Birmingham Crown Court Sentencing Results

Sarweeth Rehman, imprisoned with Ameran Zeb Khan, assisted in conspiring to acquire firearms and ammunition by obtaining illicit phones, researching weapons, and using code words to communicate with external gang members between July and September 2018.

Tomas Krapauskas, 48, of Ilford, Essex, was part of a gang that used sophisticated methods to steal more than 70 high-value vehicles worth an estimated £2 million across the UK, including Derbyshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Cleveland, London, and primarily Staffordshire, between March and October 2023. The gang employed signal jamming equipment and dismantled vehicles in workshops for parts.

Darren Lee Wilkinson, 39, of HMP Ranby, Nottinghamshire, was part of a gang that used sophisticated methods to steal more than 70 high-value vehicles worth an estimated £2 million across the UK, including Derbyshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Cleveland, London, and primarily Staffordshire, between March and October 2023. The gang employed signal jamming equipment and dismantled vehicles in workshops for parts.

Sarunas Svagzdys, 43, of Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, was part of a gang that used sophisticated methods to steal more than 70 high-value vehicles worth an estimated £2 million across the UK, including Derbyshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Cleveland, London, and primarily Staffordshire, between March and October 2023. The gang employed signal jamming equipment and dismantled vehicles in workshops for parts.

Raimondas Micieka, 38, of Dagenham, Essex, was part of a gang that used sophisticated methods to steal more than 70 high-value vehicles worth an estimated £2 million across the UK, including Derbyshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Cleveland, London, and primarily Staffordshire, between March and October 2023. The gang employed signal jamming equipment and dismantled vehicles in workshops for parts.

Nerijus Svedas, 34, of Rainham, Essex, was part of a gang that used sophisticated methods to steal more than 70 high-value vehicles worth an estimated £2 million across the UK, including Derbyshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Cleveland, London, and primarily Staffordshire, between March and October 2023. The gang employed signal jamming equipment and dismantled vehicles in workshops for parts.

Aden Wright was driving a VW Golf when he struck and fatally injured the 29-year-old victim on Burleigh Road, Wolverhampton. The hit-and-run occurred as Wright was attempting a getaway from a drug deal that went wrong. Detectives found he had tried to use other occupants in the car to purchase drugs on his behalf with fraudulent money, and when the fake cash was discovered, he drove away rapidly. Wright stopped briefly to pick up a passenger but then drove off, leaving the victim in the road. The victim later died in hospital. Following the collision, Wright took calculated steps to cover up his crime, including enlisting others to move the vehicle, changing the ownership into someone else's name, and trying to get family members to help frame that person as the driver. Despite strong evidence linking him to the driver's seat, Wright maintained to police that another person was driving.

Shoaib Iqbal, a 40-year-old Mitie worker from Glenpark Road, Saltley, forged 85 training certificates for 38 employees, including 8 supervisors, to cover up his failure to conduct essential refresher training required every 13 months for airport security staff. The incident came to light in December 2022 following a whistleblowing report to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Audits in January 2023 revealed incomplete records and discrepancies in handwriting. Iqbal initially claimed administrative laziness and later a printing delay, but investigations confirmed the forgeries. The breach risked catastrophic consequences for airport security, potentially leading to the shutdown of operations. He resigned on February 6, 2023, after being informed of the criminal investigation.

Armed police raided Carl Walker's home in Kings Norton on March 14, 2025, discovering a secret stash of over 50 knives including hunting knives and a flick-knife, a samurai sword hidden under the mattress, knives concealed in the bed, a crossbow with bolts, blow-pipes with darts, an instruction manual for manufacturing a homemade 9mm sub-machine gun, a partially manufactured 3D-printable semi-automatic 9mm firearm hidden in a wardrobe, and 9mm bullets with components and tools to complete the weapon.

Joe Whyley, 40, was involved in facilitating the supply of 40 kilograms of cocaine as part of the multi-million pound operation in the West Midlands.

Steven Woolridge, 40, from Coventry, aka 'Big Wolf' or 'Mr Wolf', orchestrated the supply of hundreds of kilos of cocaine from London and Bedfordshire to the West Midlands using vans, collected debts, and acted as a conduit between UK dealers and overseas organisations. He was the 11th person jailed in the operation, which involved over 100 years of total jail time.

