Reading Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 71 verdicts at Reading Crown Court (Reading). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Patrick Blenman

Assault

April 21, 2023

Sentence: 2 years and 6 months imprisonment

On August 10, 2021, Patrick Blenman assaulted a woman in Sandhurst, padlocked her inside a house, and set a fire by the front door, leaving her no choice but to escape by jumping from a third-floor window. He was arrested on the same day.

Found guilty of assault, arson, and false imprisonment after a five-day trial. The judge described the attack as 'horrendous'.

Sources: getreading.co.uk

Miguel Parian John

Assisting an offender

April 4, 2023

Sentence: 16 months imprisonment

Miguel Parian John assisted in relation to the murder of Rafaqit Kayani and was found in possession of a bladed article in a public place, connected to the events of August 30, 2022, in Keel Drive, Slough.

Found guilty of assisting an offender and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Sources: getreading.co.uk

Riaz Miah

Murder

April 3, 2023

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years

On August 30, 2022, Riaz Miah was involved in the murder of Rafaqit Kayani, 24, from Slough, by stabbing him in the chest in Keel Drive. Kayani was taken to hospital but later died. Miah was also involved in drug supply activities.

Found guilty of murder and other offences, including being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession of a bladed article. These additional sentences run concurrently.

Sources: getreading.co.uk

Hassan Al-Kubanji

Murder

April 3, 2023

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years

On August 30, 2022, Hassan Al-Kubanji and others murdered Rafaqit Kayani, 24, from Slough, by stabbing him in the chest in Keel Drive. Kayani was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.

Found guilty of murder following a trial. Additional details include being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, though this was not part of the sentence.

Sources: getreading.co.uk

Kirkpatrick Virgo

Murder

March 31, 2023

Sentence: 21 years and 123 days imprisonment

Kirkpatrick Virgo, 42, killed Thomas Parker, 24, by striking him once on the back of the head with a horseshoe after an argument over loud music from a boombox on an Elizabeth line train. The incident occurred at Reading Station on July 30, following a football match between Arsenal and Sevilla. Virgo boarded the train at Slough with friends, playing loud music, which led to a verbal disagreement. He followed the victim off the train and attacked him as he walked away, then was chased and tackled by the victim's brother before being separated by security.

Found guilty by jurors after deliberation. He had five previous convictions for crimes such as drink-driving and possession of crack cocaine and heroin.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Jordan Musa

Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent

February 17, 2023

Sentence: 6.5 years imprisonment

Jordan Musa, aged 27, stabbed a man in his 40s in the chest and thigh during an incident on Avon Place in Reading, narrowly missing his lungs and leaving the victim needing stitches. He also punched several people during a separate incident at Reading Magistrates' Court.

Found guilty of Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon after a four-day trial. Pleaded guilty to one count of affray.

Sources: getreading.co.uk

Hakeem Kigundu

Murder

October 7, 2022

Sentence: whole life order

Hakeem Kigundu, a resident of Rowe Court in Reading, Berkshire, set fire to the building on December 15 as an act of revenge after losing his job and facing eviction the next day. He conspired to kill his neighbours, resulting in the deaths of Richard Burgess and Neil Morris, and injuries to Joel Richards, who suffered third-degree burns, and Laura Wiggins, who sustained a punctured lung and multiple fractures.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Donald Robertson

Murder

May 19, 2022

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years

Donald Robertson murdered Shani Warren, a 26-year-old woman from Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, in April 1987. He assaulted, strangled, and threw her into Taplow Lake, where her body was found bound and gagged. The crime was linked to him through new DNA evidence from a cold case investigation. Additionally, he was convicted of kidnapping and raping a 16-year-old girl in July 1981, and had a history of similar offences, including raping a 14-year-old girl shortly after his release from police custody in 1981.

Did not attend the trial; judge noted no remorse and described him as a self-centred man who cares nothing for others' suffering. Previously pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old girl in 1981.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Oliver Perry-Smith

Misconduct in Public Office

April 29, 2022

Sentence: Three years and six months in prison

Oliver Perry-Smith, a former Thames Valley Police officer based at Newbury police station, abused his position of power by pursuing women for sex whom he met during his duties between September 2014 and November 2019. These women were in vulnerable positions, such as victims, witnesses, or acting as appropriate adults. He had sexual contact with three women and attempted to with others. Additionally, he unauthorisedly accessed police computer systems to look up personal details of women, including using a car registration to identify and visit one woman at her home, making personal comments while she was alone with a young child. His actions came to light in late 2019 when a woman reported him after he sent an indecent image.

Pleaded guilty to three charges of misconduct in public office and two charges of unauthorised access to computer material. Described as a sexual predator who abused his position, causing significant distress to victims. Gross misconduct was found, and he would have been dismissed from the force.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Sam Edwards

Burglary

April 7, 2022

Sentence: Three years and five months imprisonment

Sam Edwards conducted a seven-month crime spree between September 2021 and March 2022, breaking into homes across Berkshire, Surrey, and Buckinghamshire, stealing high-value jewellery and items of sentimental value from locations including Maidenhead, Wargrave, Esher, West Horsley, Ripley, Bookham, and Taplow.

Daniel Gale

Possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

April 4, 2022

Sentence: Four years and seven months imprisonment

Daniel Gale attempted to shoplift from Morrisons on Basingstoke Road in Reading, and when confronted, he threatened a victim with an imitation firearm in a terrifying incident, causing the victim to fear for their safety.

Pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm whilst committing a schedule one offence and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, with part of the sentence due to the activation of a suspended sentence for a previous robbery offence.

