Maidstone Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 108 verdicts at Maidstone Crown Court (Maidstone). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Roger Crabtree

Making indecent images of children

May 2, 2025

Sentence: 2 years and 6 months imprisonment

Roger Crabtree, subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order due to previous convictions, was found to have downloaded illegal images and videos of children on a laptop during an unannounced police visit to his home in Rectory Close, Snodland, on November 2, 2023. The devices contained 33 illegal images and videos, including several in the highest category showing children being subjected to abuse. He also unlawfully deleted internet history on a Kindle device in January 2024.

Pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Described as high risk to children by the judge.

Sources: kentlive.news

Brian Bissell

Rape

April 17, 2025

Sentence: 16 years imprisonment and 1 year extended licence

Brian Bissell repeatedly abused a girl from when she was 10 years old during the 1960s and 1970s. The abuse included incidents in her home via her bedroom window, at his flat in Ravenswood Avenue, in his car, and at an isolated location in Brokes Wood. A complex investigation began in 2018, leading to an initial trial in 2023 where the jury could not reach a verdict for this victim. A retrial in March 2025 resulted in his conviction for five counts of rape.

Denied wrongdoing; convicted after retrial. Detective Constable Hannah Crittenden noted that he abused the trust of the victim and her parents, exerting control over a vulnerable child, with lasting impacts on the victim's life.

Sources: kentlive.news

Jerry Maughan

Robbery

April 11, 2025

Sentence: three years and four months in prison

Jerry Maughan, 25, from Maya Place in Wood Green, Haringey, pretended to pet a dog's head before snatching a handbag from a 92-year-old pensioner and knocking her to the ground near a churchyard in Rainham, Kent. The incident occurred on March 11, 2024, resulting in the victim sustaining a face injury. He fled the scene on Church Path, and police arrested him at a nearby address approximately three hours later. He was charged the following day.

Pleaded guilty to the offence. Detective Constable Emma Laimbeer described the act as despicable, noting that he had contempt for the victim and that his actions had a lasting impact.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Darren Porter

Robbery

March 31, 2025

Sentence: Seven years and six months imprisonment for robberies, plus 12 months for dangerous driving to be served consecutively

On October 3, 2024, Darren Porter and Aaron Charlery planned to target sex workers at home addresses. They went to a location near Broadway in Maidstone, where Porter phoned the first victim and used an imitation handgun to gain entry, allowing Charlery inside to steal rings, a mobile phone, and £230 in cash. They then proceeded to London Road in Sittingbourne, forced their way into another victim's home, stole £100 in cash and several bank cards, and escaped. Porter later engaged in dangerous driving during a police pursuit in Dartford.

Pleaded guilty to two robberies and dangerous driving. He must serve at least two-thirds of the robbery sentence and will have three years on licence upon release.

Sources: kentlive.news

Robert Jenner

Attempted murder

February 4, 2025

Sentence: 30 years imprisonment

Robert Jenner, 50, stabbed Kent Police Constable Sean Quinn 23 times in the head, face, neck, and limbs with a pair of scissors on June 15, 2023, at his flat in Maidstone. Police had responded to allegations of indecent exposure in nearby Mote Park. Jenner was naked and had barricaded his front door with furniture. The assault lasted more than 20 seconds and only ended when other officers intervened. The incident was captured on body-worn footage, showing Jenner launching himself at the officer.

Deemed dangerous, must serve at least two-thirds of the sentence before applying for parole. Had previously been released from prison for breaching a court order and was known as the 'Naked Carpenter'. Did not attend the trial or give evidence.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Adrain Badea

Possessing cocaine with intent to supply

January 14, 2025

Sentence: 2 years and 4 months imprisonment

Adrain Badea, a 27-year-old from Hankins Heys Lane in Crewe, was stopped by police 223 miles from his home at Fountains Retail Park on 23 March. He claimed he was on holiday sightseeing in the south east of England but had no accommodation and was sleeping in his car. A search revealed he was operating as a dealer for an organised crime group, with six bags of cocaine found in his shoe, along with cannabis and £130 in cash.

Pleaded guilty to charges including possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possessing cannabis, and driving without insurance.

