Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 21 verdicts at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court (Manchester). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Daniel Ramsay-Bradshaw

Fraudulent evasion of prohibition on importation of a class B drug

September 10, 2025

Sentence: 22 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, 150 hours of unpaid work, and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days

Daniel Ramsay-Bradshaw, 34, flew from Texas to Manchester Airport in December 2023, via Frankfurt, with two suitcases containing black vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis weighing a total of 48.7 kilograms. He and John Cooney had prepared a script to give to Border Force officers, claiming they packed the bags themselves and were not forced. They were stopped, arrested, and the drugs were seized, which were intended for the streets of Manchester.

Pleaded guilty to the offense. Had financial advantage in mind and intended to cancel drug debts. Diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, and has issues with drug misuse.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

John Cooney

Fraudulent evasion of prohibition on importation of a class B drug

September 10, 2025

Sentence: 22 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, 150 hours of unpaid work, and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days

John Cooney, 26, flew from Texas to Manchester Airport in December 2023, via Frankfurt, with two suitcases containing black vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis weighing a total of 48.7 kilograms. He and Daniel Ramsay-Bradshaw had prepared a script to give to Border Force officers, claiming they packed the bags themselves and were not forced. They were stopped, arrested, and the drugs were seized, which were intended for the streets of Manchester.

Pleaded guilty to the offense. Had financial advantage in mind and intended to cancel drug debts. Has a history of drug misuse and a significant debt that led to his involvement.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Simon Mitchell

Wounding with intent

September 10, 2025

Sentence: 3 years imprisonment

Simon Mitchell attacked his neighbour, Richard Adams-Burton, with a Samurai sword following a dispute over Mr Adams-Burton's dog disturbing Mitchell's enjoyment of his garden. The incident occurred on April 10, when Mitchell shouted at Mr Adams-Burton's wife over the fence, then confronted Mr Adams-Burton upon his return home, striking him three times and causing a deep cut to his arm and a fractured humerus bone. Mr Adams-Burton required three days in hospital.

Pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and having a bladed article in a public place. Suffered from complex PTSD and expressed remorse. Had undergone anger management courses in prison.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Jack Naylor

Murder

September 5, 2025

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years

Jack Naylor, invited to a birthday party at his mother's house in Salford on December 15, 2024, battered Thomas Gomm, his mother's ex-boyfriend, in a brutal attack that caused traumatic head injuries. Gomm, who was vulnerable due to alcoholism and health issues, died two days later on December 17, 2024, from the injuries sustained.

Found guilty of murder and racially aggravated harassment; claimed self-defence but was disproven; had prior difficulties with the victim.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Muhammad Khan

Attempted Murder

September 5, 2025

Sentence: 27 years and 6 months imprisonment, plus 5 years on licence and a lifelong restraining order

On January 18, 2025, Muhammad Khan attacked his estranged wife at their previous shared home in Rochdale. He punched her, slashed her neck with a Stanley knife, stabbed her multiple times, hit her with a hammer, strangled her with an exercise resistance band, and covered her nose and mouth. The attack stopped when her family intervened. Khan was later seen discarding a bag containing weapons and cleaning supplies, described as a 'murder kit'.

Judge Bernadette Baxter described the attack as brutal and premeditated, noting that Khan had no real insight into his actions and was deemed a dangerous offender.

Sources: liverpoolecho.co.uk

Oliver Ashcroft

Violent Disorder

September 4, 2025

Sentence: 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years; 150 hours unpaid work; 6-month curfew; 20 rehabilitation activity days

Oliver Ashcroft, 23, of Kendal Road, Bury, was involved in a drunken brawl in Bury town centre on May 12, 2024. He retaliated first after a friend was attacked with a bottle, throwing punches, goading the other group, kicking a man in the head while he was on the ground, and throwing a bin bag. The incident involved a verbal confrontation escalating to violence with another group.

Pleaded guilty to violent disorder. No previous convictions. Judge commented that continuing the fight was inexcusable and highlighted the dangers involved.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Craig Roscoe

Violent Disorder

September 4, 2025

Sentence: 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years; 150 hours unpaid work; 6-month curfew; 101 rehabilitation activity days

Craig Roscoe, 31, of Bury, was involved in a drunken brawl in Bury town centre on May 12, 2024. He joined the fight after a friend was attacked with a bottle, throwing punches at two men and chucking a chair. The incident involved a verbal altercation escalating to violence with another group.

Pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Has previous convictions. Judge told him he should know better as the eldest and not be in charge of younger individuals.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Taylor Wolstencroft

Violent Disorder

September 4, 2025

Sentence: 2 years imprisonment, suspended for 2 years; 250 hours unpaid work; 6-month curfew; 20 rehabilitation activity days

Taylor Wolstencroft, 22, of Uplands Avenue, Bury, was involved in a drunken brawl in Bury town centre on May 12, 2024. He kicked a man as he fell to the ground and kicked at others during the fight, which started after a friend was attacked with a bottle. The incident involved a group altercation with punching, kicking, and throwing items.

Pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Has previous convictions for affray and violent disorder, including involvement in Bolton town centre disorder. Suffers from ADHD exacerbated by cocaine use and mental health issues.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Decklan Davenport

Affray

August 29, 2025

Sentence: 14 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months; banned from driving for 1 year with extended retest

Decklan Davenport, 27, and his brother Cameron were driving to their parents' house in Sale on October 27, 2023, when a cyclist threw a stone at their car, causing damage. They followed the cyclist to Kingston Close, a dead-end street, and confronted him. After the cyclist swung a baseball bat at their car, the brothers got out and struck him with a stick, inflicting a 10cm head wound that required hospital treatment. Decklan also drove the car towards the victim in a dangerous manner.

Pleaded guilty to affray, possessing an offensive weapon, and dangerous driving. Ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Cameron Davenport

Affray

August 29, 2025

Sentence: 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 14 months

Cameron Davenport, 21, and his brother Decklan were driving to their parents' house in Sale on October 27, 2023, when a cyclist threw a stone at their car, causing damage. They followed the cyclist to Kingston Close, a dead-end street, and confronted him. After the cyclist swung a baseball bat at their car, the brothers got out and struck him with a stick, inflicting a 10cm head wound that required hospital treatment.

Pleaded guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon. Ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Luke Ryan

Unlawful Wounding

August 29, 2025

Sentence: 20 months in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for two years; 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days; 100 hours of unpaid work; £500 compensation to the victim

Luke Ryan, under the influence of cocaine and cannabis, rode an e-bike to Compton Close, Trafford, on March 8, 2025, where he wore a balaclava and carried a lock knife. He hurled an ornamental stone through the front window of a home, targeting a family due to a grievance with a grandson. During a confrontation with neighbours who intervened, he stabbed one in the forearm, causing a 2cm deep wound that exposed muscle and tissue. The incident was partly captured on CCTV, and Ryan was arrested nearby while in possession of drugs. He made threatening remarks during arrest.

Pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property, possession of a bladed article, possession of drugs, and unlawful wounding. Expressed remorse and has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Judge described the stabbing as an 'unpleasant, nasty injury' and noted it was claimed to be in panic and self-defence.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Lee Kirk

Conspiracy to supply class B drugs

August 22, 2025

Sentence: 5 years imprisonment

Lee Kirk, 54, of Victoria Street, Openshaw, participated in a drug trafficking operation supplying cannabis across the UK from January 2019 to January 2025. He was arrested at his home, where police discovered £10,870 in cash and a knuckle duster during a search.

Admitted conspiracy to supply class B drugs. Was involved in cannabis supply at a high level and did not possess an EncroPhone. Defence noted his ability to change his life around. Judge highlighted the organised and substantial scale of the operation.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Claire Gilbert

Stalking

August 22, 2025

Sentence: Three years imprisonment

Claire Gilbert catfished her friend for nearly 15 years by posing as a man named Carl Murphy and fabricating a fake family, including a daughter. She manipulated the victim into a fictitious relationship, extracted money, gifts, and letters, and committed fraud by opening multiple credit cards in the victim's name without permission. Gilbert used voice-changing apps and lied about assaults, kidnappings, illnesses, and deaths to maintain control, leading to the victim's psychological torment and financial loss.

Pleaded guilty to stalking and four offences of fraud. Judge Bernadette Baxter described her actions as 'wicked' with a high degree of planning over a long period, intended to maximise distress. Defence noted a complex mental disorder and excessive cannabis use, though not the cause of the offences.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Geoffrey Kirk

Conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs

August 22, 2025

Sentence: 7.5 years imprisonment

Geoffrey Kirk, 43, of Victoria Street, Openshaw, was involved in a drug trafficking operation supplying cocaine and cannabis across the UK from January 2019 to January 2025. He used the EncroChat handle 'Sage Wizard' as a broker, facilitating the wholesale brokering and transfer of large quantities of drugs. Police found 154 grams of cocaine, MDMA, digital scales, and other drug-related paraphernalia at his home during a search.

