Stoke On Trent Crown Court Sentencing Results

Matthew Mark Stevens, 24, from Bentilee, was spotted driving a stolen Vauxhall Crossland on the A34 between Stone and Stafford on June 25, 2025. He failed to stop for police, drove down rural lanes, made an abrupt U-turn on a farm track, and went off-road to evade capture. The pursuit continued onto the A51 towards Stone and then Hilderstone Road, where he reached speeds of 80mph for around two miles, dangerously overtaking other vehicles before crashing into the side of an Audi Q3, causing extensive damage and airbag deployment. Stevens and a passenger abandoned the vehicle and fled across farmland. A blue jacket and mobile phone were recovered nearby, leading to his arrest.

Sean Smart brandished a red-handled machete in a public street during an argument over a Facebook post about parking made by his father. The incident occurred after the victim confronted Smart at his home on August 29, following the post in the 'parked like a tw*t' group. Smart gesticulated aggressively, then appeared with the weapon, making threats to kill. His children were present and upset; his four-year-old daughter tried to stop him but was pushed away. Armed police were called, and the machete was found in his backyard. The victim felt helpless and feared being stabbed.

Matthew Stacey, aged 29, of Berryhill, bombarded his ex-partner with messages, drove past her house, and sent messages to her friends and father during a harassment campaign starting after their on-off relationship ended in April 2023. Most serious offending occurred in summer 2023; he is the father of her child.

On April 20, 2021, Andrew Marsh, 39, of Brown Edge, lost control outside his home following a dispute over a scratch on his van the previous day. A neighbour installed CCTV cameras, prompting Marsh to become confrontational and threaten to shoot them down. Later that evening, his neighbour's wife confronted him, leading to threats to smash her face in and burn her house down. Marsh emerged with a baseball bat, swinging it four to six times at intervening neighbours, who dodged the blows and disarmed him. He continued threats and then pointed a realistic imitation BB gun at a neighbour's stepdaughter, threatening to shoot her and warning her to get the kids out as they were all dead. Police arrested him, finding the BB gun and other imitation firearms at his home. Neighbours reported lasting fear, anxiety, counselling needs, and mental health impacts.

Shane Moss, aged 29, of Crackley, strangled his partner of 13 years in front of their child after accusing her of an affair. He followed her to the living room, forced his head against hers, ripped the phone cord to stop her calling police, and strangled her before officers arrived at their home in Audley.

Jake Hamnett, aged 27, from Stoke, harassed a woman for around 18 months by repeatedly sending her messages via social media between December 9, 2023, and June 1, 2025, despite a restraining order banning him from any contact with her. He was arrested, initially denied sending the messages, but pleaded guilty when faced with police evidence.

On August 3, 2024, during riots in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, triggered by tragic events in Southport, Mohammed Poor, a 19-year-old asylum seeker from Iran, was praying in the mosque before joining a group of Asian men. He carried rocks, covered his face with a white scarf, and threw rocks at least four times at an opposing far-right group, despite police presence in riot gear attempting to maintain order. The violence involved projectiles damaging premises and street furniture, with Poor picking up more items from the ground and breaking a large rock into pieces. He was identified via CCTV stills.

Andrew Price, 55, of Kidsgrove, was originally convicted on August 22, 2023, for downloading over 700 indecent images of children, including category A, B, and C material depicting children as young as three, mostly girls aged six to 12. He used the nickname 'Naughty Norm' from Fireman Sam. After receiving a six-month suspended sentence and SHPO prohibiting unsupervised internet access or deleting history, he breached it between August 23 and September 22, 2023, by browsing the web, installing deletion software, and searching terms like 'child porn' and '0-17 years of age', deleting 2,304 records. Police discovered this during a surprise visit.

Thomas Handley, 30, of Stoke, engaged in sexual communication with a decoy profile posing as a 13-year-old girl named Grace on an app. He requested naked images of her and instructed her to perform a sex act. The incident occurred on Corporation Street, Stoke, at 10.13pm on January 12, 2024, when he was detained by the 365 Hunters group. Police found five category A indecent images, one category B image, and three extreme pornographic images on his phone, along with search terms indicating wilful intent to find child abuse material.

Billy Davidson, aged 31 from Longton, was arrested hiding inside an industrial building on Smiths Passage in Fenton as part of a police bust on a cocaine-mixing operation. Items seized included £10,000 cash, cocaine hydrochloride, drug cutting agents, herbal cannabis, and a drug pressing machine.

Aso Hassan, an Iraqi refugee who fled persecution in 2019 and settled in Stoke-on-Trent, participated in violent disorder during the Hanley riots on August 3, 2024, following the stabbing of three girls in Southport. After worshipping at a Town Road mosque, he noticed police cordons and began encouraging counter-protestors. From around 1pm to 4pm, he brandished a broom handle from his car, collected and threw bricks and stones at police and far-right demonstrators on multiple occasions, made hand gestures to incite conflict, and filmed the events. He was identified via bodycam footage and admitted his involvement on February 17, 2025, claiming he acted out of fear and due to nerve damage limiting his throws.