Sources: independent.co.uk

Adrian Badea

Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Supply

January 14, 2025

Sentence: 2 years and 4 months imprisonment

Adrian Badea, of Hankins Heys Lane in Crewe, Cheshire, was stopped by officers in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on March 23, 2023, as he sat in a black BMW linked to suspicious activity. He claimed to be a tourist visiting for eight days and sleeping in his car, but officers found six bags of cocaine in his shoe, £130 in cash, and cannabis. Checks on his phone showed he was being directed to multiple locations in west Kent to supply drugs.

Pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of cannabis and driving without insurance. Police stated he was directed by a third party to deal drugs in Tunbridge Wells.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Danny Devall

Conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis

December 23, 2024

Sentence: eight years and seven months imprisonment

Danny Devall was involved in leading roles in a criminal network that supplied vast quantities of cocaine and cannabis. He used encrypted messages via EncroChat with handles like Prizelake to communicate with other criminals and direct drug and cash exchanges. The operation involved international law enforcement decoding these messages, leading to his arrest.

James Steel

Conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis

December 23, 2024

Sentence: eight years and four months imprisonment

James Steel occupied a leading role in an organised crime group that supplied vast quantities of cocaine and cannabis on a wholesale scale. He used encrypted communication platforms like EncroChat with handles such as Wonderfulninja and Minorlobster to direct associates. Police seized more than £50,000 in cash, high-end motorcycles, a speed boat, and other items from his home in Chartway Street, Sutton Valence.

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis. Also admitted to possessing cannabis and possessing criminal property (seized cash).

Sources: kentlive.news

Ashley Steel

Possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis

December 5, 2024

Sentence: two years and two months imprisonment

Ashley Steel was part of an organised crime group that supplied vast quantities of cocaine and cannabis. He directed associates to addresses linked to him for exchanges of cash and drugs. Police seized ten kilograms of cannabis and 150 grams of cocaine concealed in vehicles at his business units, along with around £5,000 in cash. He also possessed an offensive weapon, a knuckle duster.

Pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply and possessing an offensive weapon.

Sources: kentlive.news

Robert Gunner

Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

November 28, 2024

Sentence: 7 years imprisonment

Robert Gunner targeted children over a three-year period, committing horrific offences. Kent Police received allegations and arrested him, seizing his laptop and mobile phone, which contained 226 illegal images of children, including 27 of the most serious category, and eight extreme pornographic images. These actions left the victims with traumatic memories.

Pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making indecent photographs of children, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and possessing an extreme pornographic image. The judge stated he was a dangerous offender who posed a serious risk to children. On release, he will be on licence for three years, subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years, and on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Sources: kentlive.news

Josh Mallaburn

Assisting unlawful immigration

November 8, 2024

Sentence: 3 years and 3 months imprisonment

Josh Mallaburn, along with Liam Cronin, attempted to smuggle a family of five from Afghanistan into the UK by hiding them in a rubbish-filled van. The family, including children aged 10, 11, and 16, was discovered by Border Force officers in Coquelles, France, on August 27, 2018. The youngest child was extremely unwell and drifting in and out of consciousness. The van contained squalid and dangerous conditions with fishing and building equipment. Evidence from a phone and receipts linked the pair to the crime, and they claimed the family entered the van accidentally while fixing a tyre.

Convicted after a trial; offences threatened UK borders and were for commercial gain; sentence reduced from four years due to delay in proceedings and personal circumstances as a father.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Liam Cronin

Assisting unlawful immigration

November 8, 2024

Sentence: 3 years and 3 months imprisonment

Liam Cronin, along with Josh Mallaburn, attempted to smuggle a family of five from Afghanistan into the UK by hiding them in a rubbish-filled van. The family, including children aged 10, 11, and 16, was discovered by Border Force officers in Coquelles, France, on August 27, 2018. The youngest child was extremely unwell and drifting in and out of consciousness. The van contained squalid and dangerous conditions with fishing and building equipment. Evidence from a phone and receipts linked the pair to the crime, and they claimed the family entered the van accidentally while fixing a tyre.

Convicted after a trial; offences threatened UK borders and were for commercial gain; sentence reduced from four years due to delay in proceedings and personal circumstances as a father.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Rhys Mateer

Breach of Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offender Notification Requirements

October 3, 2024

Sentence: Two years and seven months imprisonment

Rhys Mateer, a sex offender, tampered with police monitoring software on his mobile phone, installed an application to prevent retention of his browsing history, used an alias on his gaming console without notifying police, and acquired a laptop and external hard drive without declaration. These actions breached conditions from his previous conviction. On June 15, 2024, police visited his home and discovered the breaches, leading to his arrest. Further searches found undeclared items including a bank card, tablet, and mobile phone in his car. Originally, he was convicted in August 2020 for engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and two counts of breaching his Sex Offender Notification Requirements. On release, he will be subject to a further Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.

