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Jailed in July at Truro Crown Court: Fake builder who lied about wife’s death and other criminals banged up

A fake builder who lied about his wife's death to get out of a job is among those put behind bars in Cornwall in July. They also include a drug dealer who threatened a man with a gun in a Cornish town centre in the middle of the day.

A man who abused a teenager on more than one occasion and ordered her to keep quiet about what he had done, and a socially isolated, public masturbator, bomb-making knife lover were also sent to jail. These individuals have all been taken off our streets, making Cornwall a safer place.

Here we take a look back over the past several weeks in Truro Crown Court[1] and the vile criminals whose actions were so disturbing nothing but an immediate custodial sentence was deemed good enough. Please be aware we do our best to attend as many sentencing hearings as we can, but it is not always possible to be at them all.

Here are the cases we did attend this month that saw people jailed, as reported at the time.

Jack Cejas

Jack Cejas, 25, from Carbis Bay has been jailed for five years for possession of a gun and dealing class A drugs

A drug dealer threatened a man with a gun in the middle of a Cornish town centre in the middle of the day. Jack Cejas was spotted by a motorist in Camborne[4] town centre with another hooded man when he pulled the gun, a Glock pistol, from his man bag and levelled it at a third male in the street.

Appearing before Truro Crown Court[5] for sentencing, it was heard how the anxious driver called 999 and armed police raced to the scene and Cejas was arrested by a railway level crossing.

The black pistol was later found in his bag and it was tested to see if it had a lethal capacity. Cejas, 25, of Carbis Bay, near St Ives[6], admitted possessing a firearm and ammunition as well as drug dealing on the day in November last year. He said he had found it and kept it for his protection as a drug dealer selling Class A drugs.

His honour Judge Simon Carr said Cejas was street dealing class A drugs and had a firearm capable of causing death or serious injury which he cocked at the man in the street. He said Cejas found the gun and kept it for his own defence when dealing drugs but did not realise the lethal potential of the weapon.

Judge Carr jailed Cejas for five years for the gun charge, with three and a half years for drug dealing and 18 months for possessing the ammunition, the sentences to run concurrently.

Morris Stowe

Morris Stowe, 52, has been put behind bars

A man abused a teenager on more than one occasion and ordered her to keep quiet about what he had done, a court has heard. Morris Stowe, 52, made the young girl take her clothes off and touched her against her will.

Stowe, of Kings Nympton in Umberleigh, Devon, appeared at Truro[7] Crown Court for sentence on July 17, 2024, having pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity.

The court heard how, living in Mid Cornwall at the time, he targeted his vulnerable victim and made her remove her clothes before touching her naked breasts. When she asked him to stop he did but then told her to tell nobody what was happening.

In his mitigation, Stowe's defence barrister explained the defendant had no previous relevant convictions. The court heard that as a result of his crimes, he'd lost his job, home and tried to take his own life. It was also deemed he posed a low to medium risk of reoffending as a community order was recommended by a probation officer.

In his sentencing remarks, His Honour Judge Robert Linford, said: "This did not happen on a single, isolated occasion. This happened on no less than three occasions."

A victim impact statement also explained how the teenager now does not like to be left alone and doesn't like to be around strange men. "You abused her, you were interviewed and you answered 'no comment'," the judge told Stowe.

He also explained how a pre-sentence report detailed how Stowe himself had a "miserable young life." Judge Linford added: "You suffered abuse at the hands of those who should have loved and cared for you. You were eventually put in the care system and came out a damaged man."

He said it was clear Stowe had "accepted fully" that what he had done was wrong. "Many in your position do not do that. In fact, most people in your position choose to contest these sorts of allegations but you have admitted it.

"You know full well that these offences are far too serious for anything other than a sentence of immediate imprisonment." Stowe was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment and will serve half of that.

He will also be registered on the Sex Offender Register for ten years. No mugshot is available for Stowe as he was postal requisitioned.

Shaun Powell

Shaun Powell has been sent back to jail

A socially isolated pervert who was once caught with bomb making manuals, explosives and knives at his parents' home after police searched his house on an unrelated matter has been sent back to jail for being at it again. Shaun Powell first came to the attention of the courts when he was caught masturbating in a pub and again indecently exposing himself to a Falmouth[8] University student several years ago.

It was his non compliance with a sexual harm prevention order requiring him to inform the police of any change of address which led to the discovery at his parents' house of worrying materials such as bomb tutorials[9], camouflage clothing, chains, handcuffs, masks and material relating to notorious serial killers.

The 42-year-old, formerly of Penryn[10] and Pool, was sentenced in 2020 by Truro Crown Court[11] to 38 months in jail in relation to the dangerous materials found, for assaulting a police officer and for the two breaches of a sexual offenders’ registration requirement.

Following a trial in May this year, which Powell refused to attend, in connection with three further breaches of a sexual harm prevention order and three counts of being possession of a quantity of facemasks, balaclavas, duct tape and knives at his parents' address, he was sent back to prison having chosen to be sentenced in his absence.

