Well, we seem to have blinked and 2023 is already halfway through. The year at Truro Crown Court so far has seen some pretty big cases, with many more to come for the rest of the year.
We’ve taken a minute to look back over the year so far that has seen killers, rapists and evil paedophiles all jailed. While we strive to cover as many cases as possible, sometimes we do miss the odd case due to staffing issues.
Here are all the criminals we’ve seen jailed at Truro Crown Court in 2023 so far, as reported at the time.
Read more: Pervert flashed kids after inviting them to sex party
January
William Twist
A young drug dealer was busted after his mate crashed his van into a coach and bus at a busy Truro roundabout. William Twist, 20, told police £25,000 of drugs on him were not his and £1,630 in cash was a gift to go towards driving lessons.
Twist, from Falmouth, appeared at Truro Crown Court having pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Prosecuting the case, Brian Fitzherbert told the court that on September 20 Twist was in a van driven by disqualified driver Jake Pearce. Police started following the van at Tresillian and a chase ensued which culminated in Berry crashing into a coach and a bus at Trafalgar Roundabout in Truro. Pearce was previously jailed at Truro Crown Court. You can read that story here
Mr Fitzherbert said: “When the van was approached by officers Mr Twist appeared unwell and to be having a seizure or a fit. When searched he was found to have £1,630 and 10 bundles of cocaine.”
The cocaine – which also included crack cocaine – had a street value of £25,000. A lock knife was also seized from the passenger seat.
Twist was arrested and interviewed and told police he was getting a lift to his girlfriend’s house and didn’t know anything about the drugs. He added that the cash was his birthday present to go towards a driving course.
At the time of the offence Twist was subject of a suspended sentence order given to him for his involvement in an armed melee at Newquay Bus Station.
Representing Twist, Rupert Taylor said his client “doesn’t have a lifestyle associated with someone who has made significant gain from that lifestyle”. Mr Taylor said: “He was under direction and is not an experienced criminal mind.
“He has never been in custody before and his partner made it clear to him on Christmas Day that her and his baby son needed to move on.
“He has been bullied and intimidated in custody but he is optimistic there is a future for him when released.”
Sentencing Twist, Judge Robert Linford said “On September 20 you were the passenger in a van that crashed. Police searched you and found cocaine and you were also in possession of £1,630 of cash.
“Your mitigation is your age, that you had a partner at the time and have lost her and your young son as a consequence. It is clear you were a troubled young man when I sentenced you in 2021.
“A letter you have troubled to write expresses your remorse and sorry for becoming involved in this trade. It is clear you had some understanding of the scale of the operation but there are no signs it was your operation or that you played a role in the management of it.
“I accept your remorse is genuine and that you are determined to change.”
Judge Linford jailed Twist for two years and two months, minus the four months he’s already served on remand. Judge Linford also took the “wholly exceptional” decision not to activate the suspended sentence.
Daniel Lawrence
A drug dealer is beginning a stretch behind bars thanks to some hands-on policing. Daniel Lawrence, 41, flushed thousands of pounds worth of heroin down the toilet but after a bit of DIY plumbing police were able to retrieve the drugs and subsequently put Lawrence behind bars.
Lawrence, of St Dominic Street in Penzance, has been on trial at Truro Crown Court and was eventually convicted by a majority jury of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, possession of cannabis and possessing criminal property. Opening the case earlier in the week, Francesca Whebell explained that on September 14 of last year, police executed a misuse of drugs warrant at the defendant’s property in Penzance.
Officers were located at the front and rear of the property before entry was forced through the front door. The defendant was seen upstairs in the bathroom standing at the toilet. Officers went to the bathroom and placed him in handcuffs taking him back from the toilet and explaining what they were there for and the warrant.
The first officer up the stairs to the defendant saw the toilet was still flushing as he entered and when he looked in the toilet he could still see water moving. Lawrence was the only person in the property at the time police entered.
Lawrence was taken downstairs while a thorough search of the property took place. PC Cross had heard the cistern of the toilet fill with water so believed it had been flushed. As he suspected that drugs had been flushed he went to identify the drain.
He located this in the rear yard with a small trickle of water running through it and was able to see that this drain served the toilet where the defendant had been detained by the police a short time prior.
He blocked it with a broom head before checking for any other possible drainage routes. When he returned to the rear yard of the address he asked colleague PC Perry to flush the toilet in a bid to flush any item through the U-bend of the toilet. He placed his gloved hand in the drain to take hold of any item that was flushed through.
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The officer then heard the toilet flush from upstairs and water flow through the pipe before a golf ball-sized wrap of an unknown substance flowed into his hand.
Ms Whebell added that the search of the property continued and in Lawrence’s bedroom there were eight mobile phones and various quantities of cash totalling £2,410 along with Lawrence’s bank card.
The drugs were sent for testing and the substance was confirmed to be 37 grams of heroin with a street value of £3,710.
Lawrence gave police a ‘no comment’ interview before later saying that the drugs were not his and an associate left the house shortly before. He said that the cash was from his benefits.
Recorder Richard Stead sentenced Lawrence to a total of five years in prison making him the second person to be jailed at Truro Crown Court in 2023.
Oliver Haisman
A violent thug from Cornwall has been jailed for strangling a teenager and repeatedly attacking her as he drove her home. Oliver Haisman, 26, also failed to provide a breath specimen when police found him behind the wheel swaying and with glazed eyes.
Haisman, from Launceston, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, three assaults, possession of cocaine and failing to provide a breath specimen. All the offences put him in breach of a suspended sentence given to him for wounding.
Prosecuting the case, Ryan Murray described how Haisman and the teen victim got on well when he was sober but she noticed he could be aggressive when drunk. He confided in her about his violent past and the two entered into an intimate relationship.
The offences for which he fell to be sentenced took place over two separate dates towards the end of last year. The first involved Haisman strangling the victim following a play fight and refusing to relinquish his grip despite her pleading with him to stop. Haisman then slammed the victim up against the wall.
On the second occasion Haisman took exception at the victim stating her intention to go out on her own, saying it was against his traveller heritage.
Haisman then threatened to “seriously hurt” her before hitting her in the face with a flip flop. The victim insisted Haisman took her home and the remaining assaults took place on that drive and started with the defendant screaming in her face and punching her. He then shoved her head into the window before stopping the car, turning back and saying “you’re not going anywhere”. Haisman grabbed the complainant and took her back to his caravan where he persisted with pushing his fist into her face.
The girl was able to call her mother and some time later police found Haisman behind the wheel noting that he was “completely out of it”, swaying and with glazed eyes. He also admitted to police having cocaine on him.
Representing Haisman, who has a number of convictions against him including for domestic violence, Piers Norsworthy said he was suffering from poor mental health at the time for which he had requested a certain medication, and that since his remand he had used the time well in trying to get on top of his mental health and substance misuse, the root causes for his offending.
Sentencing Haisman, Recorder Richard Stead said: “You are 26 and have a history of violence offending. You clearly have a controlling personality when it comes to relationships and I note a significant mental health component amplified by your use of alcohol. You are taking steps in custody to try and deal with substance misuse.”
Recorder Stead jailed Haisman for two years. He was also banned from driving and a restraining order was put in place to protect the victim.
Lee Giles
A rapist has been sent to prison for attacks that caused his victim “severe psychological harm and humiliation”. Lee Giles, 47, of Wesley Street in Redruth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing after after being convicted by a jury of two counts of rape at trial.
At the trial the court heard how, during the attacks, Giles, who had erectile dysfunction, forced his limp penis into the victim, the acts leaving her so traumatised that she vomited after it happened. When confronted about what happened, Giles was apologetic and said he knew what he did was wrong.
The victim added that the rapes left her feeling violated and upset. Prosecuting the case, Brian Fitzherbert, read out a victim impact statement on behalf of the complainant which detailed the effect Giles’ actions have had on her mental health.
In the statement she spoke of his actions changed her from the outgoing and bubbly person she was before she met him to being a recluse who feels embarrassed of what he has done to her. She said she didn’t want to leave her house for months because she feared seeing Giles. She also said she feels she wants to move away from the area as she can no longer deal with living in Cornwall.
Mr Fitzherbert also said Giles’ actions have caused the victim “severe psychological harm and humiliation”. He added that her mother has noticed a complete and detrimental change in her daughter’s wellbeing as a result.
Representing Giles, Ramsay Quaife said: “This is a man who has led an otherwise lawful life and he hopes that on release he will be able to return to that lawful life and not burden society any further. He is also a man who has not been to prison before.”
Sentencing Giles, Recorder Kenefick said: “No one who heard the victim’s impact statement could be left in doubt that your behaviour has left her deeply distressed. In that she described herself as a changed person from being bubbly and outgoing before she met you and I am in no doubt your conduct had a deep impact on her.”
Recorder Kenefick noted Giles’ mitigation, that he has had no previous convictions of anything of a sexual nature and that he is suffering from a “serious” medical condition.
However, he said the offence was clearly too serious for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence. Giles was jailed for six years and must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
Vetondouua Kariua
A rapist had sex with a girl as she slept following a boozy night out in Truro. The victim, who lives in Cornwall, awoke to find Vetondouua Kariua having sex with her on October 23, 2021.
Kariua, 27, from Gloucestershire but who was working in Truro at the time, has been on trial at Truro Crown Court this week charged with rape. He was convicted by a jury after a relatively short period of deliberation.
During the trial, Nigel Wraith described how the victim was drinking with a friend in a seaside village before they got a lift into Truro to carry on the night.
They went to Bunters and then Vanilla and the victim described being nine out of 10 on the drunk scale. It was there Kariua was out with a friend and he and the victim began dancing in a flirty way.
CCTV outside Vanilla showed them chatting and holding hands and the victim and her friend then went to where Kariua was staying. There came a point when the friend left as he had work in the morning.
Mr Wraith said: “The complainant remembers waking up finding herself naked from the waist down and lying down in the bed with Kariua on top of her having sex with her. She told him to stop but he didn’t and carried on having sex with her. She begged him to stop and felt pinned down leaving her unable to move.
“He carried on for a while and then stopped. She made her excuses, retrieved her clothing and left his home.”
The victim was then picked up by her dad crying and shaking. Kariua text her saying ‘text me when you’re home please, sorry you had to leave’ and then ‘good morning beautiful, hope you arrived safe’.
Failed asylum seeker Kariua, who was awaiting deportation, handed himself in at a police station in Gloucester a few days later. He denied having sex with the victim despite traces of his DNA being found on a swab.
Sentencing Kariua, Judge Simon Carr went over what took place that night and then said: “The effect on her has been dramatic. She has gone from a confident professional woman to someone who rarely goes out. She struggles to form relationships as she fears a breach of trust.
