Taunton Crown Court Sentencing Results

Thomas Fisher, 32, of York Road, Bridgwater, was charged on June 5 2024 with intentionally strangling a victim who was a child/young person under 16 years of age, and causing or procuring the victim to be assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

Paul Geldard, aged 61, of Alcombe, Minehead, had nearly 300 indecent images of children on devices seized by police, comprising 41 category A (most serious), 48 category B, and 199 category C images, obtained between 7 December 2019 and 8 March 2024.

Christopher Cornish was carrying out a theft at a convenience store in Taunton on Monday 18 August when a victim intervened and detained him. Cornish struck the victim to the neck with a glass bottle, causing it to smash, then attacked him with a second bottle to the forehead, causing him to lose consciousness and suffer significant blood loss. The victim required 16 stitches, 10 hours of hospital treatment and a 90-minute operation, and has been left with permanent scarring.

Melios Delvina was part of an organised crime gang that attempted to smuggle £26.5 million worth of cocaine through Watchet Marina. The gang used a rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) to collect the drugs dropped into the Bristol Channel by a passing merchant ship. They claimed to be on a fishing expedition but were monitored by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers. On July 30, 2025, officers swooped in the early hours as the drugs were being offloaded from the RHIB into a van on the slipway. NCA officers found 14 packages containing 322 smaller packages, each with a kilogramme of 89 per cent pure cocaine. Delvina claimed he was unemployed and only helped unload items from the boat without knowledge of the drugs.

John Holland, 59, of Tapmoor Road in Moorlinch, turned a 1.2-hectare grassland site at Long Load within the Wet Moor SSSI into a permanent commercial caravan park without permission, cramming in more than 90 caravans, 40 vehicles, 300 metres of tarmac roads, and dumping household and commercial waste. He ignored five refused planning applications between 2011 and 2018 and Natural England's advice, accruing over £1m in illicit financial gain. The works caused habitat loss, displacement, and long-term disturbance to nationally important breeding grounds for wading birds such as curlew and black-tailed godwit, and wintering species including Bewick's swan, lapwing, pochard, and Eurasian teal.

On September 23, 2022, Jane Hill, 57, from Bridgwater, was driving when she struck the 85-year-old victim, a pedestrian walking home in Dukes Mead, Bridgwater. Instead of stopping immediately, Hill drove away briefly before returning to the scene and calling an ambulance. The victim was airlifted to hospital but died the next day from her injuries. Police investigation, including forensic examination, confirmed Hill's vehicle involvement, leading to her arrest. She initially denied involvement but was charged and later pleaded guilty in October 2025.

Andrew Cobb, 54, from Monmouth Street, Bridgwater, targeted at least nine vulnerable children online, messaging them to discuss sexual activity, request images, and manipulate them by framing interactions as private relationships or mentorships to maintain secrecy. He was caught in a sting operation after messaging someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl in April 2023, leading to his arrest in June 2023. Investigation of seized electronics revealed persistent manipulative conversations where he initiated contact and tried to gain trust.

Anestis Tsepa, 24, from Thessalonika, joined the Nuttall brothers at a marina in Somerset on July 30, 2025. Around 8.45pm, he went out to sea in the RHIB boat 'Guzzla' with others to collect cocaine dropped from a mother ship, as revealed in audio messages on his device discussing the operation and vessel signals. They returned at 1am with 322 kilos of cocaine (89% purity, street value £26.5 million) in bale-sized packages and a firearm on board. Arrested by NCA officers.

Craig Nuttall, 51, from Preston in Lancashire, arrived at a marina in Somerset on July 23, 2025, with his brother, claiming to sell a RHIB boat named 'Guzzla' but actually planning to collect cocaine dropped at sea from a mother ship. On July 30, joined by others, they took the boat out around 8.45pm, collected 322 kilos of cocaine (89% purity, street value £26.5 million) stored in bale-sized packages, and returned at 1am. A firearm was also found on the boat. Arrested by NCA officers upon return.

