Bradford Crown Court Sentencing Results

Kasey Fitton, aged 20, was arrested in February 2025 on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with four children outside the West Yorkshire Police force area. A subsequent investigation by Bradford Safeguarding Unit uncovered large-scale sexual offending, and in February 2026 he was charged with 16 counts of sexual communication with a child and 20 counts of making or possessing indecent images of children. Five child victims were identified. He admitted all offences at Bradford Crown Court.

In May 2023, Yasar Akhtar and his co-defendants lured two workers to business premises under the guise of company training. The workers were accused of stealing and, despite denying it, were forced to transfer money from their bank accounts. They were threatened not to report the incident to the police. Akhtar pleaded guilty to blackmail in June 2026.

In May 2023, Yousaf Akhtar and his co-defendants lured two workers to business premises under the guise of company training. The workers were accused of stealing and, despite denying it, were forced to transfer money from their bank accounts. They were threatened not to report the incident to the police. Akhtar pleaded guilty to blackmail in June 2026.

In May 2023, Haseeb Mahmood and his co-defendants lured two workers to business premises under the guise of company training. The workers were accused of stealing and, despite denying it, were forced to transfer money from their bank accounts. They were threatened not to report the incident to the police. Mahmood pleaded guilty to blackmail in June 2026.

Nadeem Khan deliberately drove a Nissan Juke at speed onto the pavement outside a casino in Bradford on 11 May, hitting bollards while attempting to seriously harm staff and customers. The incident was carried out in retaliation after Khan had been banned from the casino.

Peter Etherington acted as a director of PP Global Media Limited while disqualified between April 2019 and October 2022, despite other people being appointed as named directors. He controlled the company's bank account and key financial decisions, arranged a Bounce Back Loan, recruited individuals to director roles, and received more than £100,000 from the company account between December 2018 and January 2023. He had been disqualified as a company director on three separate occasions. He avoided an earlier court appearance by claiming to be in an induced coma, but investigators found he had not been in hospital.

Lee Symonds attacked an 82-year-old man during a road-rage incident on 4 August 2023 near Skipton. After the victim pulled onto the A59 at Carleton, Symonds drove alongside and tried to force him off the road, then overtook and braked sharply, causing a collision. Symonds got out, punched the victim multiple times to the head, and as the man slumped against his car, repeatedly slammed the car door into his head. Members of the public intervened and Symonds fled. The victim suffered multiple facial fractures, a displaced tooth and nerve damage, and later had two subdural haematomas requiring surgery.

Sohail Jahangir was driving a blue Audi Q2 near Ilkley, North Yorkshire, on 2 April 2023 when he overtook a vehicle that had slowed to allow a cyclist to turn right. He struck the cyclist mid-turn, throwing him into the air. The cyclist suffered blunt head injuries including skull fractures and died about an hour later. Jahangir initially denied the offence and blamed the cyclist, but pleaded guilty on the day of trial in May 2026. He also admitted dangerous driving in 2024 following a police pursuit and drug supply offences in 2025.

Neil Allsopp, 48, of Mixenden, Halifax, subjected a woman to a campaign of terror, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, assault and strangulation. He poured bleach on her, leaving her feeling like she was on fire, and jumped on her with his knees, causing multiple fractures to her ribs, spine and breastbone. The victim was so badly beaten that a neighbour initially thought her disfigured face was a Halloween mask. Allsopp was using three to four bags of cocaine a day, and the victim genuinely feared he would kill her. The abuse came to light when she sought help at a neighbour's property.

Naveed Anjum was one of six men who groomed and sexually abused a vulnerable teenage victim in and around Halifax between 2006 and 2009, when the victim was aged between 13 and 15. The victim was often under the influence of alcohol or drugs given by the offenders. The offending came to light after the victim spoke to police in 2019.

Amazar Ali was one of six men who groomed and sexually abused a vulnerable teenage victim in and around Halifax between 2006 and 2009, when the victim was aged between 13 and 15. The victim was often under the influence of alcohol or drugs given by the offenders. The offending came to light after the victim spoke to police in 2019.

Muhammad Ali, then 19, of Lily Street, Bradford, backed up cousin Ibrahim Farooq's false story by claiming to be the driver of the stolen uninsured Shogun 4x4 involved in April 2024 collision, following a script provided by Farooq to exonerate him. Both interviewed by police and answered no comment.

Ibrahim Farooq, 22, of Hollingwood Lane, Bradford, was driving an uninsured Shogun 4x4 involved in a night-time collision with another vehicle in April 2024. Caught on dashcam and CCTV leaving the scene with passenger. Following day called 999 claiming vehicle stolen, completed form and statement identifying cousin Muhammad Ali as driver. Gave Ali chapter and verse on what to tell police.