“She thought she met someone she was safe with but this couldn’t have been further from the truth.”
Kariua was jailed for seven years and must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
Joshua Humphris
A 30-year-old man forced himself onto a 15-year-old girl and had sex with her on a park bench. Joshua Humphris, now 32, was jailed despite claiming he thought the victim in the case was 16 and that it was her who instigated it.
Humphris, previously of Wadebridge but who has since left the area, appeared at Truro Crown Court to be sentenced for sexual activity with a child. He had initially been charged with rape but this charge was dropped.
Prosecuting the case, Heather Hope told the court how around the time of the offence in February 2021 Humphris had offered to get the victim tobacco. Messages were exchanged and he suggested she go round for a coffee which she thought was a bit weird.
On the night in question messages were exchanged and the victim agreed to meet Humphris for a roll-up cigarette. She agreed as she wasn’t allowed to smoke at home and walked with him to a local field.
While there he asked her if she had a boyfriend, a question she again thought was odd given the disparity in age. Miss Hope described how Humphris put his hand on her leg before touching her neck and hair. He began kissing her and at this point she froze. Humphris pulled down her jeans and underwear and had sex with her on the bench.
He didn’t use a condom. Humphris at first denied anything sexual had taken place to police, but after a DNA swab taken from her revealed his profile, he claimed that she initiated sex and he believed she was 16.
In a victim impact statement the complainant said she is now constantly looking over her shoulder and is never relaxed. She said the offence had a huge impact on her education and grades and she was worried she might get pregnant after what happened.
Representing Humphris, Judith Constable said that it was his recollection that the victim told him she was over 16 and that she had put her hands down his shorts and touched his penis. Ms Constable added that it was her who got undressed and laid down on the bench. The victim sent Humphris a text in the coming days saying ‘forget what happened the other day, can you get me baccy?’.
Ms Constable went on to note Humphris’ personal mitigation – namely that his father died when he was 13, that he watched his friend burn following a car crash, how he witnessed domestic violence at home and now cares for his mother.
Sentencing Humphris, Judge Robert Linford said: “You are 30 and the complainant was 15 at the time. On February 3 you offered to get her tobacco, went for a walk and engaged in inappropriate conversation.”
Judge Linford then spoke about the differing accounts of what happened next, before adding: “Whatever took place her jeans and underwear went down and you had sex on a bench.
“You say that the two parties read the situation differently and I’ve read the texts in the days that followed but you should have read the situation very differently to what you did. You were 30 and she was 15.”
Humphris was jailed for 42 months and must sign the sex offenders’ register. He was deemed not appropriate for a sexual harm activity order given that this offence was a one off and there was no sign of Humphris having any sexual interest in children.
Jaroslaw Bakula
A delivery driver killed a much-loved father after falling asleep at the wheel during a 17-hour stint on the road with no break. Jaroslaw Bakula, 35, had taken amphetamine at some point during his drive through Devon and Cornwall to the site of the fatal crash on the A38 Glynn Valley between Liskeard and Bodmin.
Bakula, from Bristol, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to causing the death of Steven West by dangerous driving.
Prosecuting the case, Lee Bremridge told the court how at the time of the collision in July 2020, Polish national Bakula had been working as a delivery driver for Bristol logistics company VKW Transport on a self-employed basis.
He was contacted and asked to deliver bread and cakes at various locations in Devon and then onto Bodmin. The deliveries were to take place overnight on the Sunday into the Monday morning.
Mr Bremridge told the court how Bakula left Bristol at 10pm, was in Exeter at 6:30am, Torquay at 9:30am and made a number of further deliveries. He said: “It was apparent Mr Bakula was being contacted by his boss during the morning and chased over deliveries he had not yet made and were overdue.”
Bakula, who has no previous convictions, made four deliveries in Plymouth and continued to be hassled by his boss. Mr Bremridge then detailed how at 3pm, Bakula continued into Cornwall having already been on the road for 17 hours and already having covered hundreds of miles without any meaningful break.
Mr Bremridge said: “Such a punishing schedule was beginning to tell and as he crossed the Tamar Bridge he began to drift across the lane until making a sudden correction. The fact he nearly lost control was an obvious warning sign he chose to ignore. It should have been perfectly clear that 17 hours on the road with no break was reckless in the extreme.”
Milly Freeman was driving along the A38 behind Bakula’s van and saw him cross the line in the centre of the road and then correct himself. Travelling in the opposite direction was Steven West and his son Paul who had been out flying a remote controlled aircraft. It was the day after Steven’s wedding anniversary.
It was at this point Bakula failed to negotiate a bend and ended up colliding with another van. It was a glancing blow that removed the van’s wing mirror but sent Bakuka’s van into the West’s Mondeo travelling behind, with the force of the impact causing the rear of Bakula’s van to leave the road. Bakula’s van came to a stop after toppling over.
Mr Bremridge said: “There was an emergency call made by Mr Bakula and he could be heard saying ‘what the f*ck have I done’ and ‘how could I have dozed’. Paramedics arrived but Steven was pronounced dead at the scene. It is clear that Mr Bakula chose to ignore several warning signs in the build up to the collision.”
Police investigations revealed the vehicles involved were in good condition. Amphetamine found in Bakuka’s system was likely to have been taken 12 to 24 hours prior to the collision and the drug often causes drowsiness or people taking it to fall asleep. Mr Bremridge said: “It’s highly likely Mr Bakula took amphetamine on the road or at least knowing he had several hundreds of miles to cover.”
In a victim impact statement, Mr West’s family said he was “a much-loved father and husband” and that his loss has had a profound effect on the family.
Representing Bakula, Rupert Taylor said: “He accepts he and he alone has brought this tragedy on Mr West’s family and his own. His contrition and remorse are genuine.”
In a statement Bakula said: “I accept I must have fallen asleep and that resulted in this tragic crash. I should have pulled over and sufficiently rested. I am sorry for the pain I’ve caused Mr West’s family and I wish I could turn back time and take away all their pain. I never wanted this to happen.”
Mr Taylor pointed out that Bakula was not an HGV driver, and if he was he would have legally had to take breaks. Mr Taylor said: “He should have taken breaks and not given in to the pressure of his employer. Otherwise he lived a normal, ordinary, unremarkable, industrious life.”
Sentencing Bakula, Judge Robert Linford said: “There is nothing I can do, nothing I can say that can compensate the family and friends of Steven West for their awful loss. The court’s condolences remain extended to them.
“That man’s death was caused by you and you will live the rest of your life with the realisation that you took the life of another human being.”
Judge Linford then went through Bakula routes and drops and confirmed that he was being chased by his boss.
He added: “Just after 3pm you crossed the Tamar Bridge. You’d been driving for 17 hours and was driving erratically as you crossed the bridge. This should have been a warning sign.
“In the Glynn Valley you fell asleep, failed to negotiate a bend and collided with a van. Behind that van was Steven West and his son Paul. A totally blameless father and son. As a result your vehicle lost control and collided with the West’s car. You caused the death of Steven and long-term psychological effects to Paul who saw his dad dead in that car. Your dozing was lethal. You could have stopped and had some rest.
“Blood samples indicated you had taken amphetamine. When the stimulant effect of amphetamine wears off it causes drowsiness.
“The other side to you is all positive. You have no previous convictions and I have read a letter you wrote in which you in no way ask for sympathy. You have apologised and I have read a letter from your wife that sets out how your absence will affect the family left behind. But your absence is finite. You will get back to your family. Steven will never get back to his.
“I accept you were put under a wholly unacceptable degree of pressure by your employers. That is unforgiveable. They would have known full well you had been driving 17 hours but continued cracking the whip.”
Bakula was jailed for five years and disqualified from driving for five years on release.
Rhys Philpin
A violent thug attacked his girlfriend before proceeding to wreck her life over a long period of time. Rhys Philpin did not give a restraining order that was put in place to protect the victim any regard and continued to see her regularly.
Rhys Philpin, 24, formerly of Bodmin but who now lives in London, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, breach of a criminal behaviour order and stalking. The offences took place in Bodmin and Plymouth.
Prosecuting the case, Ian Graham described how the ABH took place first in April 2021. On the night in question, both Philpin and the victim had been drinking. He ended up back at her flat and an argument soon ended in violence.
Mr Graham said that the incident involved a headbutt, Phlipin throwing a wine bottle and dragging the victim through the broken glass, a punch that rendered the victim unconscious and strangulation. Philpin accepts some but not all of the aspects mentioned by Mr Graham.
The breach of a restraining order took place between October 2021 and August 2022 and involved Philpin being pleasant and worming his way back into the victim’s life. They continued to meet until he fell back into his old ways – accusing the victim of cheating, abusing her and making her feel worthless.
When the victim told Philpin she was pregnant he became threatening and what followed was a bombardment of messages in which he threatened suicide and sent her pictures of his self-harming.
In a victim impact statement, the complainant described being a shadow of who she once was. She said: “I felt so ashamed and guilty and felt like everything was my fault. I don’t feel safe in my own home. My anxiety and depression got so much worse and I spiralled. He is a monster and took away so much of me and my life.”
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Representing Philpin, Judith Constable said: “The meetings in breach of bail were consensual and they met up every other weekend. This was a two-way relationship and on one occasion the complainant called him 28 times in a night. They have not met since May 2022 and he has no desire for them to meet again.”
It was also said that Philpin now lives and works in London and had a difficult start in life, being kicked out of his childhood home at a young age.
Sentencing Philpin, Judge Robert Linford addressed his lack of regard to the restraining order. He said: “I’m prepared to accept she contacted you and you contacted her but the fact remains that you were subject of the restraining order. If she contacted you it was your obligation to contact police, your lawyers or ignore it.”
Judge Linford added that the stalking was “appalling” and “designed to make the victims life miserable”. Philpin was jailed for 18 months and made subject of a new restraining order.
February
Peter Cocking
A hospital patient strangled a Royal Cornwall Hospital nurse who was looking after him. Peter Cocking, 62, said he would have killed the nurse had other staff not rushed to her aid.
Cocking, of Colinsey Road, in Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court after pleading guilty to intentional strangulation and assaulting an emergency worker.
Prosecuting the case, Joss Ticehurst described how on July 23 Cocking was a patient at the hospital and that a nurse on duty had been washing him and soaking his feet. She turned her back to Cocking to engage in other tasks and suddenly he stood, grabbed her with both hands and strangled her, refusing to release his grip.
Mr Ticehurst said: “She was frightened, panicked and scared she would pass out but was able to call for help.” At this point a sister on the ward tried to remove one of Cocking’s hands and he grabbed her hand and dug his finger into it. Cocking only relinquished his grip when another nurse went up to his face and shouted.
