Carlisle Crown Court Sentencing Results

Antonia Holliday, during a pub brawl at The Kellbank Hotel and Restaurant in Gosforth, West Cumbria, on July 8, 2023, punched at another customer and was involved in physical altercations, including being kicked and punched, as part of the escalating violence initiated by others.

Christopher Hewer, while intoxicated, acted as a 'bar room bore' at The Kellbank Hotel and Restaurant in Gosforth, West Cumbria, on July 8, 2023, aggressively approaching and punching towards Paul Connor, which escalated into a violent brawl involving multiple participants and resulting in his left ear being bitten off.

Paul Connor, during a pub brawl at The Kellbank Hotel and Restaurant in Gosforth, West Cumbria, on July 8, 2023, grabbed Christopher Hewer's head and bit off his left ear after being provoked, then spat it on the ground. The incident escalated from initial verbal provocation and physical altercations involving multiple people, including punches exchanged.

Magdalena Sadlo acted as the 'business brain' for a £53m drugs cartel, managing criminal accounts, transporting vast quantities of cocaine around England, and laundering money. She made multiple trips as a courier, trafficking nearly 300kg of cocaine, including 33kg to Manchester, using BMWs for 'whistle-stop' tours. She was arrested at Heathrow Airport on February 13, 2024, with luxury watches worth £160,000 bought with proceeds of crime.

Robert Williams, from Rossendale, was stopped by police in an unmarked vehicle on the M6 in Cumbria after swerving onto the hard shoulder. A search of his car uncovered around £18,000 in cash and a 1kg block of cocaine with a potential street value of £80,000 to £100,000. The incident led to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

Leo Wilson, who was 15 at the time of the offence, invited a 14-year-old victim and her friend to his home in School Drive, Flimby. In the early hours, the victim woke to find Wilson on top of her, where he first sexually assaulted her and then raped her. He was arrested but refused to answer questions during interrogation.

Ross Coates, of no fixed address, was involved in supplying Class A drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as Class B drugs like ketamine and cannabis, in the Kendal area last year. Officers from Cumbria’s Community Serious and Organised Crime unit conducted an extensive investigation, including warrants, which identified him as a supplier. He was also charged with two counts of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Sitar Ali managed a car wash in Carlisle where trafficked Romanian workers were exploited, forced to work long hours without proper breaks or time off, and paid minimally despite gruelling conditions. Workers reported chemical burns from unsafe practices and poor living conditions, describing their experiences as horrific and describing it as one of the worst periods of their lives. This exploitation occurred as part of a criminal enterprise active from 2016 to 2017.

Defrim Paci orchestrated a modern slavery ring that trafficked Romanian workers to the UK and forced them to work long hours at a car wash on Warwick Road in Carlisle. Workers endured dire conditions, including using chemicals without protective clothing, which caused burns, and were housed in rat-infested accommodation. They were paid as little as £20 per week despite working up to 11 hours a day, six days a week, during a period spanning 2016 and 2017.