St Albans Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 213 verdicts at St Albans Crown Court (St Albans). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Date Not Specified 13 cases

Sabaratnam Arulsikamani

Sexual activity with a child *

Sentence

7 years 6 months imprisonment

In 2011, Sabaratnam Arulsikamani, then of Water Lane, Watford, engaged in sexual activity with a young teenage girl. The offences were reported years later and investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary's Non Recent Child Abuse Investigation Team. He was tried at St Albans Crown Court and found guilty on three counts of sexual activity with a child. He was sentenced on 8 March 2024.

Found guilty on three counts of sexual activity with a child. Placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Detective Sergeant Marc Willmore of Hertfordshire Constabulary stated that the investigation demonstrates no matter how long ago an offence took place, allegations will be investigated thoroughly.

1 Jan 0001

Sarah Bush

Perverting the course of justice *

Sentence

3 years and 9 months imprisonment for perverting the course of justice, concurrent 2 years and 3 months for giving false information

Sarah Bush assisted Stephen Marshall after the murder of Jeffrey Howe on 8-9 March 2009 by helping to dispose of body parts, including taking the head to Leicestershire, using Howe's bank account to buy goods like a laptop and takeaways, forging his signature for housing benefit, writing forged cheques, selling his belongings including mobile phone, furniture and Saab car on eBay, and lying to police and Howe's family about his whereabouts, claiming he had left.

Changed plea to guilty on 1 February 2010. Acquitted of murder. Helped Marshall transport Howe's head to Leicestershire and lied about Howe's whereabouts. Served 45 months in prison.

1 Jan 0001

Sean Keane

Breach of a sexual harm prevention order *

Sentence

2 years imprisonment

Sean Keane, a 61-year-old man from London Colney, Hertfordshire, breached a sexual harm prevention order by possessing an unregistered Amazon Fire tablet and using his mother's maiden name as an alias on Facebook Messenger without informing authorities. On 4 May 2023, police visited his home and discovered the device. He had previously been jailed in 2019 for attempting to communicate with a child and meet a child after grooming, and breached a court order shortly after that conviction.

Pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Judge Michael Roques expressed concern over repeated disregard for the law. Previous conviction in October 2019 for attempting to communicate with and meet a child following grooming, resulting in a 33-month sentence.

1 Jan 0001

Robert Kovacs

Attempted murder *

Sentence

29 years imprisonment

Robert Kovacs, 29, of Tenby Road in Edgware, north-west London, made a pipe bomb and hid it under an Audi car parked on a driveway in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, in August 2025. The device was discovered before detonation, leading to evacuations. Kovacs, who was known to the intended victim, was arrested two days later. He was found guilty in March and sentenced on Thursday.

Found guilty of attempted murder and making an explosive substance with intent, as well as acting with intent to cause an explosion. Judge Jonathan Mann KC stated: "This was a pre-planned real attempt to kill someone using a bomb."

1 Jan 0001

Stephen Arnopp

Rape of a child under 13 *

Sentence

11 years and 4 months imprisonment

Stephen Arnopp, a 34-year-old paedophile from Nodeway Gardens, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, groomed a girl under 13 via text messages, gave her a mobile phone, and posed as a schoolboy to solicit intimate photos. On 5 June 2017, he raped her twice. He also conspired with his partner Gemma Hill, exchanging graphic messages planning further abuse of a second girl aged nine. The victim reported to her school, leading to police investigation. A search of Arnopp's home uncovered the victim's underwear. He was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of raping a child under 13, two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual activity with a child under 13, one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of sexual activity with a child under 13. Judge noted intellectual limitations but assessed medium risk. Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed.

1 Jan 0001

Stephen Holmes

Possessing indecent images of children *

Sentence

10 months in custody

A senior Hertfordshire politician and former deputy portfolio holder for children's services at Hertfordshire county council and Dacorum borough councillor was found in possession of more than 400,000 indecent images of children, accumulated over 12 years. The images, including thousands at level five (most serious abuse), were discovered on computer equipment in his Woodhall Farm home in May by police investigating online activity. He resided at Dickens Court, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2.

Admitted 23 counts of possessing indecent images and videos including thousands at level five. Handed an indefinite sex offenders prevention order limiting his internet access by Judge John Plumstead.

1 Jan 0001

Stephen Marshall

Murder *

Sentence

Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 36 years

Stephen Marshall murdered Jeffrey Howe by stabbing him twice in the back with a 4-inch blade on the night of 8-9 March 2009 at Howe's flat in Southgate, London. One wound punctured Howe's lung. Marshall then skillfully dismembered the body, removing limbs which took at least 12 hours, and scattered the parts across Hertfordshire and Leicestershire, including a leg in Cottered, forearm in Wheathampstead, head in Asfordby, another leg near Puckeridge, and torso with arms near High Cross. With Sarah Bush, he used Howe's bank account for purchases, forged cheques, sold belongings including car on eBay, and lied about Howe's whereabouts.