Security arrived and Cocking could be heard to say “I’ve just had enough”, before adding that he felt better for strangling the nurse and had he not been stopped he would likely have killed her. Cocking made other remarks about being fed up with his health.
Representing Cocking, Ed Bailey said: “He wishes through me to apologise for his actions during this frightening incident.” Mr Bailey spoke of how in the weeks before the incident Cocking sought help for his mental state. He was initially remanded in HMP Exeter where he self-harmed before being transferred to a psychiatric hospital. However, Judge Simon Carr was told that Cocking has since successfully treated his poor mental health and has new accommodation lined up in Newquay.
Sentencing, Judge Carr said: “You were being treated in hospital for a physical condition but I accept you were very mentally unwell indeed.
“On the day inquest you lost control as a result of your health and strangled a nurse looking after you. You had to be pulled off by others. It must have been absolutely terrifying for her.”
Judge Carr noted that HMP Exeter was the worst place Cocking could have been sent and that he is now off anti-depressants. Cocking was jailed for 12 months but will be released and moved to his new accommodation due to time served on remand.
Jason Stacey
A child rapist is back behind bars for not telling two mums he stayed with about his awful past. Jason Stacey, 52, even cuddled and read with their children while the oblivious mums thought he was just being friendly.
Stacey, who has been recalled to prison, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to five charges of breach of a sexual offences prevention order and four counts of failing to adhere to his notification requirements as a sex offender.
Prosecuting the case, Francesca Whebell told the court how Stacey was made subject to the requirements after being sentenced to 14 years in prison back in 2009 after being convicted of three rapes of a male under 16, eight charges of gross indecency with a male, and gross indecency with a female child.
Ms Whebell said that at the start of 2020 Stacey struck up a relationship with a Camborne mum. They never lived together but Stacey stayed over at least five times.
Ms Whebell described how children were present on these occasions and that Stacey would talk to the daughter, spend time helping around the house and join the family on day trips to Helston boating lake and Paradise Park in Hayle. Stacey also attended barbecues and other events with children present.
When the relationship ended, a friend of the Camborne mum offered Stacey her sofa to stay on temporarily as he was recovering from a motorcycle accident and was living in a caravan at the time. She also had children and Stacey would help out, cuddle up with the daughter and watch movies and read with her. The family described him as ‘an uncle figure’.
When the women found out about Stacey’s past, they were left mortified with one woman saying she beats herself up for putting her kids at risk of ‘this monster’. Naturally, they both said that if they had known about Stacey’s past they’d have had nothing to do with him. Stacey was also sentenced to prison last year for similar offences in Cornwall.
Stacey, who made full admissions in interview, told the court in person said: “I’m extremely sorry to the people I hurt. They were nice people and deserved better than that.
“Since coming to jail last year I’ve gained insight. I’ve lost my family because of this and now know how I’ve hurt people.”
Sentencing Stacey, Judge Robert Linford said: “You started a relationship with (the woman) and became friends with one of her friends. In that, you had the capacity to and did have close contact with their children.”
Judge Linford added that Stacey knew full well the terms of his orders. Stacey was jailed for 18 months, a sentence to start today concurrent to any other sentences he is serving.
Wesley Goryl
An eight-year-old girl’s head was detached from her spine and her mother left with a catalogue of fractures after a speeding sports car driver overtook on the wrong side of the road in wet conditions. Wesley Goryl, 45, overtook numerous vehicles at speed before hitting an oncoming vehicle on the A39 just down from Arch Hill Roundabout near Truro.
Goryl, from Tresillian, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in relation to the crash on New Year’s Eve 2020. Prosecuting the case, Katie Churcher told the court how the crash took place just after 5pm. Goryl was driving a black Nissan GTR towards Falmouth. Coming in the other direction was Shelley Taylor, her 21-year-old daughter in the passenger seat and her eight-year-old daughter in the back.
Witnesses describe the road surface being wet and hearing a loud noise from Goryl’s vehicle as he overtook other traffic. One witness said he was travelling at 50 miles per hour when Goryl shot past him. He estimated Goryl’s speed could have been double his.
Around Calenick, Goryl crossed the single carriageway onto the other side of the road and hit Mrs Taylor’s vehicle. Investigations revealed that the average speed of Goryl’s vehicle was 95 miles per hour prior to the crash. A blocked storm drain had resulted in water across the road, but police investigator Neil Read said the cause of the crash was by far more likely to be a result of a loss of control at speed. Ms Churcher added: “Had he not been travelling at speed, the collision would likely not have occurred.”
Mrs Taylor and her two daughters were taken to hospital, as was Goryl, who said “if anything happens to her I’ll probably kill myself”. He also stated: “I do drive a bit fast, I overtook a vehicle and aquaplaned. It’s all my fault.”
Mrs Taylor remained in hospital for three weeks for injuries including broken ribs, a spinal fracture, a broken wrist, lacerated liver and lungs, a broken arm, a broken hip, two broken femurs, and damaged tendons and nerves. She required multiple operations and her left leg is damaged permanently.
Her 21-year-old daughter suffered minor injuries, but the eight-year-old was left with life-changing injuries. She suffered a broken neck with her head detached from her spine, an injury that is usually fatal. She also suffered many fractures and spent a total of 11 weeks in hospital. She has made a recovery but still suffers physically and psychologically.
Goryl has no previous convictions but has been caught for speeding – both before and after the crash. His barrister Rupert Taylor said: “This tragedy is entirely his fault and he has to live with that. In this case there was no racing, no evasion and no intoxication. The vehicle was properly maintained.
“He is unable to move on and relives this moment over and over again. He is ashamed and seeks through me to make an abject apology.
“He is industrious and runs a successful business and accepts full responsibility for driving too fast.” Making a plea for a suspended sentence, Mr Taylor said: “This moment of madness cost everyone nearly everything.”
Sentencing, Recorder Christopher Quinlan, KC, said: “In passing sentence, I cannot undo the consequences of your conduct. Your dangerous driving on New Year’s Eve 2020 has changed the lives of two direct victims and others. It is another example of the perils of speed.
“A Nissan GTR is a high-performance car capable of high speed and rapid acceleration.” Recorder Quinlan then went over the nature of Goryl’s driving in what he described as dark and wet conditions.
He added: “You came upon a line of traffic and overtook it. It was a dangerous manoeuvre conducted at high excessive speed. You lost control of your vehicle whilst negotiating a bend and collided head on with Shelley Taylor’s vehicle.”
Recorder Quinlan said that Goryl’s minimum speed right before the crash was 81 miles per hour and had he been travelling at or below the speed limit then the accident would have been avoided.
He then went through the injuries suffered by the victims and the devastating effect of them. He touched upon Mrs Taylor now being classified as disabled and her daughter’s life being saved by the skilful doctors who looked after her.
Goryl was jailed for three years and banned from driving for four and a half.
The family said in a statement after the sentencing hearing: “We just want Goryl to realise that his poor decision-making will affect us for the rest of our lives.
“There is no reason or excuse for his manner of driving that night, and only by luck and the medical professionals’ skill and care was a tragedy averted.”
Robert Jones
A man was left bloodied and dazed in his own home after a planned attack in which his wallet and banks cards were stolen. One of those responsible then proceeded to spend the money on scratchcards and booze.
Claire Wood, 39, and Robert Jones, 43, both of Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court having pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Wood also fell to be sentenced for fraud and theft charges.
Prosecuting the case, Emily Book described how Wood was the partner of Jones and that the offence took place in April 2020.
Ms Cook stated that Wood turned up at the victim’s house and asked for £100-£200, offering him sexual favours in return. He declined but agreed to lend her a small amount. The pair left and walked to a nearby cashpoint.
Around the same time Jones and another male were seen around the victim’s property. Ms Cook said that from the evidence, Jones and the other man were clearly in conversation with Wood and receiving messages from her.
Wood and the victim returned together and when the victim noticed the two other males he panicked. The males entered his property via a side alley having taken efforts to conceal their identities. During the fracas the victim was hit a number of times to the head, knocking him to the floor.
Wood then stole his wallet and used his card and cash on scratch cards and alcohol until the card was declined. When police attended Wood’s property they found her and Jones present with some of the victim’s property. Both Wood and Jones have considerable number of convictions recorded against them.
Representing Wood, Rupert Taylor said: “She is now on a stable methadone prescription and is clean from drugs. She volunteers at a local charity and had previously been addicted to heroin for years. She is in stable accommodation with Mr Jones and shows genuine remorse.”
Ryan Murray, for Jones, said that the man in the dock was a different one from the one who took part in this offence, saying that he has halved his methadone prescription and stayed out of trouble for a period of time.
Sentencing Wood and Jones, Judge Simon Carr said that Wood must have suspected the victim would be unwilling to give her money as she took along the other two males who were wearing hoodies or hats. Judge Carr added that not content with the beating the victim suffered, Wood then took his wallet and spent his money on “rubbish”.
Judge Carr said that only Wood’s lack of previous convictions for violence kept her out of prison. He noted her progress and gave her a 15-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. She must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and be subject to a three-month 7pm to 7am curfew.
Given Jones’ history of violence, Judge Carr jailed him for a year. He said: “You were prepared to assist and put on a hat and pull on gloves as you walked down the alley.”
Haydn Williams and Ryan Cook
A woman had knives held to her throat by two men who burst into her home after she arranged to give one of them food. Haydn Williams, 23, and Ryan Cook, 37, left the victim and another woman present terrified and one of the women with a gashed finger sustained as she fought back.
Williams and Cook, both of no fixed abode, appeared at Truro Crown Court to be sentenced for the aggravated burglary that took place in Bodmin in September of last year. Both men also pleaded guilty to possession of knives on previous occasions.
Prosecuting the case, Felicity Payne said it was on September 19 that the victim was at home with her friend. She heard a knock on the door and opened the door to Williams, who she knew. He had previously told her he did not have enough money for food so she had kindly told him she would get a few cans of food together for him.
Ms Payne told the court how there were brief pleasantries before the victim picked up the bag of food placed by the door. Unknown to her Cook was hiding nearby and the two men then forced their way into the victim’s property.
They both pushed her back into the hallway, pinned her to the wall and at least one knife was held to her throat. Cook made demands for money and neighbours could hear the victim scream.
The woman’s friend then appeared in the hallway and grabbed the knife by the blade and pulled it away from her friend’s face, sustaining a cut in the process. This action allowed the primary victim to push the knife away and headbutt Williams as she screamed.
Ms Payne said: “The two women fighting back and the door being opened spooked the defendants.” The main victim then punched Cook “before both men fled with knives still in hand”.
Police found them both nearby, having disposed of the knives along the way.
The day before the aggravated burglary Cook was arrested and found by police to have a knife in his waistband. Williams’ knife possession offence dated back to October 2020 when he had a knife in his backpack.
