Bristol Crown Court Sentencing Results

Bex McCullgh attempted to meet a child under 16 following grooming, attempted to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempted to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch an image of sexual activity. She was arrested in October 2024 after travelling from her home to Bristol to meet who she believed was a young boy, but was instead apprehended by officers from the SWROCU.

David Sosa Salomon, 37, drove from his temporary home in Oldmixon Crescent, Weston, to Filton, where he waited for his mother to alight from a bus on February 28, 2023. He stabbed her several times in a pre-meditated attack near a pub on Filton Avenue. Members of the public intervened, causing him to drop the knife, and he was arrested at the scene. The victim required stitches and was fortunate not to be more seriously injured.

Harry Hollowell purchased farm machinery stolen from farm burglaries in the Sedgemoor area of West Somerset throughout 2020. On October 16, 2020, police searched a farm in South Barrow near Sparkford and seized 20 stolen machines, with more recovered later. He also, with another defendant, bought and sold stolen plant equipment from building sites in Cardiff in 2020. Over 20 stolen items of valuable farm machinery were recovered by police.

Kodi Wescott, aged 16 at the time, was the primary attacker who fatally stabbed both Max Dixon and Mason Rist in Ilminster Avenue, Knowle West, Bristol, in January 2024. He used a weapon to stab the victims multiple times after they left a house to visit a takeaway, leading to their deaths.

In November 2016, Jeff Arundell invited a friend and the friend's family to invest approximately £108,000 in shares of a pharmaceutical company, promising a personal guarantee on their stake. Instead, he placed the money on spread betting trades in early December 2016, profited but falsely claimed losses to the victims. He continued trading with the winnings, accumulating £4.6 million by August 2017. Separately, he committed fraud by abuse of position by taking his mother's money while holding power of attorney, depriving other family members of their inheritance.

Peter Greenslade committed rapes and other sexual abuse against two children in the Honiton area when they were under 13. In 2019, one victim disclosed the abuse, and several months later, a second victim came forward with similar details. The abuse has had a serious psychological effect on the victims.

On March 27, 2023, David Parish entered the home of Peter and Beryl Purdy in Broomfield while suffering from psychosis due to schizophrenia induced by cannabis use. He trapped Peter in the kitchen and beat Beryl Purdy to death with a golf umbrella. In the days prior, Parish had been acting strangely, carrying an axe and a samurai sword, and believed he was in danger. After the attack, he stole £75 and clothing to facilitate his escape and was arrested later that evening.

Brian George David, a former RAF man, repeatedly abused his victim from when she was eight years old until she was 17. He forced her to commit sex acts on him and raped her on multiple occasions. The victim was a vulnerable child who felt unable to report the abuse at the time. She later suffered from anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, describing how the abuse ruined her life and left her with ongoing psychological effects.

Ben Bicknall, 37, of Whitchurch Lane, Bristol, served as the main drugs distributor in Bristol for the OCG. He was arrested in June 2022 with snap bags of cocaine, and his home search uncovered additional cocaine and nearly £20,000 in cash. The operation involved supplying cocaine and heroin across the South West, with seizures totaling 10 kilos of cocaine and 4 kilos of heroin worth over £1 million.

Dean Chick, 37, from Lisburn Road in Knowle, Bristol, was involved in the supply of cocaine as part of an organised crime group (OCG) led by Joe Hatherall. In February 2022, he was stopped by police on the M5 northbound and found in possession of £31,230 in cash linked to drug exchanges.

Joe Hatherall, 32, formerly of Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire, was the leader of the OCG supplying cocaine and heroin across the South West. Released from prison in January 2022 after serving half of a nine-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cannabis, he immediately resumed organising drug movements. Arrested in November 2022, the investigation seized 10 kilos of cocaine, 4 kilos of heroin, approximately £80,000 in cash from associates, and his cryptocurrency holdings.

Stefan Dann, 33, from Greenfield Crescent, Nailsea, North Somerset, worked as a courier for the organised crime group supplying cocaine and heroin across the South West. He was forensically connected to drugs stored at another member's home as part of the operation that led to the seizure of 10 kilos of cocaine and 4 kilos of heroin valued at over £1 million.

Kairon Sawyers was convicted of the manslaughter of Dontae Davis in Lawrence Hill, Bristol, in October 2021. The incident was connected to the feud between the 2-4s and 1-6s postcode groups.

Paul Shakespeare, 66, of Scaleby Close in Upperby, Carlisle, attacked an 18-year-old girl on April 29, 1990, in Cheltenham. He grabbed her while she was walking her dog along the Honeybourne line, a converted railway footpath, and forced her into nearby undergrowth where he raped her. He was armed with a sharpened stick with a nail driven through it and threatened her not to tell anyone. He was identified through a DNA match after his arrest for possession of a knife earlier in 2021.

Mohammed Shazad Salim participated in an organised crime group involved in a drug supply line targeting Weston-super-Mare, which dealt in Class A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine. The group was uncovered in March 2021 when officers raided a property in Jubilee Road and found drugs, cash, and paraphernalia. Further investigations revealed a network supplying drugs in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, and Yeovil, with seizures including heroin, crack cocaine worth about £7,000, cash, knives, and mobile phones.

