Derby Crown Court Sentencing Results

Abdulsalam Hassan, a warehouse worker, lay in wait for his colleague the victim at a busy junction in Derby on October 2, 2024. He armed himself with a 3lb dumbbell and attacked the victim from behind, striking him 31 times on the head and body while he was defenceless. The assault was captured on CCTV, showing Hassan lifting the victim's head for a final blow before leaving him unconscious. The victim suffered life-threatening injuries, including a severe brain injury, right-sided paralysis, loss of half his skull, constant pain, and social isolation, requiring ongoing medical care and assistance.

Abdusalam Hassan armed himself with a dumbbell from his home and lay in wait for his victim. He attacked the victim on Abbey Street, Derby, at about 7pm on October 2, hitting him 31 times while he was unconscious, causing severe brain injuries, paralysis to one side of the body, and the need for significant care. The motive was linked to a previous assault on Hassan by the victim and another man.

Darren Kay groomed and sexually abused two teenage girls between 2004 and 2006, plying them with alcohol and cigarettes before sexually assaulting and raping them. The offences went undetected for almost 20 years until one of the victims saw him in public and reported what had happened. He was found guilty of two counts of rape, one count of digital penetration, and three counts of sexual touching against a child aged between 13 and 15.

Martyn Garland, 50, was jailed for the rape and sexual abuse of a young girl. He was convicted of nine offences against the girl, including sexual assault and rape, which took place over an unspecified period prior to his prosecution.

Kain Tailby, 31, a bakery worker from Riddings near Alfreton in Derbyshire, assaulted and killed his partner the victim in their home after a night out on their first anniversary. The couple argued, during which Tailby grabbed the victim by the neck and struck her head on the floor several times. He then attempted to clean up evidence of the attack. The victim died in hospital from extensive head injuries sustained in the assault.

Stephen Higton, aged 70, regularly supplied two girls with alcohol before sexually abusing them. The offending came to light when one of the victims told her family that he had been 'rude' to her. The judge said he had systematically abused the victims for his sexual gratification and put them through the trauma of giving evidence at trial.

David Oswald, 31, from Birmingham, along with Jack Towell and two unnamed men, plotted to lure and murder the victim, 21, from Long Eaton, on the evening of 21 June 2023 in a remote spot in Breaston, Derbyshire. Oswald hid at the location with Man A, ambushed the victim after Towell led him there, and participated in fatally stabbing him and cutting his throat. They hid the body near a stream, discovered two days later by teenage boys. The motive was to silence the victim who was pressing Towell about a debt and threatening to expose their criminal activities.

Jack Towell, 22, from Nottingham, plotted with three other men to lure the 21-year-old victim to a remote spot in Breaston late on 21 June 2023. Towell met the victim from his taxi and walked him to where two associates were hiding. The victim was ambushed, fatally stabbed and his throat cut. His body was hidden near a stream and discovered almost two days later. Towell admitted his guilt after four weeks of trial and was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 30 years.

Zac Newman, 27, drove a three-tonne van into a crowd of pedestrians in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on December 16, 2023, after drinking alcohol and taking cocaine. This act killed the victim, 26, and injured two others, a victim and another victim, in what was described as a deliberate revenge attack following an altercation earlier that night.

Joshua Harris, 24, was involved in a brutal pub brawl at the Market Inn in Market Place on Sunday, 1 June 2024. The fight spilled outside between rival groups. CCTV footage shows Harris striking the victim, knocking him to the ground where he hit his head, leading to fatal injuries. The victim, a 19-year-old peacemaker not part of the feud, died two days later on 3 June 2024 in hospital.

Joshua Downing, 21, of Bartin Court, Mansfield, carried out the attack at a home in Derby in June 2024. He raped the victim, who was in her late teens, while she was asleep. She woke up the following morning in pain and had flashbacks of the attack while drifting in and out of sleep. He was arrested shortly after admitting the rape and charged with rape and two counts of sexual assault by penetration.

Vasile Culea, a 34-year-old Romanian national, burgled the home of the elderly couple in Langwith Junction, Derbyshire, on 14 January 2024, after overhearing in a Polish shop that they had £30,000 hidden there. He hid in the utility room until they returned, then attacked them, hog-tying their hands and feet, beating them, gagging the female victim, and putting a bag over her head while searching for money. He stole £300 from a handbag. The female victim, 79, suffered fatal brain injuries and died within an hour; her body was found the next day. The male victim, 88, sustained brain injuries and lacerations but passed away months later from unrelated causes. Culea claimed he slipped and accidentally injured her, but was convicted of murder and wounding with intent after a unanimous jury verdict.

Darren Hall murdered his ex-partner the victim, 31, by attacking her at her home in Ilkeston, on June 20, 2023. He drove her body 20 miles and dumped it in woodland near a lay-by on the westbound A617 near Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Hall used the victim's phone to send texts suggesting she was alive, disposed of her belongings, and lied to police. The judge determined he likely strangled her and acted to cover up the crime.

Craig Crouch murdered his 10-month-old stepson, the victim, by inflicting a vicious fatal attack that resulted in 39 rib fractures, 19 visible bruises, and internal injuries comparable to those from a car crash. The incident occurred at their home in Linton, near Swadlincote in Derbyshire, and the victim was found dead in his cot on December 30, 2020.

Stephen Boden and the victim's mother inflicted 130 injuries on their 10-month-old son, the victim, leading to his death on Christmas Day 2020. The victim had been returned to their care on November 17, 2020, by a family court, despite concerns over their drug use and the state of the family home in Old Whittington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The abuse included severe physical assaults, resulting in conditions such as sepsis and pneumonia.

Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden inflicted 130 injuries on their 10-month-old son, the victim, leading to his death on Christmas Day 2020. The victim had been returned to their care on November 17, 2020, by a family court, despite concerns over their drug use and the state of the family home in Old Whittington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The abuse included severe physical assaults, resulting in conditions such as sepsis and pneumonia.

Danny Hailes was convicted of sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child, threatening to disclose private sexual photographs against a child, controlling and coercive behaviour, and rape against a woman. He was sentenced at Derby Crown Court to 10 years imprisonment and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and lifetime restraining orders.