The killer driver mum and other criminals justice caught up with in November
This list shows the faces of the people jailed last month for crimes linked to Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. Judges sentenced Hanley robbers, sex offenders and drugs dealers over the course of November for their terrifying crimes on the streets of Stoke-on-Trent and further afield. The courts also heard about a mum-of-five high on drink and drugs who crashed her car, leaving one man dead and another seriously injured.
Other disturbing cases included a prolific gang of thieves who carried out more than 50 burglaries across Stoke-on-Trent over a 10-month period, a drug user who threatened to blow up a flat and the boss of an international tobacco smuggling ring. Here is an overview of some of the cases[1] to have concluded this past month.
Rachael Boardman
Rachael Boardman was jailed for six years and banned from driving for 13 years. (Image: Derbyshire Police)
A Stoke-on-Trent mum-of-five was high on drink and drugs when she crashed into a tree – killing one man and seriously injuring another. Rachael Boardman – who had left the Potteries to start a better life in Derbyshire – was sentenced to six years behind bars following the death of Dominic Fryer, 51, who was a back-seat passenger in the car.
Derby Crown Court[2] heard Boardman, 43, was drinking at a party with a group of people during the evening of September 9 2022. But despite being told by a friend not to drive and a taxi being booked, she decided to get behind the wheel of her Peugeot 206. She was speeding when she lost control of the vehicle in Lullington Road, Overseal, at 4.30am on September 10, 2022.
Dad Mr Fryer – who was not wearing a seatbelt – died at the scene, while Boardman’s friend Michael Osborne, the front-seat passenger, suffered serious injuries including a fractured hip. Tests revealed Boardman had alcohol, cocaine and cannabis in her system at the time of the crash. After the crash, Boardman was left trapped in the driver’s seat before being taken to hospital where she remained in a coma for three weeks.
She was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing injury by dangerous driving – charges she admitted to at an earlier hearing. Full store here[3]
Jatinder Bains
Jatinder Bains was sentenced to six years (Image: HMRC/Staffordshire Police)
The boss of an international tobacco smuggling ring was jailed after bringing more than 20 million illegal cigarettes into the UK. Jatinder Bains, of Butterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, funded his lavish lifestyle including multiple trips abroad and buying expensive cars through his ill-gotten gains, according to revenue and customs bosses.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[4] heard the 52-year-old worked with an organised crime group in Holland to use a network of haulage firms, drivers and trucks to import the cigarettes. In total, Bains evaded GBP4.5 million in duty. He was sentenced to six years in prison.
Wayne Forrester
Wayne Forrester
Monkey dust dealer Wayne Forrester was caught selling the drug twice in the space of a month. The 57-year-old – who has 49 previous convictions for 153 offences – was caught with two wraps and GBP515 cash in August last year. Further searches recovered two more larger bags of the drug.
And a month later, police saw Forrester involved in an exchange. On that occasion, GBP575 cash and a bag containing 1.36 grams of monkey dust were found. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[6] heard his phones were examined and the one seized in August contained many messages relating to the supply of monkey dust between May 1 and August 6, 2022.
Forrester – who was described as being determined to supply drugs in the Fenton area of the city – was jailed for two years and three months. Full story here[7]
Imran Khan
Imran Khan pictured in 2021.
Bully Imran Khan was jailed after he beat and strangled his wife in their home. The 35-year-old was intoxicated when he pushed her on the bed and squeezed her neck for 30 seconds, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Their nine-year-old son ran in the room and went to fetch his grandparents. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[8] heard Khan also attacked his wife by grabbing her finger, causing her pain. The defendant was sentenced to 12 months in prison. And he was made the subject of a restraining order which bans him from contacting his victim for 10 years or entering Furlong Road in Tunstall[9] .
