He later claimed the women had been shouting racial abuse at him .
Greater Manchester Police issued a police appeal which resulted in a member of the public identifying Fletcher , leading to his arrest .
He was bailed before his sentencing hearing , during which time , he was caught by police in possession of a machete in Hulme .
Appearing via video link at Manchester Crown Court , Fletcher was jailed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affray , possession of a bladed article , and failing to surrender to bail .
Young mum called police on her drunk ex when he turned up at her home with a loaded gun A young mum called the police when her drunk ex-boyfriend turned up at her house with a loaded gun .
Pheleim Andrews , from Fallowfield , was alleged to have pointed the weapon at at Caitlin Mawdsley while she was home alone with their little boy .
They argued when he turned up at her house in Prescot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the night and she called 999 after he finally left in a taxi , the Liverpool Echo reports .
Armed police stopped the vehicle on the M62 on the way to back to Manchester and seized a self-loading Baikal pistol .
He was set to stand trial last month charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence .
However , Miss Mawdsley was summoned to court on the opening day , when she made a further statement .
She said the allegations she made about seeing the gun in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she had actually felt it in his jacket pocket .
That charge was dropped and he was instead sentenced for offences he always admitted - possessing a firearm and two counts of possessing ammunition .
The crook , who had moved to Liverpool but is now of Tarporley Avenue , Fallowfield , Manchester , has 11 convictions for 22 offences , dating back to when he was just 12 .
The judge said he would have jailed Andrews for nine years but for his guilty pleas - for which he received a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months already spent in custody .
He sentenced him to five years and two months .
Man who drove off-road bike with no brakes into police car while breaking coronavirus lockdown rules jailed A man who drove an off-road bike with no brakes into a police car while breaking coronavirus lockdown rules has been jailed .
Craig Michael Thompson , 29 , 'smelt of cannabis ' and tested positive for cocaine after being stopped by officers on Easter Monday ( April 13 ) .
He was on bail at the time .
Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Salford , at around 4pm when they saw three men riding motorbikes .
Two were wearing balaclavas .
Officers followed them to a petrol station , prosecutor Martha Dowd told Manchester Magistrates ' Court .
At that point , one of the men pointed at the police car and shouted 'dibble , dibble ' before the group rode away .
Officers later saw one of the men - Thompson - on nearby Tabley Street .
Police blocked Thompson in , before he mounted the pavement and drove towards them .
He then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around £1,000-worth of damage - and a fence .
Thompson , of Asgard Drive , Salford , pleaded guilty to dangerous driving ; driving without a licence ; driving without insurance ; driving without a test certificate ; criminal damage ; and contravening a restriction during the emergency period ( coronavirus ) .
He was handed a 22-week jail sentence and was banned from driving for two years .
He must take an extended re-test before he can legally drive again .
He was also fined £110 for breaching the coronavirus restrictions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
'Monster ' imprisoned girlfriend in flat for almost five hours and told her she 'deserved to die ' during horrific ordeal A 'monster ' who imprisoned his girlfriend in his flat for almost five hours told her she 'deserved to die ' during a horrific ordeal .
Liam Hawkins , 31 , used 'significant ' violence against the 'young mother ' in his Rusholme flat , including using a TV , an ashtray and a broom handle as weapons .
He also put her head under the water in a bath .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned the woman that if she did not keep quiet he would 'make her famous ' .
She was able to alert police to her location before Hawkins smashed her phone .
After being declared 'dangerous ' , Hawkins was jailed .
Hawkins will have to serve two-thirds of a five year and four month jail term , before the Parole Board considers whether it is safe to release him .
An extended three year licence period and a restraining order were also imposed .
Hawkins , of no fixed address , pleaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , threats to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm .
The paedophile caught by police driving Audi TT to meet '13-year-old girl ' he 'd groomed for sex - he was bailed before being stung by undercover cops AGAIN A paedophile caught by police driving in an Audi TT to meet a '13-year-old ' girl he 'd groomed for sex has been jailed - having been bailed and stung by undercover cops AGAIN .
James Davidson , from Stockport , was stopped by officers near Bolton Wanderers ' stadium in Horwich , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 53-year-old , whose mugshot has now been released , told police : `` This is ridiculous .
I do n't know what all this is about .
`` I just pulled in there because I did n't feel well . ''
Davidson had actually arranged to meet a '13-year-old girl ' after 'grooming ' her online .
The child was actually an undercover officer .
After being arrested and released under investigation , Davidson began sending messages to another '13-year-old girl ' - in reality , another undercover officer .
During some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one 'girl ' , he said 'age does n't matter ' .
Jailing him for two years , Judge Mark Savill told Davidson , who was previously cautioned for exposing himself to a child via a chat room webcam : `` You tried to fob them off with a quite ludicrous excuse .
`` You had had a shot across your bows .
That did n't deter you . ''
Davidson , of Mendip Close , Stockport , pleaded guilty to four offences .
They included two counts of attempting to sexually communicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act ; and one count of attempting to meet following sexual grooming .
He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years .
A paedophile who advertised a £10 a month 'streaming service ' for sick child abuse images was caught after unwittingly advertising it to undercover police in America and New Zealand .
Haitch Macklin , 38 , told police that he was hearing voices 'telling him that he was a paedophile ' .
Police executed a warrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had downloaded more than 2,000 indecent images of children .
He was released under investigation and then began to offer an online 'streaming service ' to other paedophiles , using a device he kept in his loft .
Experienced officers described the footage he possessed as 'some of the most horrific and disturbing content they ’ ve seen in many years ' .
Now Macklin has been locked up for 20 months .
Macklin , who had no previous convictions , pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images in relation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counts of showing indecent images following the more recent offending .
Inpatient at hospital jailed for sexual assault after grabbing and trying to kiss nurse An inpatient at a hospital repeatedly tried to kiss a nurse while she was doing her job .
Harvey Collins , 27 , has been jailed for 20 months after admitting sexual assault .
His victim said Collins ' behaviour had made her feel 'very sick ' and 'unclean ' .
She added : `` I would hate to know what he could do to others out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while to reach sentencing because of difficulties preparing reports into Collins ' mental health , more recently exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis .
Collins , of Shotton Walk , Rusholme , has already served eight-and-a-half months in custody , which counts towards his sentence .
The judge said she hoped that on his release , Collins will be supported by mental health services .
Jail for Manchester motorist who drove through the Conwy Tunnel at 120mph during police chase A 'danger ' driver who sped through the Conwy Tunnel in north Wales at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jailed .
A court heard Joseph James Gregory almost crashed into a van at a roundabout at high speed and tried to intimidate other motorists by forcing them out of the way .
The police chase lasted 12 miles .
Gregory , 21 , from Manchester , was finally 'boxed in ' by police inside the tunnel and arrested , North Wales Live reports .
A judge told him it was a 'frightening and terrifying experience ' for the pursuing officers , or anyone caught up in the chase .
Gregory , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and aggravated vehicle taking following the incident on the A55 last June .
He also admitted charges of possessing illegal drugs and other offences committed in Stockport .
Gregory appeared by videolink from prison at Manchester 's Minshull Street Crown Court .
Prosecution and defence counsel appeared via Skype because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Jailing him for 14 months for the driving offences , Judge Mark Savill slammed his driving .
Judge Savill also banned Gregory from driving for 47 months and ordered him to take an extended re-test .
Gregory was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggravated abuse and two assaults outside a takeaway in Stockport in December last year , and another four months for breaching a suspended sentence .
The judge ordered the jail terms to be served consecutively , making a total of 22 months .
Man drunk at 7.30am threw 'haymaker ' punch at pilot on Jet2 flight - he claimed he was 'sober as a judge' A drunk passenger who threw a 'haymaker ' punch at a pilot claimed he was as 'sober as a judge ' .
Jack Bailey , 30 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight to Barcelona at Manchester Airport , at about 7.30am .
The pilot moved out of the way and the blow landed on his shoulder .
He described the incident as the 'worst ' in his 15 years as a pilot .
Manchester Crown Court was told cabin crew said Bailey smelt of 'intoxicants ' he boarded the plane , on April 24 last year .
She told Bailey : `` This was a serious and alarming incident .
`` It caused considerable distress , and it was upsetting for other passengers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There is absolutely no excuse for your wholly antisocial behaviour . ''
Bailey , of no fixed address , pleaded guilty to drunkenness while entering an aircraft and assault .
A fraudster with a string of convictions for trying to pass off `` funny money '' has been jailed .
Jamie O'Brien , 31 , from Bolton , was caught again when he visited an Asda store in Carlisle in February .
He tried to buy goods with a fake Bank of Ireland £50 note .
But a cashier immediately became suspicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
It was checked by staff in store .
“ There were no ultra-violet marks , no water marks , no security strip , ” said Mr Bentley .
Two Bank of Ireland notes were found next to O ’ Brien ’ s feet when police stopped him outside .
He first gave a false name , asked officers whether they would search his house and told them he wouldn ’ t reveal his address .
He finally conceded : “ I will admit they are mine but I didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brien , of Viking Street , Bolton , admitted passing a counterfeit note in Carlisle , and possessing five others in Chester .
Jailing O ’ Brien for a total of two years , Judge Nicholas Barker said : “ The passing of counterfeit notes is a very serious matter , and will only be met by custodial sentences .
“ The whole of our social and economic life would simply fall apart if our system was awash with people presenting counterfeit money in this way . ''
Prolific dealer ditched man bag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spotted him in Piccadilly Gardens ... he 'simply will not learn' A prolific drug dealer was out dealing Spice again in Piccadilly Gardens a short time after being released from prison .
