Manchester Crown Court Sentencing Results

Katie McCann, 28, of Harpurhey, stored drugs at her home as part of the enterprise. Police found a substantial amount of heroin worth up to £40,000 and six hydraulic presses during the search. The overall operation dealt 26 kilos of cocaine, 52 kilos of amphetamine, 154 tablets of MDMA, 390 grams of heroin, and over a kilogram of mixing agent.

Karla Pukutova hid two knives used in a fatal knife fight between her ex-partner and the other man on Essex Street in Rochdale in the early hours of New Year's Day following a family party. She lied to police, claiming she was in the bathroom during the incident, but was actually outside and witnessed the fight. The knives were hidden behind a radiator in her home but were quickly found by police.

On June 29, 2025, in Middleton near Manchester, Rhys Hicks, high on cocaine after a two-day bender, became aggressive at an acquaintance's home, shoving her against a wall causing her to fall and suffer a panic attack. Later, around 4.45pm, spotted at the Middleton Archer pub in only boxers and trainers, he stripped naked, punched and kicked cars, urinated on a war memorial showing shameful lack of respect to the war dead, then assaulted a motorist with punches and kicks on Manchester Old Road, attempted to steal his car but was stopped by bystanders until police arrived.

Sean Farrell, 52, operated under the username ‘VanillaJerky’ on the EncroChat encrypted messaging system, brokering large-scale cocaine deals at prices up to £39,500 per kilogram and supplying cannabis imported from the USA valued at $1,200 per pound and sold for $3,000. Between March and June 2020, he negotiated large cash deals, arranged collections including one for £5,500, and planned imports from overseas for distribution across the United Kingdom. Warrants were executed at his home in Salford in January 2022, but he had fled to Spain. He was arrested on September 2, 2024, when stopped in a Mercedes C Class with Spanish plates on Stretford Road in Old Trafford, initially giving false details.

Jamie McGrath, 22, of Stockport, subjected his former partner to a six-year campaign of abuse starting from when they met at age 16. He locked her in her flat without access to her phone as punishment, created an atmosphere of intimidation and violence, threatened her, belittled her, isolated her, and tracked her whereabouts. Incidents included pinning her against a wall and punching her in the face after a Halloween party argument, bending her fingers back and breaking one, and dunking her head repeatedly into a bath while holding it under water, causing her to fear for her life. He also squeezed her neck, making her struggle to breathe and believe he would kill her. The relationship ended in 2024 when the victim reported to police. The abuse continued to impact her post-arrest.

Rizwan Afzal engaged in controlling and coercive behaviour towards his partner from 2017, escalating in 2020. He smoked cannabis for psoriatic arthritis pain relief, which negatively affected his mental health, leading to anger and accusations of her drug use. Incidents included holding her by the arms during a 2018 Blackpool argument, biting her in another argument, and in January 2022, tracking her to a Cheadle hotel where he found her ex-partner wearing his coat, called her a 'cheating s**g', and accused her of infidelity. The relationship ended in February 2023 when she called police; he fled but attempted constant contact. Victim felt trapped, like a puppet, and fearful of being watched or followed.

Ashley Shemeld participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Callum Johnson participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Arber Hima, 24, of Salford, was part of an Albanian organised crime group operating across Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, responsible for running multiple cannabis farms generating significant criminal profits. During the investigation, cannabis worth between £498,980 and £1.5m was seized, along with over £33,000 in cash.

David Horton participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Declan Windsor participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Rory Voulgaris participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Between 30 July and 8 August 2025, Thomas Lowe, 33, from Garland Road, Wythenshawe, groomed who he believed was a 14-year-old boy over social media platforms, sending sexually explicit messages and images, and discussing arrangements for sexual activity. On 8 August 2025, he travelled to Sale Water Park in Trafford, Manchester, to meet the boy for sex, but was arrested by officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit's Internet Child Abuse Team upon arrival at the agreed meeting point.

Tzoni Kardashi, 23, of Salford, was part of an Albanian organised crime group operating across Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, responsible for running multiple cannabis farms generating significant criminal profits. During the investigation, cannabis worth between £498,980 and £1.5m was seized, along with over £33,000 in cash.

William Howarth, a registered sex offender subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, was found in possession of an unregistered mobile phone during a 2023 home visit. Forensic analysis revealed messages sent to several young girls under 16, displaying controlling behaviour and threatening to post their images online if they refused his requests for further images. An investigation by Greater Manchester Police traced the victims, who provided accounts. He was sentenced following his guilty plea on 10 November 2025.

Klajdi Hazizollo, 33, of Crumpsall, was part of an Albanian organised crime group operating across Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, responsible for running multiple cannabis farms generating significant criminal profits. During the investigation, cannabis worth between £498,980 and £1.5m was seized, along with over £33,000 in cash.

Lee Robinson participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Lewis Page participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Ethan Chapman participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Enrik Ziu, 37, of Melia House in Manchester's Green Quarter, was part of an Albanian organised crime group operating across Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, responsible for running multiple cannabis farms generating significant criminal profits. During the investigation, cannabis worth between £498,980 and £1.5m was seized, along with over £33,000 in cash.

Jack Webster participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Jack Griffin participated in a mass brawl outside Wave bar on Portland Street, Manchester city centre, on October 26, 2019, involving fans of Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and FC United of Manchester. The fight included punching, kicking, and throwing glasses, captured on CCTV. The clash arose from resents between supporters after a football match cancellation and relocation.

Mohammed Sharif, 22, of Birmingham, was spotted by undercover officers in woods near HMP Manchester at around 10.45pm on September 21, 2025, using his phone under a tree close to the prison walls with a large bag nearby. Officers discovered a remote-controlled drone, a large box, a bag, and items wrapped in socks intended for smuggling contraband into prisons including HMP Manchester. Sharif was arrested at his home where he attempted to throw items out of a window; a drone charger and a Telegram message reading 'The eagles have landed, that new route is magical, thank you' were found on his phone.

Samantha Bailey-Sharp, 34, moved in with her frail 67-year-old mother the victim in her three-bedroom flat in Oldham in August 2022. Over a five-week period, she subjected her mother to abusive and violent behaviour, including punching her to the head, face and arms, holding her down on the sofa, dragging her by the hair, biting her, kneeing her, and threatening to kill her. Incidents included blocking the door to prevent her mother from entering the home on September 9, 2022, forcing her head down and threatening to crush it, and covering her mouth and nose. The mother suffered bruising across her body, lost clumps of hair, and lived in fear, walking on eggshells. She kept a diary of the attacks, and friends and colleagues noticed the injuries, leading to a police report.