Sources: kentlive.news

Abdallah Chakir

Possessing cocaine with intent to supply

August 29, 2024

Sentence: Two years and eight months imprisonment

Abdallah Chakir was a passenger in a Peugeot 5008 stopped by Kent Police in Tunbridge Wells for suspicious activity. He lied about being in London for clubbing, but evidence showed he had been in Kent. Cocaine fell from his trousers, and he attempted to hide other drugs. Further drugs were found during a strip search in custody, totaling 174 street deals. He was arrested in April.

Ben Murphy

Inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

August 13, 2024

Sentence: 6 years in prison

Ben Murphy targeted children both online and in person. Between January 2020 and March 2021, he contacted five unknown children via social media, requesting images of them in underwear or performing sexual acts, and in one case, incited a child to abuse their two-month-old relative for £1,000. He sent indecent images and videos of himself and requested private calls for further abuse. Additionally, in February 2021 and February 2024, he approached children in parks in Sittingbourne, making indecent suggestions, including to two children on swings in 2024, from which he fled after being told to leave.

Pleaded not guilty to the latest offence and was convicted after a trial. He had previously pleaded guilty to other sex offences and was subject to bail conditions at the time. He will serve two-thirds of the sentence before being eligible for parole, followed by two years on licence, and must sign the Sex Offenders' Register and comply with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Sources: kentlive.news

Nicholas Fryers

Attempted Murder

July 22, 2024

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years and 4 months

Nicholas Fryers, a 57-year-old serving prisoner on day release from HMP Standford Hill, attacked his work colleague by stabbing her more than 70 times with a screwdriver in a car park at a Sainsbury’s distribution centre in Dartford on April 9, 2023. He had become obsessed with the victim, buying her gifts and wanting to be her 'boyfriend on the side', but she rejected him and ended their friendship. He lured her to his car under false pretences, pulled her to the ground, and stabbed her in the head, chest, and back. Two co-workers intervened, and he fled the scene but was later arrested in Lancashire.

Pleaded not guilty and was found guilty after a trial. The attack was planned and described as sustained, brutal, and frenzied by witnesses.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Aaron Stevens

Sexual assault of a child

July 8, 2024

Sentence: 13 years imprisonment

Aaron Stevens, 27, of Sittingbourne, repeatedly abused a young victim over several months starting in 2018. The crimes were reported to police in May 2018 after he boasted about them online. He was arrested on May 27, 2018, and charged with sexual assault of a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and other related offences.

Found guilty after a trial of multiple child sex offences. He will serve an additional four years on licence and is subject to lifelong notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Sources: kentlive.news

Andrew Hemphill

Conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis

July 2, 2024

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment

Andrew Hemphill, 26, of Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, was part of a drugs supply gang. On January 16, 2024, police stopped a vehicle he was in and seized two kilogram blocks of cocaine, leading to the discovery of a handgun.

Found guilty after a trial of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis, and possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Sources: kentlive.news

Kastriot Dani

Conspiracy to supply cocaine

July 2, 2024

Sentence: 4 years and 10 months imprisonment

Kastriot Dani, 43, of Cheltenham Close, Rushden, Northamptonshire, was involved in an organised crime group supplying cocaine. Police stopped his Jaguar on January 16, 2024, and found a kilogram of cocaine in a hidden compartment, along with £10,000 in cash.

Malcom Glancey

Conspiracy to supply cocaine

July 2, 2024

Sentence: 7 years and 10 months imprisonment

Malcom Glancey, 66, of Rycault Close, Maidstone, was involved in an organised crime group supplying cocaine across Kent. Operations on January 16, 2024, led to the seizure of three kilograms of cocaine and a handgun.

Robert Deards

Conspiracy to supply cocaine

July 2, 2024

Sentence: 8 years and 6 months imprisonment

Robert Deards, 28, of no fixed address, was part of an organised crime group that supplied cocaine across Kent. On January 16, 2024, police seized three kilograms of cocaine and a handgun during operations, including stops of vehicles in Burham.

