Leeds Crown Court Sentencing Results

Peter Varey accompanied Niall Pretty during an attack on March 20, 2025, at a friend's house. He punched the victim, claiming self-defence, but it was deemed excessive. After the incident, he was involved in fleeing the scene in a vehicle, which was later pursued by police.

Niall Pretty stalked his neighbour, whom he wrongly believed had informed the police about incidents involving him and his partner. The stalking started on December 22, 2024, involving shouting threats, smashing windows with a tile, damaging property including a gas meter and a van with an axe on Christmas Day, and making threatening phone calls. On March 20, 2025, he and an accomplice confronted the victim at a friend's house, where Pretty stabbed the victim in the arms and jaw with a key during an altercation. He led police on a dangerous chase after the incident.

PC Charlie Valente was found guilty of three counts of sexual touching offences committed against two female victims between November 4 and 5, 2022, in Leeds. The incidents involved unwanted sexual touching, as reported by the victims and supported by CCTV evidence, making them extremely uncomfortable.

Jason Mortimer, 36, breached an indefinite restraining order from 2019 by sending repeated messages to his former partner on WhatsApp in November 2024, declaring his love, making sexual comments, and blaming her for their breakup. Police attended his mother's house in Leeds, West Yorkshire, where he barricaded himself in his bedroom and threatened to kill officers and himself. He used a wardrobe door to resist entry, then stabbed one officer above the eye with scissors and slashed at another's stomach, though a stab vest prevented injury. Officers used PAVA spray and a baton to subdue him. The injured officer required hospital treatment for a wound that was cleaned and glued shut.

Peter Woolner, 74, of Fairway in Normanton, targeted a girl with non-recent sexual offences when she was between the ages of eight and 14, from 2001 to 2007. The victim reported the abuse to police in 2021, leading to his arrest, charges, and a complex investigation. He stood trial at Leeds Crown Court in April 2025 and was found guilty of multiple offences despite his denials.

Amir Merrikhi set fire to his own house in Wayland Approach on October 11, 2022, while believing he was possessed by demons. Firefighters found him inside the property, where patterns were drawn on the floor in white powder and bottles were present, which he referred to as 'black magic'. He hissed at responders and was removed from the scene before being arrested.

Patrick Ward and Jason Ward used fake Scottish bank notes in shops across various regions, including Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield, Chesterfield, and other police force areas such as Thames Valley, West Midlands, West Mercia, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire. They were arrested on January 21, 2025, after officers stopped a car in Wakefield and found items that had been bought and refunded using counterfeit Clydesdale bank notes.

Finley Seggie, 21, and a friend were travelling on a York-bound train on 14 December 2024 without tickets. When conductor the victim asked them to leave at the next stop, Seggie verbally abused him and then punched him in the mouth, causing the victim to lose a tooth and needing £3,000 of dental work. Seggie fled but was arrested on 18 February 2025 after being identified from CCTV. He later pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm.

Kevin Walton lured a teenage girl via social media, pretending to be younger, and committed sexual offences against her in Kirklees. He then contacted three of her friends and sent them sexual imagery, with offences occurring from late summer of the previous year.

Daniel Haigh drove for a drug gang based in Copley Street, Armley, ferrying members and making exchanges, including at a Subway in Hunslet. He was spotted at the address and communicated about his wages.

Rumeesa Ahmed was driving on the A647 at Stanningley Road on February 22, 2023, when she exceeded the 40mph speed limit, reaching speeds around 60mph. She was using her phone, including Snapchat and a music app, approximately 39 seconds before the collision. Ahmed struck the victim, who was crossing the road, causing her death from head injuries. The vehicle then veered and hit a man at a bus stop, resulting in severe leg injuries requiring surgery and a five-month hospital stay. There was no evidence of emergency braking, and her driving was deemed the direct cause of the incident.

Mirel Neatu, 37, was involved in a scheme where he managed properties for private landlords and facilitated their use as cannabis farms. This operation was linked to an investigation by West Yorkshire Police involving 75 cannabis farms with a total street value exceeding £4.5 million, causing financial loss to landlords due to damage.

Marius Nedelcu, 40, managed premises for private landlords and allowed them to be used for cannabis cultivation as part of an organised crime group. The operation was connected to 75 cannabis farms valued at over £4.5 million, leading to significant community harm and property damage.

Daniel Davison, subject to notification requirements due to a 2006 conviction for raping a child under 13, moved into the Glengarth Hotel on December 12, 2024, without informing the police as required. Despite reminders from a public protection officer, he failed to comply, leading to his arrest. He has a history of other offences including theft, breach of a sexual offences prevention order, and possession of a bladed article.

Bobby Keogh, aged 27, met a woman online and moved from Edinburgh to Whinmoor Way in Stanks near Leeds to be with her. On March 24, 2024, he became jealous and violent after arguing with her about her ex-partner. He punched both the woman and her neighbour in the head and face, grabbed a kitchen knife which he quickly dropped, and hit his partner with a vacuum pipe, threatening to kill her. The victims sustained injuries including a broken nose, cuts, and bruises. Keogh was arrested at the railway station while attempting to flee to Edinburgh and later appeared in court via video link from HMP Doncaster.

James White, along with accomplices, tricked a prison officer into unlocking a door at Wetherby Young Offender Institute on March 27, 2024, then held a razor to the officer's neck and demanded keys. He was also involved in other violent incidents, including an affray with weapons on February 2, 2023, and a Section 18 GBH with intent on August 14, 2023, where he attacked an inmate with makeshift weapons, including a sharpened piece of wood, stabbing and kicking the victim.

Jack Rose joined James White in holding a razor to a prison officer's face and attempting to grab keys at Wetherby Young Offender Institute on March 27, 2024. He was also involved in multiple attacks, including a group attack on December 11, 2023, where he stabbed and kicked a teenager, an affray with weapons on February 2, 2023, a Section 18 GBH with intent on August 14, 2023, where he attacked an inmate, and another Section 18 GBH with intent on December 24, 2023, where he stabbed another inmate repeatedly to the head and face, leaving permanent scars.

Malaki Cawley, 19, attacked his neighbour after previous disputes over spitting on his balcony. On New Year's Day, he spotted the victim at a Tesco Express store in Holbeck, waited for him on Manor Road with another man, punched him, and kicked him while he was on the ground. The other man smashed a bottle over the victim's head, and Cawley continued the assault, leading to the victim suffering swelling to his left eye, bleeding and bruising to the brain tissue, and a fracture to the upper right of his skull. A passerby witnessed the attack and called the police.