In a victim impact statement, the woman who had the knife held to her throat spoke of being mentally scared by every noise. She said: “Someone knocks on the door and I’m petrified. I haven’t slept properly since and have flashbacks of them pushing me and pinning me up against the wall. I thought I was going to die.”
The court heard how both men had criminal records, with Cook the more heavily convicted and with previous for violence and drug offences.
In mitigation, it was heard that Williams suffered an unsettled childhood and entered care at his request to get away from an abusive stepfather. His drug abuse was said to have progressed over time and he had spent time homeless. Williams also suffers from depression, anxiety, ADHD and autism. Defence barrister Nick Lewin added that Williams’ mum, a recovering addict who was present in court, “carries a huge burden of guilt” for the difficulties in his life.
Representing Cook, Ramsay Quaife said: “He has showed remorse. He started his criminal career aged 17 and his devil has always been drugs. Since being remanded he is clean of drugs. In his adult life drugs are all there has ever been.” Cook was also said to suffer from anxiety and depression and other issues in his life.
Sentencing, Recorder Simon Levene said: “It’s a little difficult to know the background as not everyone tells the same story. I accept you went there to buy or ask for drugs and I accept Mr Cook left his wallet behind the previous day.
“It was a messy attack. It was planned to the extent you agreed to go there and to the extent you had knives on you. Apart from that it was uncoordinated and random but that doesn’t stop it being terrifying for the victims.”
Recorder Levene then noted the effect the burglary continues to have on the victims and the mitigation of both of the defendants, namely their remorse, mental disorders, attempts taken to conquer their historic drug problems and the good use of their time in custody. Cook was jailed for six years and a month and Williams five years and six months.
Gareth Healey
A prolific offender armed himself with two knives and marched his partner across town to confront a man he suspected she was having an affair with. Gareth Healey’s partner and her daughter were only able to escape when staff at the County Arms pub in Truro hid them in the cellar.
Healey, 33, from Bodmin Road, Truro, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to affray and possession of two bladed articles.
Prosecuting the case, Nick Lewin described how events started at 3.30pm on September 27 of last year when the victim in the case received a call from a friend informing her that Healey was drinking in Truro’s JD Wetherspoon pub. This surprised her as he was meant to be working and left her concerned as she knew that he did not react well with alcohol.
Mr Lewin said: “He arrived at home at 6.30pm and his mood soon changed. His eyes were huge and he was walking back and forth. He was abusive and accusing his partner of having an affair with a friend of hers while he was in prison. His mood varied from aggressive and unpleasant to emotional and crying.”
Healey then shouted ‘if I can’t have you no-one can. I’ll kill you’ and took two knives out of the kitchen drawer. Mr Lewin said that Healey was determined to go to the male’s address saying that the victim was going to go with him and watch Healey stab her friend in the neck.
Healey then pulled the victim off the toilet by her hair and bundled her downstairs. He was argumentative with her daughter who had also arrived home and the unpleasantries continued through town. Eventually the daughter escaped and ran into the County Arms, followed by the victim. They were hidden by staff in the cellar until police arrived and arrested Healey. On him were the two knives.
The victim, an unwilling witness, was left with injuries to her face. Healey, the court heard, has an extensive criminal record with offences for violence and possession of knives recorded against him.
Defending Healey, Jason Beal said: “He has used his time in custody as wisely as he can. He has been utilising the substance misuse service for his problems with alcohol and has made efforts to understand the causes behind his offending. He is ashamed of his actions that night.” Mr Beal added that Healey pleaded guilty despite the victim not co-operating with the case.
Sentencing Healey, Recorder Simon Levene said: “The offences were committed when you were drunk. You were angry, out of control, accusing your partner and threatening to kill if not her then at least the person you suspected she was having an affair with.
“I’ve read letters from you and your partner. You are facing up to the seriousness of what you’ve done and showed insight into the problems you’ve created for yourself and the rest of the world. You know something needs to be done and everything is now in your hands. You can address the problems, there will be help but it won’t be easy.” Healey was jailed for 16 months.
Jason Barnes
A sexual predator has been jailed for targeting a number of young boys on the internet and using sophisticated methods to hide away the evidence. Jason Barnes, 33, “presents a serious risk of contact offences”, according to Judge Simon Carr.
Barnes, of Nicholas Parc in Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to a host of charges including making indecent images of children, distributing an indecent image of a child, possessing prohibited images of children, attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, engaging in sexual communications with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Prosecuting the case, Heather Hope described how Barnes had twice previously found himself in the dock for indecent images, in 2016 and 2019.
As a result of his previous convictions, Barnes was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and the sex offenders’ notification requirements, which meant that he was regularly visited at his home address by the police.
On one visit in 2021, PC Waite asked to see Barnes’ phone and saw searches showing he had looked for and viewed indecent images of children.
In December 2021, police received intelligence from the National Crime Agency showing that Barnes’ IP address had uploaded indecent images of children to Dropbox and Snapchat.
Investigation of a new phone revealed that Barnes had created a vault hidden between screens on his phone that could only be accessed by a thumbprint or password. Barnes refused to provide access but an advance in technology eventually allowed for police to get inside.
What they found were various conversations downloaded from Telegram between Barnes and young boys. There were at least three real victims, and one more who couldn’t be traced by police.
In these conversations Barnes engaged in highly sexualised chats from the off and both sent pictures of his penis and received pictures and videos of the boys’ genitals, despite the victims telling him they were aged under 16. Chillingly, the conversations were filed with nicknames relating to physical features so Barnes could identify them in future.
On at least one occasion Barnes suggested meeting one of the boys in person. Police also found hundreds of indecent images of children spanning all three categories and there was evidence that Barnes had shared at least one piece of material with a fellow pervert.
Representing Barnes, Ramsay Quaife said that he had not received treatment previously and that he is now “motivated to engage”.
Sentencing Barnes, Judge Carr said: “It is clear you have an entrenched sexual interest in children.” Judge Carr added that Barnes’ reaction after having a first phone seized was to get another one and “use extreme conscription to give the appearance apps you were using were not visible to someone looking at the phone.”
He went onto say: “It was felt the examination of the phone would be impossible but technology moves on and during an extensive police examination access was gained to the device that showed the extent of your offending.
“You’d make extreme efforts to contact children on chat sites and when you gained access to a child you immediately categorised that boy with your own name and coding so you’d recognise them in future conversations.”
Judge Carr said that what followed was highly sexualised communication and the exchange of images or videos and that what took place caused significant psychological damage to the boys involved.
Stating that reports showed Barnes was one of the most dangerous people the Probation Service had dealt with and that they had “no doubt” he’d reoffend, Judge Carr sentenced Barnes to an extended sentence of 13 years, seven custodial and six on licence.
Amee Bettison
A mum of eight has been jailed for making an entirely false rape claim against someone she barely knew. Amee Bettison, 29, also pursued the lie made initially to get the attention of her partner.
Bettison, of Pool Street in Bodmin, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Prosecuting the case, Ed Bailey described how on October 13 2016 a Mr Roberts contacted the police to report that his former partner, Bettison, had been raped by a local 28-year-old.
The man in this case was arrested in front of his family and taken to Newquay Police Station where his phone was seized and he was subjected to intimate sample taking.
He was bailed but had to explain to his new partner, workmates and people close to him what he was alleged to have done. The claims also resulted in the adjournment of family court proceedings, meaning that he was not able to see his daughter until the rape case had been resolved. The adjournment also cost him £900.
Bettison was video interviewed by police during which she described the victim being in her house and forcing himself on her and raping her.
The victim said he was at work at the time, and police began to question Bettison’s story when CCTV from his work showed him present, and a family member and member of staff at a local takeaway provided alibis for when he finished work. Swabs taken from Bettison and the victim also showed no contact between the two.
In January 2017 Bettison contacted police saying that although she had been raped, she wished to withdraw her statement due to her distress.
In a victim impact statement taken after he was ruled to have done nothing wrong, the man said: “This whole process has been absolute hell. I missed six months of my little girl’s life, it has cost me money I don’t have and I had to tell my friends and bosses I was being investigated when I had done nothing wrong. This will live with me forever.”
Speaking about the delay in getting the case to court – Bettison was only charged last year – Judge Simon Carr said: “This was a catastrophic failure by the CPS to properly manage the case.”
Representing Bettison, Rachel Drake said that the delay was caused by the CPS and had also had an effect on Bettison and her eight children. She said: “The allegation was made at a time of personal crisis. At the time she was at home with two children and another on the way. Mr Roberts was controlling and coercive. He had left her and deprived her of finances. She made the allegations to attract his sympathy and attention. It was not an allegation made by personal malice.
“It was Mr Roberts who called the police. This was a spur of the moment impulsive decision by a woman in crisis. It was not intended to have the consequences it did.
“She has continued living a law-abiding life and has gone on to have eight children. She was able to bring up these children without any substantial intervention or support. Two of the children have special education needs.
“She was brought up in a chaotic environment, her parents went to jail and she was left to her own devices from the age of 13.”
Sentencing Bettison, Judge Carr said: “Back in 2016 you were 23 and already had two children and were pregnant with a third. It was clear you were in an abusive relationship with somebody a number of years older.
“It was his intention to leave you. You decided a way to attract his attention was to make a false allegation or rape against an innocent man. Your thinking was that somehow he’d feel sympathy for you and stay with you. The choice you took was unforgivable.”
Judge Carr said that the victim “selected” was an ex of Bettison’s friend who she’d had choice words with before. Judge Carr stated that after the initial complaint, Bettison followed up with a detailed account of what she said happened.
He then stated the devastating effect her lies had on the victim. He added: “He was on bail a number of months. It was pure luck the allegation did not go further.”
Judge Carr said that if the victim had not had alibis and CCTV showing he was at work, the matter could have ended up in court and perhaps even with a conviction.
Judge Carr then stated the delay that followed was not Bettison’s fault, saying it was “almost a complete failure by the CPS and police”. He noted Bettison’s extensive mitigation and that she is an “excellent mother” in difficult circumstances.
But despite the mitigation, Judge Carr said false rape claims cause people to question legitimate victims. Bettison was jailed for three years.
Fahd Alkhalidi
A rapist has been sent to prison for attacking a woman he supplied cannabis to in her own home. Fahd Alkhalidi, 42, then promised the victim that it would not happen again in a series of texts where he seemingly admitted the offence.
Alkhalidi, formerly of Marlborough Road in Falmouth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having been convicted by a jury of rape at a trial earlier this month.
Prosecuting the case, Dan Pawson-Pounds described how the offence took place in September 2020 and that Egyptian asylum seeker Alkhalidi was known to the victim as he would regularly supply her with cannabis.