Ryan Gooderson

Conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis

July 2, 2024

Sentence: 10 years and 3 months imprisonment

Ryan Gooderson, 23, of Bell Lane, Ditton, was part of an organised crime group that supplied cocaine and cannabis. Police seizures on January 16, 2024, included three kilograms of cocaine and a handgun during vehicle stops.

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis as part of a drugs supply gang.

Sources: kentlive.news

Shellbie Johnson

Conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis

July 2, 2024

Sentence: 4 years and 3 months imprisonment

Shellbie Johnson, 26, of Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, was involved in a drugs supply gang. Police seized cocaine during vehicle stops on January 16, 2024.

Samuel Anifaloba

Rape

May 14, 2024

Sentence: 17 years imprisonment

Samuel Anifaloba, of no fixed address, sexually abused two young victims separately over a two-year period in Medway. The offences were reported to Kent Police in 2018, leading to his arrest, charges, and conviction after a trial.

Found guilty after a trial. Branded a selfish and self-centred man by the judge. Added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Sources: kentlive.news

Alan Skinner

Fraud

April 26, 2024

Sentence: 2 years and 7 months imprisonment

Alan Skinner, 57, of Millfield Road, West Kingsdown, set up a sham investment opportunity through Tritex Global Limited, a company he directed. He conned four victims into paying £159,000 for binary option trading, which was never invested as promised. Victims were cold-called in 2017, received misleading brochures promising account managers and customer service, and were given access to fake webpages showing investment growth. When they tried to withdraw funds, excuses were made, revealing the company had no money. This led to reports to Action Fraud and a subsequent investigation by Kent Police.

Pled guilty to conspiring to defraud those who invested with Tritex Global. Used the money to fund his own lifestyle.

Sources: kentlive.news

Teodor-Alin Pirvu

Rape

March 26, 2024

Sentence: 14 and a half years imprisonment

Teodor-Alin Pirvu lured a woman to his home on Rochester High Street in April 2023 while she was waiting for a friend. Once inside, he subjected her to a prolonged and terrifying ordeal, demanding sex, punching and kicking her repeatedly, strangling her with a scarf, holding knives to her throat, and warning he would kill her. He prevented her from leaving until the next day, when she managed to escape with visible injuries including bruises, swelling to her face and head, and hearing loss. Police recovered the scarf and knives used in the attack, and Pirvu was arrested after the victim bit him on the cheek.

Pleaded not guilty and was found guilty after a trial. Described as 'dangerous' by the judge. Must serve at least two-thirds of the sentence before applying for parole and will be subject to an extended licence period of five years.

Sources: kentlive.news

Zak Burr

Supply of cocaine

March 14, 2024

Sentence: 2 years and 8 months imprisonment

Zak Burr was caught approaching a car on High Street in Tonbridge, suspected of exchanging cocaine for cash on June 27, 2023. His phone was examined and found to be part of a supply network active since April 2023, used to send bulk marketing text messages to more than 300 users. He was involved in dealing class A drugs, which fed violence and criminality in the community.

Pled guilty to supply of cocaine. PC James O’Gorman noted that Burr was dealing on a very significant scale with a criminal network across west Kent.

Sources: kentlive.news

Mohammed Sait

Fraud

March 4, 2024

Sentence: 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, 180 hours of unpaid work, and a rehabilitation order

Mohammed Sait, an NHS consultant orthopaedic surgeon, charged private health companies AXA PPP and Aviva for £17,636 worth of procedures he had not carried out between 2011 and 2015. He forged letters from these companies and presented them during an internal investigation at Fawkham Manor Hospital in 2016. This conduct was aggravated by prior inappropriate behaviour and occurred during his work.

Abused a position of trust; demonstrated limited remorse and very little insight; did not attend the tribunal; risk of repeating conduct.

Sources: kentlive.news

Sali Igalliu

Possession with Intent to Supply Cocaine

February 29, 2024

Sentence: 2 years and 3 months imprisonment

Sali Igalliu, 21, from Turner Road in Tonbridge, was stopped by police in Paddock Wood for driving without car insurance. A search of his Vauxhall Corsa revealed 11 wraps of cocaine hidden in an air vent, £360 in cash, and a phone with messages indicating drug supply. He was charged with intent to supply drugs and possessing criminal property. During interviews, he denied dealing and claimed the drugs were for personal use.