Sentencing him to three years in prison, Recorder Christopher Quinlan, KC, said Powell had waved his right to attend both his trial and sentencing hearing, adding that the breaches of his sexual harm prevention order related to obtaining a new passport and bank card and moving to a new address but failing to inform the police.

He said that once again when police officers had visited him at his parents' address they discovered items he was prohibited from having such as the knives, duct tape and balaclavas.

During the hearing at Truro[12] Crown Court today (Monday, July 15), Recorder Quinlan said the charges had been brought against Powell as a result of single house search but showed a "pattern of breaches which are repetitious in nature".

He said that over the years Powell had proved he was at high risk of reoffending, adding: "This is a socially isolated man who lives with his parents who has no mental health issues."

Powell will serve half his sentence before being released on licence. A sexual harm prevention order imposed on him will continue until 2028.

Jordan Hardy

A brave teenager has spoken about how her life was ruined and upended by a prolific sex offender who kissed her, forced her to touch his penis and asked her to give him oral sex.

Jordan Hardy, 25, made his 13-year-old victim's life hell as a result of his actions, leading to her being bullied. He was today told by a judge that his sexual interests were "worrying".

Hardy, formerly of East Hill in Tuckingmill, Camborne[13], but currently serving time at HMP High Down in Sutton for a previous offence, engaged in sexual activity with the teenager in 2021. He appeared at Truro[14] Crown Court for sentence on Friday (July 5) having pleaded guilty to engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

Opening the case, prosecution counsel Rowan Jenkins told the court Hardy kissed his victim, asked her to perform oral sex on him to which she said no and then persisted, with his victim describing him as "continuously begging" her to do so.

She said he grabbed her hand, pulled down his jogging bottoms and held her hand onto his erect penis and again asked for oral sex. She continued to say no and made an excuse to get away from the situation.

She made for her home and he walked some of the way with her. She said she was worried about her mother's reaction and that she might be blamed for what happened.

Rumours that circulated following the incident led to the victim's life being in tatters. When interviewed by police, Hardy lied and claimed there had been no contact with the victim and said he'd been at work about a questioned time but later admitted he'd been with the victim.

His search history the week before the offence included terms associated with underage sex. Mr Jenkins said: "That is a consistent problem that this defendant has."

In a victim impact statement, the teenager said: "The actions of Jordan Hardy have greatly affected my life". She went on to explain how she struggles with trust, opening up and even hugging people around her.

"I started getting bullied at school and I lost all my friends. I got to the point where I wanted to die and I was just 13 years old. My life was falling apart."

She said she couldn't even go out in public through fear of bumping into her abuser or his family. Addressing Hardy she said: "You took that from me."

Defending, Jason Beale said Hardy's history was "unimpressive" and he had failed to comply with court orders, restrictions and committed the offence during a suspended sentence order. He, however, said Hardy was determined to grow up and stop this kind of offending.

In his sentencing remarks, His Honour Judge Robert Linford said Hardy had a "worrying list of previous convictions for sexual offences." He told him: "Your search history outlined by counsel for the prosecution again demonstrates that your sexual interests are worrying.

"They relate to people under the age of which they can legitimately consent to sexual activity. At the time you committed the offences, you were the subject of a suspended sentence and it didn't deter you."

Hardy was sentenced to eight months imprisonment to be served concurrently with the sentence already being served by Hardy for a previous, separate offence.

Leonard J Richards

A dodgy builder who cost his victims £90,000 and left their homes in a state of disrepair tried to get out of the work by telling them his wife had died after childbirth when she was still alive. Leonard J Richards, 24, subjected three victims across Cornwall, from Newlyn to St Austell[15], to his terrible workmanship in 2022 and 2023.

He pressured them into paying thousands of pounds ahead of the work and left their homes in a state of disrepair - one had water pouring through a hole in the roof and dangerous wiring that could have electrocuted them.

Richards, of Whitemoor, near St Austell, appeared at Truro[16] Crown Court for sentence today (July 19) having pleaded guilty to participating in a fraudulent business carried out by a sole trader, two counts of fraud by false representation and making and supplying an article for use of fraud.

Prosecuting the case on behalf of Cornwall Council's Trading Standards department, Harry Ahuja said Richards took on three building jobs for clients that he was not qualified or capable of completing. In some cases, he even told his victims they needed additional, unnecessary work to get them to pay more money.

Richards advertised his services on a platform called Bark with each of his three victims reaching out to him for quotes. He was operating as a sole trader with a business name at the time and had no qualifications.

His first victims, Mr and Mrs Rogers, enquired about having a large bathroom in one of their holiday lets separated into two in February 2023 and further work to complete a garden room with a view to doing similar in some of their other holiday lets in the future.

They described Richards as causing "devastation" in the various cottages as he started work and said it would be completed within four weeks, in time for holiday bookings. They said the overall standard was poor quality and had to be redone by another builder. Realising the state of what Richards had done, they told him to leave and not return.

