Somerset criminals jailed in October and put behind bars
A murderer, rapists, dangerous drivers, rioters, and a terrorist 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 – and dishing out prison sentences
The latest tranche of criminals includes man who “spontaneously” murdered his “much loved” uncle, a drug driver who caused the death of a teenager, and a rapist who attacked a child.
Here SomersetLive looks at some of the criminals jailed in October
REECE JOLLIFFE
A man who drunkenly entered a woman’s home and tried to kidnap her two-year-old son has been jailed. Reece Jolliffe, 28, left the victim and her young child terrified when he went into their home in Amesbury, Wiltshire,[1] at around 4am on September 2, 2023.
The victim’s mother told the court how Jolliffe’s actions had “completely ruined” her family and left her child “absolutely terrified of everything”. Jolliffe, who had been drinking heavily at the time of the offence[2], entered the victim’s home through an unlocked door last September.
The boy’s mum woke to find 28-year-old Jolliffe at the end of her bed, holding her son in his arms. He dropped the child and fled when he was disturbed. Police attended Jolliffe’s home and arrested him on suspicion of kidnap.
During interview, Jolliffe claimed he could not remember what happened after he left the pub he had been drinking at. He pleaded guilty to attempted kidnap and was given an immediate two-year custodial sentence[3].
Reece Jolliffe drunkenly tried to kidnap a toddler (Image: Wiltshire Police)
AARON ROBERTS
A brave rape victim has spoken out after her attacker was jailed for 13 years[4]. Paedophile Aaron Roberts, aged 27 and from Paulton, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Monday, October 21.
He was found guilty of one count of rape and a second of sexual assault[5]. Roberts also pleaded guilty to sexual activity in the presence of a child relating to a separate matter involving a different victim.
His victim, who was a young teen at the time of the offence, provided a statement to the court to explain the impact his awful attack continues to have on her. She also recognised the incredible support she has had from her family over the past few years.
Judge Euan Ambrose handed Roberts a 13-year prison sentence and will be subject to a 10-year extended licence upon release. He will also be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
Paedophile Aaron Roberts is a danger to underage girls (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
GABRIEL BUDASZ
A dangerous right-wing terrorist from Somerset who shared instructions on how to make a bomb online has been jailed. Gabriel Budasz, of Drove Road, Weston-Super-Mare, spread racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic statements, used Nazi props in content he posted online, and stirred up extreme and dangerous ideologies.
In August 2023, Budasz’s home was searched and numerous items of an extreme right wing nature were found, including books, masks and memorabilia, along with a 3D printed gun and Budasz’s mobile phone and computer. Examining the devices, officers found that the 24-year-old sent a video guide containing instructions on making a bomb with household ingredients electronically on Telegram.
On December 11, 2022, he sent messages of a grossly offensive nature and published statements online which encouraged terrorism, Counter Terrorism Policing said. Budasz already pleaded guilty during a hearing at the Old Bailey on December 22, 2023 to six counts of possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with three years on licence.
Gabriel Budasz used Nazi paraphernalia in content online, stirring up dangerous and extreme hatred (Image: Counter Terrorism Policing)
CHAD LAMBERT
A burglar swam through a lake in an attempt to evade police after stealing a bottle wine from a shop. Chad Lambert, 35, then tried to hide in a tree on a small island before being arrested in Bristol
A hearing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court[6] heard how Lambert, of Cobourg Road, entered a shop on Averay Road at around 1pm on Saturday, October 19. The 35-year-old was spotted acting suspiciously before being challenged by staff.
He then smashed a window to get behind the counter, picked up a bottle of wine and took the contents of the till. He then ran into Eastville Park, off Fishponds Road, where he discarded clothing and a bag before running into the lake and swimming to the small island in the middle of the lake. He was later charged before pleading guilty to aggravated burglary. Lambert has now been jailed to 26 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £154 in compensation.
Chad Lambert has been jailed (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
HARRY CHARLTON
A drug driver has been jailed for causing the death of a teenager in South Gloucestershire[7]. Harry Charlton sped through a red light at the A4174 Wraxall Road roundabout in April 2022, causing the death of 16-year-old Daniel Davies.
Charlton, from Kingswood[8], previously pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed drug limit. The court heard that Charlton was travelling over the speed limit when he crashed his Ford Fiesta with Daniel’s moped. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Daniel was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Charlton was arrested and a test showed he was over the limit for cannabis. He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to five years in prison, disqualified from driving for two years from the date of his release and ordered to carry out an extended re-test.
Harry Charlton (picture) has been jailed for causing the death of 16-year-old Daniel Davies (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
KERRY WALTERS
A paedophile from North Dorset has been jailed for sexual offences involving a child under the age of 13.
Kerry Walters, 42, of Sturminster Newton, was convicted last month of sexual offences including assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by penetration, and inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.
He appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court and was jailed for a total of seven-and-a-half years, and will be the subject of an extended licence period for a further year.
The victim made disclosures around the abuse in November 2019, reporting that the incidents had occurred around four years previously.
