Manchester Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 218 verdicts at Manchester Crown Court (Manchester). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Roger Klein

Sexual assault

July 1, 2010

Sentence: 12 months imprisonment

Roger Klein, a married dentist, visited a woman's home in April 2009 and burst into her bedroom uninvited. He pinned her down, undid his trousers, and made sexual advances, including asking 'Do you want to see the goods?' and stating he was feeling 'horny' and intended to 'lick her nipple'. The woman had previously made drunken phone calls suggesting sexual encounters, but Klein's actions were unwanted and constituted a 20-minute attack. He was caught and convicted based on the evidence.

Denied the charges but was convicted. Represented by Andrew Hockton, who noted the devastating financial consequences and traumatic prison experience. Struck off the General Dental Council for incompatible conduct.

Sources: courtnewsuk.co.uk

Alex Forshaw

Murder

November 23, 2009

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years

Alex Forshaw, a former Macclesfield police officer, bludgeoned his 31-year-old fiancee Claire Howarth to death with a steel lump-hammer in their home in Tottington, Bury, hours before they were due to fly to the Caribbean for their wedding. He then drove her to an isolated spot near Harwood, Bolton, where he struck her again before staging a car accident to cover his tracks. The crime occurred amid personal conflicts, as Forshaw was secretly still involved with another woman and the mother of his child.

Pleaded guilty to murder. Judge Mr Justice David Clarke emphasised that the sentence must not be compared to the value of the life lost, which was priceless. Forshaw was a former police officer.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Peter Rankilor

Child sex abuse

April 1, 2009

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment

Peter Rankilor was convicted of abusing two girls decades ago while living in the Altrincham area. He was not arrested until October 2006, after which he denied any wrongdoing. The case involved allegations that required careful jury direction due to potential issues with the evidence.

Convicted by a jury of child sex crimes; denied the offences and appealed the verdict, with arguments presented at the Court of Appeal citing issues with jury directions.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Geoffrey Turner

Indecent Assault

February 4, 2009

Sentence: two-and-a-half years imprisonment

Geoffrey Turner, a retired teacher from William Hulme’s Grammar School in Whalley Range, abused a young girl over four years decades ago through indecent assaults. He groomed her by kissing her and claiming they had a 'special relationship', which progressed to further abuse. The victim reported the crimes in 2005 after giving birth, which triggered her memories. Turner was caught and convicted, with the abuse involving taking advantage of the victim for his sexual gratification.

Convicted of nine charges of indecent assault. Ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life and permanently banned from working with children. The judge noted he groomed the victim for his own sexual gratification and showed no remorse.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Kasha Peniston

Manslaughter

October 31, 2007

Sentence: 2 years imprisonment

Kasha Peniston, then aged 16, was playing with an illegal .38 snub-nosed revolver at the family home in Gorton, Manchester, when he accidentally shot his 12-year-old sister Kamilah in the forehead while she lay on the settee. The incident occurred on an unspecified date, but Kamilah died in hospital the next day. Kasha had retrieved the gun, which his mother had hidden, and was 'messing around' with it, unaware of gun safety.

Pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Exceptional circumstances reduced the sentence from three years due to his age and the tragic nature of the incident. Also received a two-year detention order for manslaughter to run concurrently.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Natasha Peniston

Possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition

October 31, 2007

Sentence: 3 years imprisonment

Natasha Peniston, aged 33, was hiding an illegal E .38 double action revolver, originally a gas alarm pistol that had been modified with live rounds, in her garden at the family home in Gorton, Manchester. She informed her son about the gun before leaving for London, which led to the tragic events. She was involved due to pressure from her boyfriend, who is expected to be arrested.

Admitted possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. She had been prevailed upon by her boyfriend, a serious criminal, to hide the gun and later identified him to the police.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Thomas Dolan

Criminal Damage

September 5, 2007

Sentence: 15 months imprisonment

Thomas Dolan, along with Thomas Whittaker, admitted to causing around £13,000 worth of damage to trains, bridges, and railway property across the North West through graffiti activities.

Described as 'decent and talented' by the judge. Expected an ASBO but received a prison sentence. Parents and community are supporting an appeal against the sentence.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Thomas Tj Dolan

Criminal Damage

September 5, 2007

Sentence: 15 months imprisonment

Thomas TJ Dolan, along with Thomas Whittaker, engaged in graffiti activities that caused approximately £13,000 worth of damage to trains, bridges, and railway property across the North West. The incidents occurred prior to their sentencing, and they admitted to the offences. They were supported by their community and parents, who protested the decision.

Described as decent and talented by the judge. Expected an ASBO but was imprisoned. Parents plan to appeal the sentence.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Thomas 'Tj' Dolan

Criminal Damage

September 4, 2007

Sentence: 15 months imprisonment

Thomas 'TJ' Dolan, along with another individual, engaged in graffiti vandalism, causing approximately £13,000 worth of damage to railway property across the North West. This involved spray-painting various sites, and he was noted for his artistic talents and community work.

First offence; holds urban art workshops for underprivileged children and was praised by the mayor of Manchester; parents planning to appeal the severity.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Thomas Whittaker

Criminal Damage

September 4, 2007

Sentence: 12 months imprisonment

Thomas Whittaker, along with another individual, engaged in graffiti vandalism, causing approximately £13,000 worth of damage to railway property across the North West. This involved spray-painting various sites, and he was sentenced as an adult despite it being his first offence.