A professional electrician who came in deemed Richards' wiring work to be unsafe and said it could have caused an electric shock. The couple said their reputation with both neighbours and visitors was damaged as they had to cancel bookings.

The couple paid Richards £17,415 for the work and they had to pay an additional £18,000 to another builder to put it right.

His second set of victims were Mr and Mrs Blackshaw, from Penryn[17]. They hired him to clear their gutters and roof of moss and for additional work to complete a garden room.

In August 2022 he provided a quote and told them they needed some tiles replaced on their roof in addition, also showing them a hole in the garden room roof and suggesting a full replacement.

He insisted on 50 per cent of the quote upfront which was £3,500 and commenced work. After starting, he further suggested roof joists were rotted and needed replacement, pressuring them to agree to this and providing a falsified invoice from a company that didn't exist for having the joists made.

A further £3,800 was paid that evening. Investigating officers attended the address on that invoice and found it was not a real address and there was no sign the joist company existed.

Richards didn't return to the property after this and a torrential downpour led to flooding throughout the couple's roof space including the bathroom, bedroom and stairway with a gaping hole discovered in the roof. Despite repeated attempts to contact Richards, he did not return and the victims got in an emergency roofer.

They paid £7,300 to the defendant in total and had to pay £4,750 to put it right. The professional roofer found the garden room was dangerously constructed and needed to be dismantled.

When urged to return by the Blackshaw's, Richards at one stage told them he couldn't because his wife was in Derriford Hospital suffering from post-birth complications. In an email, he later told them she had died. As part of the investigation trading officers then attended his address and found his wife very much alive.

The ordeal left the victims, who spent eight years totally renovating their house before this, feeling "particularly distressed". Mr Blackshaw said what started as an enquiry to clear some moss went much further. "We are now exceptionally wary of all tradespersons, almost treating them with suspicion although they may be honest, well-meaning persons."

Cataline Smith, from St Austell, was the third victim. The 81-year-old enquired about having work done to her roof fascias last year. On inspection, Richards told her extra work needed doing and said there was an "unsupported chimney" that left her at "imminent risk" quoting £9,000 for that work.

She paid a total of £21,000 to the defendant for work that Trading Standards found was unnecessary. Remedial work to fix this cost her a further £20,000.

A victim impact statement detailed how she'd suffered panic attacks and sleepless nights as a result and feels betrayed that she treated Richards and his workers with respect while she felt he was "callous and calculated".

Richards also visited her son's home, owned by the victim, and said the chimney needed to be taken down. The work was done to a poor standard and during high winds tiles were flying off the roof.

The defendant ignored her instead of returning to fix it. He initially said he himself was in hospital then that his brother-in-law had died and he was arranging a funeral for him.

In total, Richards received £45,715 from his victims for shoddy and uncompleted work. Combined they paid an additional £42,750 to put this right at a total cost of around £90,000.

Defending, Ed Bailey said Richards had a lack of previous convictions and had shown genuine remorse. "He knows he did wrong and wasn't capable of completing the work and wasn't sufficiently qualified to do so and accepts full responsibility."

He told how the defendant left school at 13, was home-schooled by his parents at their family caravan park and would help with maintenance. "That gave him some idea he might eventually be able to set up on his own," he said. Richards then did so following the death of his father at the outset of the pandemic to support his family.

"He frankly had jumped in far too deep and hadn't given any serious thought to the consequences," said Mr Bailey. He added that the money no longer existed as Richards spent it on gambling and cocaine.

In his sentencing remarks, Mr Recorder Simon Levene said the offences were far too serious for anything but a prison sentence. "You have wrecked the lives, albeit temporarily in some cases, of three households," he said, saying there was no prospect of the victims "getting a penny back".

"The effects of what you did to them will be very long-lasting... it is immensely disturbing and distressing for people to have to go through what you put your victims through." Richards was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.

References

  1. ^ Truro Crown Court (www.cornwalllive.com)
  2. ^ A30 to be 'closed for some time' as person seriously injured in crash (www.cornwalllive.com)
  3. ^ Cornwall man says 'thank you very much' after being jailed for M25 Just Stop Oil protest (www.cornwalllive.com)
  4. ^ Camborne (www.cornwalllive.com)
  5. ^ Truro Crown Court (www.cornwalllive.com)
  6. ^ St Ives (www.cornwalllive.com)
  7. ^ Truro (www.cornwalllive.com)
  8. ^ Falmouth (www.cornwalllive.com)
  9. ^ discovery at his parents' house of worrying materials such as bomb tutorials (www.cornwalllive.com)
  10. ^ Penryn (www.cornwalllive.com)
  11. ^ Truro Crown Court (www.cornwalllive.com)
  12. ^ Truro (www.cornwalllive.com)
  13. ^ Camborne (www.cornwalllive.com)
  14. ^ Truro (www.cornwalllive.com)
  15. ^ St Austell (www.cornwalllive.com)
  16. ^ Truro (www.cornwalllive.com)
  17. ^ Penryn (www.cornwalllive.com)

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