Mr Pawson-Pounds said: “On October 5, 2020, the complainant reported to the police that she had been raped by the defendant on September 25. A few days later she shared screenshots from a text conversation in which the complainant texted the defendant saying ‘You need to get a grip. That was nearly rape. I was telling you no but you did it anyway’.”
Married Alkhalidi responded by saying ‘I’m sorry. It won’t happen again I promise.”
On the evening in question the victim invited Alkhalidi to her house to drop off cannabis but when she came out of the bathroom he kissed her and proceeded to have sex with her. Mr Pawson-Pounds said that Alkhalidi “wouldn’t take no for an answer” and forced himself upon the victim leaving her in “utter shock”. The victim said that she would usually meet Alkhalidi outside but invited him in this time as she had wet hair.
The attack left the victim debating crying out for help but she decided against it as she did not want to put the neighbours out. She said in a video interview that it took her some time to decide whether to go to police or not as she knew Alkhalidi was in the country illegally and would be deported.
Representing Alkhalidi, Rupert Taylor said: “He visited her at her request. He has no previous convictions and this was not sophisticated or planned.” Describing it as “a sad case” Mr Taylor went onto state how Alkhalidi had previously been in a relationship with the mother of the Keyham shooter and had alerted the police to his behaviour but heard nothing more from them.
Sentencing, Judge Simon Carr said: “You continued to be her cannabis supplier and that brought you to her home on that day. Having gained access to supply cannabis you raped her. It would have been obvious to you that she was vulnerable and that vulnerability was not limited to her addiction problem. In her house she was entitled to feel safe. She has had to move as a result of the offence. I’ve read a considerable amount about you that shows you in a positive light.”
Alkhalidi was jailed for five years.
Nathan Foster
A woman and a man have been sentenced for a bizarre episode of road rage that saw a scaffold pole used as a weapon and a builder picked up and driven at speed on a van bonnet. Elkie Mills, 31, called her then-partner Nathan Foster, 40, after getting involved in a row with builders who she claimed had blocked a narrow street.
Mills, formerly of Mevagissey, and Foster, from Saltash, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing with Foster having pleaded guilty to affray and criminal damage and Mills convicted by a jury of dangerous driving.
During Mills’ trial, Mr Lewin described how the “road rage” events unfolded in New Street, Penryn on May 14 2021. He told the jury how during the course of the day a number of cars were parked on the offside of New Street.
Mr Lewin said: “Getting through the gap was fairly tight. One vehicle parked was a white transit van and its occupants were working in a neighbouring property.
“Ms Mills was driving a Volkswagen Transporter trying to get through. She said to those at the scene she was not able to get through. She asked the builder to move the transit to give her more space.
“The builder didn’t move the vehicle as asked but offered to see her through the gap. She refused and the builders went back to work.”
Mr Lewin went onto describe how Mills then became angry shouting ‘move your van’.
Mills’ partner Nathan Foster then appeared with a four-foot scaffold pole after being called by Mills, swinging it and hitting it against the builders’ transit van and taking a swing at one of them, causing at least one person to have to jump out the way.
At this point Mills drove her VW, picking up one of the men and carrying him on the bumper for several metres at speeds of 10/15 miles per hour as he clung on for dear life. Eventually, he was able to roll to safety despite being perilously close to falling under the wheels.
Representing “hard-working” Foster, Rupert Taylor told the court that he accepts he behaved in an appalling way and wanted to make an abject apology. Mr Taylor also pointed to the fact Foster had admitted his guilt from the start. The relationship between the two defendants is now over.
On behalf of Mills, Piers Norsworthy said that she was the victim of controlling and coercive behaviour at the hands of Foster and had also suffered domestic violence in a previous relationship. She has since moved to an unknown location and is sorry for how she conducted herself that day.
Sentencing, Judge Simon Carr said the incident arose from a situation seen in Cornwall day in and day out, featuring narrow streets and drivers trying to squeeze through. He added that Foster had armed himself either at or slightly before arriving at the scene after Mills had called him. Foster was jailed for eight months.
Sentencing Mills, Judge Carr described the sentencing exercise as “very difficult”, adding that the footage was terrifying and that the victim was very close to going under the wheels and either dying or being seriously hurt.
He went onto say that Mills could have easily fit her van through the gap, before noting her personal mitigation. He stated that Mills had called the police on Foster shortly before this incident and that she was petrified of scratching the alloys on his van like she had previously. Judge Carr noted that she had called Foster so she could see that any scratches were not her fault and that she could not have predicted he would react in the way he did.
Mills’ eight-month prison sentence was suspended for two years. She must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and a mental health treatment requirement. She was banned from driving for two years.
March
Nigel Alldis
A mum and child suffered serious injuries after a driver ventured onto their side of the road and collided head-on while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol. Nigel Alldis, 32, was twice the drink drive limit at the time.
Alldis, of Bank Street, Newquay, appeared at Truro Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to two charges of causing serious injury by careless driving.
Prosecuting the case, Deni Mathews described how the collision took place at 7pm on July 5 last year. The mother and her children, aged 11 and 9, were driving on Bells Lane in St Mawgan when they noticed Alldis’ vehicle approaching.
Alldis was on the wrong side of the road at the time and despite the mother trying to take evasive action, a head-on collision took place. She says that at the time of impact she was driving at less than 30mph with Alldis’ car going faster than that.
As a result, the mother suffered a broken arm requiring an operation and plate. One of her children suffered a broken collar bone and laceration to her foot. The mother had to take time off work and continues to suffer from trauma after the crash.
Mr Mathews said: “Officers arrived and spoke to the defendant and he tested positive for cocaine and excess alcohol. He was twice the drink drive limit. Officers searched his car and found two partially consumed bottles of rum. Although he admitted the crash was his fault, the defendant was abusive to one of the officers, calling him a d**khead.”
In mitigation, it was heard that Alldis, who has no previous convictions, was “extremely sorry” and had lived an otherwise hard-working life working as a doorman. On the day in question, Alldis had split up with his partner but received a call from her saying she thought she was having a miscarriage.
There was nobody else to take her to hospital so Alldis took the decision to drive and during the drive, he was blinded by sunlight so reached for his sunglasses then hit the side of the road, lost control and ended up on the other side of the road for a few seconds. The court also heard how Alldis is a devoted father to his children.
Sentencing Alldis, Judge Simon Carr said: “You had other options other than getting in the car. The level of alcohol in your system meant you knew you were getting into a car drunk but you chose to do it.
“This wasn’t a momentary loss of control. The loss of control was getting into the car drunk and I have no doubt the drink is the single reason you wasn’t able to keep control.”
Judge Carr noted the long term physical and psychological effects on the victim, as well as Alldis’ mitigation and remorse before jailing him for 12 months. He was also banned from driving for two years on release. Judge Carr said there was no evidence Alldis was speeding at the time.
Donald Benny
A violent drunk punched his former partner 10 times, strangled her until she passed out and prevented her from leaving the property and summoning help during a terrifying prolonged ordeal. Donald Benny, 46, also struck the victim with a bottle and bent her fingers back with force.
Benny, of no fixed abode, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to ABH and intentional strangulation, offences that took place at a property just outside of Penryn on January 28.
Prosecuting the case, Tom Bradnock described how Benny and the victim had been in a volatile relationship, with a history of violence. Although it ended some time before these offences, Benny would still stay at her property on occasions.
Mr Bradnock said: “On the day in question, the defendant had been drinking and an argument began in the bedroom about his drinking. Mr Benny is addicted to alcohol and heroin and he accused the complainant of sleeping with other people.”
When the victim stated her intention to get her life back on track, Benny put his hands over her mouth and nose and stopped her breathing temporarily. He punched her to the head a couple of times before she was able to break free and get into bathroom.
Benny banged on the bathroom door so hard she thought it was going to break and he then followed the victim from room to room. Mr Bradnock added: “Every time she asked him to stop, he punched her. He punched her more than 10 times.
“This went on for a period of several hours into the next day.” The victim also described how Benny bent her fingers back so hard they bruised and how he also hit her to the head with a bottle.
On several occasions, the victim – who believed that Benny was going to kill her – escaped outside only to be bundled by him back into the house. She eventually managed to run to her car and contact the police. The victim was then taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital where she was treated for bruising to various areas of the face and head.
On arrest Benny, who has previous for violence, said “get me back to Exeter”, a reference to his desire to return to HMP Exeter.
In mitigation, Robin Smith said: “He has suffered from addiction to drugs and alcohol over the years and he has tried to tackle these addictions to varying degrees of success. The relationship was always fraught with tension and he is utterly aghast at how he behaved.”
Sentencing Benny, Recorder Mathew Turner described the attack as “a prolonged and persistent assault”. He noted that it took place in a domestic context, that Benny took steps to prevent the victim from escaping and that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time. He did, however, say that he accepted Benny’s remorse as genuine.
Benny was jailed for 21 months and a five year restraining order put in place.
Danny Owen
A “dangerous and ingrained” paedophile has been given a huge prison sentence for the rape and abuse of four girls over several decades. Danny Owen, 47, was told by a judge that he presents an ongoing significant risk to the public.
Owen, of Maddever Crescent, Liskeard, was sentenced to 34 years by Judge Robert Linford at Truro Crown Court for offences against women and girls over a 21-year period.
The sentence comes following a 17-day trial in February 2023 where the jury found Owen guilty of 24 offences against four victims. He was found not guilty of five offences against a further two complainants. Owen was sentenced to a custodial sentence of 28 years with an additional six years on licence.
During the trial, the court heard accounts of how Owen would inappropriately touch some of the young victims and tell them it was normal. Owen’s behaviour escalated to rape in some of the cases after forcing himself on the victims, he told them not to tell anyone what had happened. The victims were aged between five and early teens when the offending occurred.
The controlling and abusive behaviour was sustained over months and even years in some cases. Owen continually denied the allegations in interview and told officers he didn’t know why the victims would make such claims against him.
At the sentencing hearing, a number of Owen’s victims read victim personal statements to the court. The first victim said: “Normal life ended when I was six (the age when Owen started abusing her). He told me what he was doing was normal. I now know I was too young to challenge him. He told me I’d be naughty to tell anyone.”
The victim added that coping doesn’t get easier, and seeing Owen around brought the horrible memories flooding back. She added: “Nothing will ever take away what he’s done. It’s been with me all my life and will be with me until I die. The denial from him and clear lack of remorse is unforgivable.” The woman detailed how she self-harmed to replace the mental pain with physical pain and that all aspects of her life have suffered.
The second victim to read her statement spoke of feeling alone and having a huge sense of emptiness every day as well as a struggle to continue with life. She said: “What Owen did to me as a child didn’t just make me a victim but also those around me. He robbed me of a normal, functioning family life and gave my children a front row seat to watch me break over and over. He destroyed my self-worth and some of the most precious moments in my life.
