Salisbury Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 68 verdicts at Salisbury Crown Court (Salisbury, Salisbury). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Date Not Specified 18 cases

Nicholas Hughes

Making and possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornographic images *

Sentence

12 months imprisonment suspended

Nicholas Hughes, a 56-year-old resident of Trinity View, Caerleon, Newport, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday, April 26, where he received a suspended prison sentence of 12 months for serious sexual offences involving indecent images. Between 1 March 2014 and 24 May 2022, Hughes made 250 Category A indecent photos of children, 37 Category B indecent images, and 84 Category C indecent images. He also possessed 6 prohibited images of children, 26 extreme pornographic images involving animals, and a further 78 such images. The materials were uncovered by Wiltshire Police's Child Internet Exploitation Team across various devices, revealing a prolonged pattern of illegal behaviour.

Also issued a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The offences spanned March 2014 to May 2022 and involved 250 Category A, 37 Category B, and 84 Category C indecent images of children, as well as 6 prohibited images of children and 26 extreme pornographic images involving animals. Detective Constable Kerry Foster acknowledged the challenging nature of the case and thanked all involved, including Hughes’ family, for their patience and courage.

1 Jan 0001

Malcolm Compton

Rape *

Sentence

5 years imprisonment

Malcolm Compton, 60, from Carpenters Lane, Keynsham, met his victim on a dating website in September 2020. They communicated online for about a week before meeting in person. The victim made it clear she sought companionship and wanted to be friends, but Compton ignored her wishes, pressured her into sexual activity, and raped her on Friday, September 11. The victim reported the offence to Wiltshire Police the following day.

Found guilty of rape following a trial. Detective Constable Jeremy Horner commented on the offender's controlling behaviour and disregard for the victim's feelings.

1 Jan 0001

Marius Molla

Conspiring to evade a prohibition on importation *

Sentence

18 years’ imprisonment

On 1 December 2020, police and Border Force searched a container of limes from Brazil at Southampton Docks and found cocaine hydrochloride worth £3 million hidden behind a panel in the refrigeration unit. On 4 December, the container was delivered to a fruit compound in Waltham Abbey, Essex. CCTV captured Molla arriving shortly after. He was arrested at the warehouse where an automatic 9mm CZ pistol and ammunition were found in a Gucci bag near him.

11 years for conspiring to evade a prohibition on importation, 7 years for possessing a prohibited firearm consecutively, 3 years for possessing ammunition concurrently. Found guilty by jury following trial. Previously convicted of firearm and ammunition offences at Southampton Crown Court.

1 Jan 0001

Matthew Vandross

Rape of a child under 13 *

Sentence

24 years imprisonment

Between October 2020 and May 2021, Matthew Vandross sexually abused a child under 10, committing sexual assault by touching, digital penetration (21 counts), and rape of a child under 13 (four counts). He made violent threats to silence the victim. The victim reported the abuse with the support of a friend who witnessed some of the acts.

Minimum of 20 years to be served. Pleaded not guilty; victims gave evidence at trial. Offences took place over seven months. The victim was under 10 years old.

1 Jan 0001

Martin Clayton

Arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered *

Sentence

3 years and 1 month imprisonment

Martin Clayton, 73, poured petrol in the living room of his rented home on Caddy Lane in Mere and set it alight in the early hours of December 16, 2024, triggering an explosion that caused significant damage and left the property in need of a complete rebuild. Clayton, now of Dudnance Lane in Pool, was uninjured in the incident.

Initially pleaded not guilty but changed plea shortly before trial.

1 Jan 0001

Semi Tuilovoni Lave

Rape of a child *

Sentence

15 years in prison

Semi Tuilovoni Lave, 31, from Tidworth, sexually abused two girls over a number of years. His offending came to light in July 2020 when his young victims reported the abuse and police arrested him.

Found guilty of six counts of rape of a child and one count of sexual assault of a child by touching following a four-day trial.

