Locked up 2024: Faces of 71 criminals jailed January to June 2024

It's been a year of huge court case in Devon. From husband killer Christine Rawle to wife murderer Stephen Parsons - the first half of 2024 stood out for a number of gruesome crimes. The year kicked off with the sentencing of Torquay arson killer Michael Lynagh for murder in Torquay.

There were some big sentences in February while in May two brothers were jailed for killing a 34-year-old dad in Torquay[1]. The first six months of the year ended with a massive sentence handed to a depraved paedophile from North Devon[2] who was jailed for 27 years for a 'campaign of rape' against two children. These are the faces of the criminals who were jailed between January and June 2024.

JANUARY

Keith Lowres has been jailed for dangerous driving (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A speeding teenage driver was jailed for hitting a mum crossing the road - narrowly missing her daughter and causing mayhem on the roads of Exeter[3].

Keith Lowres struck the woman in Lower Harrington Lane off Pinhoe Road. She had just collected her young daughter from school and had stepped off the pavement in front of her when she was hit by a Peugeot 508 driven by Lowres. She was thrown into the air and landed on her head, sustaining life-changing injuries.

The car involved in the collision had been stolen the day before and shortly before the collision had been involved in a high-speed police chase near Broadclyst which involved Lowres smashing through a road barrier, mounting pavements and hitting speeds of 80mph.

Raymond Lynagh (Image: Devon and Cornwall Police/SWNS)

A bullying victim who murdered his tormentor by setting fire to a house in Torquay was jailed for life. Raymond Lynagh started the inferno in Ellacombe Road that fatally poisoned Dean Corbett with fumes. He lit the ferocious blaze because Mr Corbett, a known drug dealer, had invaded his home, taken over his room and physically assaulted him.

Lynagh started the fire in the sitting room while Mr Corbett was asleep in his bedroom. Before leaving the house he fed the flames with a gas pipe which he wrenched from the wall behind the cooker. Lynagh, nicknamed China, casually sat on a stool outside the house and watched the flames engulf the ground floor of the premises.

Richard Armitage

This man who was heavily involved in bringing cocaine into Exeter was jailed for nine years.

Richard Armitage, aged 42, of Littleway, Exeter[4], pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and breaching a Serious Crime Prevention Order. Armitage pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to supply class A drugs for which he was told he would serve eight years in jail. He also pleaded guilty to two breaches of a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) and was jailed for one year, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

He was also made subject to a further SCPO, to last for five years. He was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Thursday, January 25.

Artur Winiarek has been jaioled for roberry in Torquay (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A car wash worker was jailed for attacking a man at a bus stop during a violent street robbery in Torquay[5]. Artur Winiarek, 42, demanded cash from the stranger before pushing him to the ground and kicking him in the face.

He fled the scene with the victim's GBP700 phone but was tracked down with the help of town centre CCTV and arrested. Winiarek pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for two years and eight months at Exeter[6] Crown Court. He tearfully explained to the court that he was sorry for what happened.

He had been a law-abiding citizen since coming to the UK from Poland and working in a car wash for five years.

Adam Mohammed has been sentenced for raping a woman at the University of Exeter (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

This man raped an Exeter student as she lay asleep in her bed. He had blagged his way into a party at a halls of residence by claiming he was a Master's student. Adam Mohammed, 24, of New Bridge Street in Exeter[7], was told he would spend up to eight years behind bars and remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life after he raped the student during a party in March 2021.

He will serve two-thirds of his sentence in prison, before being up for release on licence. The sentencing, which had been postponed five times, took place at Exeter Crown Court. Mohammed was convicted of one count of rape following a trial.

Leo Fairclough has been jailed for violence in Tiverton (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A 23-year-old Tiverton[8] man was jailed for a savage unprovoked attack on a student in a pub toilet.

Leo Fairclough was drunk when he punched the victim four times fracturing his cheekbone, jaw and eye socket. Just as the groggy victim struggled to his feet Fairclough returned to the toilets and tussled with him again. A judge said the defendant had acted out of character when drunk but the incident was so serious that the only sentence could be prison.

"It's a great tragedy to have to sentence somebody like you for an offence of this nature," said the judge. He added: "He had done nothing to justify the savage pasting you gave him."

(Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

This pervert from Dawlish[9] was jailed for amassing a huge collection of child abuse images and videos downloaded from the dark web. Paul Powell, 56, also set up a spy camera to secretly film a woman in a bathroom.