“I hope one day when this is all over, I’ll be able to show my family who I really am.”
A fourth survivor of the abuse said that the police interview process made her feel like it was all her fault. She said that Owen turned up at her place of education, adding: “I was tortured by this sick and twisted man. I wanted to die. He attended my sixth form with his teenager girlfriend. I felt I’d always be seen as a liar and existing was painful. He is an absolute monster with no remorse what what he has done. He tainted my childhood and destroyed me and stole my innocence.”
Representing Owen, Heather Hope said that he maintains his innocence. She said: “He has never been in custody before and it’s had an impact on him already. He suffers chronic back and hip pain and while he has been on medication in prison, the medication is limited and of reduced dosage.”
Miss Hope also spoke of how Owen had been violently attacked by his cellmate and has concerns for his vulnerable brother on the outside who he used to care for.
Sentencing Owen, Judge Robert Linford said: “There were four victims on the verdicts of the jury of your appalling sexual offending. The offences took place between 1990 and 2011.”
Judge Linford went through the specifics of the offending relating to each victim, before saying: “The effect on these women cannot be understated. You have wrecked their lives. They blame themselves. Your behaviour has caused panic attacks, nightmares, flashbacks and mental ill health. Your decision to contest the charges, as was your right, added to the suffering of your victims.”
Judge Linford said that Owen presents a significant risk of serious harm to the public through future offending, branding him “a dangerous and ingrained paedophile.”
Owen must serve two thirds of the 28 year custodial element before eligible for release. Restraining orders were also put in place to protect those connected to the case.
Darius Brzezinski
A remorseless criminal has been jailed for threatening to throw acid into the face of a woman he barely knew and stabbing through the top of her soft-top car with a knife. Dariusz Brzezinski also set up a deckchair in her garden and made threats waving a petrol canister.
Brzezinski, 52, of Grenville Meadows in Nanpean, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to harassment and possession of a bladed article.
Prosecuting the case, Althea Brooks described how Brzezinski first contacted the victim in early 2022, with her not knowing how he got her number but believing it may have come through a mutual friend.
Ms Brooks said: “He was looking for help securing accommodation and she offered to make some calls. A couple of days later, he asked if he could keep his van at her address, saying that he wasn’t able to drive it. She borrowed it for one month and then he asked for it back.
“She met him in St Austell to hand it back and informed him that the brakes were not working properly. The next day, he turned up at her address and she doesn’t know how he found out where she lived. The defendant parked in her car park and removed the wheels and left the van there for three weeks.”
Ms Brooks said this was the point the harassment started. Following a disagreement about belongings in the van, Brzezinski turned up drunk and threatened to burn the victim and her Newquay home and smash her car. Ms Brooks added: “He said he’d spill acid in her face so she’d remember him for the rest of her life.”
Brzezinski sent violent and threatening texts and, over three weeks, attended the woman’s address, sat in her garden in a fold-out chair, looked through her windows, watched her and hid in her garden.
On September 26, she was on her way out to collect her son from school and saw Brzezinski from the window. She told him to go away but he replied ‘I’ll sort you out b*tch’. He held up a petrol can and threatened to burn her and her car. He was also brandishing shears and threatened to slash her tyres.
Ms Brooks said: “When in the car, he came over and tried to twist her wiper blade. She drove off and returned and again he was holding a petrol can. The next day, she was leaving her flat and walking towards her car when the defendant jumped out wielding a knife and started walking towards her. She ran and he thrust the knife through the roof of her soft top car.” Brzezinski was then arrested in her garden.
Representing Brzezinski, Ramsay Quaife said that he has served just short of six months and has had time to think of the effect of his behaviour.
Sentencing, Judge Robert Linford said: “You first contacted the victim in July 2022, and in the few months that followed, not only did you make her life a misery, but you terrified her and her child.
“You sent threatening messages, you went to her house, you threatened to chuck acid over her and threatened to kill her – all without any justification. You have no conception or understanding that you’ve done anything wrong at all. This all culminated on September 29 when you jumped out in front of her car with a knife and slashed the roof of her soft-top car.
“The pre-sentence report makes depressing and worrying reading. You have no conception you’ve done anything wrong, you blame the victim and have no desire to change.”
Brzezinski was given a 15 month prison sentence and a 10 year restraining order was put in place preventing him from contacting the victim or going to her address.
April
Franklyn John Williams
A paedophile with “an entrenched sexual interest in children that will never go away” is back behind bars for engaging in sex chats with a Filipino child. Franklyn John Williams, 75, also went money to the victim’s mum in the Philippines.
Williams, from Penrose Court in Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child.
Prosecuting the case, Judith Constable told the court how Williams is a known sex offender and was jailed at Truro Crown Court for similar offences back in 2019.
He was released from prison and in January of last year two PCs attended his home to complete a risk assessment. They examined his phone and found a suspicious Facebook Messenger conversation. The girl he was communicating with was nine or ten-years-old and lived in the Philippines.
In the disgusting chats Williams complimented the girl and made lewd comments. Pictures were exchanged and he sent her a topless photo of himself in bed saying that he’d like to kiss her and wished she was there with him. Ms Constable added that Williams is considered a high-risk sex offender.
The court heard how Williams has sent money to the Philippines also also helped pay for a school out there. He sent money to the victim’s mum which helped her pay for a washing machine.
Representing Williams, Martin Pearce said: “He has reached a low ebb and is asking for help. He doesn’t understand why he commits these offences but he knows they’re wrong and he is seeking help for his actions.”
Sentencing Williams, Judge Simon Carr outlined the sexualised nature of the conversation and said the reasons were obvious why Williams sent money to Asia. He added: “You have an entrenched sexual interest in children that will never go away.”
Judge Carr jailed Williams for 15 months, near to the maximum sentence he could legally pass for such an offence.
Martin Butler
A rapist turned his back to his victim, two women who helped bring him to justice and his own daughter as he was sentenced to a lengthy stretch behind bars. Martin Butler, 61, described in court as “a magnet to young girls”, raped a woman in Mevagissey when he was in his mid 20s.
Butler, of Stevenage, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after being convicted after a trial of rape and buggery charges.
Butler was brought to justice after a social media campaign by two women who also say they were targeted by Butler. The trial centred around a woman who was raped by Butler at his parents’ house in Mevagissey in the 1980s. She awoke to find her hands and feet tied together and Butler then proceeded to rape her.
The victim buried the secret for many years until she saw a Facebook post from another woman saying she had also been abused by Butler. It was then that the victim decided to go to the police and report what had happened to her.
The Facebook post was made by Laura Hughes. Laura reported what had happened to her, but the charge was stayed – not dropped but not proceeded with – and Butler at the time remained a free man.
Laura bravely gave evidence during the trial and described how she had a sexual relationship with Butler from when she was 14 or 15 and he was in his early 40s. She said that Butler would regularly tie her up to have sex and put his hands around her neck. She also awoke to find him having sex with her.
Another witness, who says Butler had forceful and violent sex with her when she was 14 or 15, also gave evidence at the trial. The second witness also said that Butler raped her and would tie her up to restrain her. Both said that Butler would give them drugs to facilitate the abuse.
At the sentencing hearing Butler positioned himself so that his back was turned to the packed public gallery. Prosecuting barrister Jason Beal told the court that Butler’s previous offending included dishonesty, violence, child cruelty and drug supply.
In a victim impact statement the rape victim described still suffering from nightmares of being tied up and strangled and PTSD symptoms. She added that she struggles when having to wear anything that puts pressure on her nose and mouth such as a mask.
Representing Butler, Deni Mathews spoke of the time that has passed since the offence and that it was 23 years since Butler’s last conviction.
Sentencing Butler, Recorder Christopher Quinlan KC said that on the night in question the victim awoke to find Butler tying her up and preventing her from breathing, adding that it “must have been terrifying” for her. He went onto detail what Butler did next and how the victim thought she was going to die.
Recorder Quinlan added how Butler then fled, leaving the victim abandoned. He said: “She (the victim) didn’t go to the police right away and that is not a criticism. She confided in friends and others over the years about what you did to her. In 2018 she saw a Facebook post posted by another woman. It sought victims of child abuse and grooming at your hands and it was then she felt able to go to the police.
“All three woman played a part in you being convicted of a serious crime you continue to deny.”
Noting how the attack took place in a location where the victim should have felt safe, Recorder Quinlan sentenced Butler to 11 years.
Restraining orders were also put in place to prevent Butler from contacting those involved in the case and he must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
Richard McLean, Kevin Condliffe, Johnathan Fincham and Kieron Ellis
The final member of “a planned, sophisticated, sustained and determined” drugs conspiracy has been put behind bars. CornwallLive has previously reported how three men were jailed for the empire that saw Cornwall flooded with heroin and cocaine and more than half a million pounds in cash sent back to Liverpool from small Cornish post offices.
The operation saw around 140 packages sent back up north containing more than £500,000 cash. Half a kilo of heroin and cutting agent was also seized during a string of raids. The enterprise came tumbling down when police caught a break when coffee jars of drugs were accidentally left behind in a Cornish pub.
Recorder Christopher Quinlan KC previously jailed Kevin Condliffe and Richard McLean, 46 and 39 respectively, from Liverpool and Kieron Ellis, 44, from the Penzance and St Ives area. Condliffe was on Friday April 21 jailed for nine and a half years, McLean eight and a half years and Ellis seven.
Last to learn his fate after issues with his case were resolved on Monday April 24 was Johnathan Fincham, 53, from Pellor Fields, in Breage near Helston. Truro Crown Court heard that he had a number of previous offences recorded against him but not for drugs.
Representing Fincham, Chris Spencer said: “Since his remand he has been working in the prison laundry and is doing English and art classes. He has a good work record and was employed at a dockyard until 2021 when he failed a drugs test, was sacked and his downfall really begun.
“He moved to Cornwall in 2003 and it was his heroin misuse that brought him into contact with Mr Condliffe. He regrets allowing himself to be drawn into it.”
Sentencing Fincham, Recorder Quinlan said that Fincham accepts he played a significant role in the conspiracy, operating below Condliffe and McLean but above Ellis. He added that the top of the chain operated in Liverpool.
Describing the drugs enterprise as “planned, sophisticated, sustained and determined”, Recorder Quinlan said that not only had half a kilo of heroin been found as well as cutting agent during raids, but £500,000 in cash sent back to Liverpool by post from post offices in Mullion and Ruan Minor to reduce the risk of somebody being stopped carrying cash they couldn’t explain.
