Jailed in October – Two of West Midlands Police ‘most wanted’ among latest criminals sent to prison

From the treacherous drug dealer who murdered his friend to the Nandos hummus contaminator, these are the latest criminals to be sent to jail. Below is our roundup of offenders we covered in October who were sentenced to immediate imprisonment. The month featured two of West Midlands Police's 'most wanted' criminals.

Also, look out for:

• The killer driver who accused a judge of ruining his life
• The pensioner loan shark who 'accepted payment in kind'
• The predator who raped a teenaged girl in her sleep
• The footballer who choked his girlfriend telling her 'I'm going to make you sleep'

POLL: Should XL Bully dogs be banned?[2] Our list below is made up of the court cases we covered in Birmingham[3], Solihull[4], Sutton Coldfield[5], the Black Country[6], Staffordshire[7] and Worcestershire[8].

Jervais Boyaram

Jervais Boyaram[9] shot dead Mohammed Sohail outside the victim's home in Saltley in a case of mistaken identity. The killer wrongly believed the 26-year-old was one of a group of Asian men who had 'disrespected' him during a confrontation at a petrol station earlier in the night

He hunted the area looking for them but came across Mr Sohail who happened to be driving a similar-looking silver Volkswagen, albeit it was a different model. Boyaram followed him to his address in Wright Road where he pulled up alongside him and shot him in what was described as a 'cold blooded execution'. The 37-year-old, of Birbeck House, Chelmsley Wod, was found guilty of murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life.

He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 31 years.

Waheed Zaman and Aweis Bashir

Waheed Zaman[10] and Aweis Bashir discussed deals for a Skorpion machine gun as well as drugs using encrypted communications platform EncroChat. The former used the handle 'Naturalmist' while the latter called himself 'Blackskull' which he changed to LouisVuitton.com. Zaman referred to bullets as 'sweets' and asked about ammunition for a Glock and a revolver, which he referred to as a '44 Spinner'.

The pair also spoke about selling drugs. Zaman, aged 43, of Deakin Avenue, Brownhills, Walsall[11] was jailed for 22 years after being convicted of three counts of supplying class A drugs, attempting to possess or acquire a Skorpion sub machine gun and attempting to possess or acquire prohibited ammunition. Bashir, 27, from Parrs Wood Road, Ladybarn, south Manchester, received 16 years after admitting conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis, transferring a prohibited weapon, possessing and acquiring ammunition and assisting the sale of guns.

Garry Jones

Factory worker Garry Jones contaminated food including Nando's hummus with rubber gloves, plastic bags and metal ring pulls.

The 38-year-old had been employed at Brockless Fine Food Company in Evesham, Worcestershire, which supplies restaurants all over the country. Multiple boxes of items had been tampered with but luckily they were discovered before they could do any harm. Jones, who also broke into a colleague's home and stole a pink hairbrush, admitted contaminating goods and burglary.

He was sentenced to three years and six months.

Christian Felton

Christian Felton[12] threatened to set dogs on his girlfriend who fled to a pub in just a bra and cycle shorts to escape him. He subjected his partner to an 18-month campaign of abuse during which he assaulted her at least 15 times. In a series of attacks he stamped on, spat at, bit and strangled the victim.

In one incident he started crying because he 'felt sorry' for himself. The 32-year-old, who became violent after drinking or taking drugs, also damaged the woman's belongings and posted menacing videos of him setting fire to her things. Felton, of no fixed address but previously of Erdington[13], was found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional strangulation and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial.

He was jailed for five years and six months.

Ben Abdale

Ben Abdale[14] robbed two women and a shop. He tried to steal a phone from a technology store in Northfield[15], which subsequently circulated a CCTV image of him to their other branches. Within a fortnight he tried to snatch a woman's handbag in Selly Oak[16] and targeted another female as she left a shop in Druids Heath.

He stole a phone from the latter victim and was caught after he tried to sell it at a shop, where he left his details. Abdale, aged 31, of Thornham Way, Druids Heath, admitted robbery offences and was jailed for four years.

