Portsmouth Crown Court Sentencing Results

Robbie Hawes was driving a blue BMW 120d at speeds exceeding 120mph in atrocious weather conditions with heavy rain and surface water on the road. The vehicle, carrying five occupants, lost control and crashed eastbound on the A27 Havant bypass at around 11.55pm on Saturday, 5 November 2022, resulting in the death of the victim at the scene.

On 20 December 2024, Inde Sneddon shouted homophobic abuse at a bus driver and smashed a bus window in Bognor. He then stole a metal motorcycle chain and used it to smash the windows of several parked cars in the Nyewood Lane area. When police arrived, he continued to wield the chain, threatened to kill a police officer, and kicked a police dog. He was arrested after a struggle during which he was bitten by a police dog.

Rachael Cole, 44, of Whitehill, committed 26 offences between July 4 and December 12, 2024, including 20 counts of shoplifting from stores such as Liphook Sainsbury’s, B&M Bordon, Tesco Fleet, Tesco, Waitrose, and Marks & Spencer in Haslemere, with total value of goods stolen just under £5,000. She also had four counts of failing to surrender to bail and one count each of driving while unfit through alcohol and assaulting a police officer after a car accident in Bramley near Guildford on October 29, 2024. Breath test showed 33 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath (limit 35). Behaviour suggested possible influence of other substances. Admitted all offences on January 10, 2025, at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court. Has been in custody since at least January 10, 2025.

On 18 August 2023, two Rottweilers owned by Chloe Taylor escaped from a property in Bognor and attacked the victim as he walked his dog. The victim suffered life-changing injuries, including amputations of his left leg, right arm, and left hand. The dogs were shot dead by firearms officers. Taylor pleaded guilty to being the owner/person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury.

On 18 August 2023, two Rottweilers owned by Matthew Roberts escaped from a property in Bognor and attacked the victim as he walked his dog. The victim suffered life-changing injuries, including amputations of his left leg, right arm, and left hand. The dogs were shot dead by firearms officers. Roberts pleaded guilty to being the owner/person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury.

On January 24, 2025, Max Anderson drove his BMW on Kennel Road near Goodwood, overtook a bus in single lane traffic, lost control, skidded to the wrong side of the road, struck a road sign and embankment, and collided head-on with another vehicle. The victim, 68, died five days later from his injuries. Anderson had 79 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood, exceeding the legal limit, and had previously been advised not to drive due to drug taking.

Between August and November 2023, Daniel Paddon placed a tracking device on his victim’s car, showed up at her address and refused to leave, kicked her door in and sent many abusive messages, including threatening to harm her and her family and sending pin locations showing that he was outside her family’s homes. The victim reported feeling hopeless and so frightened that she boarded her house up with planks of wood.

Hayley Bell and Richard Elkin ran Elkin and Bell Funerals in Gosport, Hampshire, where they stored over 40 bodies in unrefrigerated conditions between June 28, 2022, and December 10, 2023, leading to decomposition. Bodies were found covered in maggots, shedding skin, and lying in fluids. Specifically, the 87-year-old victim's body was left decomposed for 36 days in a mortuary at 11.48C (above recommended 4C), discovered by enforcement agents due to unpaid rent. The pair lied to families about cremations, continued fraudulent trading, and ignored improvement notices from August 2021. Five other cases of badly decomposed bodies were known. Another victim was found in such poor condition she had to be frozen.

Richard Elkin and Hayley Bell ran Elkin and Bell Funerals in Gosport, Hampshire, where they stored over 40 bodies in unrefrigerated conditions between June 28, 2022, and December 10, 2023, leading to decomposition. Bodies were found covered in maggots, shedding skin, and lying in fluids. Specifically, 87-year-old victim's body was left decomposed for 36 days in a mortuary at 11.48C (above recommended 4C), discovered by enforcement agents due to unpaid rent. The pair lied to families about cremations, continued fraudulent trading, and ignored improvement notices from August 2021. Five other cases of badly decomposed bodies were known.

Marie Peters, 35, of Southampton, participated in the activities of the Portsmouth-based OCG by conveying Grant Canavan between Southampton and the Portsmouth flat, and to meet other members. Officers located £56,320 cash in a locked safe in her loft space.

On October 26, 2021, at about 8.10pm on the A286 Main Road at Birdham, Chichester, Varndell drove a Vauxhall Zafira dangerously while distracted by making texts and calls seconds before striking the victim, who was cycling home with lights on. Varndell then failed to stop. The victim, aged 26, died at the scene. Varndell was also not insured to drive the vehicle.

On 12 March 2021, 19-year-old Harvey Osborne attacked a man in his 20s, known to him, in his sleep at an address in Fareham, stabbing him and causing wounds to his head, face, and fingers. Police arrived at 3.07am and found Osborne armed with a knife and a wooden pole. He became violent and threatening towards officers, locked himself in the toilet, and smashed a window before being arrested by public order trained officers.

Glen Matthew Isham stole meat, pet food, chocolate, and other items like laundry detergent with a combined total of nearly £6,000 from convenience stores in Portsmouth, including the Co-Op on New Road, between 7 July and 26 September.

On 6 November 2021, 52-year-old Ian Hawkins of Fareham was spotted with a knife on Fareham High Street. Police found a large kitchen knife in his rucksack while he sat on a bench outside Wilko. A witness confirmed he had just purchased the knife there and made comments suggesting he was going to ‘do some damage’ with it. Hawkins claimed he bought it for fishing.

James Hemming struck a 17-year-old girl with a hammer around 7pm on April 11 at a home in Portsea, causing serious injuries that left her hospitalised for weeks.

Shortly after midnight on April 18 2021, at The Hard Interchange in Portsmouth, Christopher Hale and Jordan Lewsley approached two men in their 30s near Gosport ferry port, became confrontational, kicked and punched the 33-year-old man in the head and face, then punched and kicked the second man who intervened, causing serious injuries including a number of broken bones to both victims.

Justin Dixon was involved in an anti-migrant protest at Eastney, Portsmouth, on 6 September after about 120 migrants who had crossed the English Channel were brought to shore. He was recorded on video pushing a large metal gate towards police. The protest involved 200 to 300 people and turned into large-scale public disorder, with seven police officers assaulted and missiles thrown.