Killer drivers, a murderer and Piccadilly Gardens’ rapists among those locked up for Christmas in Greater Manchester

An evil hit-and-run driver who left a grandmother for dead is amongst those who have been locked up for Christmas[1] in Greater Manchester. Also spending the festive season behind bars are two killers who murdered a beloved new dad, and two rapists who raped a woman in Piccadilly Gardens[2]. Prison terms are handed out to the most serious offenders.

And Manchester Evening News[3] court reporters are on the press bench to cover such cases.

Evil hit-and-run driver left gran for dead then walked back to the scene and posed as bystander

A hit-and-run driver who killed a much-loved grandmother then tried to hide evidence by arranging for his car to be repaired in the aftermath before going on holiday has been jailed. The family of Katherine West, who was 59, said they will 'never forgive' Jack Knowles for his actions after he was locked up.

Police said he returned to the scene in the aftermath posing as a bystander as others, including an off-duty paramedic, raced to her aid. Knowles, 34, watched on, but did nothing to help. Greater Manchester Police[6] said Knowles drove onto Ladies Lane in Hindley, Wigan[7], from the roundabout with Bridge Street before his car hit Ms West.

He briefly stopped, but then 'quickly' left the scene without checking on her, said a GMP spokesperson in a statement after last week's sentencing hearing at Bolton[8] Crown Court.

The collision happened at around 9.40pm on Friday, November 5, 2021 as Ms West was crossing Ladies Lane, close to the junction with Haworth Street. Police said she had reached hatched markings in the centre of the carriageway, with one car slowing to allow her to cross, when Knowles drove onto the road. "In the days following the collision, Knowles arranged to have his vehicle repaired, with the intention of hiding any evidence that he had been involved," said the statement.

"After an investigation, he was arrested and charged the following year. Katherine's condition continued to deteriorate, and she sadly died in hospital on December 16, 2021." Knowles, of Ladies Lane, Hindley, was sentenced last Friday to 20 months in prison after earlier pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving and committing an act with intent to pervert the course of public justice.

He was also banned from driving for 70 months. Read the full story here.[9]

'Extremely dangerous' paedophile predator jailed for 19 years after horrific attacks on young girl

An 'extremely dangerous' paedophile has been jailed for a string of horrific attacks on a young girl. Durville Barzey, 42, was sentenced to 19 years imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court[10] (December 19) after being found guilty of a number of sexual offences against a 13-year-old.

Barzey was found guilty of three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13, sexual assault of a girl aged under 13, rape of a girl aged 13, engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13, and attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to engage in sexual activity. He will serve a minimum term of 15 years before being considered for parole. Read the full story here.[11]

Killers jailed for horrific revenge attack on 'gentle giant' who was murdered in his own home

Two men have been jailed for the savage death of 'gentle giant' Warren Burns, who was murdered in his own home.

The beloved dad, who had just become a father again to a 10-week-old son, was battered to death after Ryan White and Damian White stormed into his home in Withington[12]. Mr Burns was kicked, stamped on, punched and beaten, and died three days later from his injuries. His partner Lucille Lee, and their baby, were both at home at the time and fled from the house in fear during the brutal attack.

Both Ryan and Damian White, who are related, were convicted following a trial at Manchester Crown Court[13], of murder and manslaughter respectively.

A third man, Brandon White, was cleared of both offences and a woman, Casey-Jay McDonagh Andrews was found not guilty of assisting an offender. At a sentencing hearing, Ryan White was jailed for life to serve a minimum term of 17 years in prison; and Damian White was jailed for 11 years. Read the full story here.[14]

He killed a 'selfless' gran just three years ago - and has not learned from his mistakes

A driver who caused the death of the former mayoress of Bolton[15] three years ago has been locked up again after leading police on high-speed chase past the scene of fatal crash.

Wasim Iqbal was jailed in June 2021[16] for causing the death of Gay Wharton. He and another driver, Assad Hussain, were racing each other at speeds of more than 80mph in a 30mph just seconds before Hussain ploughed into the grandmother-of-three on November 13, 2020. Tragically, Mrs Wharton, described by her husband as 'kind and selfless', died at the scene after suffering 'catastrophic injuries'.

Iqbal, 26, was locked up for four years and eight months[17] while Hussain was jailed for seven years and four months. Iqbal was released on licence but has now been put behind bars again after failing to stop for police in a high-speed chase in his BMW 3 series. Officers first spotted him behind the wheel of the car in Bolton at around 8.45pm on July 5 this year, police said.

