Stafford Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 19 verdicts at Stafford Crown Court (Stafford). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Michael Dunn

Theft from a shop and assault by beating

June 12, 2025

Sentence: 8 months imprisonment

Michael Dunn, aged 46, targeted businesses in the Potteries during a three-day crime spree ending in late May 2025. He stole goods worth nearly £1,000, including £380 from a BP station in Sandyford on May 31, £450 worth of sun cream and moisturiser from Savers in Tunstall, and £120 worth of stationery from Tesco Express in Sandyford. When confronted by Tesco staff, he physically and verbally assaulted them.

Admitted four counts of theft from a shop and two counts of assault by beating. Police welcomed the sentence as a deterrent for similar offences.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Hayley Armes-Reardon

Assault by beating

June 12, 2025

Sentence: 12-month community order, £50 fine, £85 costs, and £114 surcharge

Hayley Armes-Reardon, while intoxicated, shouted at a schoolboy to stop staring at her and pushed him in Shelton New Road on October 14, 2024. She then pushed a man in the chest, threw a broken bottle at him which hit his back, and later assaulted a police officer in custody by pushing them in the chest and attempting to do so again.

Pleaded guilty to assault by beating and assault by beating of an emergency worker. Has learning difficulties, was using alcohol as a coping mechanism, and showed remorse. Co-operated with probation.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Wesley Boardman

Drink-driving

June 8, 2025

Sentence: 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work and a 26-month driving ban

Wesley Boardman was seen driving an Audi on Oak Road, Knutton on May 5. Police followed the vehicle, watched it reverse into a drive, and observed him exit and enter an address. He was arrested and breathalysed, giving a reading of 104 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35.

Pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Works as a plumber; employers are arranging for him to continue working. The ban will be reduced by 26 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course. Ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Robert Whittaker

Assault by beating of an emergency worker

June 6, 2025

Sentence: £250 compensation

Robert Whittaker was arrested at a hostel in Hope Street, Hanley, on October 8, 2023. He was not compliant during the arrest, stopped walking, and spat in the face of a police officer without warning. The officer felt the spit run down his face and was worried about potential infection transmission.

Pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker. No previous convictions for violence. The incident involved a dispute with staff members, and he claimed police were heavy-handed, though he acknowledged his actions were wrong.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Shane Moore

Possession of a knife in a public place

June 6, 2025

Sentence: 12-month community order

Police suspected a drug exchange and stopped Shane Moore in Eccleshall Road, Stone, on August 30, 2024. A search revealed a wooden-handled kitchen knife, 11cm long, in his bag. The knife was not brandished, and he stated it was for his own protection following a prior attack.

Pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place. The order includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 160 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge. He claimed he carried the knife for protection after a previous attack and had forgotten it was in his bag.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Jim Price

Firing an air weapon beyond premises

June 1, 2025

Sentence: £200 fine, £85 costs, and £80 surcharge

Jim Price fired an air weapon beyond his premises on April 10, with a ball bearing hitting a neighbour in their garden. Police attended, and he handed over the air rifle. The incident involved loud banging noises and was witnessed by neighbours.

He was shooting at a large pole in his garden and accepts that a ball bearing went into a neighbour's garden by chance. He is a member of an air rifle club for 10 years and has no intention of firing air rifles in the garden again.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Rais Akhtar

Possession of a class C drug

June 1, 2025

Sentence: 12-month conditional discharge

Rais Akhtar was found in possession of two canisters of nitrous oxide in his Volkswagen Passat on January 14. Police stopped him on the A500, and he admitted to having a balloon addiction.

He has no previous convictions and was a regular user of nitrous oxide before it became illegal. He received direct retribution from his family and aspires to become a taxi driver, though the conviction may affect his chances.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Olivia Burns

Drug-driving

June 1, 2025

Sentence: 12-month driving ban and £133 fine

Olivia Burns was stopped by police on December 14 while driving a Kia car in Longton, testing positive for THC with 4.9 micrograms per litre of blood, exceeding the legal limit of 2.0.