Fincham was arrested at his home and found to be in possession more than £800 in cash, diamorphine and cocaine. £13,000 had been moved through his bank accounts to third parties. Recorder Quinlan said that Fincham moved the drugs to others in the chain for onward supply and “facilitated in the role of arranging vehicles”.
Fincham, who was present on occasions when the money was being posted, was jailed for a total of six and a half years as Recorder Quinlan commended police on their work.
The sentences followed Operation Foxshine, a police investigation into the supply of controlled Class A drugs by a well-established Organised Crime Group operating the County Line ‘Scouse Mick.’
Phone and financial analysis proved that between 1 January 2021 and 14 July 2022 the group were bringing drugs from Liverpool to Cornwall by car and using the Royal Mail to post the cash profits back up the line to associates in Liverpool.
A detailed review identified that the group posted 140 parcels during that time. Based on weights, the parcels were believed to contain more than £560,000 in cash, equating to the sale of around seven kilograms of drugs.
Officers carried out warrants and seizures on a number of occasions during the investigation including in September 2021 when Condliffe and McLean left a carrier bag containing £50,000, or 5,000 deals, of heroin in coffee jars in a pub. The pair returned a short time later to retrieve the bag, only to find police had already seized it.
Thousands of messages between the four were found on mobile devices discussing the distribution of drugs and movement of cash – these were identified by police despite the men regularly changing phone numbers in order to avoid detection.
On 13 July 2022 Condliffe posted two parcels containing nearly £10,000 in cash to Liverpool. Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police and Merseyside Police awaited confirmation that the parcels had been successfully delivered the following morning before executing 11 warrants simultaneously in Helston, Penzance, Carbis Bay and Liverpool.
The men were all arrested in Cornwall and later charged. The investigation team, along with Royal Mail, have received an International Digital Investigation Award (IDIA) for their work on the case.
Nicholas Carter
A Post Office worker was left terrified after a regular customer barged behind the counter and grabbed a considerable amount of cash from the till. Nicholas Carter, 41, was so well-known by staff that the employee present thought he was joking at first.
Carter, from Flushing, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to robbery.
Prosecuting the case, Michael Green described how on February 25 at around 3:30pm Patricia Lowe was working at Penwerris Post Office in Falmouth.
She was serving another customer when she heard Carter saying he wanted money, Ms Lowe presuming that he wanted to make a cash withdrawal.
Mr Green spoke of how Carter then walked around the side of the counter while Ms Lowe was serving another customer, entering a staff only area and walking towards Ms Lowe. Ms Lowe thought Carter was joking but he soon pulled out the cash drawer and started taking cash.
Carter then forcefully grabbed Ms Lowe’s arm and pushed it away. Ms Lowe described being “frightened and scared”, saying his grip was hard. It was estimated Carter took between £1,500 and £2,000. Ms Lowe sounded the alarm and told police who Carter was and he was arrested two days later.
In her victim impact statement Ms Lowe spoke of being shaken, now being suspicious of everybody in the shop and being scared to walk to and from work.
Representing Carter, who has 14 previous convictions, Dieter Kehler said: “He moved down to Cornwall to get away from his troubles as a young man but moving down didn’t remove him from his mental health issues.
“In stressful situations he doesn’t think as clearly as the rest of us. On that day he was at an extremely low point. He was homeless, was using alcohol to excess and was in a very desperate situation.
“It was an unsophisticated matter. Everyone in the post office knew who he was. It was a desperate grab for money.
“Things have now changed. He is working in a gardening and landscaping job and he recognises the problems he has to address.”
Sentencing Carter, Recorder Christopher Quinlan KC went over the facts of the case, adding that Ms Lowe was vulnerable as she was working alone on the shop floor. He also noted Carter’s change in circumstances and attempts to get his life back on track before jailing him for 18 months.
William Pascoe
A criminal with 142 previous convictions armed himself and tried to break into a hotel room as its occupants cowered inside. William Danny Pascoe, 32, also went on a spending spree with stolen bank cards.
Pascoe, of Guildford Road in Hayle, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to burglary, fraud, handling stolen goods and theft.
Prosecuting the case, Nick Lewin described how on April 19 last year in Camborne, Pascoe attended the Regal Hotel and was seen on CCTV with his brother gaining entry through a back window.
Armed with a table leg, Pascoe could be seen trying to break into a flat but was unsuccessful and fled before police arrived. Mr Lewin said: “It was obvious the Pascoe brothers were very determined to gain access to the flat.” The attempted entry caused more than £1,000 damage.
Pascoe was released under investigation and on August 10 a woman reported having some items taken from a van overnight. The bank card was used at the Shell garage at Loggans for three transactions worth £52, £77 and £62, as well for £3 at McDonald’s before the card was eventually declined. Police investigated and CCTV showed Pascoe was the user of the card.
In February of this year another woman reported items missing from an Astra parked outside of her home in the Illogan area. A subsequent search of Pascoe’s address found various items suspected to have been stolen.
The court heard that Pascoe has a remarkable record of 142 convictions recorded against him and wanted to enter the hotel room as his possessions were said to be inside..
Representing Pascoe, Dieter Kehler said that he hadn’t entered with the baseball bat, but broken a table and armed himself with it when inside. Tony Ciocci from The Probation Service said: “Mr Pascoe has had a significant Class A drug habit for the majority of his life. He had a traumatic early life and his lifestyle is linked to his offending.”
Sentencing Pascoe, Judge Simon Carr remarked that the people inside the hotel room were cowering; they must have been terrified. He spoke about Pascoe’s lengthy record, adding “most of which was an attempt to fund your addiction that I accept is entrenched”. Pascoe was jailed for two years.
Sean Cruise, Richard Vasey, Jayden Edgington, Uthman Khan and Imdadul Haque
Members of a drugs gang have been sentenced to years in prison for sending Class A drugs to Cornwall and selling them from a home of a local addict. Richard’s Vasey’s St Austell home was taken over by members of ‘The Ghost Line’ who then pedalled misery to local addicts.
Vasey, 46, Imdadul Haque, 24, Uthman Khan, 22, and Jayden Edgington, 25, appeared at Truro Crown Court to be sentenced after being convicted of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.. A fifth defendant Sean Cruise, 46, was sentenced in his absence after failing to attend the sentencing hearing. All the defendants are from Birmingham, except from Vasey of The Copse in St Austell.
Prosecuting the case, Peter Coumbe said that on February 4 2020 Edgington was based at Vasey’s home and was collected by Cruise who dropped off Khan and Haque at the property. Edgington was arrested with Cruise on the way back to the midlands.
Mr Coumbe explained how Edgington had on him two phones which showed dealers’ lists and photos of bundles of cash. There were also recordings on his phone of him boasting how he made £285 in a morning. The footage clearly showed St Austell’s streets.
Mr Coumbe stated that Edgington reported back to a drugs line, and that it was clear he was being directed as he provided updates on levels of drugs and what he had left to sell. Mr Coumbe said: “Edgington had a supervisory role and it was clear he was controlling Vasey as he was receiving instructions about when Vasey would be paid.”
Edgington when stopped had more than £500 in cash on him. In interview Vasey said that he had allowed his home to be used for drugs supply. When the address was raided Khan was present and officers found 180 prepared street deals of Class A drugs worth £1,800 stashed around the property.
Haque was also there and found to have £355 cash on him. Phone messages from Khan linked him to the operation, including a message saying that he’d been kicked off a mechanics course and had turned to dealing drugs. Vasey’s phone also showed messages offering drugs for sale.
Mr Coumbe said: “Phones showed Haque and Khan had travelled overnight with Cruise and arrived a couple of hours before police executed a warrant.” Vasey had a phone message from someone higher up telling him that they had his cash, the prosecution alleging that he too performed a role in supplying drugs.
The Ghost Line was linked to all five defendants, although there was little phone contact between them. Mr Coumbe saying the evidence showed they were all being directed by others and everybody bar Khan had direct phone contact with the line.
On behalf of the absent Cruise, the court heard that he suffered from poor health and trauma from a young age which led him down the path he took. Cruise doesn’t accept being involved in the supply of drugs, saying he was paid to drive the van with his co-defendants down to Cornwall.
Ramsay Quaife, representing Haque said that he has no previous convictions and this is the only time he’s engaged in criminal activity. Mr Quaife said: “At the time he was a first year uni student. He has taken stock of his life and cut contact with those involved and reduced his drinking. He feels genuine remorse for the shame he has brought on his family.”
For Khan, Rupert Taylor said: “He had been working in a garage, injured his back and left his job. He became isolated from his family and started taking drugs and became involved in this enterprise. Three years on he’s a very different man and has rebuilt his relationship with his family.”
Evie Dean for Vasey, said: “He performed a limited function and was under direction. He was involved due to his vulnerability and had little awareness of the scale of the operation. He is a long-term addict and has been using drugs on and off for 20 years. His early life was difficult and he has suffered for some time with paranoid schizophrenia. He was particularly vulnerable in the community.”
Adrian Chaplin, representing Edgington, said: “He was unemployed and needed money. He quickly realised he was in over his head and wanted out. He went to the police and tried to find a way back to Birmingham. He has experienced custody for the first time and has reflected.”
Sentencing, Christopher Quinlan KC said: “It has been said before Class A drugs are a blight on this county and cause widespread misery. Villains from out of county, from the north west and the midlands, target this county.”
Recorder Quinlan said that it is clear all five defendants were being directed by others and that none of them were by any means at the top of the chain. Cruise, the driver transporting drugs, people and money, was in a trusted position according to Recorder Quinlan and in contact with the drugs line number.
According to Recorder Quinlan, Haque was evidently involved in selling the drugs, and had an awareness and understanding of the scale of the operation. Khan, Recorder Quinlan, added had a lesser role given he was the only one not in direct contact with the drugs line. Vasey was also said to have had a lesser role.
Finally, Edgington was in St Austell for a number of days and Recorder Quinlan said “it was clear according to his telephone he was reporting to others higher up the chain”. He went onto say that he had an awareness of the scale of the operation and given he boasted about the money made, he was making a financial gain of some kind.
Cruise was jailed for four and a half years with a warrant out for his arrest, Haque for three years, Khan for 27 months, Vasey for 27 months and Edgington 32 months.
May
Christopher Pengelly
A hooded raider has been jailed after he raided a dying man’s home and stole his entire life saving from a safe. Christopher Pengelly targeted the 79-year-old victim because he was a friend of his father and he knew he had a large amount of cash at his home which he was planning to give to his family at Christmas.
Drug addict Pengelly had been to the victim’s home in Looe four months before the raid to ask for money and saw where the pensioner kept a key for a locked safe cabinet.
He returned on October 31 with an as yet unidentified accomplice and they both wore balaclavas masks with eye slits which hid their faces. The pair burst into the unlocked property and confronted the terrified victim.