Najam Shah spent over sixteen hours on the roof of Teledyne Defence and Space, systematically damaging it with sledgehammers, crowbars, and fire extinguishers alongside others. They arrived equipped, prepared, and determined to cause as much damage as possible, resulting in costs of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Ryan Coullie, a prolific sex offender, moved over 80 miles from Nottingham to Halifax for a 'fresh start' but continued his vile acts. In February 2026, West Yorkshire Police were informed of an account linked to him involved in sexualised online chats and sexual communications on the Kik app with a user in South Africa. He was arrested at an address in Elland that month, and his mobile phone was seized, revealing 27 indecent images of children as young as three. This occurred just two months after his previous protective orders expired in October 2025. He had prior convictions in October 2020 for possessing indecent images of children and attempting to sexually communicate with a child, for which he received a community order and had to register as a sex offender for five years.

Ayaan Rafiq, 31, of Castle Road, Keighley, repeatedly attempted to evade speeding penalties by falsely claiming his number plates had been stolen. He was first caught speeding in Shipley in May 2023 and contacted police with the false claim, leading to the case being dropped. Two months later, he used the same excuse after being caught speeding on the M1. Police investigation, including mobile phone analysis, confirmed he was driving the BMW at the times and locations of both offences. This demonstrated a deliberate and repeated attempt to mislead authorities.

Guiseppe Bottone was traced by police following a tip-off from another force and found to be involved in an online group trading child abuse material. Officers from Bradford District's Online Child Abuse Investigation Team raided his home, arrested him and seized multiple electronic devices. Investigators uncovered thousands of indecent images, including more than a thousand described as the most disturbing child abuse material. He was sentenced after admitting multiple offences of making and distributing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography.

David Masters, aged 46, was jailed for numerous child sex offences. Victims gave statements describing feeling directionless after his abuse.

Lee Venni, a 47-year-old drug addict from Cherrytree Grove, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, travelled 126 miles through the night to Bradford and set fire to a BMW car parked outside a family home in the early hours of June 25, 2025. He used a petrol can containing fuel, as captured on CCTV, destroying the vehicle completely and causing fire damage to a side door of the house, a nearby Lexus, and a stand-alone garage. The family, including the owner, his wife, and three children, were asleep inside and escaped after a neighbour alerted the fire service. Venni, a disqualified and uninsured driver, believed the act was part of an insurance fraud to escape drug-related debt. The incident had substantial financial and psychological impacts, leaving the children in shock five months later and destroying the family's sense of safety at home. The BMW had been recently purchased for £10,000 to be used as a taxi.

Mirlan Palushaj was found hiding in the loft of an abandoned terrace house on Gibbet Street, Halifax, which contained a cannabis farm with 820 plants in various stages of growth across nine rooms, equipped with fans, lighting, and electrical transformers. Electricity had been bypassed, and windows covered. He arrived in the UK on a six-month visitor visa in June 2025, lost his documents in London, begged on the streets of Manchester, and was taken to Halifax by two men who threatened him into tending the plants. He struggled with alcohol and gambling addictions.

Gerald McCann, 57, formerly of Peace Street, Bradford, deliberately ploughed down a Yorkshire dad in an outrageous road rage attack on Planetrees Road, Bradford. McCann pulled up beside the victim in his van, shouted racist abuse, and asked why he was following him. After the victim threw a wooden stick that missed the van, McCann drove off but returned, driving at speed towards the father, swerving to hit him on the right side of his body, knocking him to the ground. The victim suffered a fractured forearm and deep lacerations to his arm and hands. McCann then chased the victim, shouting more racist remarks and poking him with a carpet gripper rod. McCann had 25 previous convictions for almost 50 offences.

Involved in a mass brawl on Mile Cross Road, Halifax, on February 5, 2025, where over 35 people fought using machetes, baseball bats, planks of wood, and other weapons, resulting in two men suffering life-changing injuries.

Involved in a mass brawl on Mile Cross Road, Halifax, on February 5, 2025, where over 35 people fought using machetes, baseball bats, planks of wood, and other weapons, resulting in two men suffering life-changing injuries.

Involved in a mass brawl on Mile Cross Road, Halifax, on February 5, 2025, where over 35 people fought using machetes, baseball bats, planks of wood, and other weapons, resulting in two men suffering life-changing injuries.

Involved in a mass brawl on Mile Cross Road, Halifax, on February 5, 2025, where over 35 people fought using machetes, baseball bats, planks of wood, and other weapons, resulting in two men suffering life-changing injuries.

Involved in a mass brawl on Mile Cross Road, Halifax, on February 5, 2025, where over 35 people fought using machetes, baseball bats, planks of wood, and other weapons, resulting in two men suffering life-changing injuries.

Involved in a mass brawl on Mile Cross Road, Halifax, on February 5, 2025, where over 35 people fought using machetes, baseball bats, planks of wood, and other weapons, resulting in two men suffering life-changing injuries.

Involved in a mass brawl on Mile Cross Road, Halifax, on February 5, 2025, where over 35 people fought using machetes, baseball bats, planks of wood, and other weapons, resulting in two men suffering life-changing injuries.

Involved in a mass brawl on Mile Cross Road, Halifax, on February 5, 2025, where over 35 people fought using machetes, baseball bats, planks of wood, and other weapons, resulting in two men suffering life-changing injuries.

Involved in a mass brawl on Mile Cross Road, Halifax, on February 5, 2025, where over 35 people fought using machetes, baseball bats, planks of wood, and other weapons, resulting in two men suffering life-changing injuries.