Lamont Geddes

Lamont Geddes[17] raped and abused a woman for a number of years. The 24-year-old also coercively controlled the victim as well as threatened to put petrol through her letterbox.

She ended up flagging down a passing police car after one violent assault and went on to say that he 'took her life away'. Geddes, of Douglas Place, Wolverhampton, was found guilty of six counts of rape, inflicting grievous bodily harm, attempted wounding, two offences of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour. He was sentenced to 19 years and six months.

Alan Barry

Alan Barry[18] was caught with indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

The 44-year-old from Walsall was already a registered sex offender for similar offences in the past, as well as arranging an intended child sex offence. He denied he had a sexual interest in youngsters, instead blaming drug abuse and mental health issues. Barry was found guilty of possessing and distributing indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornography and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

He was sentenced to three years and four months.

Kile Straker

Kile Straker[19] was caught with a mobile phone in his prison cell. The 33-year-old dad from Wolverhampton, had been released and was said to be making good progress but was sent back to custody for 17 weeks. He blasted Recorder Amy Jacobs and said ''You have just f***** up my life' from the court dock.

Straker, who is also a convicted drug dealer, was jailed for more than eight years after mowing down and killing a cyclist in Wolverhampton in 2013. After being released he was recalled to prison for driving whilst disqualified.

Robert Phillips

Loan shark Robert Phillips[20] made lewd comments to women as he made collections saying he would 'accept payment in kind' if they were struggling to find the money. The pensioner ran an illegal racket in Staffordshire for 16 years lending more than GBP370,000 and taking at least GBP570,000 in return.

He issued loans to 147 different people charging as much as 70 per cent interest. Phillips, aged 75 and from Creswell Farm Drive, Stafford, admitted two charges of money lending as well as a charge of concealing the proceeds of his crime. He was sentenced to 32 months.

Anthony Roberts

Anthony Roberts[21] sexually attacked a woman, stabbed her and left her for dead on a riverside path at Kleve Walk in Worcester.

The attack on the 71-year-old victim was 'incredibly violent' and 'shocked the community to the core', police said. Roberts, aged 56, of Amber Heights, Worcester was convicted of attempted murder and sexual assault. He was sentenced to life with minimum term of 28 years.

Mukhan Singh

Mukhan Singh[22] sexually assaulted a woman on a train claiming she 'wanted something done to her'.

The 39-year-old stared at the victim during the journey from Birmingham Moor Street to London Marleybone before sitting next to her and blocking her in. After the subsequent attack the woman managed to film him as he went to leave the train at Leamington Spa. Singh was arrested and admitted sexual assault.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks.

Filipe Lopes

Filipe Lopes[23] was caught with more than 100 class A drug wraps and GBP150 cash after being stopped in Burton-upon-Trent. The 20-year-old from Erdington admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin and using criminal property. He was sentenced to 27 months.

Hassan Ellahi

Hassan Ellahi[24] crashed into an Evri delivery driver whilst doing around 80mph on the 30mph Yardley Wood Road in Birmingham.

He caused serious injuries to the courier as well as his own passenger. The 30-year-old, of Showell Green Lane, Sparkhill[25], was ironically employed in 'road safety' at the time of the collision. He admitted two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for 22 months.

He was also banned from driving for two years and 11 months.

Calvin McLeod, Jerome Christie and Ravelle Hutchinson

Calvin McLeod[26] instructed Jerome Christie and Ravelle Hutchinson to rob rival drug dealer Jamie Benbow, but the 29-year-old victim ended up being stabbed and killed at his home in Handsworth Wood. Mr Benbow, a dad, supplied drugs on a 'modest scale' to people in and around the Beaufort Arms pub in Great Barr and was supposedly a friend of McLeod, who was also a dealer. It was Christie who delivered the fatal blow with the knife while McLeod stayed away from the scene at the time.

All three were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life. McLeod, aged 38, of Wheatley Close, Oldbury[27] received a minimum term of 26 years. Christie, 27, of Chrysanthemum Court, Swadlincote, Derby, was handed a minimum of 28 years while Hutchinson, 26, of Cromwell Lane, Bartley Green[28], was told his minimum term was 25 years.