Joshua Johnson, a 28-year-old failed breeder in Wolverhampton, neglected and caused the deaths of five dogs by starvation in his home, where floors were covered in faeces and there was no food or water. Four other dogs, including a Cane Corso named Panther described as a 'walking skeleton', were rescued in a severely emaciated state (body score 1/9) after suffering for at least two to three weeks. The dead dogs were found in a garage, shed, and shipping container, with post-mortems on two indicating death from sepsis due to starvation. Johnson initially lied to RSPCA inspectors on June 7, 2023, posing as a friend, but admitted ownership. He blamed mental health issues and deaths of family members but continued using drugs and alcohol while ignoring rehoming options.

On October 29, 2024, at Heartlands Hospital car park in Birmingham, Aprile Rogan, aged 33 from Tackford Close, Solihull, blocked a victim trying to pull out into traffic, opened her car door onto the victim's bumper causing criminal damage, and later, when confronted, drove her car towards the victim knocking her down. The victim suffered bruising, swelling to arm and hip, and a possible fracture. Rogan claimed she felt scared and accidentally hit the victim while driving away.

In March 2024, RSPCA investigated a complaint about the welfare of JJ, a male Doberman, including an eye condition, after previous welfare notices were ignored. JJ was found tethered in an empty bathtub, visually impaired with eye discharge, thin with prominent ribs, hip bones, and spine. He was at risk of choking and had no comfortable laying area. The couple failed to investigate his weight loss, poor body condition, and provide veterinary care for his eye condition, causing irritation and pain. JJ was signed over to RSPCA but developed abdominal disease and was euthanized.

In March 2024, RSPCA investigated a complaint about the welfare of JJ, a male Doberman, including an eye condition, after previous welfare notices were ignored. JJ was found tethered in an empty bathtub, visually impaired with eye discharge, thin with prominent ribs, hip bones, and spine. He was at risk of choking and had no comfortable laying area. The couple failed to investigate his weight loss, poor body condition, and provide veterinary care for his eye condition, causing irritation and pain. JJ was signed over to RSPCA but developed abdominal disease and was euthanized.

On April 21, 2025, an initial disturbance occurred on Egghill Lane involving a group of young males wearing masks and balaclavas, arguing while carrying machetes. Approximately 90 minutes later, at 10pm, as an Audi, Range Rover, and Nissan drove along Boleyn Road near the junction of Jubilee Road, a group of males including Kaye were seen near the junction. One male pointed an item towards one of the cars, causing the cars to turn around and return. Kaye fired an imitation firearm towards the vehicles, with a muzzle flash visible on CCTV. Two gunshots were then fired from the vehicles towards the group. Kaye was shot in the arm, requiring surgery to remove around 20 pellets, some too embedded to extract. He was holding the gun and shouting 'Oi he shot me man' immediately after.

Thangavelu Radhakrishnam, aged 39, from Sutton Coldfield, targeted a 12-year-old girl's account on the Chatiw website using the profile 'I am untouched' on May 27, 2025. He switched to WhatsApp, sent explicit messages, an image and video of himself performing a sex act, and links to bestiality videos and a woman performing a sex act. He suggested a private massage, offered to visit her, commented she would be sexy when adult, and asked about having sex with her mother. The account was operated by an undercover operative who reported to police. Police tracked the device, seized two mobile phones, and arrested him at work. He had arrived in the UK from India in November 2022 as an engineer for better prospects but lost his £36,000 savings and was under pressure to send money home.

Sohail Hussain, aged 46, of Oldbury, was associated with 'UK Gladiators' and ran a subscription website 'Team Gladiatorz' providing fight reports and advertising dogs. He bought dogs from inside and outside the UK for fighting, provided dogs for fights, and organised events. Messages revealed discussions on breeding and selling 'killer dogs' and expanding operations into Europe. He participated in dog fighting on a significant scale involving bull breeds pitted against each other for hours.

Asif Ali, aged 33, of Alum Rock, was involved in the 'On Smoke Kennels' (OSK) brand, training dogs out of a basement at an address in Alum Rock, which was also used to host dog fights lasting hours. He advertised and promoted events through OSK. He kept four fighting dogs between October 2022 and September 2023, three of which suffered injuries. One of his dogs, named Roxy, was killed following one fight. Scales, a treadmill, harness, and an area for holding fights were found in the basement, some fights recorded on video. Two rescued dogs had multiple scarring and puncture wounds.