Pleaded guilty. Was found with cocaine and cash in his car, and had links to an organised crime group.

Sources: kentlive.news

Roqia Ghulami

Child neglect

February 16, 2024

Sentence: 2 years imprisonment

Roqia Ghulami neglected her two-year-old adopted daughter, Zahra Ghulami, by failing to intervene or protect her from abuse at their home in Gravesend, Kent, in May 2020. She was aware of her husband's violent behaviour, including previous incidents where he banged heads against walls, and did not act to prevent harm. Zahra suffered a skull fracture that led to her death on May 29, 2020.

Found guilty of child neglect. Cleared of murder charges and told police she believed Zahra had fallen down the stairs.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Jan Gholami

Murder

February 16, 2024

Sentence: 23 years and 6 months imprisonment

Jan Gholami murdered his two-year-old adopted daughter, Zahra Ghulami, by bashing her head against a wall at their home in Gravesend, Kent, in May 2020, causing a severe skull fracture from significant impact. Zahra was taken to hospital on May 27, 2020, and died two days later on May 29, 2020. Prosecutors stated he acted out of bad temper following a rivalry between Zahra and his favourite son. He had a history of violence, including alleged domestic abuse and previous injuries inflicted on Zahra.

Convicted of murder and child cruelty. Denied allegations and did not give evidence in court.

Sources: standard.co.uk

David Allen

Possession with Intent to Supply Controlled Drugs and Possession of Prohibited Firearms

January 31, 2024

Sentence: 6 years imprisonment

On July 27, 2023, police conducted a raid at an industrial estate near Bethersden, Kent, after identifying David Allen's involvement in drug dealing. They found him with over 60 kilograms of amphetamine, more than 1 kilogram of cocaine, approximately £70,000 in cash, two viable firearms (which he claimed were antiques), drug packaging, money counting machines, needles, syringes, and a cocaine purity test. At his nearby home, police seized 25 designer watches, ledgers recording deals, a CS spray, and a knuckleduster. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of around £500,000.

Admitted to charges of possessing amphetamine and cocaine with intent to supply, three charges of possession of a prohibited firearm, and possessing criminal property. Detective Inspector Stacey Chapman commented on the seizure of drugs and weapons, highlighting the violence associated with drug dealing.

Sources: kentlive.news

Stefan Farbrother

Rape

January 22, 2024

Sentence: 18 years imprisonment

Stefan Farbrother subjected a child to an appalling and terrifying campaign of repeated sexual abuse over a five-year period during the 1990s. This included multiple rapes, holding a knife to the victim's throat, and restraining them with handcuffs. The abuse was reported to Kent Police in 2018, leading to his arrest in June 2018 and subsequent conviction on thirteen offences, including seven counts of rape and multiple indecent assaults.

Denied wrongdoing, convicted on all counts, and added to the sex offenders register for life.

Sources: kentlive.news

Sian Hedges

Murder

January 12, 2024

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years

Sian Hedges and her former partner Jack Benham subjected her 18-month-old son Alfie Phillips to a night of violent discipline in a caravan in Hernhill, Kent, in November 2020. Alfie suffered 70 injuries, including a myriad of bruises, broken ribs, arms, and a leg, and had traces of cocaine in his body. He died on November 28, 2020, during a whisky and cocaine-fuelled incident.

Pleaded not guilty but found guilty after a nine-week trial. Minus 313 days already spent in custody. Victim impact statement highlighted the father's loss and lack of answers.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Jack Benham

Murder

January 12, 2024

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years

Jack Benham and Sian Hedges subjected Alfie Phillips to a night of violent discipline in a caravan in Hernhill, Kent, in November 2020. Alfie, aged 18 months, suffered 70 injuries, including bruises, broken ribs, arms, and a leg, with traces of cocaine in his system. He died on November 28, 2020, as a result of the assault.

Pleaded not guilty but found guilty after a nine-week trial. Minus 313 days already spent in custody. The pair denied harming Alfie despite being present during the attacks.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Jason Brown

Possessing class A drugs with intent to supply

November 27, 2023

Sentence: three years and nine months imprisonment

On July 30, 2023, Jason Brown was observed by Kent Police’s Proactive Targeting Team conducting a drug deal in Sheerness, where he passed something to a man from his Citroen van. Police stopped the van, seized cash, cocaine deals, and a mobile phone. Further class A drugs were recovered from his home address. He was arrested and later charged.

