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Laura Cocilnau|Using a vehicle without insurance|Northampton Magistrates CourtNicolas Scott|Shoplifting|Grimsby Magistrates CourtJonathan Horgan|Possessing an offensive weapon in a public place|Northampton Magistrates CourtEmran Miah|Drink-driving|Carlisle Magistrates CourtNadal Mehemed|Assault by beating of an emergency worker|Isle of Wight Magistrates CourtKatie Vernon|Sexual assault of a child|Liverpool Crown CourtChristopher Allgood|Assault on a police officer|Kings Lynn Magistrates CourtLee Hales|Assault by beating|Bolton Crown CourtLaura Cocilnau|Using a vehicle without insurance|Northampton Magistrates CourtNicolas Scott|Shoplifting|Grimsby Magistrates CourtJonathan Horgan|Possessing an offensive weapon in a public place|Northampton Magistrates CourtEmran Miah|Drink-driving|Carlisle Magistrates CourtNadal Mehemed|Assault by beating of an emergency worker|Isle of Wight Magistrates CourtKatie Vernon|Sexual assault of a child|Liverpool Crown CourtChristopher Allgood|Assault on a police officer|Kings Lynn Magistrates CourtLee Hales|Assault by beating|Bolton Crown Court

Taunton Crown Court Sentencing Results

Sentencing date not recorded 27 cases

We could not confirm the sentencing date for these from the source report, so none is shown. Everything else about them was checked as usual.

Ayden Reader
Sexual activity with a child *
Sentence
9 years imprisonment

Ayden Reader linked up with a teenage girl on social media in 2021 and engaged in sexual activity with her. Police seized devices finding 882 category A, 950 category B and 2,543 category C indecent images. While under investigation in Kent, he breached Interim SHPO by messaging young girls and accessing undeclared devices, leading to further images found: 830 category A, 973 category B and 610 category C.

Pleaded guilty to 19 charges including sexual activity with a child, taking, making, possessing and distributing indecent images. Judge granted indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and lifetime restraining order banning contact with victim.
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Christopher Jansons
False imprisonment and threats to kill *
Sentence
2 years and 8 months imprisonment

Christopher Jansons covertly recorded his wife discussing their relationship with a friend on the evening of 26 May 2018 before confronting her, taking her phone, preventing her from leaving the bedroom, and threatening to kill her while she lay on the floor. Unbeknown to him, she called police on another phone, provided her address, and left the line open. Officers arrested him as he stood over her, captured on body-worn video shown to the judge.

Pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill his wife.
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Christopher Rost-Aldridge
Non-dwelling burglary and fraud by false representation *
Sentence
18 months imprisonment and £156 victim surcharge

Christopher Rost-Aldridge, 31, from Highbridge, committed several non-dwelling burglaries in Bridgwater. On Thursday 22 April, he entered the staffing area of a bakery and stole a purse. Four days later, he committed a similar offence at a joinery firm, stealing clothes and bank cards. He used the bank cards to purchase items worth £37.49 the same day.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of non-dwelling burglary and one of fraud by false representation. Asked for a further six non-dwelling burglaries, four thefts and one fraud offence to be taken into consideration. Described as a prolific offender.
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Clare Finka
Concerned in the supply of Class A drugs *
Sentence
2-year suspended prison sentence

Seven members of a county lines drug gang transported Class A drugs including heroin and crack cocaine from the West Midlands and sold them on the streets of Bridgwater. Activities disrupted by police after public reports of open drug sales. Officers identified transaction locations, stopped suspicious individuals, traced phone lines used to coordinate sales. Nine warrants executed at addresses in Bridgwater, Wolverhampton and London led to arrests of four men and three women, recovery of significant sums of Class A drugs, cash, weapons, ammunition and a stab vest.

Told to attend a drug rehabilitation course. Part of a county lines drug gang transporting Class A drugs from the West Midlands to Bridgwater.
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Alistair Rutter
Causing grievous bodily harm *
Sentence
6 years imprisonment and 6 penalty points on his driving licence

Alistair Rutter attacked a woman, causing her grievous bodily harm. He was also convicted of driving a vehicle without insurance while disqualified. At Taunton Crown Court he was jailed for six years and given six penalty points on his licence for the driving offences.

Convicted of causing grievous bodily harm and driving without insurance while disqualified. Given six points on his licence for the driving offences.
radioninesprings.com
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Adam Harding
Burglary *
Sentence
4 years imprisonment

On 11 September 2019, Adam Harding committed two burglaries in Burnham. First, he targeted a woman with limited mobility in Burnham. He knocked at around 7am, returned later, broke in through an insecure rear door, threatened her in bed demanding money, searched drawers and under the bed, then left. The victim identified him. Later at 5.50pm, he broke into a property in Burnham via an open rear window on the first floor. The owner heard a bang, confronted him in her rear bedroom, and he left through the same window. CCTV footage and a witness identified him.