Police seized computers from his home and found he had been looking at more than 50,000 images and movies showing the sexual abuse of children. About 3,000 were in the most serious category showing the worst type of depravity. The defendant, of Springfield Gardens, has been jailed for two years and four months.

The judge said Powell had been heavily addicted to viewing porn online and the material became more extreme over time.

Anne-Marie Kennedy has been jailed for causing a fatal road collision in Torquay (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A hit-and-run driver was jailed for killing a pedestrian on his way home from a night out in Torquay[10]. Anne-Marie Kennedy was driving a VW Golf on Barton Hill Road that hit Nathan Lee causing catastrophic and fatal injuries. Kennedy was speeding at the time and not wearing glasses, despite warnings in the past that she should do so.

There was cocaine in her system and she had never even passed a driving test. After colliding with Mr Lee she drove away, returning on foot to see emergency services at the roadside trying to save the dying man's life. She gave herself in the following day.

Nikolay Nikolov has been jailed for outraging public decency on a bus (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

This creepy passenger stared at a woman and her children while fondling himself on the bus to Cullompton[11].

Nikolay Nikolov was on his way home from some unpaid work ordered by the court when he sat himself close to a family on the top deck. The 23-year-old Bulgarian was soon staring at the woman's breasts before shifting his perverted gaze to her three-year-old daughter. The woman told him to stop and moved seats but Nikolov followed them and carried on acting strangely.

The children told the woman that the man had exposed himself and CCTV later revealed he spent much of the journey between Exeter[12] and Cullompton rubbing his crotch.

Christopher Murphy from Exeter has been jailed for rape (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

Police welcomed the conviction of an Exeter rapist - and praised the courage of the woman he assaulted. Christopher Murphy, aged 35, was jailed for eight years and nine months. He raped a woman at her home in 2019.

A jury found him guilty of three offences at a trial last year and he returned to Exeter Crown Court to be sentenced on Tuesday (January 9). The judge said he has a "closed and inflexible" attitude to the incident which allowed him to hold on to a "high opinion of yourself." She added an extra four years' licence to his sentence due to the risk he poses.

Jonathan Parr from Tiverton has been jailed (Image: DevonLive)

An alcoholic son was jailed for throwing a knife at his mum and threatening his elderly father. Homeless Jonathan Parr was allowed back into the family home to wash his clothes and get a meal, a court heard.

But he got drunk, played loud music and shouted abuse at his mum. An argument ended with his mother slapping him in the face and retreating into the sitting room. Parr, holding a bread knife in one hand and a bundle of knives and scissors in the other, followed her.

He hurled the bread knife towards his mum with force. She cowered on the sofa as it flew by her head and hit a cupboard. Richard Courage

Richard Courage from Exeter, was sentenced to 40 months at Exeter Crown Court on Friday 26 January for facilitating or commissioning a child a sexual offence (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

Aged 75, from Exeter, was sentenced to 40 months in prison at Exeter Crown Court on Friday 26 January for facilitating or commissioning a child a sexual offence, possession of Category C indecent images and possession of a shotgun without a certificate.

David Heslop

David Heslop was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Exeter Crown Court for breach of a straining order and breach of a suspended sentence (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

Aged 36, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Exeter Crown Court on Wednesday 20 January for breach of a restraining order and breach of a suspended sentence. Kieran Allison

Kieran Allison from Exeter was sentenced to 15 months in prison for dangerous driving (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

Aged 22, from Exeter, Kieran Allison was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Exeter Crown Court on Tuesday 16 January for dangerous driving.

FEBRUARY

Lee Ham has been jailed for harassment of his ex (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A jealous ex boyfriend was jailed for terrorising his former partner during a campaign of harassment. Lee Ham relentlessly pestered the woman, turning up at her house without and invite, throwing pint glasses at her house, storming inside and even threatening a carpenter who happened to be there measuring the floor.

At the height of his harassment he was calling his distraught victim 200 times a day and ignoring her pleas to leave her alone. The 34-year-old from Torquay[13] pleaded guilty to offences of criminal damage, harassment and ABH at Exeter[14] Crown Court and was jailed for 88 weeks (about 20 months).

Phillip Labrum has been jailed for controlling behaviour and violence (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A wife described the misery and fear she endured after the "charmer" she married turned out to be an arrogant and devious bully. Phillip Labrum, a former solicitor from South Devon[15], appeared to be perfect husband material when the pair were hitched in 2017, Exeter[16] Crown Court was told.