Pled guilty to drugs charges. Was on licence following a previous drug-related prison sentence. Detective Constable Alex Burgham noted that Brown was supplying cocaine and was caught in the act.

Sources: kentlive.news

Ayoub Omer

Wounding with intent

November 6, 2023

Sentence: Five years imprisonment

Ayoub Omer and Aiman Aziz assaulted three victims in Rochester on January 22 after being removed from a nightclub near Blue Boar Lane. They lay in wait and attacked the victims with a baseball bat. One victim was headbutted, and the others were beaten, resulting in injuries such as a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain.

Found guilty following a trial. The attack was brutal and unprovoked, with DC Vicki Hartland highlighting the severe injuries and psychological impact on the victims.

Sources: kentlive.news

Aiman Aziz

Wounding with intent

November 6, 2023

Sentence: Four years and eight months imprisonment

Aiman Aziz and Ayoub Omer were involved in a violent assault on three victims in Rochester on January 22. After being ejected from a nightclub near Blue Boar Lane for Aziz headbutting a man, they lay in wait and attacked the victims. Aziz headbutted one victim again and used a baseball bat to beat the others, breaking the bat in half. The victims sustained facial and head injuries, including a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain.

Pleaded guilty to the charges. The attack was described as brutal and unprovoked, with DC Vicki Hartland noting the grave injuries inflicted and the potential for fatal consequences.

Sources: kentlive.news

Kye Hughes

Fraud by false representation

October 1, 2023

Sentence: Three years and four months imprisonment and ordered to pay back £32,144

Kye Hughes, from Rochester, met a woman on a dating app and deceived her by claiming he invested in luxury watches for extra income. He convinced her to invest her savings, promising to double her money, but the scheme was fraudulent. She transferred thousands of pounds to him between an unspecified date before 2019 and his arrest in 2019, leaving her in financial strain and debt.

Arrested in 2019; convicted of fraud by false representation and money laundering; ordered to pay back the amount by December 24 or face an additional 12 months in prison. Comments from Kent Police and CPS highlighted the emotional and financial impact on the victim.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Jorge Garay

Murder

July 28, 2023

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years

Jorge Garay strangled his 37-year-old partner, Karla Godoy, while on holiday in Peru on or around September 23, 2022. He wrapped her body in a tarpaulin and buried it in a makeshift grave on family-owned land in Lima. After the killing, Garay returned to the UK alone on October 4, 2022, emptied their shared flat in Dartford, and was later arrested in London on October 14, 2022, following a confession.

Convicted after a trial; claimed self-defence but was found guilty. This is believed to be the first use of powers under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 for a murder case committed abroad.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Paul Clark

Making and distributing indecent images of children

May 12, 2023

Sentence: 28 months imprisonment

Paul Clark, a former Labour MP who represented Gillingham in Kent from 1997 to 2010, was caught with 1,446 indecent images of children on five electronic devices, including imagery of children as young as three. He distributed indecent images to others and engaged in conversations about his sexual desires via social media between April 2013 and May 2021. He was arrested at his home by the National Crime Agency, initially made no comment, but later admitted his actions and pleaded guilty.

Pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and six counts of distributing indecent images of children. Issued with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders register. No evidence of offending while in office.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Aurel Birlan

Rape

June 15, 2022

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum of 8 years and 3 months

Aurel Birlan repeatedly assaulted and raped his victim while she was unconscious in a public place during the early hours of one morning in December 2021. The assaults lasted almost two hours until a passer-by intervened, noticing the victim was in a state of undress, not moving, and appeared injured. CCTV footage captured the victim's repeated pleas for him to stop and showed she was unconscious for more than an hour.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. Added to the sex offenders' register for life and subject to a restraining order.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Connor Mcmaster

Supplying class A drugs

January 26, 2022

Sentence: three years and four months imprisonment

Connor McMaster was arrested at his home in Luton Road, Chatham, on October 8, 2021. Upon seeing police, he threw a mobile phone into his neighbour’s garden, which was later identified as one used to supply drugs. He was involved in a drugs operation that used dedicated phones, dubbed the ‘Aaron line’, to take orders for crack and heroin in Kent as part of a south east London county lines gang.