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs. Acted as a broker in drug supply and was involved at a high level. Expressed remorse and acknowledged disgracing himself and letting his family down. Judge noted the operation was organised on a substantial scale.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Yasser Akhtar

Fraud by false representation

July 30, 2025

Sentence: 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, 200 hours of unpaid work, and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days

Yasser Akhtar, working as an MOT tester at The Car Group in Rochdale Road, Bury, issued fraudulent MOT pass certificates to over 300 vehicles, resulting in a zero per cent failure rate. Investigations showed that 14 vehicles were not present at the garage during their supposed tests, which were conducted via his mobile phone late at night or on weekends. He confessed to the fraud, stating he was pressured to do so after crashing a car during a test drive and incurring debt. This conduct put road users at risk by undermining the testing system.

Pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Remorseful and acted under pressure due to debt. No previous convictions. Hopes to return to mechanical engineering.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Aslam Khan

Indecent Assault

July 25, 2025

Sentence: 7 years imprisonment and a sexual harm prevention order for life

Aslam Khan, formerly known as Maurice ‘Morris’ Wynn, committed historical sexual offences by indecently assaulting three children in Rochdale between 1987 and 1998.

Victims came forward nearly 40 years later; Detective Constable Stacey emphasised support for victims and the importance of investigating non-recent sexual offences.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Jordan Downs

Murder

July 25, 2025

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years

Jordan Downs and Paul Simmons murdered Michael McCann after he attempted to steal drugs from them. On June 7, 2024, in Bolton, Mr McCann confronted them, demanding drugs while armed with a knife. Downs armed himself with a kitchen knife, and during a struggle, he stabbed Mr McCann in the back of the leg while Simmons restrained him in a headlock. Mr McCann was rushed to hospital but died two days later. Downs later admitted to stabbing him and called his mother about the incident.

Found guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice. Judge Tina Landale noted it was a joint attack on an unarmed and defenceless victim. Defence argued the victim was armed first and actions were provocative.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Paul Simmons

Murder

July 25, 2025

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years

Paul Simmons and Jordan Downs murdered Michael McCann after he tried to steal drugs from them. On June 7, 2024, in Bolton, Mr McCann confronted them while armed with a knife. Simmons armed himself with a wooden stick, disarmed Mr McCann, and restrained him in a headlock during a struggle. Downs then stabbed Mr McCann in the leg. Mr McCann was taken to hospital but died two days later. Simmons denied intent and claimed self-defence.

Found guilty of murder. Claimed self-defence, stating the victim pulled a knife first and his actions were provocative. Judge ruled it a joint attack on a defenceless victim.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Lee Smith

Rape

July 20, 2025

Sentence: 13 years imprisonment

Lee Smith sexually abused a young boy starting in 1999, when the victim was a child. Smith, who had befriended a relative of the victim, would visit the house and abuse the boy, sometimes under the pretext of reading a bedtime story. The assaults continued for over a decade, often leaving the victim in pain, and involved inappropriate touching and other sexual acts.

Found guilty of two counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity, one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, causing sexual activity, sexual assault, rape, and attempted sexual communications. The abuse spanned over a decade and involved manipulation of the victim.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Callum Cox

Possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

June 13, 2024

Sentence: 5 years imprisonment

Callum Cox participated in a pre-planned attack on January 12, 2022, where he fired a shotgun at the victim in his home in Barron Meadow, Leigh, following a dispute over American Bulldogs and puppies. He was masked during the incident, fired two shots that missed the victim, and caused the victim's dogs to escape. Cox fled to Spain after the event but was arrested in Sussex on March 19, 2025 (likely a typo for an earlier year), and held on remand before sentencing.

Pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Also sentenced for one count of robbery (5 years), aggravated vehicle taking (18 months), two counts of attempting to wound or cause grievous bodily harm with intent (2 years total), and one count of actual bodily harm (1 year), all running concurrently. Extended licence period of 3 years.

Sources: leighjournal.co.uk

Donna Foster

Malicious Communications

June 13, 2024

Sentence: 13 months imprisonment

Donna Foster's relationship with the victim deteriorated due to financial disputes over American Bulldogs and puppies. On January 11, 2022, she sent threatening text messages to the victim after a scuffle at her home in Belmont Avenue, Bickershaw, stating it was 'war' and wishing ill on his family. These messages contributed to the subsequent armed attack on the victim the next day. She was also captured on CCTV picking up her son after the incident.

Pleaded guilty to Malicious Communications for sending threatening messages that instigated the attack.

Sources: leighjournal.co.uk

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