Fasheeh Ahmed, aged 24, of Handsworth, was part of a Birmingham gang that attempted to import over £280,000 worth of heroin hidden in the walls of a pressure cooker sent to a business in Formans Road, Sparkhill. The parcel was intercepted by customs on July 24, 2023, and allowed to proceed for a controlled delivery. Ahmed was arrested along with associates after picking up the package. A search of a linked flat revealed nearly half a kilo of heroin, cutting agents, £15,000 in cash, and several phones. The total value of the heroin seized was approximately £458,000.

Gurmeet Handa, 52, from Little Aston, Birmingham, orchestrated a sophisticated money laundering operation that moved more than £5.3million. He purchased nearly 30 properties using funds from numerous bank accounts, including those based outside the UK, despite declaring little or no income to HMRC. The operation was uncovered after West Midlands Police seized £30,000 in cash in Alum Rock, Birmingham, in 2016, leading to a complex investigation involving the Regional Economic Crime Unit, West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit, and HMRC.

Callum Bennett, of Sheldon, carried out three vicious attacks on Broad Street, Birmingham. On January 1, 2025, he punched and kicked a teenage ex-boyfriend of a friend from behind at least seven times, breaking his jaw, requiring surgery at Good Hope Hospital. On January 24, 2025, he punched a teenage love rival three times in the face at the same venue, causing bruising, due to past involvement with the same girl. On February 23, 2025, he chased and struck a man from behind, believing he groped a girl, causing the victim to fall unconscious, suffer a fractured skull, broken jaw, brain bleeding, and a several-day coma. Bennett was captured on CCTV for the first two incidents and incriminated by boastful voice notes on his phone for the third. He was arrested the day after the third attack.

On March 20, 2025, Adrian Hay, known to the victim as 'Bart', arrived at the victim's HMO on Pershore Road with Mohammed Banaras. Hay was shouting and holding a metal bar, which he used to punch the victim in the head. The victim, who had been out shopping and returned to the shared sitting room, was also struck repeatedly with a gas canister by Banaras. The cameras at the address had been deliberately moved beforehand. The victim was knocked unconscious, stamped and kicked, and suffered severe injuries including a cut to his eye, multiple skull fractures, and brain bleeding. He was hospitalized for three weeks in an induced coma. Additionally, Hay was sentenced for possession of 116 wraps of crack cocaine worth over £1,000, seized in September 2022.

On March 20, 2025, Mohammed Banaras accompanied Adrian Hay to the victim's HMO on Pershore Road. While Hay used a metal bar, Banaras wielded a gas canister to strike the victim repeatedly in the head. The cameras at the address had been deliberately moved beforehand. The victim, who had been out shopping and returned to the shared sitting room, was knocked unconscious, stamped and kicked, and suffered severe injuries including a cut to his eye, multiple skull fractures, and brain bleeding. He was hospitalized for three weeks in an induced coma. The motive for the attack remains a mystery.

Waqar Khan was involved in a gang that stole more than 40 cars, primarily BMWs and other expensive models, from Birmingham and Solihull between January and July of the previous year. The group loitered on streets and car parks to target vehicles, shared photos and videos of the stolen cars on WhatsApp and Snapchat, contacted victims to blackmail them into buying back their own cars, removed trackers from vehicles, and sold them to buyers across the UK, including one from Middlesbrough.

Bilal Khan participated in a gang that stole over 40 cars from Birmingham and Solihull between January and July of the previous year. The group targeted expensive models, shared videos and photos on social media platforms, attempted to blackmail victims, removed vehicle trackers, and sold the cars, including contacting buyers nationwide.

Mohammed Akleem Ali was involved in a gang that stole more than 40 cars from Birmingham and Solihull between January and July of the previous year. The group stole vehicles by loitering in streets and car parks, shared evidence on social media, blackmailed victims to buy back their cars, removed trackers, and sold the vehicles to buyers across the UK.

Susan Wilson, along with Ian Wilson, operated an illegal puppy farm from their two-bedroom house in Hednesford, Cannock, between 2017 and 2019, breeding mainly Chihuahuas and German Shepherds. They sold puppies online, claiming they were family pets, and made approximately £105,000. The house was in rancid conditions, with around 60 dogs kept in faeces and urine, and they used hormone drugs to increase breeding productivity without veterinary care. The operation was described as the worst case of animal neglect by environmental health officers.