The driver was flagged as being disqualified from driving. Officers in an unmarked car followed the car down Chorley New Road. But before they used tactics to stop the car, Iqbal failed to stop and made off at high-speeds through residential streets, driving through red lights and onto the wrong side of the road.

He even drove past the scene of the fatal incident that killed Mrs Wharton, 58, in 2020. The car eventually came to a stop after smashing into a bus. Thankfully, no-one was injured.

After a short chase on foot, Iqbal was arrested for driving whilst disqualified, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

On Monday (December 18), he was jailed for another four years and three months at Bolton Crown Court. Read the full story here.[18]

Police discover shop worker is behind 'abhorrent' crime after catching armed gang trying to smash into store

The police crackdown on Manchester's 'Counterfeit Street' has led to the conviction of a man for an 'abhorrent' sex attack on a woman. Hedi Sheriatzada, 22, who police said worked in a store selling knock-off goods, has now been jailed for four years and banned from entering Cheetham Hill[19] for six years.

Following the case, detectives said they've 'long said the sale of counterfeit goods was linked to more serious and violent offences'. During the course of an investigation into a break-in at a store, police said they were able to link Sheriatzada to the sexual assault of a woman in Cheetham Hill. He went on to plead guilty to the charges he faced.

Four men were jailed over the break-in, and a fifth given a suspended prison sentence, at Manchester Crown Court[20] on Wednesday after a year-long investigation. Sheriatzada, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, sexual assault and breach of a suspended sentence. Bassam Al-Dhufairi, 20, of Heston Avenue, Manchester, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, theft and possession with intent to supply.

He was jailed for two years and four months. Mohammed Jazza, 28, of Seymour Road, Manchester, admitted a single count of burglary and got a year and eight months. Ali Fathli, 24, of Combermere Avenue, Manchester, also admitted burglary and was locked up for a year and seven months.

Ahmed Al-Enizi, 18, of Rutland Crescent, Stockport[21], received a suspended sentence and was ordered to complete 60 hours of community service. He, too, admitted burglary. Read the full story here.[22]

'He thought he was untouchable - but he cost a dad-of-two his life'

An Audi driver who thought he was 'untouchable' has been jailed for a decade after killing a dad-of-two in a hit-and-run.

Nathan Quinn was driving his Audi A1 'erratically' when he ploughed into the 37-year-old victim on Oldham Road in Oldham[23] at around 11.30pm on October 15 last year. The victim was simply crossing the road. Officers had tried to pull Quinn over before the crash but he made off, police said.

Officers gave chase but had to stop due to his 'excessive and dangerous speed'. They caught his location when an Automatic Number Place Recognition (ANPR) camera picked up his car and the 22-year-old was spotted driving more than double the 30mph speed limit through residential streets. He drove through a red light before tragically hitting his victim.

Quinn, from Oldham, was under the influence of alcohol at the time, police said. Witnesses told officers how he drove away from the scene towards the town centre. Emergency services rushed to the scene and the victim - who has not been named by police - was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Sadly, he died a short time later. Quinn was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop and being unfit to drive through drink or drugs. On December 20 he was jailed for 10 years.

Read the full story here.[24]

Senior judge hits out police for using a term that he doesn't understand

A senior judge has condemned the police use of the term ''County Lines'' to describe drug trafficking, declaring he doesn't 'actually know what it means.'' Judge Timothy Clayson was sentencing a drug dealer when he claimed the phrase was ''not terribly helpful,'' had ''no technical meaning'' - and dismissed it as a ''pejorative he always had an issue with''. He claimed the term had ''no accepted definition'' and did not ''add anything.''

Judge Clayson made his remarks at Bolton[25] Crown Court whilst jailing Usman Azam, 37, for running a drugs hotline in which a mobile phone was used almost 70,000 times in just four months to deal heroin and crack cocaine. When told Azam was treated by police as a 'county lines dealer', Judge Clayson, 71, who currently sits a deputy circuit judge after retiring from his role as Honorary Recorder of the same court in 2018 said: ''County lines, whilst an interesting term, does not have a technical meaning does it? He went on: "'It is a pejorative and a phrase of which I've always had something an issue with because I don't actually know what it means.

There is no accepted definition. Father of two Azam admitted being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was jailed for four years and four months. Read the full story here.[26]

EncroChat gang bought blocks of cocaine in Manchester before moving them around the UK during lockdown

Five members of a gang who bought huge blocks of cocaine in Manchester and moved them around the UK during lockdown have been jailed for a total of 60 years.