The other attacker held him down on a sofa while Pengelly fetched the key and opened the safe and they stole £22,000 life savings in ‘bank bundles’ of cash.
They fled but the victim recognised Pengelly’s voice and he was caught with £8,500 cash when police arrested him.
Pengelly, aged 44, of Sunrising Estate, Looe, denied robbery but was found guilty by a jury at Truro Crown Court last week. He was jailed for eight years on Friday by Judge Simon Carr.
He said the victim has terminal cancer and had withdrawn all his life savings for cash to give to his children and grandchildren for Christmas. He said the pensioner no longer felt safe in his house. He said: “You took every penny he had.”
Paul Lyal Venables
A drinker has been jailed for killing a popular family man with a single punch in “an unprovoked and cowardly” attack. Paul Lyal-Venables, 35, punched 54-year-old Luke Pocock to the ground outside the Railway Inn in Truro on July 2 last year with Mr Pocock dying in hospital on July 28.
Lyal-Venables, from St Agnes, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Prosecuting the case, Lee Bremridge told the court Mr Pocock “was described by those who knew him as a kind, generous, likeable man who enjoyed a drink in his local pub”. Mr Bremridge added: “Mr Pocock’s daughter-in-law was the bar manager and that night he was described as being in good form and not causing any problems.”
Mr Bremridge went onto say that Mr Pocock was interested and intelligent during conversation and well-known locally through his work as a taxi driver and at a stall in Truro’s Pannier Market.
Mr Bremridge said: “At the pub he was described as being in good spirits having had a good day. He remarked to a friend ‘if I die tomorrow I’d be happy’.”
Moving onto Lyal-Venables, Mr Bremridge said that he’d arrived at the pub in the evening and had only recently come off a Pubwatch ban for previous violence. The ban was lifted just months before the “random and completely unprovoked attack”.
Lyal-Venables and Mr Pocock knew each other as acquaintances and had spoken during the course of the night. Mr Bremridge said “it is difficult to make sense of what happened and why” but Lyal-Venables’ actions followed him taking exception to Mr Pocock ruffling the hair of someone in the pub, something he commonly did to his friends.
Both Lyal-Venables and Mr Pocock left the pub and having seen Mr Pocock in the car park, Lyal-Venables jogged over to him and delivered a punch while Mr Pocock’s hands were either in his pockets or at his side. Mr Pocock hit the floor and hit his head. Lyal-Venables returned to him and tried to lift him up before eventually being asked to leave.
Mr Pocock was taken to the specialist head injuries unit at Derriford where he was treated before treatment was withdrawn and he tragically died on July 28. During an initial police interview Lyal-Venables said that he acted in self-defence, before in later interviews admitting this wasn’t the case and that he was responsible for Mr Pocock’s death after he misread the situation. He also expressed a wish to apologise to Mr Pocock’s family and friends.
In a victim impact statement, Adam Pocock, Luke’s son said: “This has caused myself and my family a lot of sadness and distress. It came as a huge shock to us. Dad’s death has left a hole in our hearts and he is missed each and every day. I don’t understand it as he was such a kind and loving person and his loss has left a big hole that can never be filled.”
Mr Pocock’s daughter Rebecca said that since taking on her dad’s market stall she is surrounded by memories of him and reminded every day how popular he was. She went onto say that she cries every day and is often awake until sunrise.
Representing Lyal-Venables, Dieter Kehler said that on the evening in question Lyal-Venables was meant to be looking after his terminally ill dad, who has since passed away, but went to the pub after his mum was given an unexpected night off. Mr Kehler said that when Lyal-Venables was showed the CCTV he realised he misread the situation.
Mr Kehler said: “He has responsibility for two of his own children as well as two of his partner. He has matured and set up his own roofing business. His Pubwatch appeal was successful due to the number of years he’s been out of trouble.”
Sentencing Lyal-Venables, Judge Simon Carr said “Your violence and deliberate actions resulted in the untimely death of Luke Pocock who was 54-years-old. He was described as kind, generous and warm-hearted.”
Judge Carr described the events of the night in question, saying Mr Pocock was in good spirits. Judge Carr went onto speak of how Lyal-Venables took exception to Mr Pocock ruffling the other man’s hair, saying his anger “was for no reason”.
Judge Carr said that Lyal-Venables, who had sunk ten pints that evening, threw the punch “without warning”, causing Mr Pocock to fall to the floor and on his head.
Judge Carr added: “I have read two moving victim impact statements and the effect of Mr Pocock’s death to his family have been devastating. They will live with them for the rest of their lives.”
Noting Lyal-Venables’ genuine remorse, his previous convictions and his recent Pubwatch listing, Judge Carr jailed him for five years for what he called “an unprovoked and cowardly assault”.
Lee Sharp
An ingrained paedophile from Cornwall instigated filthy sex chats with what he thought were young girls on three separate occasions – but each time the ‘girl’ proved to be an undercover police officer. Lee Sharp, 39, sent explicit photos and videos of him performing sex acts on himself and urged the ‘girls’ to do the same.
Sharp, of the Liskeard area, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to a raft of charges including making indecent images of children, attempting to incite a child to view a sex act, attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and a breach of a previous court order. The offences took place over a number of years between 2020 and 2023.
Prosecuting the case, Ryan Murray told the court how Sharp was given a suspended sentence in 2015 and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order after being convicted of indecent image offences.
Mr Murray then described each of the offences. Regarding “Isabella”, Sharp contacted her on Kik messenger and soon started sex chats, saying she was “way too young but sexy as f*ck”. His behaviour included him sending what was actually an undercover office videos of him masturbating and urging “Isabella”, who claimed she was 13, to do the same. He also told her the disgusting things he wanted to do with her and suggested they got a hotel room together.
Not long after Sharp contacted “Chloe”, again an undercover police officer pretending to be a 14-year-old. Similar sex chats followed before he was arrested at work and his phone seized. Examination of the phone showed how Sharp downloaded indecent images of children spanning all three categories including the most serious.
Mr Murray also spoke of how further back in 2020, Sharp contacted another undercover officer claiming to be a 12-year-old girl. He again engaged in disgusting chats, sending and requesting images and videos and expressing his sexual desires regarding the “girl”. He also tried to get her to video call him to watch him masturbate. Police searches of Sharp’s room showed that the room featured in the background of pictures and videos he sent.
Representing Sharp, Jon Holmes said: “He is an articulate and intelligent man who accepts the seriousness of his behaviour but he can’t understand why he’s doing what he’s doing. He knows he’s doing wrong. He’s always held down jobs and worked hard. He’s the only one who can address these issues.”
Sentencing Sharp, Judge Robert Linford reiterated the facts of the case and said that Sharp did not realise he wasn’t talking to a child and committed some of the offences whilst under investigation for earlier matters. He said: “You behaved in a manner any right minded person would find utterly abhorrent.
“It has been my misfortune to read the description of the images you downloaded. These are images of real children, they are not computer generated. They are real boys and girls being subjected to extreme sexual abuse.
“You entered very early guilty pleas and I am pleased to note your desire to change. If you don’t change sentences will get longer, and longer, and longer.”
Sharp was jailed for four years and four months and made subject of a new sexual harm prevention order. He must also sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
George Dyer
A former town councillor and aeronautical engineer who for years hid his dark side from the public has been given a huge prison sentence. George Dyer, 61, who served on Helston Town Council devastated the lives of his five victims – two women he raped and three young girls he sexually abused as children.
Dyer, of Church Hill in Helston, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after being convicted by a jury of three counts of rape, six sexual assaults of a child under 13, three sexual activity with a child charges and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The offences primarily took place in the Helston and Penzance areas. It took a jury two hours to reach guilty verdicts on Tuesday (May 23) afternoon. Dyer was then remanded in custody overnight and brought back to court first thing for sentence.
Michael Haynes, representing Dyer, said: “He is a man who virtually has a split personality. He is from a respectable background and family but he has a secret side of his personality. He is of positive previous good character and that is backed up by the respectable jobs he has had in his career. Not only has he lost any shred of respectability, he now faces an uncertain future.”
Sentencing Dyer, Judge Simon Carr said: “These were repeated and appalling campaigns of sexual violence. These courts hear cases of this type on a depressingly frequent basis but even with my experience at the bar and as a judge this was one of the most chilling I’ve heard.
“One of the victims, despite being raped 28 years ago, when she gave evidence she was still shaking and still remembers it with vivid clarity. I’m sure she goes to sleep each night praying she can forget. The second rape victim had also identical symptoms.
“The children all provided victim impact statements indicating the trauma they suffered and its lifelong effect. You have showed no remorse and insight and are only capable of thinking about yourself.
Evil Dyer was jailed for 22 years. During the trial prosecutor Joss Ticehurst said that Dyer “had a troubling curiosity in young children”.
The rapes were committed against two different women. One of the victims spoke of violence being used against her and her being unable to fight off Dyer’s body weight pressed on top of her.
During one of the attacks Dyer told one of the rape victims to “try to smile” and “give him a kiss” whilst she was crying and he went on to make threats to kill her. She spoke of being terrified of “angry and violent” Dyer. She went on to describe him as “a monster”.
The child victims each described to the jury how manipulative Dyer would touch their privates after grooming them. He showed one of them pornography and got her to dress in lingerie.
He also made two of them carry out a fetish act too disgusting to describe. While Dyer committed these horrific offences he lived a double life in well-paid jobs and dabbled in local politics.
Mark Sellick
An evil paedophile has been put behind bars for abusing a child – and photographing the disgusting acts so he could relive it afterwards. Mark Sellick, 34, carried on despite the victim begging him to stop.
Sellick, of Fore Street in Liskeard, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to indecent assault of a child under 13, taking indecent images of a child and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
Prosecuting the case, Heather Hope told the court how Sellick was arrested when his phone and computer were searched photos of him and the victim were located in a Dropbox folder.
When interviewed the victim described how Sellick would undress her and play with himself. On one occasion he penetrated her and carried on despite her requests to stop.
During his interview Sellick denied having a sexual interest in children, saying that no sexual activity occurred and that he didn’t get any sexual gratification from indecent images.
Bravely reading her impact statement to the court, the victim said: “He told me not to tell anyone and I felt I had to keep a secret or he’d hurt me. I tried to shut it out but I can’t.. I’m scared of men coming near me and even flinch when my mum goes to brush my hair.
“Life is a living hell and it’s a struggle to keep smiling knowing how much pain he’s caused.”
Representing Sellick, Rupert Taylor said: “His remorse is genuine. He is otherwise a kind and caring person.”
Sentencing Sellick, Judge Simon Carr recounted the offending and the devastating effect it has had. Judge Carr jailed Sellick for 10 years. He must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
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