Lamar Morton , 25 , has now been locked up for three years and four months after he was caught by police just before the coronavirus lockdown was imposed .
He ran away after becoming spooked by officers .
A judge told Morton : `` You simply will not learn your lesson . ''
Morton , of Mitchell Street , Oldham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to supply Spice and possessing cocaine .
A drug dealer who hid wraps of crack cocaine inside a box of jalapenos has been jailed .
Kayne Kennedy , of Oldham , was stopped by two officers as he was leaving a café on Orford Lane in Warrington on Tuesday , April 23 , last year .
The 20-year-old , of Whitland Drive , attempted to run away but failed .
He then hurled a box of jalapenos he was carrying onto the floor .
The officers found 36 individual wraps of crack cocaine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of £360 .
Kennedy pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine .
Police said Kennedy transported crack cocaine from Oldham to Warrington .
He was sentenced to 30 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court .
Passenger put knife to taxi driver 's throat and said 'give me everything or I will kill you' A taxi driver had a knife put to his throat and was told 'give me everything or I will kill you ' .
Andrew Smith , 35 , has been jailed for three years and seven months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 'terrifying ' ordeal .
Manchester Crown Court heard that just before midnight on May 16 last year , the driver was called to a job in Altrincham .
Two men , one of which was Smith , got in and asked to be taken to a property not too far away , prosecutor Brian Williams said .
After arriving , the pair got back in and said they wanted to go back to the location where they were picked up originally .
The other man got out during the journey , leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver , who was becoming concerned about whether the fare was going to be paid , confronted Smith .
Smith said 'he would sort it out ' .
He then asked to be taken to another address in Altrincham , where the driver assumed he would get his fare .
But while Smith was in the car he produced the blade , which the driver described as a 'large kitchen knife ' .
Smith , of Cravens Drive , Altrincham , pleaded guilty to attempted robbery , and possessing a knife .
Drunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Square and called police 'fat pigs ' is branded 'social menace ' and jailed A drunk who urinated on the cenotaph was branded a 'social menace ' as he was jailed .
Mark Smith , 58 , was spotted on CCTV by council staff urinating on the war memorial in St Peter 's Square .
Members of the public went over to challenge him , but he was aggressive towards them .
He was abusive to police , calling them 'fat pigs ' .
The next morning , after spending the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a female detention officer .
Smith told her : `` See , I told you I 'd get you , foul f****** wh*** ' .
Now Smith , formerly of Rochdale , has been locked up for two-and-a-half years for a drink and drug fuelled crime spree .
Smith , of no fixed address , pleaded guilty to outraging public decency , two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence .
'Mean ' cousins took advantage of 'vulnerable ' man and stole his possessions Two 'mean ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' man have been locked up .
Owen Lawrence , 40 , and Paul McDonagh , 36 , have both been jailed for two years after they targeted a man with mental health issues .
They told him to buy drugs for them , and started hanging around his flat .
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that he watched on helplessly as the pair stole his bike , Xbox and a laptop worth a total of £1,200 from his home in Ramsbottom , Bury , after claiming that he owed them money .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' by Lawrence and McDonagh .
In the weeks prior to the incident in January , the pair would play games on his Xbox and smoke cigarettes .
Prosecuting , Kate Gaskell said that the victim 'did n't really want the men in his flat ' , but that he 'felt intimidated ' by them .
After they asked him to buy drugs , including cocaine , he 'felt he could n't say no ' .
Lawrence , of Edgar Street , Ramsbottom , and McDonagh , of no fixed address , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year restraining order was also imposed .
Man who killed girlfriend is such a 'danger to society ' he 's now been detained at a secure hospital for life A 'controlling and possessive ' man who killed his girlfriend has been detained for life .
Mum-of-four Pamela Ann Melor , 55 , was strangled and the victim of a sustained and brutal assault at a flat in Handforth , Cheshire .
Last month her boyfriend Matthew Bolland , 44 , from Wilmslow , was found to be responsible for her death by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he should be detained at a secure hospital for the rest of his life .
He was deemed to be unfit to enter a plea or stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday February 13 due to mental health issues .
So instead of being asked to rule on whether or not Bolland was guilty of murder , after hearing all of the evidence the jury had to decide whether or not he was responsible for her unlawful killing .
And they last month reached a unanimous verdict that he was .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week where Judge Steven Everett said he was a `` danger to society . ''
He ordered Bolland be detained at a secure hospital for the rest of his life .
He forced her to drink 'like a dog ' : The vile boyfriend who tried to blame his domestic violence on girlfriend 's abortion A jealous thug blamed a month long catalogue of domestic violence on his girlfriend 's decision to abort her child .
Jayden Knight , 27 , who said the decision affected his mental health , has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During the several incidents , Knight spat at the woman and pulled her trousers down , as well as attacking her .
He also threw a can of lager over her , and 'forced her to lap up ' a drink from the floor 'like a dog ' .
Judge Elizabeth Nicholls told Knight , who has previous convictions in relation to other former partners : `` You are a liability in the context of domestic violence . ''
Knight , from Middleton , admitted four offences of battery , one of assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal damage , which happened at their home in north Manchester between December 5 last year and January 8 this year .
The judge accepted Knight , of Seatoller Drive , Middleton , had a 'dysfunctional upbringing ' but said he needs help to 'address the underlying issues ' of his behaviour . '
I 'm not a bad person ' says crack addict granddad , 40 , who stole THOUSANDS of pounds from Manchester city centre bars A granddad who burgled five well-known Manchester bars and restaurants insisted `` I 'm not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apology to a judge before being jailed .
John Rixon , 40 , said an addiction to crack cocaine led him to break into the venues in a thieving spree which spanned several months and saw businesses lose over £20,0000 in total .
And despite insisting he was now clean and had `` changed '' in a personal plea to the court dad-of-five Rixon , from Openshaw , was jailed for 11 months .
All of the burglaries happened late at night or in the early hours when the premises were closed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peaky Blinders bar , occurring during the lockdown period where all bars and other public venues have been ordered to shut , prosecutors said .
Rixon , of Ashton Old Road , Openshaw , pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary at earlier hearings .
And he admitted a further count of burglary just before a trial was due to start at Manchester Magistrates court .
However District Judge John McGarva said the nature of the offences meant he could only hand out an immediate prison sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £149 .
Boom !
Man who hid FOUR KILOS of cocaine under his bed is jailed - but at least he was honest about it A man who hid four kilos of cocaine under his bed in his home in Moston has been jailed .
Daniel Norris , 32 , was found with four blocks of the class A drug in his bedroom - which would each be worth between £28,000 and 55,000 if sold as a kilo .
Police conducted a raid at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 last year after receiving intelligence from the community .
An officer asked Norris if he had any cash or drugs inside the house .
Norris then told the officer : “ It ’ s under the bed.
” Norris pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled class A drug with intent and was jailed for three years and eight months at Manchester Crown Court .
A reveller produced a 'terrifying ' knife when he was refused entry to a city centre nightclub .
Domario Lindo , also known as Simeon Nelson , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior to the lockdown .
Lindo , 25 , from Old Trafford , claimed he took out the knife to 'scare the doorman off ' .
Lindo has a previous conviction for possessing a knife five years ago , for which he received a community order .
Sentencing , Judge Cross told Lindo there was a 'risk of serious harm ' being caused by the presence of the knife .
Lindo , of Lime Grove , Old Trafford , pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and resisting a constable .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
Her son murdered her boyfriend , she tried to cover it up - now this mum 's in prison A mother who tried to cover up the fact her son had murdered her boyfriend has been jailed .
Nancy Smith , 48 , has been locked up for perverting the course of justice , after she came up with an 'elaborate ' story to try and deflect the police 's attention away from her son Bernard Ward , then 17 .
Ward , now 18 , was found guilty of murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vincent Wilson , to the head following a row in the house they shared on Silverdale Avenue in Irlam , Salford .
She pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice in November last year , and was waiting to be sentenced following her son 's trial .
After being convicted of murder last month , he was sentenced to the youth equivalent of life - detained at Her Majesty 's Pleasure for a minimum of 11 years .
She should have been sentenced at the same time , but a warrant was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her address and failed to maintain contact with her legal team .
The warrant was executed a week later , after she was found .
Now , appearing via video link from Styal prison in Cheshire , Smith , who was visibly emotional during the hearing , has been jailed for 18 months .
Smith , of Barrington Street , Clayton , admitted perverting the course of justice and a bail act offence .
His lawyer said he 's a 'decent , hard-working man ' ... he snatched a woman 's handbag and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swiping cash from a newsagents A thug who snatched a woman 's handbag and dragged her along to the floor during a 'cowardly ' robbery has been locked up .
Karl Wilson , 46 , attacked the woman in broad daylight in Altrincham town centre after she had been out shopping .
In another incident , Wilson stole a bundle of cash from the till of a newsagents in Salford , only to be chased and caught by the shopkeeper and a member of the public - who has now been recognised by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of no fixed address , was jailed for two years and three months .
He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery ; one count of burglary ; and a bail act offence .
Drug dealer who scarpered when cops raided his house ran into a stranger 's house and hid in their wardrobe - after dumping a shotgun A drug dealer who ran away after police raided his home tried to hide in a wardrobe in a stranger 's house , a court heard .
Officers armed with a warrant arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moston while he was 'working on the product ' , his lawyer said , packing brown powder and white rocks into small plastic bags .
He panicked and ran out of the property on Chinley Avenue , and made it to another house about 200 yards away on Edale Avenue , which was unlocked .
Police found Vinter hid in the wardrobe of an upstairs bedroom .
The resident had 'no idea ' that Vinter was there - and did n't know him .