Riasat Ali, 43, and Asad Zulfiqar, 38, were 'leading members' of the organised crime group (OCG) which bought kilos of cocaine, worth up to GBP40,000 per kilo, on a weekly basis. As well as the stamped multi-kilo blocks of cocaine, they also bought shipments of heroin and cannabis. They would then use the encrypted communication service EncroChat to organise their movements around the country.

Ali and Zulfiqar employed Urszula Kareme, 45, and paid her a wage and in exchange she collected and distributed extremely large quantities of drugs on their behalf, using her car to travel to postcodes they gave her, and using 'passwords' they shared. Jake Burke, 33, would also organise the purchase of blocks of cocaine with Patrick Barry, 40, acting as his courier.

On June 24, 2020, as the country was in the grips of the pandemic, officers from Greater Manchester Police's Challenger Unit, who had been investigating the group, raided Kareme's home. There they found GBP50,000 in cash, mostly hidden inside her washing machine.

They also found other drug-dealing paraphernalia including scales and packaging. All five were sentenced at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday (December 20) for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Zulfiqar, Broomfield Gardens, Liverpool, was handed a 16 year prison sentence, whilst Ali, of Wyke Park, Oldham was sentenced to 14 years and six months.

Burke, of Middleton[27] Road, Chadderton[28], was jailed for 13 years, three months, Kareme, Burder Street, Oldham, for nine years and Barry, of Manchester Road, Heywood[29], for eight years. Read the full story here.[30]

Criminal at head of Manchester's 'J line' rumbled after trip to Knowsley Safari Park

A dealer who ran a drugs business from a phone number nicknamed the 'J line' was identified after a family a day out a safari park.

Jerome Gordon, 23, is now beginning a three-year jail term for running the 'busy' hotline which supplied drugs to people across central and north Manchester. The number would send out bulk 'flare' messages saying 'about in car', 'about fast' and 'on till 1' at 'all hours of the day, directing users to locations to collect drugs', Greater Manchester Police[31] (GMP) said. After a tip-off, police officers at the force's County Lines team began investigating the phone line earlier this year.

County Lines involves the use of dedicated phone lines to supply drugs from urban areas out to smaller towns across the country. This can however also occur from one area to another within the same city, GMP said. Using cell site analysis, they could see the mobile phone was in the vicinity of the Prescot/ Knowsley area of Merseyside on Monday, August 21.

It transpired that Gordon had been at Knowsley Safari Park but had continued to operate his drug business whilst enjoying a family day out. Read the full story here.[32]

Rapists who carried out vile attack on woman in Piccadilly Gardens face justice

Two rapists attacked a vulnerable young woman in Piccadilly Gardens - using her as a 'sex toy'. Brian Jalo, 25, and Juan Quinones, 24, both raped the woman, who had travelled to the city in the spring of 2021.

She was in a passage off the Manchester city centre[33] landmark. She met Jalo and Quinones a day earlier and had exchanged Instagram details. The following day, she visited town again.

At around 8pm, she went to Piccadilly Gardens alone before meeting Jalo and Quinones. The men were captured on CCTV walking her to an alley. The vile pair raped her.

"You used and abused her, ultimately discarding her, leaving her in a strange new city, distressed and upset," Judge Timothy Smith said, sentencing the men at Manchester Crown Court.

"You treated her like a sex toy rather than what she was - a young and vulnerable girl." The two men were each convicted of two offences of rape following a trial, and, on December 21, were jailed for 12 years each.

Read the full story here.[34]

References

1. ^ Christmas (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ Piccadilly Gardens (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^ Manchester Evening News (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ Alex Batty latest: Police launch investigation into alleged 'abduction' (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ Teenager dies in one-car horror smash on M62 with driver, 19, arrested (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
6. ^ Greater Manchester Police (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
7. ^ Wigan (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
8. ^ Bolton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
9. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
10. ^ Manchester Crown Court (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
11. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
12. ^ Withington (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
13. ^ Manchester Crown Court (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
14. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
15. ^ Bolton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
16. ^ Wasim Iqbal was jailed in June 2021 (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
17. ^ for four years and eight months (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
18. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
19. ^ Cheetham Hill (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
20. ^ Manchester Crown Court (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
21. ^ Stockport (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
22. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
23. ^ Oldham (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
24. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
25. ^ Bolton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
26. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
27. ^ Middleton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
28. ^ Chadderton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
29. ^ Heywood (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
30. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
31. ^ Greater Manchester Police (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
32. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
33. ^ Manchester city centre (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
34. ^ Read the full story here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)