Joshua Twigg, Lewis Stevenson and Robert Wojdak
Lewis Stevenson (left), Joshua Twigg (middle) and Robert Wojdak (right) (Image: Staffordshire Police)
A prolific gang of thieves who carried out more than 50 burglaries across Stoke-on-Trent over a 10-month period were jailed. The total value of all the items stolen – including cars and quad bikes – was estimated to be more than GBP175,000. Three members of the gang were linked to over 50 separate burglaries between December 2020 and September 2021.
They have been locked up for a combined total of nine years and 10 months. A fourth member was handed a suspended sentence. All four pleaded guilty to the offences and were sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Joshua Twigg, aged 33, from Fenton, admitted conspiracy to steal, conspiracy to commit burglary, and handling stolen goods. He was jailed for three years and two months. Lewis Stevenson, aged 21, from Meir, admitted two counts of burglary, one count of attempted burglary, conspiracy to steal, and conspiracy to commit burglary.
He was jailed for three years and six months. Robert Wojdak, aged 21, from Hanley, admitted conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to commit burglary. He was jailed for three years and two months.
Liam Wilkinson, aged 44, from Abbey Hulton, admitted conspiring to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal. He received a two-year suspended sentence. A boy, who was 17 at the time, was also referred to youth offending services.
Ryan Barnes
Ryan Barnes appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre (Image: Stoke Sentinel)
A young dad who had a troubled upbringing was jailed after he was caught dealing drugs. Ryan Barnes, 20, was trying to get his life on track but he was sacked after turning up for work one minute late. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[12] heard police carried out a raid at an address in Tunstall and heroin and cocaine, along with cannabis was seized.
Together the drugs were worth GBP3,020. Barnes – who was aged 18 at the time – went on to plead guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply of class A drugs and one offence of possession with intent to supply a class B drug. The defendant, of Corinth Way, Tunstall, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Zain Kabir and Usama Wajid
From left, Zain Kabir and Usama Wajid
Two violent thugs were jailed for their part in a city centre street attack that saw a man stabbed multiple times. Their victim was backing away when Zain Kabir punched him, knocking him to the floor close to Pink nightclub in Hanley.[14] As Kabir rained kicks and punches down on him, co-defendant Usama Wajid smashed a bottle and then repeatedly stabbed him in the back and neck.
The pair then fled the scene, leaving their victim for dead in the street. When paramedics arrived, he begged them not to let him die. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he needed a total of 44 stitches and partially lost the use of one arm, which has for now ended his career as a joiner.
Wajid and Kabir were locked up for a total of nine years. Full story here[15]
Qasim Rafi
Qasim Rafi
Dangerous driver Qasim Rafi injured a man after driving on to a pavement following a row in the street. The 32-year-old had an argument with a lad and his mum and both sides traded insults with each other.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[16] heard Rafi started to drive away but then saw red. He reversed his car at speed and drove on to the pavement in a bid to scare his victim. But he struck him leaving him with bruises, grazes and a fractured rib.
Rafi, of Sun Street, Shelton[17], pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and dangerous driving. His pleas were on a basis his intention was not to cause injury but to frighten his victim. He was jailed for 27 months.
Neil Ogden
Neil Ogden, aged 46, admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of children; possession of a prohibited image of a child; possession of extreme pornography; three charges of distributing indecent images of children; and publishing an obscene article.
Pervert Neil Ogden was jailed after he had a discussion with a like-minded individual about engaging in sexual abuse of children. And the 46-year-old downloaded and distributed indecent images of children. He also had prohibited images and extreme pornography on his phone when it was seized by police Ogden, of Sneyd Street, Cobridge, was sentenced to two years and two months in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[19] after pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children; three charges of distributing indecent images of children; possessing prohibited images of children; possession of extreme pornographic images and publishing an obscene article.
Jason Harrison
Jason Harrison
Former nightclub DJ Jason Harrison was jailed for selling large amounts of mephedrone online. The 36-year-old, of Cobridge Road, Hanley[21], posted a package of the class B drug known as M-CAT to a buyer in Derbyshire. But he sent it to the wrong address and the woman who received it handed it in to the police. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[22] heard the package was analysed and contained the defendant’s DNA.
