Bolton Crown Court Sentencing Results

Dale Hosker, 50, a dog breeder from Salford, was involved in an organised crime group that imported cocaine through Manchester Airport using American couriers. On 11 May 2024, couriers flew from the US, collected suitcases containing cocaine sent from Cancun, Mexico, and transferred them to Hosker and others at a nearby hotel. Hosker collected 40kg of cocaine that day. A further 266kg were smuggled on 31 May, but most was seized by Border Force. Hosker was arrested on 17 June 2025 after a National Crime Agency investigation. He pleaded guilty to smuggling cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Elton Hallaci, 32, was part of an organised crime group that collected large amounts of cocaine from American couriers at Manchester Airport and sold it on across the country. On 11 May 2024 he collected 100kg of cocaine. He was arrested on 17 June 2025. Officers found ledgers and cars fitted with hidden compartments used for drug smuggling.

Artur Iseberi, 27, was part of an organised crime group that collected large amounts of cocaine from American couriers at Manchester Airport and sold it on across the country. On 11 May 2024 he collected 100kg of cocaine. He was arrested on 17 June 2025 after attempting to escape over a roof. Officers found ledgers and cars fitted with hidden compartments used for drug smuggling.

Alan Fawcett ran an illegal money lending operation in the Greater Manchester area, targeting vulnerable people via online sales of games consoles. He lent around £100,000 to 72 borrowers between 2021 and 2023, charging at least 50% interest and receiving £130,000 in repayments. When borrowers struggled to repay, he made threats, causing fear for themselves and families. One borrower saw debt increase by 500% in two months. Arrested following warrant at his Wigan address on 15 February 2023.

During a stoppage in an under-18s rugby match between Bolton RUFC and Rochdale RUFC in October 2021, Antonio Embalo lost his temper and kicked rival player the victim in the head more than once from behind, causing severe facial injuries, a six-minute seizure, post-concussion syndrome, and requiring hospital treatment. The incident occurred while the referee had halted play due to rising tensions.

Ian Beeby, a 71-year-old from Bolton, was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order following his release from prison for prior sexual offences. In July 2025, concerns from the National Probation Service led to his arrest after he engaged in conversation with male children who were filming themselves for a YouTube channel in Manchester city centre. He was identified in a video posted by the children’s family, charged with breaching his order, and sentenced after a court appearance.

Daniel Rowe, a maths teacher in the Greater Manchester area, formed an inappropriately close relationship with a student. In summer 2015, after a senior colleague warned him about working alone with the student, he began messaging the victim in secret. He groomed the teenager, told her not to date other boys, encouraged her to attend a university where he had connections, and said he wanted to date her when she left school. He then sexually abused her over FaceTime by encouraging her to undress on camera and engage in sexual activity. The offending took place between April 2015 and July 2016, when the victim was 16 to 17 years old. He was arrested on 12 April 2021 and later convicted after trial.

Paul Sixsmith was involved in a neighbourhood brawl outside Thornbank Flats in Deane on May 3, 2025. He was seen on video fighting with another male, and his partner intervened with a knife. No injuries were reported as the other parties did not provide statements to the police. He has a history of criminal offences, including those involving weapons, and drug abuse may have contributed to the incident.

Michelle Gibson participated in a neighbourhood brawl outside Thornbank Flats in Deane on May 3, 2025. She emerged from her flat, saw her partner being attacked, and produced a kitchen knife, waving it around and attempting to stab someone to scare them away. No injuries were reported, as the other parties did not provide statements. She was arrested the next day with a small wrap of heroin and has a history of criminal offences, including those involving weapons, exacerbated by drug use.

Josh Jackson, 34, of Wildman Lane, Farnworth, conspired with others to steal motor vehicles and ran a chop shop operation involving three known locations between September 2019 and February 2021.

Kian Monks, a 22-year-old former Wigan Athletic youth footballer, was riding an e-bike with another man on Orrell Road in Wigan on August 1, 2023, when they struck the victim, a pensioner, who was crossing the road. The impact propelled her into the air, resulting in compound fractures to her left leg, broken bones in both arms, multiple broken ribs, and severe facial injuries from hitting the pavement. Monks and the other rider fled the scene, but Monks was pursued and restrained by witnesses. He only held a provisional licence and had no insurance for the e-bike.

Laszlo Matus was involved in a UK-wide trafficking network, living with four young Hungarian women victims, monitoring their movements, and transporting them to brothels in towns and cities including Bolton, Blackburn, Preston, Oldham, and Birmingham. The women were advertised for sexual services online, and payments were made into Matus's bank account before being forwarded to the ringleaders. The operation involved coercing the women through financial dependence, intimidation, violence, and threats of violence.

Louis Lilly engaged in illegal sexual contact with a minor between February 7 and April 3, 2024.