During the chase , Vinter had dumped a shotgun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him and he was arrested and found with a knife .
They went back to his home and discovered 64 wraps of heroin , with a street value of £1,960 , and 112 wraps of cocaine with a value of £2,620 , Manchester Crown Court heard .
Cartridges capable being fired were also found in a pillowcase , and the shotgun was in working order .
Jailing Vinter for six years , Judge Suzanne Goddard QC told him : `` You were involved in the business of drug dealing , albeit it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the decisions of others .
`` But you clearly played a significant role . ''
They included one count of possession of a bladed article ; one count of possession with intent to supply heroin ; one count of possession with intent to supply cocaine and one count of possession of a shotgun in a public place .
The depraved predator who raped a mum in front of her terrified children Vile predator John Ward raped a young mum in front of her terrified children .
Ward , 24 , has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ licence period of four years after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and two counts of rape .
Ward first molested the victim as she walked the family dog with her young child along a street in Rochdale .
He told the youngster : `` I 'm your new dad .
`` , Minshull Street Crown Court heard .
The young mum fled but was followed by Ward - who was drunk and high on cocaine - and forced his way inside her home .
Sick Ward then pushed her onto the stairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he carried out a series of sickening and violent sexual assaults on her .
He slammed a living room door on her terrified children who screamed in terror , one of them shouting in vain for Ward to 'get off ' their mother as she was being attacked in the hallway .
Ward held the door shut and told the children ' I 'm just talking to your mum . ''
His accomplice Aaron Farrell , 24 , from Middleton , watched the rape through the kitchen window .
Both men then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle .
The victim has never returned to her home since the horrific ordeal .
Ward , from Rochdale , was jailed for 12 years with extended licence period of four years after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and two counts of rape .
He may apply for parole after eights years .
He has also placed on the sex offenders ' register .
Farrell , of Parkfield , Middleton , was jailed for one year and nine months after he admitted perverting the course of justice .
He was told he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentence .
Manchester man sent thousands of pounds to help fund Daesh fighters in Iraq and Syria Said Mohammed and his London-based associate Ayub Nurhussein sent approximately £2,700 to Islamist places of war .
The two men sent money via Denmark to contacts believed to be Iraq-supporting Daesh fighters in Iraq and Syria .
This occurred on three separate occasions between April and July 2019 .
They were both arrested for terrorism offences on Tuesday July 16 , 2019 .
At the time police seized large quantities of digital media , including mobile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorism .
Mohammed , 30 , of Belvedere Road , Longsight , has now been jailed at the Old Bailey for five years and three months .
Nurhussein , from Stockwell , was jailed for nine years and six months during a hearing at the Old Bailey .
Mohammed previously pleaded guilty to one count of arranging funds or property for the purposes of terrorism .
Nurhussein , 29 , pleaded guilty to one count of the same charge during a trial .
He had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of possession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and three counts of disseminating terrorist material .
Their arrests came after an extensive investigation dating back to 2018 involving Counter Terrorism Police North-West ( CTPNW ) working alongside officers in London .
Manchester has become 'Spice capital of the north ' as dealers continues to openly operate in lockdown The shocking reality of how Spice continues to be openly sold in Piccadilly Gardens even during the lockdown has been laid bare , as a judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the north ' .
Just this week four Spice dealers have been locked up at separate Manchester Crown Court hearings .
`` Manchester has acquired the unenviable tag of the Spice capital of the north , '' Judge Richard Mansell QC said , before jailing one of them .
Prosecutors told how one dealer , Mohammed Alneyeb , 32 , could have earned up to £100,000 over two years by peddling Spice .
Alneyeb , who appeared to be shaking while on a video link from Forest Bank prison , was jailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of possession with intent to supply Spice , and one count of supplying Spice .
Minutes earlier at the same court , 22-year-old Spice dealer Hussan Issa was locked up for 15 months and banned from Piccadilly Gardens for three years after a criminal behaviour was imposed .
Issa had pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply Spice .
Judge Mansell locked up Daniel Jones , 36 , from Oldham , who admitted the same offence as Issa .
Jones , who received a 12 month sentence , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August 2018 .
He was found with 15 half gram wraps of Spice , and a scrap of paper with a list of three people who owed him money for Spice .
Lamar Morton , 25 , was jailed for three years and four months after he was caught dealing Spice again in Piccadilly Gardens , a short time after being released from prison .
Morton , who was found with about £1,000 of the drug the day before the lockdown was imposed , was told by a judge : `` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Violent lag punched Forest Bank prison officer and launched 'flying kick ' at another who was handing out toilet rolls A violent lag punched one prison officer who was trying to help him and launched a 'flying kick ' on another officer who was handing out toilet rolls .
Marlon Finneran , 26 , broke the nose of a prison officer at HMP Forest Bank in Salford .
Finneran , who was in a single cell due to his previous behaviour , started banging on the door and demanding a phone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident , which happened in November 2018 , Finneran went on to assault another prison officer at a different institution .
Then serving at HMP Risley in Warrington , Finneran was one of a number of prisoners who was being given toilet rolls by an officer before they were locked up for the afternoon , in August last year .
Finneran , of no fixed address , has more than 30 previous convictions , including for violence and assaulting prison officers .
Finneran was jailed for 18 months , after pleading guilty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm , and one count of assault by beating on an emergency worker .
Thug asked hotel staff a chilling question before punching nurse in the face and swinging her around by her hair A drunken thug asked a hotel receptionist `` what beer would you recommend having before killing someone ? ''
before going on to attack his partner , a court heard .
Lee Cunliffe , 35 , hit the mother of his child in the face whilst they were stood in the middle of a roundabout .
He then swung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she desperately tried to escape before she was led to safety inside the hotel where they were staying .
Cunliffe was jailed for a year after a judge heard the woman had suffered `` significant psychological damage '' as well as her injuries .
Cunliffe , of Patterdale Avenue , Warrington , was arrested and charged and pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of assault causing actual bodily harm ( ABH ) .
Man jailed and banned from five hospitals after punching NHS worker and calling nurse a 'slag ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who punched an NHS worker to the face and called a nurse a 'slag ' after turning up at A & E following a drug overdose has been jailed .
Daniel Shelvin , 27 , has also been banned from five of Greater Manchester 's hospitals for five years , unless he needs life saving treatment or has an urgent appointment .
Shelvin was locked up for two years following the incident at Salford Royal Hospital on Sunday , March 29 , at about 1.45pm .
He had been to A & E @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was asking for help , Manchester Crown Court heard .
On the day of the incident he said he had taken an overdose of prescription medication .
A restraining order was imposed for five years , which means that Shelvin , of no fixed address , is banned from visiting Salford Royal Hospital , North Manchester General Hospital , the Royal Oldham Hospital , Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield Hospital .
The judge said the order applies unless there is a situation which Shelvin 'reasonably believes threatens your life ' , or if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hits out at 'nonsensical ' excuse given by man caught trying to hide scalpel in Piccadilly Gardens A judge hit out at the 'nonsensical ' excuse given by a man who was caught trying to hide a scalpel in Piccadilly Gardens .
Ruben Willis , 25 , claimed he was 'playing ' with the weapon while he was out 'socialising ' with his girlfriend the day before the lockdown was imposed , and as the Government was urging people to observe social distancing .
Manchester Crown Court heard that a police officer who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gardens had earlier seen Willis with the man .
As he approached Willis , the officer saw him try and hide something in the soil of a flowerbed , prosecutor Rachel Widdicombe said .
It was found to be a scalpel , which a judge described as an 'unusual looking implement with a very sharp looking blade ' .
When challenged , Willis said : `` It 's not even mine , It 's my girlfriend 's , she uses it for microblading eyebrows . ''
Judge Goddard imposed an eight month jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a further six months for the offences on March 22 .
He was jailed for a total of 14 months .
Willis , of HMP Forest Bank , pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article and breaching a suspended sentence .
Controlling thug violently battered girlfriend in lockdown row then ordered her to wash blood from her face A `` controlling '' drunken thug attacked his girlfriend after they got into an argument about coronavirus a court heard .
Joseph Jones , 41 , kicked , throttled and slapped his partner in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' assault leaving her with two black eyes .
He then ordered her to wash her own blood from her face .
She was only able to raise the alarm the following morning when he left the flat to buy more booze .
Jones , who has a record of domestic violence , has now been jailed for 16 months by a judge who said he was a danger to others .
Jones , of Range Road , Shaw Heath , Stockport , pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm ( ABH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has previous convictions for domestic violence in 2017 and 2016 including against his current partner .
The victim was present in the public gallery at the hearing where the defendant and all legal counsel appeared via videolink .
Dealer who sold through 'Ali ' drugs line in Bury is jailed A dealer who had been selling heroin and cocaine via a dedicated 'drugs line ' in Bury has been jailed .
Grant Hothersall , 41 , was caught as part of an operation to crack down on dealing in and around the town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court he is himself an addict , sold an undercover police officer hard drugs on numerous occasions and was caught with £400 worth of heroin and crack on him after being arrested .
Officers found a phone linked to the line the drugs were sold through had made over 300 contacts with other numbers and estimate around £23,000 worth of narcotics could have been sold over just a month period .
He 's now been jailed by a judge who said drug dealing brought misery to the people of the town .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and ten counts of supplying Class A drugs .
He was sentenced via a videolink from prison with legal counsel appearing via Skype at the hearing from Minshull Street Crown Court .
Judge John Potter jailed him for three years and four months .
The £4million lottery scratchcard 'winner ' who headbutted his girlfriend ... then bombarded her with terrifying calls while in custody A Bolton man headbutted his girlfriend and then bombarded her with calls and letters from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against him in court .