Found guilty of two burglaries after a three-day trial. The 42-year-old from Highbridge knowingly targeted lone and vulnerable elderly women. Both victims were left traumatised, feeling unsafe in their own home.
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Anthony Paisley
Dwelling burglary *
Sentence
3 years and 73 days imprisonment

Anthony Paisley broke into two properties in Taunton on Tuesday 4 October and Wednesday 5 October 2022. He entered the home of a woman in her 70s near Kingston Road and stole her mobile phone. He then broke into the home of a man in his late 80s near Priorswood Road in the early hours of Wednesday morning, stealing a wallet and a sum of cash from the victim's bedside table while he was asleep. Paisley attempted to use one of the cards stolen from the second property. He was caught on CCTV committing the offences and arrested the following day.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of dwelling burglary and one of fraud.
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Anton Hull
Causing death by dangerous driving *
Sentence
six years imprisonment

Anton Hull, of Galhampton, filmed himself minutes before crashing at Anchor Hill near Wincanton in August 2022, killing the 29-year-old victim. He had consumed rum and lager at a South Cadbury pub, was refused service for being drunk, but drove anyway. The crash occurred just after 11pm. Witnesses reported he stank of booze. A blood test at Yeovil District Hospital estimated he was one-and-a-half to twice over the legal drink-drive limit. He was arrested after receiving medical treatment.

Admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Also handed a nine-year driving ban and ordered to complete an extended re-test before regaining licence. His Honour Judge Edward Burgess said: 'Your dangerous driving killed the victim, having made a selfish decision to drive despite warnings, knowing full well you were too drunk to do so. Your driving was significantly impaired, and you used your phone to record yourself driving in an intoxicated state. Words cannot do justice to the enormity and needless tragedy of this incident. You have no one to blame but yourself for your injuries.' Sentence later extended to nine years and three months by the Court of Appeal.
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Luke Spencer
Burglary *
Sentence
three years and one month in prison

Luke Spencer carried out multiple burglaries across Somerset and Dorset, targeting commercial addresses to steal tobacco products. The offences took place in January and April 2024 in Bridgwater, Curry Rivel, Taunton, and Wellington in Somerset, as well as Mosterton and Sturminster Marshall in Dorset. He also committed assault causing actual bodily harm and drove without insurance.

Pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary, one count of going equipped to steal, one count of assault causing actual bodily harm, and one count of driving without insurance. Judge took into consideration three other burglaries and an attempted burglary.
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Malique Orrell
Concerned in the supply of Class A drugs *
Sentence
3 years and 1 month imprisonment

Seven members of a county lines drug gang transported Class A drugs including heroin and crack cocaine from the West Midlands and sold them on the streets of Bridgwater. Activities disrupted by police after public reports of open drug sales. Officers identified transaction locations, stopped suspicious individuals, traced phone lines used to coordinate sales. Nine warrants executed at addresses in Bridgwater, Wolverhampton and London led to arrests of four men and three women, recovery of significant sums of Class A drugs, cash, weapons, ammunition and a stab vest.

Part of a county lines drug gang transporting Class A drugs from the West Midlands to Bridgwater.
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Natasia Gayle
Concerned in the supply of Class A drugs *
Sentence
3 years and 6 months imprisonment

Seven members of a county lines drug gang transported Class A drugs including heroin and crack cocaine from the West Midlands and sold them on the streets of Bridgwater. Activities disrupted by police after public reports of open drug sales. Officers identified transaction locations, stopped suspicious individuals, traced phone lines used to coordinate sales. Nine warrants executed at addresses in Bridgwater, Wolverhampton and London led to arrests of four men and three women, recovery of significant sums of Class A drugs, cash, weapons, ammunition and a stab vest.

Part of a county lines drug gang transporting Class A drugs from the West Midlands to Bridgwater.
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Michael Sellings
Rape of a child under 13 *
Sentence
12 years imprisonment

Michael Sellings, 63, of Yeovil, committed 12 offences between November 2016 and June 2021, including three counts of raping a child under the age of 13, one count of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, three counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child, three counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child, one count of possessing extreme pornographic images, and one count of possessing prohibited images of a child. Arrested following intelligence; police seized 11 items from his home containing over 7,000 images including 1,751 category A (most serious), plus 28 images he took himself of two children under 13.