Part of a south east London county lines gang supplying crack and heroin. He attempted to dispose of a mobile phone used in the drug operation.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Syrus Ramsey

Supplying class A drugs

January 26, 2022

Sentence: three years and six months imprisonment

Syrus Ramsey was stopped in his car on the A21 near Bromley on October 8, 2021, where police found 34 deals of crack cocaine, 26 deals of heroin, and a mobile phone. A search of his home in Parkfield Way, Bromley, uncovered £850 in cash and evidence of 12 further deals of crack and heroin. He was a key figure in a south east London county lines gang that used dedicated phones, dubbed the ‘Aaron line’, to supply drugs in Kent.

Part of a county lines gang supplying crack and heroin. Included six months for breaching a suspended sentence.

Sources: standard.co.uk

George Knights

Murder

January 8, 2022

Sentence: 23 years imprisonment

George Knights murdered 38-year-old Stephen Chapman by stabbing him in the head after they met to discuss the sale of cocaine in October 2020. Following the murder, Knights tried to dissolve the victim's body in sulphuric acid inside a wheelie bin at his home. Police discovered the body during a search, along with evidence such as a video on Knights' phone showing him with cocaine and bragging about the killing, and a tattoo on his neck resembling the murder weapon.

Showed no remorse or empathy; attempted to dispose of the victim's body by dissolving it in acid; Detective Superintendent Gavin Moss described him as a callous killer and a danger to the public.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Paul Marsh

Manslaughter

December 20, 2021

Sentence: 11 years imprisonment

Paul Marsh, while caring for three-year-old Jessica Dalgleish, inflicted catastrophic head injuries on her at her home in Sandgate, near Folkestone, on 21 December 2019, after becoming frustrated that she had not finished her lunch. Bruising on her face and head indicated previous assaults. He called emergency services at 3.10pm claiming she had fallen, but medical experts determined the injuries were likely caused by an impact, such as being thrown against the headboard or side of her bed. Jessica was flown to a hospital in London but died on 24 December 2019.

Convicted of manslaughter and child cruelty following a trial. Had previous unreported assaults on the victim. Police highlighted his reluctance to seek medical attention and attempts to evade justice by lying about the incident.

Sources: standard.co.uk

David Fuller

Murder

December 15, 2021

Sentence: Life imprisonment

David Fuller, a 67-year-old hospital electrician, murdered Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1987, by beating and strangling them before sexually assaulting their bodies. He was arrested in 2020 following a DNA breakthrough. Additionally, between 2008 and November 2020, he sexually abused the bodies of at least 102 women and girls aged nine to 100 in hospital mortuaries, recording the acts on video. These abuses occurred at the Kent and Sussex Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital, where he worked in electrical maintenance since 1989.

Pled guilty to two murders and 51 other offences, including sexual abuse of corpses and taking indecent images of children. Previously admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility but changed plea. Victim impact statements were read in court.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Anthony Collins

Bomb Hoax

November 24, 2021

Sentence: 27 months imprisonment

Anthony Collins sent a suspicious package to the Wockhardt vaccine factory in Wrexham on January 27, 2021, which contained non-explosive items including a calculator, a garden glove, batteries, a biohazard bar, a service wipe, and papers, but was intended to induce belief it was explosive, causing a bomb scare that halted production of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and required evacuation of 120 people and intervention by the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit. He also sent similar packages to 10 Downing Street, a laboratory in Wuhan, China, an AstraZeneca site, a US Air Force base in Gloucestershire, and what appeared to be North Korea's leader, amid his obsessive interest in Covid-19.

Found guilty after trial; has a diagnosed personality disorder and a long-standing obsession with sending packages; judge described his actions as deliberately sending a bomb hoax, calling his explanations childish and perverse.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Michael Bowditch

Manslaughter

January 26, 2017

Sentence: 5.5 years imprisonment

Michael Bowditch was with 17-year-old Becky Morgan when she fell into the sea at the Port of Ramsgate, Kent, on May 1, 2016. Despite being present, he failed to assist her, call for help, or contact emergency services, leaving her to drown. He later reported the incident to the police several hours afterwards, and his actions were deemed grossly negligent.

Admitted manslaughter by gross negligence. Judge Jeremy Carey described his inaction as repugnant and noted his severe intoxication from alcohol, cocaine, and cannabinoids as a contributing factor.

Sources: standard.co.uk

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