Great Grimsby Crown Court Sentencing Results

Michael Matthews, a 65-year-old from Southland Court in Grimsby, was found guilty of non-recent sexual offences against a child that took place between 2009 and 2015. The offences impacted a young girl and included causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault. He was convicted by a jury at Hull Crown Court after a four-day trial that concluded on 8th May 2026 and was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court.

Ceirion Jones sexually assaulted a woman by penetration in 2016. The victim came forward in 2023 after information emerged during initial court proceedings related to another investigation. Officers conducted extensive enquiries, including witness interviews and obtaining a victim impact statement. Jones was charged and pleaded guilty in February 2026.

Scott Norman, a 36-year-old former chef from Dale Street, Scunthorpe, formed a relationship with a former prison guard he met while incarcerated. The relationship deteriorated in December 2025 when Norman became obsessed with messages on her phone, accusing her of infidelity. On December 4, 2025, at her home, he forced her off the bed, threatened to burn it with a tissue, and assaulted her while grabbing her phone. He was arrested but breached bail on December 6, 2025, by inviting her over. He then strangled her, pressed his forearm on her neck, put fingers in her mouth, and used a pillow over her face. When a neighbour intervened, she escaped to her car, but he followed, took her keys, produced a knife, and continued the assault until she reached a nearby shop and raised the alarm.

Denise Yould, 41, of no fixed address, partnered with Anthony Smith in a crime spree targeting vulnerable people. On March 2, 2025, they befriended two men over several weeks, gained entry to their home on Rutland Street at around 6.30am, assaulted them, threatened them with a hammer, and stole mobile phones, wallets, and house keys. Cash was withdrawn using the stolen bank cards immediately after the incident. The pair tricked victims into inviting them into homes where they were threatened with weapons and robbed.

Anthony Smith, 42, of Rutland Street, Grimsby, was involved in a crime spree targeting vulnerable people. On February 21, 2025, he stole a bank card from a man at a pub on Albion Street in Grimsby and used it to purchase alcohol. On February 26, 2025, he approached a property on Victor Street, threatened the occupant with a knife, forced his way inside, and stole the victim's bank card and coat. On March 2, 2025, along with Denise Yould, he befriended two men over weeks, gained entry to their home on Rutland Street, assaulted them, threatened them with a hammer, and stole mobile phones, wallets, and house keys. Cash was withdrawn using the stolen bank cards immediately after.

Declan Kelly, 31, engaged in a five-day crime spree starting August 12, 2025, involving multiple burglaries, thefts, assaults, and dangerous driving. On August 12, he burgled a home on Ludford Street, Grimsby, entering through an open window while the homeowner slept, stealing a red Citroen Picasso, wallet with £100 cash, bank cards, iPad, mobile phone, and drill. He was identified via CCTV and garage CCTV. Later that day in Cleethorpes, he assaulted a homeowner by punching him twice, causing injuries, and cracked the car's windscreen with his phone. Police pursued the stolen Citroen through Grimsby at high speeds, jumping red lights, but abandoned it for safety. He stole fuel from a garage. On August 17 in Grimoldby near Louth, he stole keys to a Kia Sportage using a distraction with a woman accomplice, leading to another high-speed pursuit on the A16 towards Grimsby, reaching 75mph in a 30mph zone, colliding with another vehicle, driving without lights, and reaching 50mph in a 20mph zone before being captured.

Lewis Armstrong-Doyle, 27, engaged in a summer crime spree in 2025. On June 23, he stole a girl's £800 Voodoo bicycle, a £280 circular saw, and over £100 in frozen foods from a garden shed in Rosedale Grove, west Hull, after returning to a property he had visited for garden waste clearance; recognised via CCTV. On June 29 at 3.30am, he stole cans of beer and clothing from his stepfather's home in Saxcourt, Orchard Park estate, Hull. On July 6, he attempted to force a window at Strawberry Fields supported-living premises for vulnerable adults. On July 25, he attempted to enter a block of flats there. On July 31, he stole £78 worth of Lynx deodorant from Home Bargains. On August 25, he burgled a home in Park Avenue, Hull, stealing keys, cash, and bank cards from a handbag, then took the Nissan Micra car. He led police on a 90mph pursuit through Hull, reaching speeds over 90mph in 30mph zones on Beverley Road and Beresford Road, attempted to ram police cars, drove on the wrong side of the road, and continued after a stinger deflated the tyres; arrested with police dog assistance. Admitted two burglaries, one attempted burglary, theft, and motoring offences including car theft, driving while disqualified, and no insurance.

William George, 20, of Waddington Place, Grimsby, participated in the 2am aggravated burglary of a Freeman Street café on March 27, 2024. He waved a knife at the café owner, who has a brain injury, while accomplices broke into the till and stole £400. George was found in possession of the knife upon arrest in Victor Street after an off-duty officer raised the alarm.