Pleaded guilty to 12 offences. Judge noted his offending caused 'absolute devastation' to his two victims. Also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
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Robert Risvegli
supply of cocaine and heroin *
Sentence
six years and three months imprisonment

Robert Risvegli, 22, from London, was convicted of being involved in the supply of cocaine and heroin as part of a county lines operation bringing class A drugs into Bridgwater. The criminal activity spanned a six-month period between May and October 2020. He was arrested following a joint operation between Avon and Somerset Police and the Met Police.

From London. Part of a county lines operation. DI Scott Chadwick: 'This was a county line network which targeted some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We estimate this network supplied approximately 1.6 kg of class A drugs over a six-month period, with a street value of approximately £162,000.'
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Sarah Hewitt
Being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin *
Sentence
three years and two months imprisonment

Sarah Hewitt, 43, from Mansfield Road, Taunton, was arrested in April 2021. During a search of her address, officers seized drugs paraphernalia, a quantity of cash and heroin. Analysis of her phone records showed she was actively concerned with supplying drugs in Taunton for some time.

Pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin, possession of a class A drug and a class B drug. Made subject to a seven-year criminal behaviour order preventing her from owning or possessing a mobile phone or SIM card not registered in her name. Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings ongoing.
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Scott Franks
Possession with intent to supply a class A drug *
Sentence
4 years imprisonment

Scott Franks, from St Austell in Cornwall, was stopped on the M5 in Somerset on Wednesday 23 March by Avon and Somerset Police officers. Inside the car they found a block of heroin, as well as a 1kg bag of cutting agent. The 50-year-old Franks had been acting as a courier for an organised crime group. He was transporting drugs between the Devon and Cornwall and Merseyside areas. He had made numerous trips over a six-month period.

Convicted of possession with intent to supply a class A drug and being concerned in the supply of a class A drug. Acting as a courier for an organised crime group.
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Seamus Ford
Supply of crack cocaine and heroin *
Sentence
28 months imprisonment

Seamus Ford was involved in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin in Yeovil between 7 January and 2 February 2023 as part of a County Lines network targeting vulnerable people. He was arrested earlier this year at home in Eastleigh, Hampshire, following a joint operation between Avon & Somerset Police and the Metropolitan Police, where a phone used to deal the drugs was also found.

Admitted to being involved in the supply. Arrested at home where a phone used to deal drugs was found. Of Eastleigh in Hampshire.
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Phillip Grove
Rape *
Sentence
22 years imprisonment

In the 1990s, while a volunteer Chief Petty Officer at a Sea Cadets group in Taunton, Phillip Grove raped one child victim, indecently assaulted another, and committed acts of indecency in front of two other child victims across incidents spanning six years. Reported to police in September 2020, arrested in March 2021, convicted on December 8, 2023.

Found guilty after trial of 15 charges: two counts of rape, 10 counts of indecency with a child, and three counts of indecent assault. One year on extended licence. Life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order, required to register as a sex offender for life, and barred from working with children. Judge described him as a 'dangerous individual', 'self-centred, dishonest and callous' with no remorse.
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Phoenix Fox
Concerned in the supply of Class A drugs *
Sentence
2-year suspended prison sentence

Seven members of a county lines drug gang transported Class A drugs including heroin and crack cocaine from the West Midlands and sold them on the streets of Bridgwater. Activities disrupted by police after public reports of open drug sales. Officers identified transaction locations, stopped suspicious individuals, traced phone lines used to coordinate sales. Nine warrants executed at addresses in Bridgwater, Wolverhampton and London led to arrests of four men and three women, recovery of significant sums of Class A drugs, cash, weapons, ammunition and a stab vest.

Told to attend a drug rehabilitation course. Part of a county lines drug gang transporting Class A drugs from the West Midlands to Bridgwater.
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Paul Green
Assault *
Sentence
2 years imprisonment

On Wednesday 25 May 2022, Paul Green, of Somerton, aged 40, and his wife got into a verbal argument. After going to bed, Green woke the victim and threatened her with a knife. He also covered her face with a pillow. He then left the property but returned later, shouting outside the house until police arrived.

Handed a five-year prevention from harassment order.
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Peter Chislett
Strangulation *
Sentence
2 years and 9 months' imprisonment

Peter Chislett harassed and strangled a woman he was barred from contacting, and assaulted a police officer on the same day in Wincanton on September 3 this year. He was subject to a restraining order imposed by Bristol magistrates in July of last year.