JACK NICHOLS
A Somerset man has become the 33rd person to be handed a court sentence for involvement in the Bristol riots over the summer – as he was handed a 28-month jail term for throwing objects at a police officer and a beer keg at a police vehicle during the disorder.
Jack Nichols, 33. from Wells, was charged with violent disorder[9] on September 30, and appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on October 1, where he pleaded guilty. Today (October 15), he was jailed for 28 months at Bristol Crown Court.
The court was shown CCTV and police officer body-worn video footage of Nichols’ actions in Bristol on Saturday 3 August, in which he was seen as part of the group at various points in Castle Park, on Bristol Bridge, and at Redcliffe Roundabout.
Jack Nichols is the 33rd person to be sentenced over the Bristol riots in August (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
JOEL BINNINGS
A man convicted of attempting to murder a teenager in Bristol earlier this year has been jailed. Joel Binnings, 20, stabbed a 16-year-old boy in McDonald’s in The Horsefair[10] on Thursday, February 8, leaving him with serious life-changing injuries after a four-month hospital stay.
The boy’s life was saved by medical treatment provided by members of the public and emergency service workers at the scene, as well as medics at Southmead[11] Hospital. Binnings, of Fishponds, denied one count of attempted murder but was found guilty by a jury following a four-day trial last month[12].
He was jailed for 18-years. Binnings was convicted after jurors watched CCTV of the incident in which the victim could be seen trying to run away from Binnings, holding his hands up in defence. The court also heard from witnesses who were in the fast food restaurant at the time.
Joel Binnings, 20, of Fishponds, Bristol has been jailed for 18-years for attempting to murder a 16-year-old boy (Image: western daily press)
KYERAN TAYLOR
A Keynsham[13] man has been jailed for jailed for sexually abusing and abducting a teenage girl. Kyeran Taylor, 33, carried out the sexual offences between September 2021 and April 2022.
Bristol Crown Court[14] heard how Taylor took his victim to London in his lorry after a campaign of abuse. Taylor admitted two counts of sexual assault, six counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of child abduction, and one count of sexual communication with a child. He was found guilty of two further counts of sexual activity with a child.
In a separate case, the 33-year-old admitted a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. It came after he caused a head-on collision on the B3130 at Chew Magna.
A woman, aged in her 60s, who was driving another car suffered serious injuries in the crash. Taylor was under the influence of cocaine at the time.
He was sentenced for all the offences at Bristol Crown Court. In addition to being jailed for ten years, he was given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) as well as a restraining order.
Kyeran Taylor (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
KIERAN SMITH, FRASER MCLEISH AND SAMANTHA HASKINS
Two men and one woman have been jailed for their key roles in the supply of 27kg of cocaine and cannabis in Weston-super-Mare[15] over just a three-month period. Kieran Smith and Fraser McLeish, both 37, and 39-year-old Samantha Haskins, who all live in the Somerset town, flooded the town with drugs between April and June 2020.
Encrypted messaging network EncroChat was used to organise the collection and distribution of 20kg of cannabis and 7kg of cocaine[16] across Weston-super-Mare. Evidence was also uncovered that the group had made payments totalling more than £350,000.
Smith collected and supplied the drugs before handing the money he collected to McLeish, who stored the cash at his home and used it to pay couriers. Haskins also stored and prepared drugs at her home.
Haskins and McLeish were both arrested in June 2021, and 5kg of cocaine was recovered from Haskins’ address in a subsequent search. Evidence was also found of cocaine with a total street value of up to £1.3m having passed through her home.
Smith, of Ullswater Close, received the longest sentence, of eight years and four months. Haskins, of Worlebury Hill Road, was sentenced to five years and 10 months, and McLeish, of Mendip Rise, received three years for his involvement.
Fraser McLeish, Samantha Haskins and Kieran Smith supplied drugs to the people of Weston-super-Mare (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
THOMAS OSBORNE
A Bristol man who raped a woman twice earlier this year[17] has been jailed and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. Thomas Osbourne, also known as Solomon Osbourne, has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years for his vicious crimes that left his female victim fearful of all men.
33-year-old Osbourne, from St George[18], denied the offences, forcing his brave victim to relive her ordeal in court during his trial. However, he was not believed and was found guilty by a majority verdict of two counts of rape.
Sick predator Osbourne refused to acknowledge his crimes[19], which were described as “horrific” by Avon and Somerset Police. His victim played a key role in ensuring Osbourne will spend years behind bars.
Thomas Osbourne, also known as Solomon Osbourne, from St George, in Bristol, has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years for two counts of rape (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
CAMERON HINCEL
A firefighter who was sacked after taking photographs of a road accident victim’s body and sending them to several social media contacts has been jailed for 20 months.
Cameron Hancel sent the images via WhatsApp alongside an “offensive and mocking commentary” in the aftermath of a two-car crash in Himley, Staffordshire, in March last year.
The 34-year-old pleaded guilty in August to misconducting himself in public office while working for West Midlands Fire Service by taking mobile phone photos of the victim and sending them to other people.
Offering mitigation, defence counsel Jane Osborne KC urged the judge to consider passing a suspended jail term in relation to the “isolated” incident. The dad now has a job in construction in Somerset, where he works weekdays., the court was told, as Ms Osborne said the defendant is remorseful, adding: “He has accepted that the actions that he undertook had significant consequences.”