But once the honeymoon period was over he became jealous and possessive. His behaviour included not allowing her to look and speak to other people, keeping her away from family and friends, accusing her of having affairs, calling her fat and making her feel guilty about having any hobbies or spending time away from him. His excessive drinking also led to violence.

The final straw came after he assaulted her while driving home to the South Hams[17] from Newton Abbot[18].

Amos Selahor has been jailed for violence in Devon (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A dangerous thug downed ten Jagerbombs before launching a savage attack on a man in a Devon pub. Amos Selahor left his victim with fractures to his jaw, eye, nose and skull when he exploded with violence in the Snug & Hyde in Ilfracombe[19]. As his blooded victim lay on the ground and fellow drinkers dragged him away he shouted: "I hope he's dead." Selahor, from Salford in Greater Manchester, was in the area after committing a burglary of a Porche dealership in Cheshire.

Before launching the unprovoked assault he ranted that he was "crazy". Exeter[20] Crown Court heard he has a history of violence and was locked up as a teenager for manslaughter.

Shaun Dewberry has been jailed for causing a serious crash in Bideford (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

An off-duty taxi driver was jailed for causing a horror crash that left a mum crushed and trapped in her wrecked vehicle near Bideford[21]. Shaun Dewberry was on his way home from the pub when he tried to take a straight route through a double bend on Barnstaple[22] Street. His victim was travelling in the opposite direction when she saw the headlights of his Mercedes hurtling towards her Peugeot on the wrong side of the road.

There was no time for either to react to the catastrophic head-on smash. Dewberry, 39, who was speeding and had been drinking and taking cocaine before getting behind the wheel, left the scene without checking to see if the other driver was injured.

Loui Guinan has been jailed for fraud, battery and theft (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

This Devon man was jailed for a crime spree which included emptying his grandmother's bank account and stealing from a professional footballer in London. Loui Guinan betrayed the woman who had raised him during a cruel and callous campaign of fraud and violence, a court heard.

At one point he held a burning lighter close to her face and demanded she reveal her PIN number so he could help himself to cash. He ended up draining her savings account of GBP6,500 and attempting to take almost GBP60,000. The offences happened after a smash and grab in London where he took a Louis Vuitton bag containing personal documents and designer shoes belonging to Watford footballer Imran Louza.

Matthew Clarke has been jailed for sexual offences (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A groomer dressed up as a furry animal and met a schoolgirl for sex.

Matthew Clarke gained the 14-year-old's trust before regularly meeting up with her at hotels around Devon, a court heard. He emotionally manipulated his victim by saying he was depressed and used encrypted chat to keep their relationship a secret. After his arrest police found images on his phone of the pair having sex.

Clarke, 28, of Bank Lane in Brixham[23], was jailed for four years for multiple offences of sexual activity with a child.

Dean Lane has been jailed for causing serious injury by dangerous driving (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A crazed driver left a woman with life-changing injuries after crushing her under the wheels of a car. Dean Lane took the woman's vehicle, reversed over her and then sped forward, injuring her a second time. She feared she was going to die and has recurring nightmares of the moment she saw the reverse lights of her own car heading towards her.

Lane was drunk, had no insurance or licence and had taken the woman's car without her consent. The defendant, 37, of Curwood Crescent, Tiverton[24], told Exeter[25] Crown Court he had no idea why he did it. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison.

Jamie Short has been jailed for attempted sexual communication with a child (Image: DevonLive)

An Exeter man was sent to jail after he was caught by paedophile hunters sending sexual messages to decoy children online.

Jamie Short used Facebook and WhatsApp to pester what he thought were 13 and 14-year-old girls. The 51-year-old sent them disgusting pictures of himself and tried to get photos of the children in return. He suggested they have sex, masqueraded as a teenaged boy and even offered to pay GBP300 to one child to watch him pleasure himself.

He was traced and arrested by police. Short, of Chestnut Avenue, Exeter[26], was given an 18-month prison sentence at Exeter Crown Court. The defendant, who has a history of violent crime, was already serving four and a half years for robbery.

Ben Pearsall has been jailed over Ilfracombe war plaque dealing (Image: DevonLive)

Two men "abused the memories" of Devon's war dead when they were caught with six bronze plaques ripped off the memorial in Ilfracombe[27].

Benjamin Pearsall and Jason Vickers tried to sell the tablets inscribed with the names of the fallen at a local scrap metal yard, a court heard. But staff at the centre, knowing the items had been stolen, kept them talking until police arrived. Both men appeared at Exeter[28] Crown Court on Monday to be sentenced for dealing in cultural objects.