Liam Wright, 20, of Freeman Street, Grimsby, was involved in the burglary of a Freeman Street café at 2am on March 27, 2024, standing by the door during the raid. The gang threatened the owner with a knife and stole £400 from the till. Wright was unaware of the planning or knife. Arrested in Victor Street after an off-duty police officer alerted authorities.

Alex Purcifer, 26, of Freeman Street, Grimsby, led a gang that burgled a café on Freeman Street at 2am on March 27, 2024. The owner, who has a brain injury from a stroke, was working late when he heard glass smashing. Purcifer attempted to break into the till while another waved a knife at the owner. They stole £400 from the till. Purcifer was recognised by the owner from a previous visit. He was already on bail for knife offences in December 2023. An off-duty police officer alerted authorities, leading to their arrest in Victor Street.

John Atherton, 45, of Messingham Road, Bottesford, repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl over a number of years in non-recent crimes. The abuse came to light in May 2022 following a third-party report to police that the girl had divulged the sexual crimes against her. He was arrested and subjected to a two-day trial where he continually denied the charges.

Spencer Nyamasvisva, along with two others, broke into a heavily pregnant woman's flat on Freeman Street, Grimsby, on February 3, 2025. They forced entry at 4am, stole items including food, alcohol, and the woman's maternity bag, and caused £1,448 in damage to household items. The woman was awakened and terrified, and police intervened by chance, leading to his arrest.

Salioui Cole, along with two others, broke into a heavily pregnant woman's flat on Freeman Street, Grimsby, on February 3, 2025. He was recognised by the victim as someone who had stayed at the flat before. He shouted demands, searched through belongings, and stole aftershave and sweets. The group took food, alcohol, and the woman's maternity bag, causing £1,448 in damage. Police arrested him as he tried to flee with stolen items.

Richard Plumridge, along with two others, broke into a heavily pregnant woman's flat on Freeman Street, Grimsby, on February 3, 2025. They forced entry at 4am, stole items including perfume, aftershave, food, alcohol, and the woman's maternity bag containing essentials for her upcoming labour. They caused £1,448 in damage to property such as the TV, soundbar, cooker hob, and washing machine. The woman was terrified, fearing for her unborn baby, and police intervened by chance.

Ashraf Alsaadi sexually assaulted two girls under 18, including acts over their clothes, which left one victim feeling scarred and scared. The offences occurred before the trial, with one victim breaking down and reporting the assaults, leading to his arrest. He denied the charges, claiming they were fabricated, but was convicted after a trial at Hull Crown Court. The assaults resulted in one victim losing her job, missing education, and requiring counselling and therapy.

On December 17, 2024, the same day Ricky Johnson was released from Hull Magistrates' Court with a suspended sentence for carrying a knife, he made two telephone calls from a public phone box in Marfleet Lane. In the first, he threatened to 'chop a friend up' with a knife and provided his description. In the second, he threatened to 'chop up police officers' and gave his location. Armed police arrived, deployed Tasers with a red dot on him, and he surrendered the knife. During arrest, while an officer removed his Rosary beaded necklace, Johnson headbutted the officer. Police had used Tasers after he turned aggressive.

Reece Mcrae, 23, acted as a lookout during a knifepoint robbery at a shop on Macauley Street in Grimsby in September 2025, while an accomplice threatened the shopkeeper with a knife and another took cash from the till. He fled towards Boulevard Avenue and was later seen on Cromwell Avenue where knives were discarded. His movements were confirmed via his electronic tag.

Bailey Hanna, 22, entered a shop on Macauley Street in Grimsby in September 2025, brandishing a knife to threaten the shopkeeper during a robbery where cash was taken from the till. He fled towards Boulevard Avenue with accomplices, and knives were later discarded on Cromwell Avenue. Clothing linked to the robbery was found at a nearby address.

Patrik Seidenglanz, 50, from Grimsby, groomed and sexually abused a 14-year-old girl over several months. The abuse included five counts of sexual assault, attempted rape, assault by penetration, and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. The victim and a family member reported the incidents to Victoria Street Police Station in Grimsby in May 2025. Seidenglanz was arrested at his home, and analysis of his seized phone revealed grooming correspondence. The crimes came to light after the victim disclosed the attempted rape and multiple inappropriate touches.

In December 2024, Shaun Tomlinson, 41, broke into a house on Albert Place in Grimsby while the homeowners slept. He stole a watch, mobile phone, bank card, and can opener. The homeowners were awoken by loud banging and the sound of a door opening. Tomlinson was identified on CCTV, seen dropping the stolen items while intoxicated. An ankle tag from a previous prison release placed him at the scene. He was arrested and charged shortly after.