Killer among Somerset criminals jailed in August
A murderer, drunken holidaymakers, and a rapist are among those people from Somerset who have been put behind bars in the past month. Judges at Taunton and Bristol Crown Courts have been dispending justice to those who have broken the law.
The latest tranche of criminals includes a killer who murdered a man by hitting him repeatedly with a weight plate, a woman who caused death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs and aman who punched a police officer in the face during an anti-immigration protes
Here SomersetLive looks at some of the criminals jailed in August 2024.
MICHAEL DRAKE
A killer who murdered a man by hitting him repeatedly with a weight plate has been jailed for life. Michael Drake, 46, was found guilty of murdering 24-year-old Jordan Simcock in Ruishton[1] following an argument between the two earlier this year.
Bristol Crown Court heard Drake, of Duke Street in Taunton, had been out drinking in his hometown with Mr Simcock before heading to an address in Coronation Close, Ruishton, with another friend on Monday, February 19. During an argument, Drake struck Mr Simcock repeatedly over the head with a weight plate, causing significant injuries.
Another friend called an ambulance but Mr Simcock died in hospital two days later[2]. Drake was captured by CCTV cameras leaving the house with the weight plate in a bag which was later recovered by police. He walked to a friend’s house in Taunton where he showered and was given a clean set of clothes, before walking to Priory Bridge Road carrying a bag.
Less than 10 minutes later, he was seen without the bag and walking bare foot. Drake was arrested that day and charged with murder by detectives, Avon and Somerset Police said.
While the 46-year-old pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder, a jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty on Wednesday, August 28[3]. He was today (August 29) sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum of 18 years.
Michael Drake repeatedly struck 24-year-old Jordan Simcock over the head with a weight plate (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
BRIAN WATT
A drunken holidaymaker who urinated on a plane in front of shocked passengers and cabin crew has been jailed. Brian Watt, 34, caused an easyJet flight from Glasgow to Tenerife to be diverted to Bristol Airport[4] after he became drunk, disruptive and abusive on the plane.
Watt smoked in the plane toilets, damaged a soap dispenser and relieved himself in front of other passengers on the flight. He also refused to remain seated and grew increasingly abusive and insulting towards members of the cabin crew.
He admitted to being drunk on an aircraft, criminal damage, failing to obey the lawful commands of the pilot, and using threatening, abusive or insulting words towards crew. He was sentenced at North Somerset[5] Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 18. Watt, from Rothesay, in Scotland, was jailed for eight months.
JAMES OWEN AND ELLEN RAE
A man and his partner plied a teenager with alcohol before raping and sexually assaulting her in the hot tub at their home. James Owen, 55, and his partner Ellen Rea, 52, have been jailed for the horrific premeditated crimes[6] against their 18-year-old victim.
The pair groomed the teenager over a number of weeks and exchanged text messages with her. Owen, a personal trainer, first sexually assaulted the teenager under the guise of training sessions at some point between January and February 2021.
The victim was then invited to their home in Salisbury, Wiltshire, for dinner on February 6, 2021, where they plied her with alcohol. They persuaded her to join them in a hot tub before Owen raped her and Rea sexually assaulted her.
Owen was sentenced to eight years behind bars after being convicted of rape, two counts of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault at Winchester Crown Court[7]. Meanwhile, Rea was sentenced to two years after being found guilty of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault.
Dangerous sex criminals James Owen and Ellen Rae (Image: Wiltshire Police)
JASON BARRY FRANCIS
A man who punched a police officer in the face during an anti-immigration protest has been jailed. Jason Barry Francis was involved in the Weymouth protest on Sunday, August 4, which broke out in violence, matching similar scenes witnessed across the country this month in the wake of the Southport stabbings.
CCTV cameras and videos posted to social media captured Francis pushing and kicking out at police officers in line. He then proceeded to punch an officer in the face before backing into the crowd, Dorset Police said.
Francis was identified when officers reviewed the video footage and arrested at his home address on Thursday, August 8. He was subsequently charged with violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker and has been sentenced to two years in prison.
Jason Barry Francis has been jailed for two years after attacking a police officer during a protest in Dorset (Image: Dorset Police)
SCOTT LIPPIATT
A ‘mindless and dangerous’ man went on a crime spree and then drove the wrong way down the M4 in a dramatic police chase. Scott Lippiatt, from Bristol, was at the wheel of a stolen Citroen Berlingo loaded with stolen goods when it was surrounded by police on the approach to junction 16 of the M4.
The 23-year-old managed to escape by driving through a red light, over a grass verge and ended up driving the wrong way down the M4. But police gave chase and three firearms units managed to force the stolen car to crash into the central reservation of the M4.
Lippiatt pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, multiple counts of theft from a vehicle, driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, going equipped for theft, driving with no licence and no insurance, and ended up at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, August 9. He was jailed for 17 months , while his two accomplices have been convicted and given community orders too.
Scott Lippiatt, from Bristol, who has been jailed for a string of offences at Swindon Crown Court (Image: Wiltshire Police)
DAVID EGGLETON
A South West man has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for defrauding his aunt out of more than £600,000 by abusing his position as power of attorney.
David Eggleton, 71, of Newbury Avenue, Calne, was jailed at Swindon Crown Court today after being found guilty following a trial in January.
A report was made to Wiltshire Police in September 2020 when payments to a woman’s care home kept bouncing and when checked, it was found there was no money in her bank account. After a long investigation it was found that Eggleton had moved more than £600,000 into his own account.
David Eggleton, 71, from Calne, Wiltshire, , (Image: PA)
JESSICA HIGGS
A woman in her 20s has been jailed for three years after a fatal crash in Somerset last year. Jessica Higgs, now 20, was involved in the horror crash on the A303 which resulted in the death of a couple.
Thelma Huse and Tony Mist, both aged 69, tragically lost their lives when the red Fiat 500 they were travelling in was hit by a blue Mercedes Citan van driven by Higgs on 15 May 2023.
An eyewitness informed the police that they saw the van veer from the eastbound carriageway across the central white line before it crashed into the Fiat.
Tony, who was at the wheel of the car, was declared dead at the scene in West Camel. His partner, Thelma, sadly died due to her injuries the following day.
Higgs was taken to hospital where blood tests revealed she had an amount of benzoylecgonine in her blood that was above the legal limit. Benzoylecgonine is a substance that appears in the human body after cocaine use.
The electrical apprentice later pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs.
Higgs, of Imber Road in Warminster, received a sentence of three years and five months at Taunton Crown Court. She has also been banned from driving for six years and eight months.
References
- ^ Michael Drake, 46, was found guilty of murdering 24-year-old Jordan Simcock in Ruishton (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Mr Simcock died in hospital two days later (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ a jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty on Wednesday, August 28 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Bristol Airport (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ North Somerset (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ horrific premeditated crimes (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Winchester Crown Court (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
References
- ^ Michael Drake, 46, was found guilty of murdering 24-year-old Jordan Simcock in Ruishton (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Mr Simcock died in hospital two days later (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ a jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty on Wednesday, August 28 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Bristol Airport (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ North Somerset (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ horrific premeditated crimes (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Winchester Crown Court (www.somersetlive.co.uk)