Former PCSO pleads guilty to stealing police kit and offering it for sale
On 13 January 2016, we came across the story of a former police officer who had found himself in a spot of bother… What happened? Well, former community support officer Daniel Dawson pleaded guilty to...
View ArticleWe don’t try dead people – Lord Janner trial of facts not to proceed
Introduction We have covered the case of Lord Janner on many occasions in the last year, ending with the finding that he was unfit to plead in December. When he died just before Christmas, every lawyer...
View ArticleSuspended sentence for student who struck man in eye with Christian Louboutin...
On 20 January 2016, The Mail covered the story of Shady Omar, a 22-year-old student. She pleaded guilty to section 20 unlawful wounding and received a suspended sentence. What happened? The Mail...
View ArticleSarah Sands – sentence increased (as we predicted)
Introduction We covered the case of Sarah Sands when she was convicted of Manslaughter in July 2015. She was sentenced to 3½ years for stabbing Michael Pleasted, a neighbourhood paedophile, eight times...
View ArticleDamian O’Hagan – Everton fan jailed for VAT fraud
Introduction To some people (though not Bill Shankly, who wasn’t being serious) football is more important than life. Damian O’Hagan would appear to be one such person, and he paid for in on 27th...
View ArticleWhy was Doug Richard acquitted?
Introduction The short answer is that it is because he was innocent of course. But without going behind that in any way, we wanted to have a bit more of a look at it. There appears to have been a bit...
View ArticleAdrian Goldsmith – Police Officer jailed for murder of his wife
Introduction On 1st February 2016, (soon to be ex) PC Adrian Goldsmith was jailed for life, for the murder of Jill Goldsmith, his wife. In the early hours of 26th March 2015, PC Goldsmith called 999 to...
View ArticleWelshman fined for bigamy – but was he guilty?
Introduction News from Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court (courtesy of Cryton Chikoko) – man pleads guilty to bigamy and fined. A fine seems pretty low for this sort of offence, but the clue might be in...
View ArticleKarl Demetrius and Jaydene Parsons jailed for role in Becky Watts case
Introduction Barring appeals, the final chapter in the legal side of the Becky Watts case finished on 5th February 2016 as two people were sentenced for their role in helping Nathan Matthews and Shuana...
View ArticleNick Marray – Solicitor who was jailed for perverting gets struck off
We covered the case of Liverpool Solicitor Nick Marray who was jailed for two years all the way back in July 2013 for perverting the course of justice. He’s presumably long out. As we noted, it’s...
View ArticleAdam Johnson: Footballer pleads guilty to child sexual offences
On 10 February 2016, professional footballer Adam Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming. He entered not guilty pleas in respect of two further...
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Are Cats allowed in Court?
Introduction The Essex Chronicle updated us on 3rd February 2016 about the tale of Aiden Wiltshire, a 72 year old who is before Chelmsford Crown Court for two counts of stalking between August 2013 and...
View ArticleDefendant who told judge “suck my cock” on Facebook to be re-sentenced
The headline pretty much sums up the story – Daniel Sledden was convicted of supplying cannabis was sentenced by HHJ Lunt. He received a two-year suspended sentence. Understandably over-joyed at not...
View ArticleComparing sentences: Adam Johnson and Andrew Picard
We were asked by one of our followers on Twitter to explain why Adam Johnson is staring down the barrel of 5 years’ imprisonment whereas – in his words – ‘the Andrew Picard case is more serious’ but he...
View Article“Mercy killing” murder leads to just four year minimum term
On 10 March 2016, the BBC covered the sentencing of Claire Darbyshire, following her conviction for murder. What happened? Claire, 36, acted as full-time carer for her father, Brian, who suffered from...
View ArticleRolf Harris denies 7 historical sex offences
On 17th March 2016 Rolf Harris, the 85 year old Australian artist and entertainer appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to 8 sexual offences. 7 are of indecent assault...
View ArticleCarl Langdell admits the murder of Katie Locke
Introduction On Christmas Eve 2015 Carl Langdell, a 26 year old lawyer, killed Katie Locke, a 23 year old teacher, in a Hertfordshire Hotel. On 18th March 2016 he admitted murder at St Alban’s Crown...
View ArticleOmar Khan – Barrister admits supplying cocaine
Introduction We have looked at a few barristers who have got in trouble recently. Mostly for fraud (see here and here as examples) but sometimes for something a bit more esoteric, such as making a bomb...
View ArticleChed Evans – Appeal to be heard on 22nd March 2016
*Update – 22nd March * We were hoping to able to give a summary, and maybe some commentary, of the first day of the appeal, but we understand that there have been reporting restrictions imposed that...
View ArticleAdam Johnson to be sentenced for sexual activity with a child: 24 March 2016
On 24 March 2016, Adam Johnson will be sentenced for two offences of sexual activity with a child and one offence of grooming. What happened? Adam Johnson, the former Sunderland and England footballer...
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