His home was searched and officers recovered large amounts of mephedrone and some cannabis. Harrison was locked up for two years and nine months. He had pleaded guilty to being concerned in supplying a class B drug; possession of a class B drug with intent to supply; and possession of a class B drug.
Shaun Dunnsweeney
Shaun Dunnsweeney, aged 57, was jailed for 12 months after he admitted making a bomb hoax.
Drug user Shaun Dunnsweeney called 999 and said he had wired a flat and threatened to blow it up. Police arrived at the 57-year-old’s Hartshill home and he repeatedly asked for The Sentinel[24] before holding a shard of glass to his neck. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[25] heard air gun ammunition was found on his doorstep.
After a further one-and-a-half hours trying to negotiate with him, officers forced their way inside and arrested him. He was found in possession of a bag of monkey dust. Dunsweeney was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to making a bomb hoax.
Antony Bailey
Antony Bailey pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching a SHPO and three charges of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register.
A sex offender who once groomed and seduced a schoolgirl was caught by police living in the same house as children. Antony Bailey was previously jailed in 2017 after meeting up with a 13-year-old girl several times for sex. The court heard at the time that he plied her with vodka and coaxed her into bed.
He went on to admit charges including sexual activity with a child and causing or inciting prostitution or pornography involving a child. As well as a seven year and nine month prison term, Bailey was placed on the sex offenders’ register and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which banned him from accessing the internet without notifying the authorities. But he breached both by staying at his partner’s Abbey Hulton home with her children and using Snapchat.
Bailey, aged 27, of Albert Terrace, Wolstanton, was jailed for 18 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[27]. Full store here[28]
Steven Cartlidge
Steven Cartlidge pictured in 2018.
Drunken Steven Cartlidge was jailed after turning up his mum’s house to beg for money – despite being banned from doing so. The 44-year-old has committed seven breaches of a restraining order banning him from contacting his mother or going to her street.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[29] heard his mum was left upset after he again went to her address to ask for cash. The police were called and Cartlidge was found asleep on a bench in Longton Park[30]. He told officers he had a knife and they took it from him.
He said he had used it to harm himself and there was a cut to his neck. Cartlidge was jailed for 15 months. And he was warned by the judge that every time he breaches the restraining order or carries a knife he will go to prison.
Lee Preston
Lee Preston, aged 37, was jailed for 16 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm; two charges of criminal damage; and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. (Image: Staffordshire Police)
Controlling Lee Preston was caught on a video doorbell kicking a puppy he had bought in an attempt to win back his girlfriend. The 37-year-old had been dumped by his partner due to his poor behaviour towards her. In a foolish attempt to rekindle the relationship, he purchased a dog and took it to her house.
But she saw him assault the pup by kicking it, causing it to yelp in pain. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[32] heard in another incident, he went to her house and attacked her door. When she went outside, he slammed her against a wall and bit her on her neck.
Preston – who is a chartered accountant and has no previous convictions -was jailed for 16 months. Full story here[33]
Tony Durac
Two weapon-wielding brothers attacked a group enjoying a picnic in a Stoke-on-Trent park – forcing one victim to jump in a lake to get away. Filip Durac, aged 21, and Tony Durac, aged 20, set upon the men and women in Longton Park[34] with Tony throwing a brick at them and Filip wielding a bottle.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[35] heard Tony then swung a machete towards one of the victims and the gathering scattered. Filip ran towards one man and said, ‘I am going to kill you’. And fearing he was going to be hurt, the man leapt into the water.
The court heard a woman also feared she was going to be stabbed. As well as the violent disorder, Tony Durac faced other matters including making a threat to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for a total of three years. Filip was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.
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References
- ^ some of the cases (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Derby Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Tunstall (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Hanley. (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Shelton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Hanley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ The Sentinel (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Longton Park (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Longton Park (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Sign up to our main daily newsletter here and get all the latest news straight to your inbox for FREE (data.reachplc.com)