Raymond Nuttall, 47, from Preston in Lancashire, arrived at a marina in Somerset on July 23, 2025, with his brother, claiming to sell a RHIB boat named 'Guzzla' but actually planning to collect cocaine dropped at sea from a mother ship. On July 30, he drove a van to the quayside, provided jerry cans and a hose, and later drove a trailer to the slipway. The group collected 322 kilos of cocaine (89% purity, street value £26.5 million) stored in bale-sized packages, and a firearm was found on the boat. Arrested by NCA officers upon return.

Roderick Lukins, 76, of Bell Close, Bridgwater, sexually abused a child by kissing and touching them inappropriately. The crimes came to light after Lukins approached the child's family suggesting he take the teenager to an event in Bridgwater, which raised concerns. The family had known him for months and trusted him. The child later disclosed the abuse to others. The incidents were reported to Avon and Somerset Police in 2022, leading to an investigation and arrest. The abuse caused significant trauma to the victim, including nightmares, depression, and the need for ongoing counselling. The case was postponed for a year, extending the impact on the family.

Stephen Watkins breached a sexual harm prevention order by living in the same property as a child under the age of 16 without social services approval. This order was imposed in June following his admission to outraging public decency by performing a sex act in front of two 13-year-old girls near Bridgwater in 2022.

Michael Atkinson was driving a white Mercedes Sprinter van while under the influence of cannabis, cocaine, and alcohol, and while disqualified from driving. He was speeding at 43mph in a 30mph zone on Lisieux Way, Taunton, on March 10, when he collided with the 77-year-old victim, who was crossing the road with her bike. She died shortly after the crash, which was captured on CCTV showing his erratic driving.

Dean Arnold drove on the A39 without due care and attention on May 21, 2021, causing a crash that resulted in the deaths of the victims. He was involved in the incident as the driver responsible for the collision.

Adam Dodden, a 40-year-old from Wiveliscombe, built up a collection of over 100,000 child sexual abuse images since 2010, including 1,343 category A images (most serious), 1,116 category B images, and 108,036 category C images, plus 97 prohibited images of children and three extreme pornographic images. Avon and Somerset Police received information about indecent images being accessed and downloaded from his address, leading to a search warrant executed on September 9, 2024, and his arrest. He expressed disgust and admitted responsibility during interview. Police confirmed no contact with the children; all offences related to online activity.

Stephen Minton, of Bishop's Hull, Taunton, committed multiple child sex offences between 2004 and 2008 in Somerset, including sexually abusing a vulnerable child while in a position of trust. The investigation began in 2020 after the victim reported the abuse to the police, leading to Minton's arrest and charges. The abuse had lasting effects on the victim, who struggled with relationships and trust issues as a result.

Reece McKinven, 31, of Pearmain Road, Street, drove a van without a licence or insurance, with cannabis in his system (below the legal limit) and more in the van, striking 83-year-old the victim in Green Lane Avenue, Street, at around 5.20pm on March 16, 2023. He ran over her several times while attempting to reverse, causing unsurvivable injuries; she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dean Cohen was arrested on June 25 following a disturbance in Station Road, Stogumber, where he brandished a knife in a public place, making people feel threatened near the village hall and primary school, which was locked down for a time. He faced charges including possessing a bladed article, common assault, and possession of cannabis.

Ian Barnes, 60, confronted the council chair in the Broadway area of Merriott on April 16, 2024, when he was verbally aggressive and pushed the victim. The victim hit his head on the floor after being pushed and sustained a fractured skull and bleed on the brain, requiring hospital treatment over a number of days. Barnes was identified and arrested the same day.

Ashley Jeanes, aged 29, conducted a sustained campaign of assaults against his wife between March 2019 and January 2020, including attacking her with a baseball bat and a broom, submerging her head under water where she feared drowning, causing bruising, a permanent scar on her forehead, and significant impact on her mental wellbeing, leading to difficulties in trusting others.