Mark Goodram , of Rowena Street , Moses Gate , had been spending time with his then-girlfriend and a few friends on the evening of September 25 last year .
The 37-year-old had been smoking crack and the victim had been drinking cider , prosecution barrister Daniel Calder told Minshull Street Crown Court .
Last April , Goodram and a friend 'won ' £4m on a scratchcard , before being told they would not receive the money due to suspicions around the debit card used to buy it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convictions for 46 offences , Hugh Barton said that while the 37-year-old has a lengthy criminal record , most of the crimes are 'dishonesty ' and that the attack was `` out of character '' .
Goodram has since pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice .
Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Goodram to 25 months imprisonment - 20 months for GBH and five months for perverting the course of justice , to be served consecutively .
Judge Smith also issued a restraining order against Goodram contacting the victim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link from Forest Bank prison , Goodram acknowledged the restraining order and said : `` that 's fine . ''
Criminals caught in affluent village with hi-tech equipment used to steal expensive cars following 'succession ' of thefts Two criminals were caught in an affluent village with hi-tech equipment which can be used to steal expensive cars .
Vadim Muntean , 31 , and Semion Lazur , 28 , were stopped in the early hours by police in Woodford , Stockport , near the former British Aerospace site .
Police had launched a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burglaries and thefts of cars , Minshull Street Crown Court heard .
Muntean , from Ancoats , and Lazur , from Crumpsall , were spotted by an officer at about 2.20am , on October 30 last year .
Muntean , of Naval Street , Ancoats , was sentenced to 10 months , and Lazur , of Polygon Road , Crumpsall , to eight months .
They both pleaded guilty to one offence of going equipped .
As their time on remand counts towards their sentence , the judge said it was likely that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The judge said the Home Office would decide whether or not the pair would be deported .
The 'experienced ' dealer who advertised his drugs as the 'best in Bury' An 'experienced ' dealer caught peddling crack cocaine and heroin for a second time is beginning another spell behind bars .
Numan Javed , 24 , sent out texts on a burner phone advertising his drugs as the 'best in Bury ' .
Javed has now been locked up for four-and-a-half years .
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Javed came to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on Bury 's Dicky Bird estate .
A resident had called police saying that Javed and another man were outside his front door .
Javed said they had gone to 'remonstrate ' with the resident over the alleged theft of a mobile phone .
A Kia car was parked nearby , which Javed denied any connection with .
The keys had been discarded nearby .
Within the car police found 127 wraps of heroin , and 74 wraps of cocaine , with a potential street value of £1,880 .
On the back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rucksack containing a set of scales which had white powder on them , later found to be cocaine .
Javed was arrested , and while he was in custody his burner phone received a number of messages and calls .
He later pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply heroin , and one count of possession with intent to supply cocaine .
Sentencing , Judge Mark Savill described Javed , of New Cateaton Street , Bury , as an 'experienced dealer in class A drugs ' .
'Off his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Metrolink with a terrifying weapon and said he was 'going to f****** stab everyone ' and blow up Manchester A prolific criminal found with a 'terrifying weapon ' on the Metrolink said he was 'going to f****** stab everyone ' and threatened to 'blow up Manchester ' .
Mark Brooks , 45 , a grandfather , said he was 'off his face ' when he subjected tram users to the horrific incident , including a mum and her two young children .
Her seven-year-old daughter said she is too frightened to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordeal in Wythenshawe .
Brooks said he has spent 25 years in prison , and wants help for his alcohol addiction .
But Judge Cross sentenced him to three years in prison .
Brooks , of Fraser Road , Crumpsall , pleaded guilty to criminal damage , using threatening or insulting words or behaviour with the intent to cause fear of violence , possession of a bladed article and breaching a suspended sentence .
Bungling burglars made daft mistake during break-in - and ended up being caught ... their accomplice was a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces inside a woman 's home after breaking in - only to realise there were also CCTV cameras inside .
The victim was away on holiday when Sam Taylor and Kaylen Perry , both 20 , broke into her home in Bamford , Rochdale , causing about £4,500-worth of damage .
Minshull Street Crown Court heard the woman 's home had been burgled twice previously - so she decided to install CCTV cameras outside and inside .
Taylor , Perry and another man - who has not been identified - broke into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by forcing the patio door open and smashing the glass .
Taylor , of Coverdale Close , Rochdale , was jailed for two years , and Perry , of no fixed address , was jailed for 16 months .
They both pleaded guilty to burglary .
Taylor also admitted one count of attempted burglary ; one count of allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle ; and one count of possessing cannabis .

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From the vile boyfriend who tried to blame his domestic violence on girlfriend's abortion - to the woman who 'pretended to fall over' at Superdrug store jailed for 'exposing' people to 'risk' during coronavirus crisis.
The region's courts have given out hefty prison sentences for all manner of crimes in April.
Locked up itself, however, may look a bit different as we reach the later half of the month and those to come.
With the coronavirus outbreak and recent UK lockdown announcement by the Prime Minister, judges are having to make difficult decisions to decide which cases are heard and which are not.
But while it may not be as busy as usual, justice is still being done in Manchester, just not quite as we know it.
So, despite current circumstances, prison sentences have still been handed out and people have been locked up for their offences.
An open, transparent criminal justice system is an important part of how our democracy works - so we make no apologies for devoting so much time to letting you know what happens in our courts.
These are just some of the court cases our reporters have covered in April 2020.
The Travelex manager who stole £70,000 then went on the run to America for FIVE months
A manager at an exchange currency company in Tesco has been jailed after stealing over £70,000 in cash from the safe on Christmas Eve - then going on the run in the US for five months.
David Aspden, 34, had encouraged other members of staff at Travelex to go home to spend time with their family and friends around the festive period, then filled Bags for Life full of the money.
He was seen on CCTV in the store in Middleton emptying the cash from the safe, then going shopping around Tesco, before returning to collect the bags and leaving, Manchester Minshull Street heard.
Aspden, of no fixed abode, booked a flight two days later, on Boxing Day 2018, to the United States, where he disposed of £30,000 then spent the rest.
The trainee manager, who had been at the company for less than a month, returned five months later in May 2019 via a cruise ship to the UK.
Aspden pleaded guilty to theft by employee and was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.
He appeared at court via video link.
His case was one of the first to be heard via videoconferencing at Manchester Minshull Street.
Prosecution and defence counsel appeared remotely.
Thug pulled clumps of hair from girlfriend's head after seven cans of Strongbow
(Image: GMP/photo)
A drunk and aggressive thug who pulled out the hair of his girlfriend and dragged her around the room in a violent attack has been jailed.
Michael Smith, 38, attacked the woman in the living room of her friend's house, kicking her to the face and body after drinking seven cans of Strongbow.
Clumps of her hair were pulled out and she was left with major bruising and swelling to her forehead, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
The woman, now his ex-partner, was unable to fight him off until she was helped by her two friends.
She fled from Smith before spending the night in her car as she was ‘scared of him coming after her’.
After two days the woman returned to the flat they shared, believing he had gone, but the police were called by neighbours after they discovered he was still there.
Smith, of Bury, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
Smith, of Warth Road, was said to have previous convictions including grievous bodily harm, criminal damage and assaults.
Man jailed for coughing at police officer who was then forced to self-isolate for a week
A police officer has been forced to self-isolate for at least a week away from his wife and child after a man deliberately coughed in his face, a court heard.
Anthony Crawley, 28, who said he had downed a full bottle of whiskey and had no memory of the incident, has now been jailed.
Police were called to Crawley's house in Bury after concerns were raised over his welfare, a court heard.
When they arrived he initially wouldn't open the door.
When he did he was holding a stanley knife.
However he was holding it by his side and didn't make any threats, Richard Greenhough prosecuting, said.
Crawley, of Spencer Street, Elton, Bury, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting an emergency worker at Manchester Magistrates Court, which is currently only hearing custody and other urgent cases, on Friday morning.
He was sentenced to 14 weeks behind bars.
Teenagers told victims to hand over their phones during early morning knifepoint robbery spree
(Image: GMP)
Two teenagers have been jailed after three men were forced to handover their possessions during an early morning knifepoint robbery spree in Salford.
Caine Owens and Harry Allan, both 19, have been locked up following the incidents committed on December 28, just after Christmas.
Owens, of no fixed address, was jailed for four years and three months, and Allan, of Corporation Road, Eccles, was sentenced to two years in prison.
They both appeared in court via video link from Forest Bank prison in Salford.
The pair both pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery.
Owens was also dealt with by Judge Rachel Smith for a further three counts of robbery and two counts of fraud, in relation to incidents in Warrington in January last year.
'Vile' thug seen headbutting shop windows in city centre then spat at two cops
A man spat at a police officer and a PCSO after being found wandering the streets of Manchester during the coronavirus lockdown
Craig Haslam, 48, lashed out after being apprehended in Manchester city centre on Thursday, just two days after being released from prison.
He was slammed by judge who called his actions 'vile' and 'disgusting' as she jailed him again.
Haslam was approached by the officer and the PCSO on Corporation Street in the city centre after he was seen headbutting shop windows on neighbouring Cross Street, the court was told.
He smelt of alcohol and initially gave them false details, so they tried to detain him however he began to struggle and told them to "f**k off" and "suck my ****" Richard Greenhough, prosecuting said.
He then cleared his throat and spat towards the PCSO.
He took evasive action and it landed on the pavement.
He then did the same again and spat towards the officer, with some of the saliva landing on his shoe.
Haslam was arrested and taken into custody.