First offence; parents planning to appeal the severity; was due to start a graphic art degree at university.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Tj Dolan

Vandalism

August 29, 2007

Sentence: 15 months imprisonment

TJ Dolan, a 20-year-old graffiti artist from Leek Road, Sutton, vandalised railway property. He was involved in graffiti offences with his friend Tom Whittaker, and they were caught and sentenced after pleading guilty.

Pled guilty to vandalising railway property. Expressed concerns for co-defendant Tom Whittaker in letters from prison and is appealing the sentence.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Tom Whittaker

Vandalism

August 29, 2007

Sentence: 12 months imprisonment

Tom Whittaker, an 18-year-old graffiti artist from Brocklehurst Avenue, vandalised railway property alongside TJ Dolan. They were known for their graffiti tags and pleaded guilty to the offences.

Admitted offences of vandalising railway property. He is appealing the sentence and was separated from co-defendant TJ Dolan in prison.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Bryan Keen

Rape

September 28, 2005

Sentence: 12 years imprisonment

In 1994, Bryan Keen attacked a woman known as Miss A at the Pelican Hotel in Altrincham. He kidnapped and falsely imprisoned her, gagging her with tape he had pre-positioned in the room, blindfolding her, and raping her while telling her he was videoing the scene, likely for commercial exploitation. Advances in DNA technology enabled police to trace him through evidence left on a towel.

Convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment, rape, and indecent assault. Judge Anthony Hammond described the offences as serious, involving base humiliation and degradation, and noted that Keen showed no emotion during sentencing.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

John Thorpe

Fraud

May 16, 2005

Sentence: four years and three months imprisonment

John Thorpe deceived Anton and Christine Grashion by forging county court documents to falsely claim he had funds in a pension, faking bank letters from HSBC to suggest payments, and avoiding payment for their business, CMG Rentals, which they were selling for £105,000. He further manipulated the situation by hiring their family members, transferring assets to another company to evade repayment, and fabricating excuses such as being arrested at the airport, resulting in the victims losing over £10,000 and abandoning their retirement plans in Tenerife.

Pleaded guilty to three charges of forgery, one charge of obtaining property by deception, and one charge of acting as a director of a company when bankrupt. His two houses and five luxury cars were confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and he must pay £65,000 to the victims or face an additional two years in prison.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Mark Rickards

Criminal Damage

April 7, 2005

Sentence: 10 months imprisonment and a 3-year Anti-Social Behaviour Order

Mark Rickards, a 19-year-old music student from Vernon Road, etched his tag 'Ink 13' into train windows and sprayed graffiti on railway property on the line from Poynton to Manchester. He was apprehended as part of Operation Juggernaut, which targeted graffiti vandals. His actions contributed to over £45,000 in damage, requiring refurbishment of multiple trains operated by First North Western. He began tagging at age 13 and later offered to make amends.

Admitted causing more than £17,000 worth of damage. Pleaded guilty and expressed remorse for his childish behaviour. Judge Martin Steiger highlighted the offences as a deterrent.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Paul Bannatyne

Criminal Damage

April 7, 2005

Sentence: 10 months imprisonment and a 3-year Anti-Social Behaviour Order

Paul Bannatyne, a 20-year-old music student from Spinners Lane, etched his tag 'Omas' into train windows and sprayed graffiti on railway property as part of a three-year pattern of vandalism on the line from Poynton to Manchester. He was caught through Operation Juggernaut, an undercover initiative that led to 25 successful prosecutions since 2003. The damage contributed to over £45,000 in costs for refurbishing trains operated by First North Western.

Admitted causing more than £28,000 worth of damage. Pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Steiger commented on the demoralising impact on staff, passengers, and taxpayers.

Sources: macclesfield-live.co.uk

Stephen Mee

Drug trafficking

April 1, 1993

Sentence: 22 years imprisonment

Stephen Mee was caught by undercover police attempting to bring £1m worth of cannabis and cocaine into the UK from Colombia. While on remand in HMP Risley, he escaped custody on April 1, 1993, during transfer to Manchester Crown Court, leading to sentencing in his absence. He fled to the Netherlands, joined Curtis Warren in building a major cocaine smuggling operation involving shipments from South America hidden in various containers. The operation was dismantled in a joint UK-Dutch police operation codenamed 'Crayfish', resulting in his arrest in the Netherlands.

Sentenced in absence after escaping custody en route to court. Served 15 years total after additional time in Dutch prison.

Sources: liverpoolecho.co.uk

William Henry Thorpe

Murder

February 23, 1926

Sentence: Death by hanging

William Henry Thorpe, motivated by jealousy over Frances Clarke's marriage, broke into her home at 9 Clarke Street, Bolton, on November 20, 1925, by scaling the back wall and entering through a kitchen window. He slit her throat with a razor while she was in bed, leading to her death. Thorpe was arrested later that day after attempting suicide and confessed to the crime, though he later claimed drunkenness prevented him from remembering the events.

Pleaded not guilty, with defence arguing insanity due to drunkenness, but jury found him guilty and recommended mercy; however, the judge proceeded with the sentence.

Sources: lancs.live

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