1 Jan 0001

Stephen Howard

Perverting the course of justice *

Sentence

15 months imprisonment

Stephen Howard aided Jamie and Brian Colwell in fleeing to Spain before their sentencing over a £1 million VAT fraud. He drove to France via Eurotunnel in Jamie Colwell’s Porsche Cayenne, bought a foot passenger ferry ticket from Portsmouth to Caen for Brian Colwell, rented a DAF box van, ferried Brian and belongings from Portsmouth to Caen, drove the van filled with furniture through France and Spain to their hideout in Benidorm, and returned to the UK alone on January 14, 2018. Investigators found £2,900 deposited in Howard’s bank account and uncovered travel receipts and itineraries during a home raid.

Former Top Gear mechanic from Chilton. Denied knowledge of the Colwells’ crimes but found guilty. Evidence from phone and bank account used.

1 Jan 0001

Steven Alexander Hunter

Fraud *

Sentence

5 years imprisonment

Steven Alexander Hunter, Head Professional at The Royal Winchester Golf Club since 1992, defrauded the club of over £100,000 between 2013 and June 2018 by underreporting green fee income (£109,000), stealing from two charity Pro-Am events in 2017 and 2018 (£11,000 unaccounted for, charity received only £47.75), diverting shop card payments to his personal account (£60,000+), making false payments labelled 'RWGC' (£190,000+ to his accounts), providing fake cheque stubs (£343,449 false accounting), and failing to declare income to HMRC (over £100,000).

Convicted by a jury on four counts: fraud by abuse of position of trust, fraud by false representation, false accounting, and cheating HMRC of public revenue.

1 Jan 0001

William Tollan-Townsend

Having sex with an underage girl *

Sentence

18 months in jail

In July 2015, William Tollan-Townsend, from Bell Street, Andover, invited a 15-year-old girl on the autistic spectrum, with whom he was on friendly terms and exchanged social media messages, to a park. He persuaded her to have unprotected sex despite her reluctance because he had a girlfriend, telling her they had broken up. It was her first sexual encounter and he was persistent. Afterwards, he told her not to tell anyone as he was already being prosecuted for sex with an underage girl. She reported it to school staff the next day.

Committed while on bail for previous offence of impregnating a 13-year-old girl. Recorder Alastair Malcolm QC noted it was a serious case, worsened by not wearing protection. Already on the sex offender register.

1 Jan 0001

Liberty George Cooper

Theft from a shop *

Sentence

12 months imprisonment

Liberty George Cooper stole £100 worth of meat produce from Tesco Express store on Hampton Lane, Blackfield on 27 June 2021; a pet harness valued at £40 from a pet store in Totton Retail Park on 13 July 2021; and flea tablets worth £40 from a pet store on Ringwood Road, Totton on 16 July 2021.

Pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from a shop. Described as a prolific shoplifter by police.

1 Jan 0001

Louis Charles Cann

Rape *

Sentence

20 years imprisonment with an extended 5 year licence period

Louis Charles Cann raped two women multiple times across a period of 10 months between 1 February and 17 December 2022 in the Portsmouth and Gosport areas. The women were known to Cann. He manipulated them, threatened with violence, verbally abused them, physically assaulted one when she refused sex, and filmed himself raping one as she slept.

Denied 9 counts of rape, found guilty after trial. Lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Judge remarked on the humiliation, degradation, blackmail and manipulation used.

1 Jan 0001

Jake Holland

Money laundering *

Sentence

9 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 200 hours unpaid work and £200 costs

In May 2020, Billy Banks and Jake Holland targeted an 84-year-old man from Corsham who had dementia, claiming he had a loose roof tile needing urgent repair. They carried out substandard work valued at only £1,660. The victim made cash withdrawals totalling £20,500 and wrote two cheques for £18,000 each. Banks and Holland allowed their accounts to be used to launder the proceeds, withdrawing or transferring the money. They were unable to identify the person who approached them.

Admitted laundering money known or suspected to be criminal property. Acted as a money mule by allowing bank account to be used.

1 Jan 0001

Andrew Hews

Rape *

Sentence

6 years imprisonment

Andrew Hews, 38, of Frome Road, Trowbridge, filmed himself raping a woman in Trowbridge and showed her the footage afterwards. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after the victim gave evidence in court.