Louis Vickers attacked his victim, causing grievous bodily harm, though the exact circumstances were not detailed beyond the charge.

Liam Patrick Deeney entered his mother's property on Thornton Road, Tyldesley, Wigan, through a back window on May 21, 2023, while she was away in Blackpool. He stole food and alcohol from the fridge and started two fires—one in the wardrobes in the bedroom and one on an armchair in the living room. The blaze caused £35,000 in damage and destroyed his mother's belongings, including sentimental items such as medals, clothing, jewellery, and old pictures.

Ian Carrington possessed two flick knives, a BB gun, and a knuckleduster, was involved in a disturbance, and perverted the course of justice, all on December 7, 2023.

Andrew Taylor, 58, of Lilian Drive, Whitley, failed to produce electronic devices for police examination on December 19, in breach of a sexual harm prevention order imposed in June 2016.

Esmaeel Mohamed towered over his victim in a sickening attack, stabbing him after the incident was captured, leading to his conviction.

Louisa Tunstall was driving a white Fiat 500 on Newton Road in Lowton, Wigan, on May 24, 2024, while under the influence of nitrous oxide, which she had inhaled through a balloon. She veered onto the pavement, striking a 51-year-old pedestrian and causing the car to overturn, resulting in life-changing injuries to the victim. Investigations confirmed no vehicle defects contributed to the crash, and Tunstall admitted to taking her eyes off the road.

Ryan Schofield of Whiteacre Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, befriended his victim online and subjected her to controlling and coercive behaviour, horrific physical and sexual abuse, including assault, rape, threats to kill, and false imprisonment between March and October 2022. Evidence of the abuse was found on his phone after his arrest for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Hugh Nelson used artificial intelligence tools to manipulate normal photographs of real children into indecent images of child sexual abuse, which he sold online for approximately £5,000 over an 18-month period or shared for free. He operated through internet chatrooms on the 'clean web', accepted requests to create explicit images depicting children being sexually and physically harmed, and encouraged the rape of children via online discussions. His activities involved exchanging images with individuals in other countries, and police investigations identified potential victims and offenders globally.

On 3 June 2024, Ryan Breheny, 48, from Wigan, called emergency services just after 6.15pm, complaining about the NHS and making threats to execute hospital staff using an AK-47, chemicals, and bombs. Less than an hour later, he sent two threatening emails to an MP's constituency office containing threats to kill the MP, distressing the office manager. Police attended his address that evening; he greeted them with a loaded crossbow, which he dropped after being ordered to do so. Further weapons including slingshots, rifles, a baton, and a machete were seized from his home. In his police interview, he admitted the communications but claimed no intention to carry out the threats.

On 20 December 2022, Ruth Auta, a 28-year-old nurse, left her ten-week-old son the victim home alone in her nurses' accommodation at Royal Bolton Hospital while she went to work her shift starting shortly after 6.30am. She returned over eight hours later at 3.13pm. At 3.24pm, she called an ambulance reporting that her son was not breathing. Despite resuscitation attempts, the victim was pronounced dead at 4.40pm. Experts could not confirm the cause of death; he was healthy but may have overheated due to layers of clothing and bedding, though other causes could not be ruled out. Auta initially lied to police, claiming she had collected the victim from a childminder after work, fed him, placed him on her bed, and fell asleep next to him, waking to find him unresponsive. CCTV showed her leaving alone at 6.47am and returning alone. Messages on her phone asked the childminder to lie about caring for the victim that day, but the childminder confirmed she had not seen him for days. Auta gave no comment in her police interview and was released on bail. She was arrested on 6 June 2024 at Gatwick Airport attempting to board a one-way flight to Nigeria.

Shaun Vincent, a 36-year-old care worker from Wigan, Greater Manchester, abused his position of trust by committing sexual offences against a teenager unable to consent. He made unwanted sexual advances, used sexual language, and committed the offences. Following his arrest, he breached police bail conditions by continuing to contact the teenager, leading to him being brought before the court in custody where he has remained since charge. The case was built with eyewitness testimony, phone evidence of messages sent to the girl, and forensic evidence linking him to the victim.

Nigel Simpson was involved in violent disorder in Bolton town centre on August 4, 2024, during civil unrest. He was captured on CCTV charging at counter protesters while carrying an England flag, collecting items from the floor, and throwing a black object that hit a police officer. He was part of a group hurling items at police and opposing factions, and he later retreated with others.

Liam Walmsley, along with Kingsley Doring and Dylan Hogg, attended a property on Siddow Common armed with weapons on August 18, 2023, and demanded the victim accompany them. The victim was detained for more than eight hours, during which he was hit with a wooden weapon and an axe, and demands for money were made to his mother over the telephone.