Undated handout photo issued by West Midlands Police of former firefighter Cameron Hancel (Image: PA)
OWEN COOMBS
A man who punched a woman in the face has been jailed for a series of domestic abuse offences. Owen Coombs, of Kings Court, Warminster has been jailed after subjecting his victim to abusive acts, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault.
Coombs’ victim reported a theft after a verbal argument on August 26, 2024. During the incident, the 23-year-old grabbed his victim through a window and punched her in the face.
He was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates Court on Thursday, October 3, for engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour, assault, actual bodily harm, and possession of a class B drug.
He received two years in prison for coercive and control, four months imprisonment for ABH (to run consecutively), 1 month for battery (to run concurrently), and was given a 5 year restraining order. He was not given a separate penalty for possession.
Owen Coombs has been jailed for a host of domestic abuse crimes (Image: Wiltshire Police)
GRANT WALKER
A man who “spontaneously” murdered his “much loved” uncle has been jailed for life.
Grant Walker, 32, of Faringdon Road, Swindon had been his “usual happy self” and was spending a “nice evening” with his aunt and his uncle, with whom he had a close relationship, when he suddenly killed him
Sentencing him at Bristol Crown Court on October 4, Judge Lambert said the attack in February had been out of character. Walker had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but was found guilty of murder after a five day trial on August 19. He will serve at least 11 years and 329 days before he will have the opportunity of parole.
As Walker sat in the dock wearing a white shirt under a grey sweatshirt, Judge Lambert said: “Your aunt said that you were all having such a nice evening. There had been no disagreements, no arguing, no cross words, no shouting, no raised voices. Your uncle walked past you and placed his arm on your shoulder, as if to cuddle or to pass you.”
Grant Walker (Image: Wiltshire Police)
ELLY-JAYNE COX
A woman has been jailed for her role in the far-right riot in Bristol. Elly-Jayne Cox, 33, assaulted a police horse and spat at officers during the evening of violence on Saturday, August 3.
She pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was jailed for 26 months at Bristol Crown Court. The court heard how she used “vile language” throughout the riot.
Cox, of Bishopsworth, also launched objects into crowds of people at Castle Park. Her offending was captured in footage taken during the disorder.
Judge Hart said she “will never understand” why she behaved as she did. She added that Cox showed “extreme violent behaviour” towards police officers and members of the public.
Elly-Jayne Cox has been jailed (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
PATRICK JAMES AND PHILILP ADAMS
Two men been jailed for intentionally hitting an NHS worker in Bristol with their car. Katungua Tjitendero, who was 21 at the time, was returning home from his job at Southmead Hospital when he was hit from behind by a vehicle on Monks Park Avenue around 4.30pm on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.
Patrick James, 22, residing at Broadlands Drive in Avonmouth, and Phillip Adams, 26, of Eastleigh Road in Southmead, fled from the scene after the accident, with one of them hurling a racially offensive remark at Mr Tjitendero. In the meantime, he was trapped against a wall which was partially destroyed due to the impact.
James and Adams were found guilty of conspiracy to cause intentional grievous bodily harm[20] on Friday (September 27). They appeared at Bristol Crown Court this morning (Monday, September 30) and were sentenced to eight-and-a-half years and six years in prison respectively.
However, Adams was not present in court. A warrant has been issued for Adams’ arrest and conversations have been held with the National Crime Agency to arrange his extradition from Dubai.
Two men are facing jail time after an NHS worker was struck during a hit-and-run. L-R Patrick James, 22 and Phillip Adams, 26 (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
References
- ^ Amesbury, Wiltshire, (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ drinking heavily at the time of the offence (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ given an immediate two-year custodial sentence (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ attacker was jailed for 13 years (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ second of sexual assault (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Bristol Magistrates’ Court (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ South Gloucestershire (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Kingswood (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ charged with violent disorder (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ stabbed a 16-year-old boy in McDonald’s in The Horsefair (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Southmead (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ following a four-day trial last month (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Keynsham (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Bristol Crown Court (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Weston-super-Mare (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ 20kg of cannabis and 7kg of cocaine (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ raped a woman twice earlier this year (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ from St George (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ refused to acknowledge his crimes (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ guilty of conspiracy to cause intentional grievous bodily harm (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
References
- ^ Amesbury, Wiltshire, (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ drinking heavily at the time of the offence (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ given an immediate two-year custodial sentence (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ attacker was jailed for 13 years (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ second of sexual assault (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Bristol Magistrates’ Court (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ South Gloucestershire (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Kingswood (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ charged with violent disorder (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ stabbed a 16-year-old boy in McDonald’s in The Horsefair (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Southmead (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ following a four-day trial last month (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Keynsham (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Bristol Crown Court (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Weston-super-Mare (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ 20kg of cannabis and 7kg of cocaine (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ raped a woman twice earlier this year (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ from St George (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ refused to acknowledge his crimes (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ guilty of conspiracy to cause intentional grievous bodily harm (www.bristolpost.co.uk)