Pleaded not guilty to raping the woman but was convicted. Showed ‘no remorse for his actions’ and forced his victim to relive her ordeal in court by pleading not guilty. Also received a restraining order preventing contact with the victim and her children for 10 years.

1 Jan 0001

David Thomas

Rape and indecent assault of a girl aged under 16 *

Sentence

10 years in prison

David Thomas committed rape and indecent assault against a girl aged under 16 in Farnborough between 1984 and 1988. The offences were reported to police in 2020.

Convicted after a week-long trial. Found not guilty of another count of indecent assault.

1 Jan 0001

Dirk Weissenbruch

Rape and indecent assault *

Sentence

24 years imprisonment

Dirk Weissenbruch, a 61-year-old man from Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, was convicted of five counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14, two counts of rape of a woman over 16, and one count of indecent assault on a woman over 16. The court heard that the abuse was prolonged and violent, causing significant trauma to victims over many years. He was described as intimidating, physically violent, and emotionally abusive. The victims showed remarkable bravery. He was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on 15 September 2023.

Pleaded not guilty and took case to trial. Described as violent and abusive paedophile. Placed on sex offenders register indefinitely.

1 Jan 0001

Benjamin Cheyne

Assault by penetration *

Sentence

11 years imprisonment

Benjamin Cheyne, aged 36 from Pilgrims Way, Andover, a father-of-two, sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl (now 11) between February 2019 and May 2020. The assaults occurred on occasions while she was sleeping, causing significant trauma including deteriorating self-esteem, night terrors, sleep issues affecting learning, trust issues, and fears he would take her away. Victim's home is triggering.

Found guilty by jury after trial of two counts of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault. Judge Barnett described the offence as extremely serious with far-reaching consequences for the victim. Will be on licence for 1 year post-sentence, with indefinite sexual harm prevention order and restraining order.

1 Jan 0001

Billy Banks

Money laundering *

Sentence

18 months in prison

Admitted laundering money known or suspected to be criminal property. Acted as a money mule by allowing bank account to be used.

1 Jan 0001

Aaron Michael Kennedy

Sexual assault *

Sentence

15 months imprisonment

On the evening of 12 July 2019, Aaron Michael Kennedy, aged 31 and residing in Tamworth, Staffordshire, sexually assaulted a woman in her 30s at a supported accommodation property in Weymouth, Dorset. The victim, who had consumed alcohol and prescribed medication, was unresponsive and asleep on a sofa in a communal area. Kennedy, a fellow resident, approached her, touched her face and upper body, and proceeded to sexually assault her. The incident was captured on CCTV, enabling police to spot the assault in real time and arrest Kennedy at the property shortly after. The CCTV evidence was crucial to the investigation and subsequent trial.

Found guilty at trial. Placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. Dorset Police praised the victim's courage.

1 Jan 0001

Disclaimer: The information on this page is compiled from publicly available court records and published media reports. It is provided strictly for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as a definitive record of any individual's criminal history or legal status.

Offence names marked with an asterisk (*) reflect descriptions used in media reporting and may not correspond to the formal legal charge or indictment. Sentencing details are as reported and may be subject to subsequent appeal, variation, or correction by the courts.

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Wilton Rd, Salisbury SP2 7EP, Salisbury, Salisbury, SP2 7EP, United Kingdom

+441722345200

Wheelchair accessible parking, Wheelchair accessible entrance

Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00

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About Salisbury Crown Court

Salisbury Crown Court, located in Salisbury, Salisbury, is a Crown Court that handles serious criminal cases including murder, rape, robbery, and other indictable offences. With 68 sentencing records in our database, it is one of the Crown Courts serving the Salisbury, Salisbury area. Crown Courts sit with a judge and jury, and have the power to impose the full range of sentences available under UK law.

The court can be found at Wilton Rd, Salisbury SP2 7EP, SP2 7EP.

Accessibility provisions at this court include wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible parking.

For enquiries about cases heard at this court, you can contact the court by telephone on +441722345200.

All sentencing information published on this page has been sourced from publicly-available records and verified by our editorial team. If you believe any information is inaccurate or should be removed, you can submit a removal request directly from the relevant listing above.