Pleaded guilty. Subject to a restraining order imposed by Bristol magistrates in July of last year; new restraining order imposed until October 2031.
mnrjournal.co.uk
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Stuart Marchmont
Inciting a child under 13 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity *
Sentence
10 years imprisonment

Stuart Marchmont from Glastonbury incited a 12-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity via an online platform. He attempted to contact what he believed were five underage girls but was messaging specialist ROCU officers targeting online child exploiters. Also sentenced for causing non-penetrative sexual activity with a 15-year-old and making indecent images of the same child. Offences came to light on arrest in 2021.

Found guilty after trial of 13 online sexual offences. Received indefinite sexual harm prevention order and placed on sexual offenders’ register.
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Stuart Wells
Causing serious injury by dangerous driving *
Sentence
3 years and 7 months imprisonment, disqualified from driving for 5 years

Stuart Wells, of Sherborne, Dorset, was driving his Ford Fiesta erratically along the A39 and B3151 prior to the collision last March near Somerton. Witnesses reported the vehicle drifting across the carriageway, veering onto the verge and wrong side of the road, and driving aggressively behind another car. His Ford Fiesta collided with the side of the male victim’s Peugeot 307, causing it to spin out of control into a hedge, then collided head-on with the female victim’s Seat Ibiza. A VW Polo then collided at slow speed with the Seat. The female victim suffered a broken leg and lost her unborn child; her three-year-old daughter sustained a broken neck and was paralysed for four months.

Previously admitted causing the collision. Appeared on two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one count of dangerous driving.
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Sylwester Mazur
Causing grievous bodily harm *
Sentence
two years imprisonment

Sylwester Mazur, of Henson Park, Chard, stabbed two men known to him while they were sat on benches in Fore Street throughout the evening on Christmas Day into the early hours of Boxing Day. An argument broke out about one of Mazur’s relatives, resulting in Mazur attacking one victim with a knife, causing injuries to his face and neck. The other victim attempted to intervene and suffered stab injuries to his leg and body, as well as injuries to his face and hand.

Admitted charges of causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article midway through a trial.
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Tina Austin-Saunders
Concerned in the supply of Class A drugs *
Sentence
2 years and 9 months imprisonment

Seven members of a county lines drug gang transported Class A drugs including heroin and crack cocaine from the West Midlands and sold them on the streets of Bridgwater. Activities disrupted by police after public reports of open drug sales. Officers identified transaction locations, stopped suspicious individuals, traced phone lines used to coordinate sales. Nine warrants executed at addresses in Bridgwater, Wolverhampton and London led to arrests of four men and three women, recovery of significant sums of Class A drugs, cash, weapons, ammunition and a stab vest.

Part of a county lines drug gang transporting Class A drugs from the West Midlands to Bridgwater.
somersetleveller.co.uk
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Ubayd Jimale
Being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine *
Sentence
four years and six months' imprisonment

Ubayd Jimale, of Wembley, was involved in transporting class A drugs including heroin and cocaine to Bridgwater from London between December 2020 and March 2021 as part of a county lines operation. He was arrested as part of a joint investigation between Avon & Somerset Police and the Metropolitan Police.

Pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine. Led the operation.
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Valentinas Michailovas
Robbery *
Sentence
6 years imprisonment

Valentinas Michailovas, 24, of Yeovil, carried out two robberies against the same victim in Yeovil. On 15 August 2021, he led a male victim to a cash machine, forced him to withdraw money and took it. Two days later, he broke into the same victim’s home in the early hours, holding a knife, and forced him to withdraw more cash from an ATM. Over the night of 20/21 August 2021, a second victim in Yeovil reported his home broken into; Michailovas admitted handling stolen goods from this burglary.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, one count of handling stolen goods and one of fraudulently using someone else’s bank cards. Judge James Townsend noted previous convictions for similar offences in Lithuania. Given restraining orders to prevent contact with victims.
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Wayne Stanley Shortland
Burglary *
Sentence
18 months imprisonment

Wayne Stanley Shortland broke into the victim’s home in the St Johns Road area of Yeovil in April 2018 and stole a handbag containing cash and bank cards. He was identified as a suspect following a review of CCTV footage and enquiries made with local residents.

Aged 35, from Horsey Lane in Yeovil. Appeared at court where he admitted a charge of burglary and was sentenced for this and a previous offence for which he initially received a conditional discharge.
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Showing 101-127 of 127 results

Crown Court
United Kingdom

About Taunton Crown Court

Taunton Crown Court is a Crown Court that handles serious criminal cases including murder, rape, robbery, and other indictable offences. With 127 sentencing records in our database, it processes cases heard before a judge and jury, with the power to impose the full range of sentences available under UK law.

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