Haslam, previously of Milnrow Road, Rochdale , pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
He has 58 convictions for 108 offences and had only been released a few days earlier after he was handed an eight week custodial sentence for criminal damage and assault.
Haslam was sentenced to five and a half months behind bars.
A yob who claimed he had coronavirus and threatened to spit at two police officers has been jailed
A yob who claimed he had coronavirus and threatened to spit at two officers has been jailed.
Police chiefs say it should serve as a warning that this kind of behaviour would not be tolerated as the country tackles the pandemic.
Shaun Sleigh, 31, was arrested after officers were called to his flat at Hilltop Court in Walkden last Friday.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said he they had been called over criminal damage.
Sleigh was detained, however, in the process he assaulted a female officer.
He then said he had COVID-19 and threatened to spit at the officer and her colleagues.
He had to be placed in a spit guard before being taken into custody.
He was charged with three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates Court on Saturday.
He was jailed for eight months and was ordered to pay compensation.
Woman who 'pretended to fall over' at Superdrug store jailed for 'exposing' people to 'risk' during coronavirus crisis
A woman has been jailed after 'pretending to fall over' at a Superdrug store and 'exposing the emergency services and members of the public to risk' during the coronavirus crisis.
Louise Adam, 58, had already been hauled before the courts for assaulting a nurse and two security guards at the Royal Bolton Hospital on Saturday.
She was spared prison for that behaviour following a hearing on Monday, but was back out offending on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Now she's been locked up for 22 weeks.
Adam, of Haydock Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to one offence of causing a public nuisance.
'Bad man' chucked out of pub made to look a right fool by landlord when he returned with fake gun
(Image: GMP)
A man has been jailed for threatening a pub landlord with a fake gun after he was thrown out because his outfit didn't meet the dress code.
Antuanne Elson, 34, pointed the bogus firearm directly at the owner of the Overdraught pub in Radcliffe, Bury, after he and a friend had been earlier asked to leave.
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Elson was so angry about being chucked out, he went home and picked up an imitation gun.
Drunk, Elson changed his clothing before returning to the pub wearing all black, covering his face with a balaclava.
He asked to have a 'chat' with the landlord before producing the silver imitation firearm from his jacket, the court heard.
Elson shouted: "You're a p****. You know who I am. I am bad man.
"You barred me before. I will get my boys, me and my boys will shut this place down."
Although the gun was fake, customers inside the pub said it was like a 'revolver you might see in a film'.
Appearing in court via video link from prison, Elson, of New Church Walk, Radcliffe was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Thug jailed after knocking homeless man unconscious with a crutch before stamping on his lifeless body
(Image: GMP)
A man has been jailed after knocking a rough sleeper unconscious with a crutch before stamping on his lifeless body.
Leon Fletcher, 37, left a homeless man with life-changing injuries, after he tried to stop Fletcher assaulting two women on Market Street in the city centre.
His victim will require medication for the rest of his life, and still suffers from blurred vision, nearly four years on from the assault.
Manchester Crown Court heard how the homeless man had fallen asleep in the early hours of the morning on October 14, 2016.
He was awoken at around 1am by two females, one of whom was using a crutch, prosecutor Anna Chesnutt said.
The women began shouting at a man who was passing by, which later transpired to be Leon Fletcher.
He later claimed the women had been shouting racial abuse at him.
Greater Manchester Police issued a police appeal which resulted in a member of the public identifying Fletcher, leading to his arrest.
He was bailed before his sentencing hearing, during which time, he was caught by police in possession of a machete in Hulme.
Appearing via video link at Manchester Crown Court, Fletcher was jailed for 40 months for offences of GBH, affray, possession of a bladed article, and failing to surrender to bail.
Young mum called police on her drunk ex when he turned up at her home with a loaded gun
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A young mum called the police when her drunk ex-boyfriend turned up at her house with a loaded gun.
Pheleim Andrews, from Fallowfield, was alleged to have pointed the weapon at at Caitlin Mawdsley while she was home alone with their little boy.
They argued when he turned up at her house in Prescot, in Merseyside, in the middle of the night and she called 999 after he finally left in a taxi, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Armed police stopped the vehicle on the M62 on the way to back to Manchester and seized a self-loading Baikal pistol.
He was set to stand trial last month charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
However, Miss Mawdsley was summoned to court on the opening day, when she made a further statement.
She said the allegations she made about seeing the gun in Andrews' hand were not true, and she had actually felt it in his jacket pocket.
That charge was dropped and he was instead sentenced for offences he always admitted - possessing a firearm and two counts of possessing ammunition.
The crook, who had moved to Liverpool but is now of Tarporley Avenue, Fallowfield, Manchester, has 11 convictions for 22 offences, dating back to when he was just 12.
The judge said he would have jailed Andrews for nine years but for his guilty pleas - for which he received a third off his sentence - and 10 months already spent in custody.
He sentenced him to five years and two months.
Man who drove off-road bike with no brakes into police car while breaking coronavirus lockdown rules jailed
A man who drove an off-road bike with no brakes into a police car while breaking coronavirus lockdown rules has been jailed.
Craig Michael Thompson, 29, 'smelt of cannabis' and tested positive for cocaine after being stopped by officers on Easter Monday (April 13).
He was on bail at the time.
Police were patrolling an area of Lower Broughton, Salford, at around 4pm when they saw three men riding motorbikes. Two were wearing balaclavas.
Officers followed them to a petrol station, prosecutor Martha Dowd told Manchester Magistrates' Court.
At that point, one of the men pointed at the police car and shouted 'dibble, dibble' before the group rode away.
Officers later saw one of the men - Thompson - on nearby Tabley Street.
Police blocked Thompson in, before he mounted the pavement and drove towards them.
He then hit the officers' car - causing around £1,000-worth of damage - and a fence.
Thompson, of Asgard Drive, Salford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving; driving without a licence; driving without insurance; driving without a test certificate; criminal damage; and contravening a restriction during the emergency period (coronavirus).
He was handed a 22-week jail sentence and was banned from driving for two years. He must take an extended re-test before he can legally drive again.
He was also fined £110 for breaching the coronavirus restrictions and ordered to pay a £122 victim surcharge.
'Monster' imprisoned girlfriend in flat for almost five hours and told her she 'deserved to die' during horrific ordeal
(Image: GMP)
A 'monster' who imprisoned his girlfriend in his flat for almost five hours told her she 'deserved to die' during a horrific ordeal.
Liam Hawkins, 31, used 'significant' violence against the 'young mother' in his Rusholme flat, including using a TV, an ashtray and a broom handle as weapons.
He also put her head under the water in a bath.
Before police stormed the flat, Hawkins warned the woman that if she did not keep quiet he would 'make her famous'.
She was able to alert police to her location before Hawkins smashed her phone.
After being declared 'dangerous', Hawkins was jailed.
Hawkins will have to serve two-thirds of a five year and four month jail term, before the Parole Board considers whether it is safe to release him.
An extended three year licence period and a restraining order were also imposed.
Hawkins, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, damaging property, threats to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The paedophile caught by police driving Audi TT to meet '13-year-old girl' he'd groomed for sex - he was bailed before being stung by undercover cops AGAIN
(Image: GMP)
A paedophile caught by police driving in an Audi TT to meet a '13-year-old' girl he'd groomed for sex has been jailed - having been bailed and stung by undercover cops AGAIN.
James Davidson, from Stockport, was stopped by officers near Bolton Wanderers' stadium in Horwich, the Manchester Evening News previously reported.
The 53-year-old, whose mugshot has now been released, told police: "This is ridiculous. I don't know what all this is about.
"I just pulled in there because I didn't feel well."
Davidson had actually arranged to meet a '13-year-old girl' after 'grooming' her online. The child was actually an undercover officer.
After being arrested and released under investigation, Davidson began sending messages to another '13-year-old girl' - in reality, another undercover officer.
During some of Davidson's 'filthy' conversations with one 'girl', he said 'age doesn't matter'.
Jailing him for two years, Judge Mark Savill told Davidson, who was previously cautioned for exposing himself to a child via a chat room webcam: "You tried to fob them off with a quite ludicrous excuse.
"You had had a shot across your bows. That didn't deter you."
Davidson, of Mendip Close, Stockport, pleaded guilty to four offences.
They included two counts of attempting to sexually communicate with a child; one count of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act; and one count of attempting to meet following sexual grooming.
He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
Salford man advertised £10-a-month streaming service for sick child abuse images
(Image: National Crime Agency)
A paedophile who advertised a £10 a month 'streaming service' for sick child abuse images was caught after unwittingly advertising it to undercover police in America and New Zealand.
Haitch Macklin, 38, told police that he was hearing voices 'telling him that he was a paedophile'.
Police executed a warrant at his Salford home and found Macklin had downloaded more than 2,000 indecent images of children.
He was released under investigation and then began to offer an online 'streaming service' to other paedophiles, using a device he kept in his loft.
Experienced officers described the footage he possessed as 'some of the most horrific and disturbing content they’ve seen in many years'.
Now Macklin has been locked up for 20 months.
Macklin, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images in relation to the earlier offences, and to two counts of showing indecent images following the more recent offending.
Inpatient at hospital jailed for sexual assault after grabbing and trying to kiss nurse
(Image: GMP)
An inpatient at a hospital repeatedly tried to kiss a nurse while she was doing her job.
Harvey Collins, 27, has been jailed for 20 months after admitting sexual assault.
His victim said Collins' behaviour had made her feel 'very sick' and 'unclean'.
She added: "I would hate to know what he could do to others out and about."
The case took a while to reach sentencing because of difficulties preparing reports into Collins' mental health, more recently exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.
