Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court Sentencing Results

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

On February 28, 2025, Connor Dillon, aged 27, slashed three men in the face with a knife outside the Beehive pub in Droylsden, Tameside, after an argument over trainers. The incident began when one victim accidentally bumped into Dillon inside the pub around 1am on March 1, 2025, and made a joking comment about his trainers. Dillon responded aggressively, threatening to slash the man. As the victims walked away, Dillon argued with them from behind a fence, pulled out a blade from his pocket, and deliberately slashed all three in the face. One victim suffered a scar from mouth to ear; the victims were fortunate more serious injuries were not caused. Dillon was heavily intoxicated and claimed no memory of the event. The knife was not recovered. CCTV footage and injury photos supported the severity.

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.

Jack Harrison, 28, of Gildersdale Drive, led a substantial drug operation involving the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. He coerced sisters Destiny and Paris Connolly into participation, using domestic violence and aggression, including demanding return of misdelivered cannabis packages worth £6,500 each. Arrested on August 24, 2024, for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, driving offences, and strangulation of a police officer. The operation included the 'Kyzer' line with over 2,500 flare messages.

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.

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.

Asim Tufail, 52, from Kenmore Road, Northenden, operated a criminal empire involving drug dealing, gun running, blackmail, and money laundering, exposed via EncroChat infiltration. He was arrested with his son in Manchester Airport departure lounge while attempting to flee to Dubai, wearing a £70,000 diamond-encrusted Rolex. He drove expensive cars and made large cash purchases. Previously sentenced to 14 years for drug dealing. Assisted in underworld enforcement disputes. Following trial, convicted and sentenced.

Junnaid Tufail, son of Asim Tufail, from Kenmore Road, Northenden, involved in family criminal enterprise of drug dealing and gun running from age 19. Arrested with father in Manchester Airport departure lounge en route to Dubai, wearing £11,000 Rolex. Crimes exposed by EncroChat hack. Pleaded guilty during trial.

Omar Malik headed a Manchester-based gang that flooded the UK with automatic weapons including 52 Skorpion machine guns and 49 Grand Power pistols, and import-grade cocaine worth up to £70m over a five-month period ending May 2020. The gang supplied organised crime groups across the country. Malik used the EncroChat handle 'payyabills' and kept a ledger of transactions. He was arrested and gave a no comment interview.

Sean Hogan was involved in the Manchester gang led by Omar Malik that trafficked automatic weapons like Skorpion machine guns and Grand Power pistols, and supplied cocaine and ketamine as part of a £70m drug operation over five months ending May 2020.

Andrew Cooney was part of Omar Malik's Manchester-based gang involved in trafficking 52 Skorpion machine guns and 49 Grand Power pistols, and supplying cocaine worth up to £70m over five months ending May 2020. Captured during police surveillance.

Daniel Waters was a member of the Manchester gang headed by Omar Malik, involved in the importation and sale of automatic weapons including Skorpion sub-machine guns and Grand Power pistols, as part of a major firearms and drug trafficking operation ending May 2020.

In 2007, Joey Barton assaulted his Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo during a training-ground incident, leaving Dabo unconscious and requiring hospital treatment.