Sources: getreading.co.uk

Denise Neal

Fraud by false representation

June 1, 2021

Sentence: 27 months imprisonment

Denise Neal was involved in falsely claiming that a will in the name of James 'Anthony' Sootheran was genuine, contributing to a fraud scheme orchestrated by the Rickards to misappropriate funds from the Sootheran estate.

Found guilty of fraud by falsely claiming a will in the name of James 'Anthony' Sootheran was genuine.

Sources: standard.co.uk

June Alsford

Fraud by false representation

June 1, 2021

Sentence: 2 years imprisonment, suspended for 2 years

June Alsford was involved in a fraud and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by participating in the scam to falsely claim wills related to the Sootheran estate were genuine.

Pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice related to the scam involving the Sootheran wills.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Shanda Robinson

Fraud by false representation

June 1, 2021

Sentence: 32 months imprisonment

Shanda Robinson conspired to pervert the course of justice and committed fraud by falsely claiming that a will in the name of Mary Sootheran was genuine, as part of a scheme to defraud the Sootheran estate.

Found guilty of fraud by false representation and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice for falsely claiming a will in the name of Mary Sootheran was genuine.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Wayne Rickard

Causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult

June 1, 2021

Sentence: 10.5 years imprisonment

Wayne Rickard, along with his wife Lynda, was involved in forging wills and misusing funds from the Sootheran family. He allowed James 'Anthony' Sootheran to die from malnutrition at High Havens Farm in South Newington, Oxfordshire, in March 2014, while benefiting from the fraud, including the purchase of a £33,000 Mitsubishi Shogun with Mrs Sootheran's money in 2010.

Acquitted of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult, fraud by false representation, and perverting the course of justice. Judge stated he failed to help the victim due to hopes of financial gain.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Lynda Rickard

Murder

June 1, 2021

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years

Lynda Rickard forged the wills of James 'Anthony' Sootheran and his mother Mary Sootheran, then deliberately starved Anthony Sootheran to death at High Havens Farm in South Newington, Oxfordshire, in March 2014, to inherit part of his £3.5 million fortune. She had been paid £47,000 a year to care for Mary Sootheran until her death in 2012 and misused tens of thousands of pounds for her family's lifestyle, including private school fees.

Pleaded guilty to four fraud charges, two counts of forgery, two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, possession of articles for use in fraud, and obtaining benefits by deception. Judge commented on her greed and systematic exploitation.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Michael Dunkley

Fraud by false representation

June 1, 2021

Sentence: 2 years imprisonment

Michael Dunkley participated in a fraud scheme by falsely claiming that a will in the name of James 'Anthony' Sootheran was genuine, as part of a larger conspiracy involving the Rickards to inherit from the Sootheran estate.

Found guilty of fraud by falsely claiming a will in the name of James 'Anthony' Sootheran was genuine.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Tomasz Kroker

Causing death by dangerous driving

October 31, 2016

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment

Tomasz Kroker was driving a lorry and scrolling through music on his mobile phone, which distracted him for almost a kilometre, leading him to crash into a stationary vehicle at 50mph on the A34 dual carriageway north of Newbury in Berkshire on August 10, 2016. The vehicle carried Tracey Houghton, 45, her sons Ethan Houghton, 13, and Josh Houghton, 11, and her stepdaughter Aimee Goldsmith, 11, resulting in their immediate deaths as their car was crushed underneath a heavy goods vehicle. A man was seriously injured, and four other people were hurt in the incident.

Pleaded guilty to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Judge Maura McGowan noted that his attention was so poor he might as well have had his eyes closed, and he had signed a declaration not to use his phone at the wheel.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Harjeevan Randhawa

Dangerous Driving

May 3, 2016

Sentence: 8 months imprisonment, disqualified from driving for 5 years and 4 months, and 2 months for driving over the alcohol limit (concurrent)

Harjeevan Randhawa was driving an Audi on the M4 motorway when he rear-ended a Renault Clio in the middle lane between junctions 10 and 11 on the westbound carriageway around 4pm on December 24, 2015. This caused the Clio to cross the carriageway, smash through bushes, and overturn in a ditch on the hard shoulder. The couple in the Clio sustained cuts, bruises, and arm pain. Randhawa fled the scene and was later arrested at his home address in Reading, where his car was found with substantial front damage. He was over the prescribed alcohol limit at the time.

Pleaded guilty to causing the collision. Ordered to take an extended retest and licence endorsed for failing to stop after a road traffic collision.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Robert Brown

Manslaughter

May 1, 2011

Sentence: 24 years imprisonment for manslaughter and 2 years for obstructing a coroner

Robert Brown, a British Airways captain, bludgeoned his 46-year-old wife Joanna to death with a claw hammer in their family home in October 2010 as their two young children cowered in a playroom. He dumped her body in a makeshift coffin in Windsor Great Park and was involved in obstructing a coroner in the execution of his duty.

Admitted manslaughter on the ground of diminished responsibility. Was acquitted of murder and had previously believed he was 'stitched up' by a prenuptial agreement.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Mark Alexander

Murder

September 1, 2010

Sentence: life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years

Mark Alexander, then aged 22 and a law student, killed his 70-year-old father Samuel Alexander in September 2010 in a bid to escape his controlling influence. He buried the body in concrete in the garden of their family home in Drayton Parslow, Buckinghamshire, and was subsequently convicted.

Insists on innocence and claims a miscarriage of justice; has gained two law degrees in prison and is challenging the Ministry of Justice over refusal to allow a phone interview for a podcast.

Sources: standard.co.uk

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