Filip Durac breached a suspended sentence order imposed on November 2, 2023, for violent disorder by failing to attend two probation appointments. The original sentence was 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Andrew Jordan, 38, of Smallthorne, climbed onto the conservatory roof of Household Discounts in Smallthorne, near the junction with Ford Green Road and Community Drive. Appearing under the influence and paranoid, he fell through the roof causing £30 damage to shelving and £70 to replace the roof panel. He took a hammer from the shop, ripped up roof tiles, and threw them onto the road and pavement, hitting vehicles and causing £20,000 in total damage. Traffic was stopped, members of the public held back traffic and pedestrians, and police in riot gear set up a cordon with riot shields. Fire and ambulance services attended. Jordan shouted paranoid statements, believing he was being poisoned or injected as part of a cover-up. He was arrested and appeared to be under the influence of monkey dust. The incident occurred after police had previously taken him to a relative's house following concerns from his partner about his strange behaviour.

On the evening of April 11, 2025, Leon Salt, driving a black Mini, accelerated from behind a white car from 32mph to 53mph, almost double the 30mph speed limit, in a residential area of Newcastle Lane, Penkhull. He overtook on the wrong side of the road and struck 51-year-old pedestrian the victim, who was crossing the road and had not completed crossing. The victim was thrown into the air, somersaulted three or four times, and landed on the road surface, causing his shoes to come off. Salt sped off, continuing to drive dangerously to Stoke, where the car was later found abandoned in an alleyway behind Birks Street. Motorists and pedestrians, including a nurse who performed first aid, assisted the victim, but he suffered cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 9.21pm due to multiple traumatic injuries. CCTV captured the incident, and Salt's DNA was found inside the Mini. Salt, of Longton, was 21 years old at the time.

Daniel Standell entered the Co-op in West Street, Leek, and stole four bottles of wine and a chicken wrap, despite being banned from the store under a Criminal Behaviour Order imposed in January.

Barry Ingram stole goods worth nearly £500 from the Co-op on Knypersley Road in Norton on nine separate occasions, flouting a ban from all Co-op stores in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire as part of a prior Criminal Behaviour Order.

James Hammersley was involved in supplying cannabis to a small number of users to fund his own £20-a-day habit between December 31, 2022, and June 7, 2023. His operation was discovered when police were informed of cannabis plants drying in his flat, leading to the seizure of 70 plants. He also offered to supply class A drugs ecstasy and LSD, as well as class B drug ketamine, though no actual supplies were made. The plants were handed to him 12 hours before discovery, and he was to dry them in exchange for a portion of the crop.

Michael Oyibo, aged 35, used his brother James Oyibo's Nigerian passport to obtain full-time employment at Dunelm's warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent, allowing him to work 37.5 hours per week instead of the 20 hours permitted by his student visa. He began the job in June 2023. Following a public complaint, Dunelm investigated in November 2024, during which Oyibo initially denied the deception but later confessed. The offense involved deception for employment purposes.

Mariwan Kaki participated in a riot in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent on August 3, 2024, where he held a broom handle, encouraged counter-protesters, and threw two bricks towards far-right supporters and a police cordon. The disorder involved around 300 people, with punches, kicks, and improvised weapons, amid tensions following the stabbing deaths of three girls in Southport.

Nathan Poole, 32, was involved in a violent disorder in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on August 3, 2024, where he actively participated among approximately 300 people. He was seen at multiple locations, including Cannon Place, Lichfield Street, Potteries Way, and Town Road, where he recorded events on his phone, chanted abusive slogans such as 'scum' and 'who the f**k is Allah' towards counter-protesters, and argued with police officers while others threw missiles. His actions contributed to public disorder, injuries to police and members of the public, and threats involving weapons.

Daniel Owen, 38, strangled his ex-partner after an argument over a key, following the end of their relationship due to his drug use. The incident took place in June 2022, where he placed his forearm around her throat, causing her to struggle to breathe for about five seconds. She sustained no lasting injuries, and Owen was under the influence of class A drugs at the time.

Phillip Knott, a 55-year-old staying at Brighter Futures homeless accommodation in Hope Street, Hanley, exposed his penis in public. He has a history of exhibitionist behaviour, including walking fully nude through Hanley in 2022 and waving his penis at police staff outside a court in 2020. This offence occurred while he was already subject to a suspended sentence, and he was arrested in January.

Natnael Teclehaimanot encountered a 13-year-old girl who was lost in Hanley after running away from home following an argument with her mother. She was wearing pyjama bottoms and a hoodie, crying and seeking help to charge her phone. He lied about his age, took her in a taxi to his address in Stoke, isolated her in his room, and sexually abused her. The victim reported significant emotional distress, including self-harm and trust issues.

Oliver Davies stalked a woman over a four-year period from July 2021 to June 2024. He repeatedly tried to contact her via social media, attended a theatre production she was in, contacted her friends, went to her church, and befriended her grandmother to gain information about her whereabouts. Despite her blocking him and asking him to stop, he persisted, including sending letters and attempting to join activities she was involved in. This behaviour caused her significant fear and distress, leading her to change her habits for safety.

Andrew Smith, aged 20, groomed a 13-year-old girl after meeting her in the summer of the previous year. He knew her age and engaged in explicit sexual communication, referring to her as 'babe' and discussing having sex with her when she turned 16. On one occasion, he kissed her, which led to the victim experiencing anxiety, fear, sadness, and a loss of safety.