Collins, of Shotton Walk, Rusholme, has already served eight-and-a-half months in custody, which counts towards his sentence.
The judge said she hoped that on his release, Collins will be supported by mental health services.
Jail for Manchester motorist who drove through the Conwy Tunnel at 120mph during police chase
(Image: North Wales Police)
A 'danger' driver who sped through the Conwy Tunnel in north Wales at 120mph during a police pursuit has been jailed.
A court heard Joseph James Gregory almost crashed into a van at a roundabout at high speed and tried to intimidate other motorists by forcing them out of the way.
The police chase lasted 12 miles. Gregory, 21, from Manchester, was finally 'boxed in' by police inside the tunnel and arrested, North Wales Live reports.
A judge told him it was a 'frightening and terrifying experience' for the pursuing officers, or anyone caught up in the chase.
Gregory, a scaffolder, admitted charges of dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking following the incident on the A55 last June.
He also admitted charges of possessing illegal drugs and other offences committed in Stockport.
Gregory appeared by videolink from prison at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.
Prosecution and defence counsel appeared via Skype because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jailing him for 14 months for the driving offences, Judge Mark Savill slammed his driving.
Judge Savill also banned Gregory from driving for 47 months and ordered him to take an extended re-test.
Gregory was also jailed for four months for racially aggravated abuse and two assaults outside a takeaway in Stockport in December last year, and another four months for breaching a suspended sentence.
The judge ordered the jail terms to be served consecutively, making a total of 22 months.
Man drunk at 7.30am threw 'haymaker' punch at pilot on Jet2 flight - he claimed he was 'sober as a judge'
A drunk passenger who threw a 'haymaker' punch at a pilot claimed he was as 'sober as a judge'.
Jack Bailey, 30, was already drunk as he boarded the Jet2 flight to Barcelona at Manchester Airport, at about 7.30am.
The pilot moved out of the way and the blow landed on his shoulder.
He described the incident as the 'worst' in his 15 years as a pilot.
Manchester Crown Court was told cabin crew said Bailey smelt of 'intoxicants' he boarded the plane, on April 24 last year.
Sentencing, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls jailed Bailey for seven months.
She told Bailey: "This was a serious and alarming incident.
"It caused considerable distress, and it was upsetting for other passengers who were trying to board their flight.
"There is absolutely no excuse for your wholly antisocial behaviour."
Bailey, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to drunkenness while entering an aircraft and assault.
Useless 'funny money' fraudster is jailed. Again
A fraudster with a string of convictions for trying to pass off "funny money" has been jailed.
Jamie O'Brien, 31, from Bolton, was caught again when he visited an Asda store in Carlisle in February.
He tried to buy goods with a fake Bank of Ireland £50 note.
But a cashier immediately became suspicious as it "felt like photograph paper".
Prosecutor, David Bentley, told Carlisle Crown Court: “She felt it wasn’t real."
It was checked by staff in store. “There were no ultra-violet marks, no water marks, no security strip,” said Mr Bentley.
Two Bank of Ireland notes were found next to O’Brien’s feet when police stopped him outside.
He first gave a false name, asked officers whether they would search his house and told them he wouldn’t reveal his address.
He finally conceded: “I will admit they are mine but I didn’t know they were fake.”
O’Brien, of Viking Street, Bolton, admitted passing a counterfeit note in Carlisle, and possessing five others in Chester.
Jailing O’Brien for a total of two years, Judge Nicholas Barker said: “The passing of counterfeit notes is a very serious matter, and will only be met by custodial sentences.
“The whole of our social and economic life would simply fall apart if our system was awash with people presenting counterfeit money in this way."
Prolific dealer ditched man bag full of Spice in bin after police spotted him in Piccadilly Gardens...he 'simply will not learn'
A prolific drug dealer was out dealing Spice again in Piccadilly Gardens a short time after being released from prison.
Lamar Morton, 25, has now been locked up for three years and four months after he was caught by police just before the coronavirus lockdown was imposed.
He ran away after becoming spooked by officers.
A judge told Morton: "You simply will not learn your lesson."
Morton, of Mitchell Street, Oldham, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Spice and possessing cocaine.
Drug dealer who hid crack cocaine inside box of jalapenos jailed
(Image: Cheshire Constabulary)
A drug dealer who hid wraps of crack cocaine inside a box of jalapenos has been jailed.
Kayne Kennedy, of Oldham, was stopped by two officers as he was leaving a café on Orford Lane in Warrington on Tuesday, April 23, last year.
The 20-year-old, of Whitland Drive, attempted to run away but failed.
He then hurled a box of jalapenos he was carrying onto the floor.
The officers found 36 individual wraps of crack cocaine concealed inside the box worth a total of £360.
Kennedy pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine.
Police said Kennedy transported crack cocaine from Oldham to Warrington.
He was sentenced to 30 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court.
Passenger put knife to taxi driver's throat and said 'give me everything or I will kill you'
(Image: GMP)
A taxi driver had a knife put to his throat and was told 'give me everything or I will kill you'.
Andrew Smith, 35, has been jailed for three years and seven months after he subjected the taxi driver to the 'terrifying' ordeal.
Manchester Crown Court heard that just before midnight on May 16 last year, the driver was called to a job in Altrincham.
Two men, one of which was Smith, got in and asked to be taken to a property not too far away, prosecutor Brian Williams said.
After arriving, the pair got back in and said they wanted to go back to the location where they were picked up originally.
The other man got out during the journey, leaving Smith alone with the driver.
The driver, who was becoming concerned about whether the fare was going to be paid, confronted Smith.
Smith said 'he would sort it out'.
He then asked to be taken to another address in Altrincham, where the driver assumed he would get his fare.
But while Smith was in the car he produced the blade, which the driver described as a 'large kitchen knife'.
Smith, of Cravens Drive, Altrincham, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, and possessing a knife.
Drunk who urinated on cenotaph in St Peter's Square and called police 'fat pigs' is branded 'social menace' and jailed
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A drunk who urinated on the cenotaph was branded a 'social menace' as he was jailed.
Mark Smith, 58, was spotted on CCTV by council staff urinating on the war memorial in St Peter's Square.
Members of the public went over to challenge him, but he was aggressive towards them.
He was abusive to police, calling them 'fat pigs'.
The next morning, after spending the night in the cells, Smith spat on a female detention officer.
Smith told her: "See, I told you I'd get you, foul f****** wh***'.
Now Smith, formerly of Rochdale, has been locked up for two-and-a-half years for a drink and drug fuelled crime spree.
Smith, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence.
'Mean' cousins took advantage of 'vulnerable' man and stole his possessions
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Two 'mean' cousins who took advantage of a 'vulnerable' man have been locked up.
Owen Lawrence, 40, and Paul McDonagh, 36, have both been jailed for two years after they targeted a man with mental health issues.
They told him to buy drugs for them, and started hanging around his flat.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that he watched on helplessly as the pair stole his bike, Xbox and a laptop worth a total of £1,200 from his home in Ramsbottom, Bury, after claiming that he owed them money.
The court heard that he was 'intimated' by Lawrence and McDonagh.
In the weeks prior to the incident in January, the pair would play games on his Xbox and smoke cigarettes.
Prosecuting, Kate Gaskell said that the victim 'didn't really want the men in his flat', but that he 'felt intimidated' by them.
After they asked him to buy drugs, including cocaine, he 'felt he couldn't say no'.
Lawrence, of Edgar Street, Ramsbottom, and McDonagh, of no fixed address, both pleaded guilty to burglary.
A five year restraining order was also imposed.
Man who killed girlfriend is such a 'danger to society' he's now been detained at a secure hospital for life
A 'controlling and possessive' man who killed his girlfriend has been detained for life.
Mum-of-four Pamela Ann Melor, 55, was strangled and the victim of a sustained and brutal assault at a flat in Handforth, Cheshire.
Last month her boyfriend Matthew Bolland, 44, from Wilmslow, was found to be responsible for her death by a jury.
And a judge ruled that he should be detained at a secure hospital for the rest of his life.
He was deemed to be unfit to enter a plea or stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday February 13 due to mental health issues.
So instead of being asked to rule on whether or not Bolland was guilty of murder, after hearing all of the evidence the jury had to decide whether or not he was responsible for her unlawful killing.
And they last month reached a unanimous verdict that he was.
He was sentenced at Chester Crown Court this week where Judge Steven Everett said he was a "danger to society."
He ordered Bolland be detained at a secure hospital for the rest of his life.
He forced her to drink 'like a dog': The vile boyfriend who tried to blame his domestic violence on girlfriend's abortion
(Image: GMP)
A jealous thug blamed a month long catalogue of domestic violence on his girlfriend's decision to abort her child.
Jayden Knight, 27, who said the decision affected his mental health, has now been locked up for 22 months.
During the several incidents, Knight spat at the woman and pulled her trousers down, as well as attacking her.
He also threw a can of lager over her, and 'forced her to lap up' a drink from the floor 'like a dog'.
Judge Elizabeth Nicholls told Knight, who has previous convictions in relation to other former partners: "You are a liability in the context of domestic violence."
Knight, from Middleton, admitted four offences of battery, one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and three of criminal damage, which happened at their home in north Manchester between December 5 last year and January 8 this year.
The judge accepted Knight, of Seatoller Drive, Middleton, had a 'dysfunctional upbringing' but said he needs help to 'address the underlying issues' of his behaviour.
'I'm not a bad person' says crack addict granddad, 40, who stole THOUSANDS of pounds from Manchester city centre bars
A granddad who burgled five well-known Manchester bars and restaurants insisted "I'm not a bad person" in a grovelling apology to a judge before being jailed.
