Warwick Crown Court Sentencing Results

Clarke Dean (48) of Anchor Lane, Solihull, repeatedly stabbed his partner Michelle Giles (43) and slashed her throat in the early hours of August 8, 2013, in their Solihull flat while their 15-year-old daughter Katie was away. Neighbours heard screams; Dean admitted the act to a neighbour, returned inside where Michelle lay in a pool of blood, and called 999 stating he had cut her throat and stabbed her. He attempted CPR until police and paramedics arrived, but Michelle died from her injuries. Dean suffered from alcohol dependent syndrome.

Darren Ivan Smith, a manipulative sexual predator, raped a teenage girl whose mother he met through a dating website. He also sexually abused the girl's two sisters. He moved in with the family and systematically abused the girl, including walking in on her in the bath or shower and touching her inappropriately, forcing her to perform sex acts, and raping her while threatening to hurt her mother or kill the family dog. He subjected her to threats and manipulation over years.

Darrell Akins and Paul Michael Evan Dolan Clarke murdered Jordon Banton on 25 July the previous year. Mr Banton, aged 23, was sitting in his stationary car on Newton Road when the two defendants drove to meet him in a silver-blue Vauxhall Insignia to resolve a dispute. One occupant got out and fired two shotgun shots towards Mr Banton. The car then swerved into a ditch and another shot was fired at Mr Banton's vehicle at close range. Mr Banton died from a gunshot wound to the head at approximately 11.40am.

Amy Harris, 26, and a co-defendant kidnapped a vulnerable 19-year-old woman known to them on February 24, 2015. The victim was driven from Coventry to Brinklow Marina in Rugby, where she was assaulted and robbed of her mobile phone. She was found in a highly distressed state by residents of nearby narrow boats.

Alan Priest, 63, from Mucklow Hill, Halesowen, was convicted of two counts of rape and one count of sexual activity with a child following a three-month trial at Warwick Crown Court. The case involved the sexual abuse of a teenager who had absconded from a care home in 2009. Priest, along with his former partner Ashley Sherrington, subjected the boy to repeated rapes, contributing to the exploitation where the victim was 'sold like goods' in Birmingham's red light area. The court heard that the boy, who had a troubled family background, was found begging in Birmingham city centre by Stephen Kelly, who then prostituted him to others, including Priest. The abuse included stripping the boy, beating him with a stick, and streaming some incidents on the internet. Judge Sylvia de Bertadano highlighted the failure of initial police investigations and praised the victim's courage. Priest was identified as a convicted sex offender prior to these events.

Alexander Neilson visited Anthony Priestley’s home on Aldrich Avenue and produced a knife, stabbing him eight times. Mr Priestley died that same night from his injuries. As Neilson left the address, he threatened others inside, warning them not to report the attack to the police or he would harm them as well. Police reviewed hours of CCTV footage along with witness statements which led to his arrest on the same day of the murder.

Christian Acheampong raped two 15-year-old girls in separate incidents in September 2012 and August 2015. In the first, he and Ransford Buabeng gave alcohol to three underage girls, dragged one upstairs and raped her. In the second, he watched a drunken girl leave a club, took her to his house, plied her with more alcohol, and raped her repeatedly. He was caught after the second victim reported him. He denied both rapes but was convicted by unanimous jury verdicts.

Ashley Sherrington, 25, from Dawlish Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, was imprisoned for nine years after being convicted of two counts of rape against a teenager in local authority care. The offences occurred in 2009 and 2010, when the victim, aged 14, absconded from a care home and was exploited in Birmingham's red light district. Sherrington, the former partner of convicted sex offender Alan Priest, participated in the rapes that formed part of a broader pattern of abuse including beatings and online streaming. Warwick Crown Court heard during the three-month trial that the boy was prostituted by Stephen Kelly to various men, including Sherrington and Priest. The victim's initial complaints to West Midlands Police in 2009 and 2010 were not adequately investigated, but his renewed report in 2012 enabled the case to proceed. Judge Sylvia de Bertadano commended the victim's resilience amid the 'horrifying' exploitation. Sherrington's actions directly involved sexual violence against the child. The court emphasised the group's collective responsibility for the long-term trauma inflicted. In sentencing, the judge remarked: 'Each of you in your own way exploited this vulnerable boy.' West Midlands Police's Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes called the crimes 'horrific' and affirmed improvements in handling such cases following reviews. This case also led to the identification of an additional victim from a related assault by Ronald Potter.