Matthew Coombes was involved in a drug supply network that targeted areas including Weston-super-Mare with Class A drugs like heroin and crack cocaine. The network was dismantled following an operation in March 2021, during which officers discovered drugs, cash, and equipment at a property in Jubilee Road. Additional raids led to the seizure of heroin, crack cocaine with a street value of around £7,000, nearly £5,000 in cash, knives, and mobile phones.

Jordan Moseley was part of a drug supply network targeting Weston-super-Mare, involving the supply of Class A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine. The operation, uncovered in March 2021, included officers discovering drugs, paraphernalia, cash, and a burner phone at a property in Jubilee Road. Further investigations revealed a wider network supplying drugs in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, and Yeovil, with seizures including heroin, crack cocaine worth around £7,000, cash, knives, and mobile phones.

Kyle Cox was involved in a drug supply network targeting Weston-super-Mare, which supplied Class A drugs like heroin and crack cocaine. The network was dismantled following an operation in March 2021, where officers found drugs, cash, and paraphernalia at a property in Jubilee Road. Raids uncovered quantities of heroin, crack cocaine with a street value of around £7,000, cash totalling nearly £5,000, knives, and mobile phones.

Liam Simms participated in a drug supply network that targeted Weston-super-Mare with Class A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine. The network was exposed during an operation in March 2021, with officers finding drugs, cash, and paraphernalia at a property in Jubilee Road. Subsequent warrants revealed a supply line extending to North Somerset and Yeovil, seizing heroin, crack cocaine valued at around £7,000, cash, knives, and mobile phones.

Aaron Staples was part of a drug supply group operating in Weston-super-Mare, where he was involved in possession with intent to supply cocaine. The operation in March 2021 led to the discovery of Class A drugs, including cocaine, at a property in Jubilee Road, along with drug paraphernalia, cash, knives, and mobile phones. Further raids seized heroin, crack cocaine worth approximately £7,000, and nearly £5,000 in cash.

Brandon Truman was part of a drug supply group that operated a line into Weston-super-Mare, involving the supply of Class A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine. The operation began with a raid in March 2021 at a property in Jubilee Road, where drugs, cash, and paraphernalia were found. Investigations expanded to reveal supplies in North Somerset and Yeovil, with authorities seizing heroin, crack cocaine valued at approximately £7,000, cash, knives, and mobile phones.

Connor Kennedy was involved in a drug supply operation targeting Weston-super-Mare, supplying Class A drugs like heroin and crack cocaine. The case stemmed from an investigation in March 2021, where officers attended a property in Jubilee Road and discovered drugs, cash, and related items. Further actions uncovered a broader network, with seizures including heroin, crack cocaine worth about £7,000, nearly £5,000 in cash, knives, and mobile phones.

Mark Acklom conned his ex-girlfriend Carolyn Woods out of £300,000 in a romance fraud that began in 2012. During their relationship, he posed as a Swiss banker and an MI6 agent, scamming her out of her life savings.

George Edward James Haldenby was sentenced for three counts of arson, having pled guilty, though specific details of the incidents are not provided in the text.

The office of the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police was prosecuted for health and safety breaches related to the restraint and custody of Thomas Orchard, who died in hospital on October 10, 2012, following his arrest on October 3, 2012, in Exeter city centre during a mental health crisis. The breaches involved the use of an emergency response belt (ERB) wrapped around his face for five minutes and two seconds, and overall restraint for 22 minutes, leading to his cardiac arrest.

Peter Joseph Kane, from Toxteth, was involved in a conspiracy to supply heroin, which included three seizures totalling 3.7kg. He fled the UK to the Netherlands in December 2013 and was arrested there in October 2014, where authorities found a loaded revolver and ammunition at his address. His illegal dealings were valued at £317,822.69 by the court.

Tara Hudson was convicted of common assault and sentenced to a 12-week custodial term in 2015. She spent one week in a male prison and the remaining five in a women’s prison, following public support for her transfer.

Stephen Farrow murdered 77-year-old Betty Yates on January 2, 2012, by breaking into her home in Bewdley, Worcestershire, striking her from behind with a heavy walking stick, causing her to fall and hit her head, then stabbing her four times and leaving the knife in the fatal wound. Six weeks later, on February 13, 2012, he murdered 59-year-old Rev John Suddards after being let into his vicarage in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, attacking him with knives causing seven deep wounds, kicking him back to the floor, and watching him die while telling him to 'f****** die then and hurry up'. Farrow then drank beer, ate food, watched DVDs, and left the next morning. The body was found on February 14 surrounded by pornography, party poppers, a condom wrapper, underwear, a canvas of Jesus Christ, and a mirror. This was part of a two-month reign of terror including threats to kill 'Christian scum' and a burglary where he left a threatening note to Alan and Margaret Pinder reading 'Be thankful you didn’t come back or we will have killed you, Christian scum. I f****** hate God.' Farrow had an obsession with religion, claimed abuse by a priest, and wanted to murder the Archbishop of Canterbury. He sent a chilling text on New Year’s Eve 2011 warning that the 'church will be the first to suffer' and believed 2012 marked the 'second coming of Christ.'