Danyal Aziz, Michael Earp and Nicole Rhone

Danyal Aziz[29] was a 'major player' in a gang involved in the importation and sale of drugs.

He controlled Michael Earp who was sent to various locations around the UK to pick up or drop off drugs, sort them for distribution and carry out stock checks. Earp's cousin Nicole Rhone was also roped in and stored a Skorpion submachine gun under her bed and ammunition in a child's bedroom wardrobe at her home in Bordesley. They were brought down when police cracked the encrypted communication platform EncroChat where Aziz called himself 'Lushmace' and Earp used the handle 'kneetown'.

All three were convicted of drugs and firearms offences. Aziz, aged 29, from Stechford, was jailed for 33 years while Earp, aged 32, from Shard End received 26 years. Rhone, aged 29, was sentenced to five years.

Naveed Hussain

Naveed Hussain[30] lured a woman to a house in Handsworth on the pretence of having a room for rent before he repeatedly raped her.

The 33-year-old locked her in a room and brandished a machete. Fortunately the woman was able to escape and flag down a passer-by for help. Hussain, of Alexandra Road, Handsworth, was convicted of rape and possession of an offensive weapon.

He was sentenced to 15 years.

Amer Ishtiaq

Amer Isthtiaq[31] supplied drugs around the Dudley area and bought high performance cars with his cash. Police discovered evidence after searching his home in St. Marks Road, Lye as well as another address in Birmingham.

They seized a number of motor vehicles. The 35-year-old admitted being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. He was sentenced to three years and six months.

Philip Tolley

Philip Tolley[32] raped a 16-year-old girl while she slept on a mattress then made her wash the next day to 'rid his victim of forensic evidence'.

The 58-year-old groped the vulnerable victim a number of times before taking full advantage of her in an intoxicated state in his flat. She had not realised what had happened until he asked her if she 'enjoyed the sex' the morning after. Tolley, of Wedgewood Road, Quinton[33], who has since lost a leg due to sepsis, admitted rape and was sentenced to eight years.

Dobroslav Gabor and Marek Balog

Dobroslav Gabor and Marek Balog[34] became two of West Midlands Police's 'most wanted' men after carrying out 68 burglaries in four months.

They targeted elderly and vulnerable residents across Birmingham, Walsall and Sandwell. The pair were notorious for climbing on roofs to get in to properties through open windows and also posed as workmen to gain access. Once inside they typically stole money, bank cards, electrical items and jewellery.

In one incident the callous thugs knocked an 81-year-old to the ground and threatened him with a knife. Gabor, aged 26, of Windermere Road, Birmingham admitted aggravated burglary and conspiracy to burgle and was jailed for 16 years. Balog received 14 years and 10 months for the same offences.

Shaquille McDonald

English footballer Shaquille McDonald[35] strangled his girlfriend and told her 'I'm going to make you sleep'.

The 28-year-old former Birmingham City youth striker switched from the 'perfect partner' as he fell into a 'jealous rage'. He began accusing Amy Beckley of being interested in other men while they were out in the Arcadian. On the way home he put her in a headlock and verbally abused her before knocking her to the ground outside her flat in Streetly.

He continued the attack inside choking her multiple times and throwing her around the room. She only managed to escape by dropping 14ft from her balcony onto a shop roof, breaking her arm in the fall. McDonald has also played for Derby County and most recently semi professional side Micklover Sports.

The 28-year-old, from Dart Street, Bordesley Green admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and strangulation. He was sentenced to two years and eight months.

Tabrez Ali

Tabrez Ali[36] exposed himself to a mum and her five-year-old daughter on a train to Birmingham. Another passenger shouted 'leave them alone'.

He got off at Wolverhampton station and ran across the tracks to dodge staff before being caught. Ali, aged 38, of Vere Road, Peterborough, admitted exposure and trespass. He was sentenced to 18 weeks.