Initially pleaded not guilty to murder but changed plea to guilty on 29 January 2010. Judge Jeremy Cooke gave little credit for the late plea due to overwhelming evidence. Ineligible for parole until 2046.

1 Jan 0001

Steven Thiara

Coercive and controlling behaviour and actual bodily harm *

Sentence

4 years imprisonment

Thiara moved his victim into his home in April 2019 and held her captive for eight weeks. During that time, he subjected her to relentless physical and verbal abuse, beating her with a bottle, belt, and TV remote, cutting her hair with scissors, forcing her to drink his urine and eat food he had urinated on. Police were alerted by Thiara's father on 6 June 2019 and found the victim with severe facial injuries, her hair brutally chopped off, and cuts, scratches and heavy bruising on her arms.

Thiara was acquitted of false imprisonment and sexual assault charges. He was convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour and two counts of actual bodily harm.

1 Jan 0001

T’Shai Bromfield

Rape *

Sentence

12 years imprisonment, with 9 years custody and 3 years on extended licence

On the evening of Monday 22 May 2017, Bromfield, then aged 19, and Ryan King were out socialising with a group of young people in Watford, including the victim aged 14. The victim got into Bromfield’s silver Nissan Primera to change her outfit with privacy, but Bromfield and King drove her to an unknown location in Watford before taking it in turns to rape her inside the vehicle.

Found guilty of one count of rape after a week-long trial. Placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

1 Jan 0001

Sorin Buca

Child sex offences *

Sentence

11 years 10 months imprisonment

Sorin Buca, 50, from Watford, Hertfordshire, committed multiple child sex offences between August 2018 and August 2020 against a child under 13. The offences included attempted rape, sexual assault, 10 counts of sexual activity with a child, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. On one occasion, Buca entered the victim's bed and attempted to rape her. The victim later confided in someone, leading to a police inquiry by the Joint Child Protection Investigation Team. Buca pleaded guilty and was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on 17 June 2022 to 11 years and 10 months in prison. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and a deportation recommendation was made.

Pleaded guilty. Judge described the offences as despicable crimes that stripped the innocence from a child. Placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. Court recommended deportation to Romania upon completion of prison term.

1 Jan 0001

Shaun Harris

Rape *

Sentence

Discretionary life sentence with minimum term of 10 years

Shaun Harris, 58, homeless, was convicted of two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, and two counts of assault by penetration.

Found guilty after 10-day trial. Placed on Sex Offender Register for life. Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed, requiring notification to police within three days before starting any intimate relationships.

1 Jan 0001

Shray Parekh

Breach of Sexual Harm Prevention Order and making indecent images of children *

Sentence

18 months imprisonment

In March 2023, police visited Shray Parekh’s home in Watford and discovered a concealed, unregistered mobile phone. He had used an alias on Snapchat to communicate with someone he believed was 13 years old. Examination of the phone revealed nine Category A indecent images of children (the most severe), two Category B, four Category C, and one image of extreme pornography. He had previously been given a suspended sentence for sexual communication with a child and possessing indecent images. At his sentencing on 25 March 2024, the court heard he had breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and failed to notify an unregistered alias.

Pleaded guilty to seven offences. Previously received a 10-month suspended sentence in December 2021 for similar offending. Judge Barbara Mensah stated his behaviour was entrenched and he had abused the court’s previous leniency. A new Sexual Harm Prevention Order with polygraph assessments was issued.

1 Jan 0001

Thorkelsen Christoffer Thorkelsen

Sexual assault and indecent exposure *

Sentence

4 years 6 months imprisonment for sexual assault and 5 months imprisonment for indecent exposure, to be served consecutively

On 15 October, Thorkelsen exposed his penis to a member of the public inside the Isabel Hospice shop in Welwyn Garden City. A couple of days prior, he sexually assaulted a child under the age of seven elsewhere in Hertfordshire. He was arrested after trying to leave the UK and was caught on a plane at Gatwick Airport. He pleaded guilty to both offences.

Pleaded guilty to both offences. Attempted to flee the country and was intercepted by police at Gatwick Airport.

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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6 Bricket Rd, St Albans AL1 3JU, St Albans, AL1 3JU, United Kingdom

+441727753220

Wheelchair accessible parking, Wheelchair accessible entrance

Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00

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About St Albans Crown Court

St Albans Crown Court, located in St Albans, is a Crown Court that handles serious criminal cases including murder, rape, robbery, and other indictable offences. With 213 sentencing records in our database, it is one of the Crown Courts serving the St Albans 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 6 Bricket Rd, St Albans AL1 3JU, AL1 3JU.

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 +441727753220.

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.