John Rixon, 40, said an addiction to crack cocaine led him to break into the venues in a thieving spree which spanned several months and saw businesses lose over £20,0000 in total.
And despite insisting he was now clean and had "changed" in a personal plea to the court dad-of-five Rixon, from Openshaw, was jailed for 11 months.
All of the burglaries happened late at night or in the early hours when the premises were closed with the most recent one, at the Peaky Blinders bar, occurring during the lockdown period where all bars and other public venues have been ordered to shut, prosecutors said.
Rixon, of Ashton Old Road, Openshaw, pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary at earlier hearings.
And he admitted a further count of burglary just before a trial was due to start at Manchester Magistrates court.
However District Judge John McGarva said the nature of the offences meant he could only hand out an immediate prison sentence.
Alongside his 49 jail week term he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £149.
Boom! Man who hid FOUR KILOS of cocaine under his bed is jailed - but at least he was honest about it
(Image: GMP)
A man who hid four kilos of cocaine under his bed in his home in Moston has been jailed.
Daniel Norris, 32, was found with four blocks of the class A drug in his bedroom - which would each be worth between £28,000 and 55,000 if sold as a kilo.
Police conducted a raid at his address on Weston Avenue on December 10 last year after receiving intelligence from the community.
An officer asked Norris if he had any cash or drugs inside the house.
Norris then told the officer: “It’s under the bed.”
Norris pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled class A drug with intent and was jailed for three years and eight months at Manchester Crown Court.
Reveller produced a 'terrifying' knife when refused entry to city centre nightclub
(Image: GMP)
A reveller produced a 'terrifying' knife when he was refused entry to a city centre nightclub.
Domario Lindo, also known as Simeon Nelson, has been jailed following the incident last month prior to the lockdown.
Lindo, 25, from Old Trafford, claimed he took out the knife to 'scare the doorman off'.
Lindo has a previous conviction for possessing a knife five years ago, for which he received a community order.
Sentencing, Judge Cross told Lindo there was a 'risk of serious harm' being caused by the presence of the knife.
Lindo, of Lime Grove, Old Trafford, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and resisting a constable.
He was jailed for two years and three months.
Her son murdered her boyfriend, she tried to cover it up - now this mum's in prison
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A mother who tried to cover up the fact her son had murdered her boyfriend has been jailed.
Nancy Smith, 48, has been locked up for perverting the course of justice, after she came up with an 'elaborate' story to try and deflect the police's attention away from her son Bernard Ward, then 17.
Ward, now 18, was found guilty of murder after stabbing Smith's partner, 52-year-old Vincent Wilson, to the head following a row in the house they shared on Silverdale Avenue in Irlam, Salford.
She pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice in November last year, and was waiting to be sentenced following her son's trial.
After being convicted of murder last month, he was sentenced to the youth equivalent of life - detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure for a minimum of 11 years.
She should have been sentenced at the same time, but a warrant was issued for her arrest after she changed her address and failed to maintain contact with her legal team.
The warrant was executed a week later, after she was found.
Now, appearing via video link from Styal prison in Cheshire, Smith, who was visibly emotional during the hearing, has been jailed for 18 months.
Smith, of Barrington Street, Clayton, admitted perverting the course of justice and a bail act offence.
His lawyer said he's a 'decent, hard-working man'... he snatched a woman's handbag and dragged her along the floor - before swiping cash from a newsagents
(Image: GMP)
A thug who snatched a woman's handbag and dragged her along to the floor during a 'cowardly' robbery has been locked up.
Karl Wilson, 46, attacked the woman in broad daylight in Altrincham town centre after she had been out shopping.
In another incident, Wilson stole a bundle of cash from the till of a newsagents in Salford, only to be chased and caught by the shopkeeper and a member of the public - who has now been recognised by a judge for his actions.
Wilson, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years and three months.
He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery; one count of burglary; and a bail act offence.
Drug dealer who scarpered when cops raided his house ran into a stranger's house and hid in their wardrobe - after dumping a shotgun
A drug dealer who ran away after police raided his home tried to hide in a wardrobe in a stranger's house, a court heard.
Officers armed with a warrant arrived at 19-year-old Brendan Vinter's home in Moston while he was 'working on the product', his lawyer said, packing brown powder and white rocks into small plastic bags.
He panicked and ran out of the property on Chinley Avenue, and made it to another house about 200 yards away on Edale Avenue, which was unlocked.
Police found Vinter hid in the wardrobe of an upstairs bedroom. The resident had 'no idea' that Vinter was there - and didn't know him.
During the chase, Vinter had dumped a shotgun.
But officers soon caught up with him and he was arrested and found with a knife.
They went back to his home and discovered 64 wraps of heroin, with a street value of £1,960, and 112 wraps of cocaine with a value of £2,620, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Cartridges capable being fired were also found in a pillowcase, and the shotgun was in working order.
Jailing Vinter for six years, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC told him: "You were involved in the business of drug dealing, albeit it may very well be that you were acting on the decisions of others.
"But you clearly played a significant role."
Vinter pleaded guilty to four offences.
They included one count of possession of a bladed article; one count of possession with intent to supply heroin; one count of possession with intent to supply cocaine and one count of possession of a shotgun in a public place.
The depraved predator who raped a mum in front of her terrified children
(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
Vile predator John Ward raped a young mum in front of her terrified children.
Ward, 24, has now been jailed for 12 years with extended licence period of four years after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and two counts of rape.
Ward first molested the victim as she walked the family dog with her young child along a street in Rochdale.
He told the youngster: "I'm your new dad.", Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
The young mum fled but was followed by Ward - who was drunk and high on cocaine - and forced his way inside her home.
Sick Ward then pushed her onto the stairs and covered her mouth with his hand as he carried out a series of sickening and violent sexual assaults on her.
He slammed a living room door on her terrified children who screamed in terror, one of them shouting in vain for Ward to 'get off' their mother as she was being attacked in the hallway.
Ward held the door shut and told the children 'I'm just talking to your mum."
His accomplice Aaron Farrell, 24, from Middleton, watched the rape through the kitchen window.
Both men then wiped their fingerprints from the front door handle.
The victim has never returned to her home since the horrific ordeal.
Ward, from Rochdale, was jailed for 12 years with extended licence period of four years after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and two counts of rape. He may apply for parole after eights years.
He has also placed on the sex offenders' register.
Farrell, of Parkfield, Middleton, was jailed for one year and nine months after he admitted perverting the course of justice.
He was told he would be released half way through his sentence.
Manchester man sent thousands of pounds to help fund Daesh fighters in Iraq and Syria
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Said Mohammed and his London-based associate Ayub Nurhussein sent approximately £2,700 to Islamist places of war.
The two men sent money via Denmark to contacts believed to be Iraq-supporting Daesh fighters in Iraq and Syria.
This occurred on three separate occasions between April and July 2019.
Mohammed, of Belvedere Road, Longsight,
They were both arrested for terrorism offences on Tuesday July 16, 2019.
At the time police seized large quantities of digital media, including mobile phones which revealed their plans around funding terrorism.
Mohammed, 30, of Belvedere Road, Longsight, has now been jailed at the Old Bailey for five years and three months.
Nurhussein, from Stockwell, was jailed for nine years and six months during a hearing at the Old Bailey.
Mohammed previously pleaded guilty to one count of arranging funds or property for the purposes of terrorism.
Nurhussein, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of the same charge during a trial.
He had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of possession of a document or record containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and three counts of disseminating terrorist material.
Their arrests came after an extensive investigation dating back to 2018 involving Counter Terrorism Police North-West (CTPNW) working alongside officers in London.
Manchester has become 'Spice capital of the north' as dealers continues to openly operate in lockdown
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The shocking reality of how Spice continues to be openly sold in Piccadilly Gardens even during the lockdown has been laid bare, as a judge said Manchester has become the 'Spice capital of the north'.
Just this week four Spice dealers have been locked up at separate Manchester Crown Court hearings.
"Manchester has acquired the unenviable tag of the Spice capital of the north," Judge Richard Mansell QC said, before jailing one of them.
Prosecutors told how one dealer, Mohammed Alneyeb, 32, could have earned up to £100,000 over two years by peddling Spice.
Alneyeb, who appeared to be shaking while on a video link from Forest Bank prison, was jailed for two years after admitting one count of possession with intent to supply Spice, and one count of supplying Spice.
Minutes earlier at the same court, 22-year-old Spice dealer Hussan Issa was locked up for 15 months and banned from Piccadilly Gardens for three years after a criminal behaviour was imposed.
(Image: GMP)
Issa had pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply Spice.
Judge Mansell locked up Daniel Jones, 36, from Oldham, who admitted the same offence as Issa.
Jones, who received a 12 month sentence, had come to the attention of police back in August 2018.
He was found with 15 half gram wraps of Spice, and a scrap of paper with a list of three people who owed him money for Spice.
Lamar Morton, 25, was jailed for three years and four months after he was caught dealing Spice again in Piccadilly Gardens, a short time after being released from prison.
Morton, who was found with about £1,000 of the drug the day before the lockdown was imposed, was told by a judge: "You simply will not learn your lesson."
Violent lag punched Forest Bank prison officer and launched 'flying kick' at another who was handing out toilet rolls
(Image: GMP)
A violent lag punched one prison officer who was trying to help him and launched a 'flying kick' on another officer who was handing out toilet rolls.
Marlon Finneran, 26, broke the nose of a prison officer at HMP Forest Bank in Salford.
Finneran, who was in a single cell due to his previous behaviour, started banging on the door and demanding a phone, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Following that incident, which happened in November 2018, Finneran went on to assault another prison officer at a different institution.