Markel Harris

Former military man Markel Harris[37] ran the 'Sharpie' county lines drug operation supplying crack cocaine and heroin across the Midlands and south London.

The 41-year-old, who had retried from the army, sent out thousands of bulk messages advertising illegal substances for sale. Police found GBP18,000 in GBP20 notes stashed in a black bag in a wardrobe of his home in Walton Road, Oldbury. Harris admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and one count of possession of criminal property.

He was jailed for five years and three months.

Karsan Rasul

Karsan Rasul[38] raped a vulnerable young woman in a McDonald's toilet cubicle. He loitered around the restaurant at 'the ramp' in Birmingham city centre and struck up a conversation with the victim, who was intoxicated. He followed her into the lavatory where she consensually kissed him but then the 23-year-old forced her into a cubicle where he sexually attacked her and raped her.

Rasul had also licked another woman's chest in a bar in Sussex a year earlier and lit dangerous fires in alleyways. Rasul, of St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, was found guilty of rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, a racially aggravated public order offence and arson.

He was sentenced to 13 years and ten months.

Denis Balaz

Denis Balaz had taken drugs and reached speeds of 120mph before hitting highways worker Kevin Jarvis's car on the M6 near Stafford. He killed the 57-year-old who was sat in a Ford Focus on the access slip road between junction 14 and 15. Balaz, a Slovakian national of no fixed address, was behind the wheel of a stolen black Audi A8 and police had been attempting to stop him before the crash.

The 29-year-old had stabbed the owner of the vehicle before driving it away in it. Balaz pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving a car other than in accordance with a licence, driving with no insurance, theft and wounding with intent. He was sentenced to nine years.

Shaun Ali, Jermaine, Lewis, Pace Lewis and Anil Ali

Four men were part of a major county lines operation supplying drugs from Birmingham to Walsall. Shaun Ali and Jermaine Lewis[39] were at the heart of the operation while Anil Ali was below them and ran a street dealing line paying a percentage of the profits to the two others.

Pace Lewis was in debt to the two ringleaders and was completing deals to repay them. Each admitted drug supply offences. Ali, of Old Stafford Road, Cross Green, was jailed for nine years and Jermaine Lewis, of Sherlock Street, Birmingham city centre[40], was jailed for nine years.

Lewis, from Brewster Street, Walsall, was jailed for eight years and four months and Anil Ali, of Kent Street, Walsall, was jailed for six years.

References

1. ^ Man woke to find burglar lying next to him before telling him what he wanted (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ POLL: Should XL Bully dogs be banned? (xd.wayin.com)
3. ^ Birmingham (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ Solihull (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ Sutton Coldfield (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
6. ^ Black Country (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
7. ^ Staffordshire (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
8. ^ Worcestershire (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
9. ^ Jervais Boyaram (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
10. ^ Waheed Zaman (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
11. ^ Walsall (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
12. ^ Christian Felton (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
13. ^ Erdington (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
14. ^ Ben Abdale (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
15. ^ Northfield (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
16. ^ Selly Oak (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
17. ^ Lamont Geddes (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
18. ^ Alan Barry (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
19. ^ Kile Straker (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
20. ^ Robert Phillips (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
21. ^ Anthony Roberts (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
22. ^ Mukhan Singh (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
23. ^ Filipe Lopes (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
24. ^ Hassan Ellahi (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
25. ^ Sparkhill (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
26. ^ Calvin McLeod (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
27. ^ Oldbury (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
28. ^ Bartley Green (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
29. ^ Danyal Aziz (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
30. ^ Naveed Hussain (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
31. ^ Amer Isthtiaq (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
32. ^ Philip Tolley (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
33. ^ Quinton (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
34. ^ Dobroslav Gabor and Marek Balog (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
35. ^ Shaquille McDonald (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
36. ^ Tabrez Ali (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
37. ^ Markel Harris (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
38. ^ Karsan Rasul (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
39. ^ Shaun Ali and Jermaine Lewis (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
40. ^ Birmingham city centre (www.birminghammail.co.uk)