She tested positive for cannabis and will keep her job but must work in the office, resulting in lower earnings.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

James Tranter

Supply of Heroin, Crack Cocaine, and Cannabis

May 8, 2025

Sentence: 3 years and 2 months imprisonment

James Tranter, a 21-year-old from Cannock, hid heroin in his underpants and was searched by Staffordshire Police on April 16, where officers recovered two mobile phones, £260 in cash, and a bag of heroin. He was released under investigation but searched again on July 9 after acting suspiciously, leading to the discovery of a large amount of crack cocaine in a bush and additional cash and mobile phones at his home. He subsequently admitted to the charges.

Admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin, crack cocaine, and cannabis. Was searched by police and found with drugs and cash.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Stacey Culvin

Supply of controlled substances

April 16, 2025

Sentence: 24 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years

Stacey Culvin, 40, from Rugeley, was found with cocaine, ketamine, and cannabis during a police search. The drugs, with a total street value of around £7,500, were seized on November 19, 2024. She was arrested on that date and admitted the offences in court on January 2, 2025, before being sentenced.

Admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ketamine, cannabis and possession of criminal property.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Sharnie Price

Supply of controlled substances

April 16, 2025

Sentence: 13 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months

Sharnie Price, 31, from Rugeley, had cocaine and cannabis recovered from her during a police operation on November 19, 2024. The drugs were part of a haul with a street value of approximately £7,500. She was arrested on that date and admitted the offences in court on January 2, 2025, before being sentenced.

Admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and ketamine and possession of cannabis.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Thomas Sykes

Murder

April 15, 2025

Sentence: 18 years and 7 months imprisonment

Thomas Sykes murdered his father, Anthony Sykes, by inflicting head and facial injuries, leading to his death a few days before the body was discovered. On August 19, 2022, police found the 67-year-old victim's body in a cardboard box in a shed behind their shared flat in Staffordshire. A freshly dug grave-sized hole was located in the garden, along with gardening tools. Forensic examinations revealed blood staining on the carpet and furniture in the flat, indicating the crime scene.

Convicted of murder after a two-week trial where he initially denied responsibility. Detective Superintendent Cheryl Hannan described it as a tragic case and noted that justice has been served.

Sources: stokesentinel.co.uk

Mehakdeep Singh

Murder

April 11, 2024

Sentence: Life sentence with a 28-year jail term

Mehakdeep Singh, along with others, planned a brutal attack on Aurman Singh following an incident at a Kabaddi tournament in Derbyshire on August 20, 2023. On August 21, 2023, they used inside information to track Aurman's delivery route in Shrewsbury, ambushing him with weapons including an axe, hockey stick, and shovel. Aurman was attacked while making deliveries, sustaining fatal injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Mehakdeep fled in a white Mercedes Benz, discarded weapons, and later escaped abroad before being arrested in Austria on May 20, 2024.

Unanimously found guilty of murder following a three-week trial. Detective comments highlighted the calculated and brutal nature of the attack, planned in retaliation to a prior incident.

Sources: dudleynews.co.uk

Sehajpal Singh

Murder

April 11, 2024

Sentence: Life sentence with a 28-year jail term

Sehajpal Singh, along with others, planned a brutal attack on Aurman Singh after an incident at a Kabaddi tournament in Derbyshire on August 20, 2023. On August 21, 2023, they obtained Aurman's delivery route information and ambushed him in Shrewsbury using weapons such as an axe, hockey stick, and shovel. Aurman was attacked while working, suffered severe injuries leading to his death at the scene, and the suspects fled in a white Mercedes Benz and grey Audi, discarding weapons nearby before escaping abroad. Sehajpal was arrested in Austria on May 20, 2024.

Unanimously found guilty of murder following a three-week trial. Detective comments emphasised the premeditated intent to kill, with the attack described as calculated and not a robbery gone wrong.

Sources: dudleynews.co.uk