Then serving at HMP Risley in Warrington, Finneran was one of a number of prisoners who was being given toilet rolls by an officer before they were locked up for the afternoon, in August last year.
Finneran, of no fixed address, has more than 30 previous convictions, including for violence and assaulting prison officers.
Finneran was jailed for 18 months, after pleading guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of assault by beating on an emergency worker.
Thug asked hotel staff a chilling question before punching nurse in the face and swinging her around by her hair
(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
A drunken thug asked a hotel receptionist "what beer would you recommend having before killing someone?" before going on to attack his partner, a court heard.
Lee Cunliffe, 35, hit the mother of his child in the face whilst they were stood in the middle of a roundabout.
He then swung the nurse around by her hair as she desperately tried to escape before she was led to safety inside the hotel where they were staying.
Cunliffe was jailed for a year after a judge heard the woman had suffered "significant psychological damage" as well as her injuries.
Cunliffe, of Patterdale Avenue, Warrington, was arrested and charged and pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH).
Man jailed and banned from five hospitals after punching NHS worker and calling nurse a 'slag' during A&E rampage
A man who punched an NHS worker to the face and called a nurse a 'slag' after turning up at A&E following a drug overdose has been jailed.
Daniel Shelvin, 27, has also been banned from five of Greater Manchester's hospitals for five years, unless he needs life saving treatment or has an urgent appointment.
Shelvin was locked up for two years following the incident at Salford Royal Hospital on Sunday, March 29, at about 1.45pm.
He had been to A&E five times in the previous two weeks and was asking for help, Manchester Crown Court heard.
On the day of the incident he said he had taken an overdose of prescription medication.
A restraining order was imposed for five years, which means that Shelvin, of no fixed address, is banned from visiting Salford Royal Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, the Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield Hospital.
The judge said the order applies unless there is a situation which Shelvin 'reasonably believes threatens your life', or if he has an urgent appointment.
Judge hits out at 'nonsensical' excuse given by man caught trying to hide scalpel in Piccadilly Gardens
A judge hit out at the 'nonsensical' excuse given by a man who was caught trying to hide a scalpel in Piccadilly Gardens.
Ruben Willis, 25, claimed he was 'playing' with the weapon while he was out 'socialising' with his girlfriend the day before the lockdown was imposed, and as the Government was urging people to observe social distancing.
Manchester Crown Court heard that a police officer who had just arrested a man near Piccadilly Gardens had earlier seen Willis with the man.
As he approached Willis, the officer saw him try and hide something in the soil of a flowerbed, prosecutor Rachel Widdicombe said.
It was found to be a scalpel, which a judge described as an 'unusual looking implement with a very sharp looking blade'.
When challenged, Willis said: "It's not even mine, It's my girlfriend's, she uses it for microblading eyebrows."
Judge Goddard imposed an eight month jail term for breaching the suspended sentence, and a further six months for the offences on March 22.
He was jailed for a total of 14 months.
Willis, of HMP Forest Bank, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article and breaching a suspended sentence.
Controlling thug violently battered girlfriend in lockdown row then ordered her to wash blood from her face
(Image: GMP)
A "controlling" drunken thug attacked his girlfriend after they got into an argument about coronavirus a court heard.
Joseph Jones, 41, kicked, throttled and slapped his partner in her own flat during the "sustained" assault leaving her with two black eyes.
He then ordered her to wash her own blood from her face.
She was only able to raise the alarm the following morning when he left the flat to buy more booze.
Jones, who has a record of domestic violence, has now been jailed for 16 months by a judge who said he was a danger to others.
Jones, of Range Road, Shaw Heath, Stockport, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) at an earlier hearing.
He has previous convictions for domestic violence in 2017 and 2016 including against his current partner.
The victim was present in the public gallery at the hearing where the defendant and all legal counsel appeared via videolink.
Dealer who sold through 'Ali' drugs line in Bury is jailed
A dealer who had been selling heroin and cocaine via a dedicated 'drugs line' in Bury has been jailed.
Grant Hothersall, 41, was caught as part of an operation to crack down on dealing in and around the town centre.
Dad-of-two Hothersall, who told the court he is himself an addict, sold an undercover police officer hard drugs on numerous occasions and was caught with £400 worth of heroin and crack on him after being arrested.
Officers found a phone linked to the line the drugs were sold through had made over 300 contacts with other numbers and estimate around £23,000 worth of narcotics could have been sold over just a month period.
He's now been jailed by a judge who said drug dealing brought misery to the people of the town.
Hothersall, of Pear Avenue, Bury pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and ten counts of supplying Class A drugs.
He was sentenced via a videolink from prison with legal counsel appearing via Skype at the hearing from Minshull Street Crown Court.
Judge John Potter jailed him for three years and four months.
The £4million lottery scratchcard 'winner' who headbutted his girlfriend... then bombarded her with terrifying calls while in custody
A Bolton man headbutted his girlfriend and then bombarded her with calls and letters from custody demanding that she did not testify against him in court.
Mark Goodram, of Rowena Street, Moses Gate, had been spending time with his then-girlfriend and a few friends on the evening of September 25 last year.
The 37-year-old had been smoking crack and the victim had been drinking cider, prosecution barrister Daniel Calder told Minshull Street Crown Court.
Last April, Goodram and a friend 'won' £4m on a scratchcard, before being told they would not receive the money due to suspicions around the debit card used to buy it.
Defending Goodram, who has 23 convictions for 46 offences, Hugh Barton said that while the 37-year-old has a lengthy criminal record, most of the crimes are 'dishonesty' and that the attack was "out of character".
Goodram has since pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.
Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Goodram to 25 months imprisonment - 20 months for GBH and five months for perverting the course of justice, to be served consecutively.
Judge Smith also issued a restraining order against Goodram contacting the victim for three years.
Appearing by video link from Forest Bank prison, Goodram acknowledged the restraining order and said: "that's fine."
Criminals caught in affluent village with hi-tech equipment used to steal expensive cars following 'succession' of thefts
Two criminals were caught in an affluent village with hi-tech equipment which can be used to steal expensive cars.
Vadim Muntean, 31, and Semion Lazur, 28, were stopped in the early hours by police in Woodford, Stockport, near the former British Aerospace site.
Police had launched a surveillance operation following a 'succession' of burglaries and thefts of cars, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Muntean, from Ancoats, and Lazur, from Crumpsall, were spotted by an officer at about 2.20am, on October 30 last year.
Muntean, of Naval Street, Ancoats, was sentenced to 10 months, and Lazur, of Polygon Road, Crumpsall, to eight months.
They both pleaded guilty to one offence of going equipped.
As their time on remand counts towards their sentence, the judge said it was likely that both would be released from prison immediately.
The judge said the Home Office would decide whether or not the pair would be deported.
The 'experienced' dealer who advertised his drugs as the 'best in Bury'
(Image: GMP)
An 'experienced' dealer caught peddling crack cocaine and heroin for a second time is beginning another spell behind bars.
Numan Javed, 24, sent out texts on a burner phone advertising his drugs as the 'best in Bury'.
Javed has now been locked up for four-and-a-half years.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Javed came to the attention of police on Kestrel Drive, on Bury's Dicky Bird estate.
A resident had called police saying that Javed and another man were outside his front door.
Javed said they had gone to 'remonstrate' with the resident over the alleged theft of a mobile phone.
A Kia car was parked nearby, which Javed denied any connection with. The keys had been discarded nearby.
Within the car police found 127 wraps of heroin, and 74 wraps of cocaine, with a potential street value of £1,880.
On the back seat, there was also a black rucksack containing a set of scales which had white powder on them, later found to be cocaine.
Javed was arrested, and while he was in custody his burner phone received a number of messages and calls.
He later pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply heroin, and one count of possession with intent to supply cocaine.
Sentencing, Judge Mark Savill described Javed, of New Cateaton Street, Bury, as an 'experienced dealer in class A drugs'.
'Off his face'... the man who went on Metrolink with a terrifying weapon and said he was 'going to f****** stab everyone' and blow up Manchester
A prolific criminal found with a 'terrifying weapon' on the Metrolink said he was 'going to f****** stab everyone' and threatened to 'blow up Manchester'.
Mark Brooks, 45, a grandfather, said he was 'off his face' when he subjected tram users to the horrific incident, including a mum and her two young children.
Her seven-year-old daughter said she is too frightened to get on a tram again, following her ordeal in Wythenshawe.
Brooks said he has spent 25 years in prison, and wants help for his alcohol addiction.
But Judge Cross sentenced him to three years in prison.
Brooks, of Fraser Road, Crumpsall, pleaded guilty to criminal damage, using threatening or insulting words or behaviour with the intent to cause fear of violence, possession of a bladed article and breaching a suspended sentence.
Bungling burglars made daft mistake during break-in - and ended up being caught... their accomplice was a little more savvy
Two bungling burglars uncovered their faces inside a woman's home after breaking in - only to realise there were also CCTV cameras inside.
The victim was away on holiday when Sam Taylor and Kaylen Perry, both 20, broke into her home in Bamford, Rochdale, causing about £4,500-worth of damage.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard the woman's home had been burgled twice previously - so she decided to install CCTV cameras outside and inside.
(Image: GMP)
Taylor, Perry and another man - who has not been identified - broke into the property at around 1.45pm on March 8, by forcing the patio door open and smashing the glass.
A handbag and a money tin were stolen.
Taylor, of Coverdale Close, Rochdale, was jailed for two years, and Perry, of no fixed address, was jailed for 16 months.
They both pleaded guilty to burglary.
Taylor also admitted one count of attempted burglary; one count of allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle; and one count of possessing cannabis.