Both men said they were sorry for what they had done and offered apologies to the people of the town. The judge said they had attempted to deal in objects which were "national treasures". Pearsall was jailed for 14 months and Vickers for 10 months.

Bradley Darke has been jailed for domestic violence (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

This violent teenager from Torquay was jailed for brutally assaulting his partner.

Bradley Darke beat up the woman during a sustained assault in April last year. He was aggressive and threatening during the relationship and "found pleasure in being violent", a court heard. The 19-year-old was jailed for two and a half years.

His abusive and cruel behaviour started soon after the pair got together. In January of 2023 he prevented the woman from leaving his flat, carrying her back inside, punching the wall, shouting and pushing her over, said prosecutor Mr Nigel Wraith.

Andrew Khan from Paignton has been jailed for drug offences (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

Police raided the home of a drug dealer in Paignton - seizing cocaine and amphetamine worth GBP158,000 on the streets. Andrew Khan was storing the huge stockpile for other people but also made money dealing his own smaller stash, a court heard.

Police also found an extendable police-style baton at his home in Paignton[29]. The 39-year-old admitted two offences of possessing drugs with intent to supply to supply and having the weapon when he appeared at Exeter[30] Crown Court. The defendant, of Queen Elizabeth Drive, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Muarug Abraham Gebremcal is wanted by police for breaching bail conditions (Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)

A fugitive rapist who attacked a drunken Christmas[31] party goer as she walked home from a nightclub was sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Muarug Gebremcal went on the run after being found guilty of rape by a jury at Exeter[32] Crown Court in September and remains at large despite the police making an appeal to trace him and a judge issuing a warrant for his arrest. Judge Anna Richardson sentenced him in his absence and put him on the sex offenders register for life. She previously adjourned the case for eight days to give the police a further chance to arrest him.

She said he will face a separate prosecution for breaching the Bail Act when he is traced. He surrendered his passport to the police after his conviction and is not thought to have left the country or returned to Eritrea, where he was born. Barry Rose

Barry Rose from Newton Abbot (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

Aged 30, from Newton Abbot, Barry Rose was sentenced to six years in prison at Exeter Crown Court for possession with intent to supply 2kg heroin, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Stuart Grant

Stuart Grant from Torquay (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

Aged 44, from Torquay, Stuart Grant was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison at Exeter Crown Court on Monday 12 February for conspiracy to supply cocaine, and possession and transfer of criminal property.

MARCH

Artur Surmiak has been jailed for arson (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A homeless man bent on revenge was jailed for trying to set fire to flats near Exeter[33] Cathedral owned by a homeless charity. Artur Surmiak, 34, was seen attempting to ignite Rizla paper with a barbecue lighter in the letterbox of 2A Cathedral Yard, a court heard. The next day a police officer turned up to investigate and saw Surmiak at it again - this time having stuffed more paper in the letterbox.

He ran away leaving only minor scorch damage behind. It turned out that a month before the incident Surmiak had been kicked out of the flat by owners St Petrock's for unacceptable behaviour. When a housing officer saw him sleeping rough a short time later he vowed revenge by burning the flat down.

Christine Rawle has been found guilty of the murder of her husband Ian in Devon (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A Devon woman who knifed her husband in the back - then claimed she was the victim of domestic violence - was sentenced to life in prison for his murder.

Christine Rawle said she was terrified of husband Ian Rawle, 72, when she stabbed him at their house near Braunton. She told police he had been cruel, controlling and violent to her during a 29-year marriage. But a jury at Exeter[34] Crown Court did not believe her account and found her guilty of murder after a trial.

On Friday, a judge sentenced her to life in prison with a minimum term of 15 years and 153 days. He said: "It was a wholly unprovoked attack when he was completely defenceless." He said Ian Rawle was "in no way the serial domestic abuser" his wife tried to paint him as.

Paul Pickering has been jailed for GBH in Torquay (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

This Torquay[35] man downed two litres of vodka and ran over his partner with his mobility scooter. Paul Pickering mowed down the woman outside her home in Teignmouth[36] Road.

Instead of stopping to help he drove off - leaving his partner of 20 years to hobble to the house and call 999 for help. She suffered a broken wrist and a broken foot in the incident. Pickering has a history of violence within the relationship and appeared at Exeter[37] Crown Court to be sentenced for causing grievous bodily harm.

He was jailed for a year and seven months.

Clay Bamford, also known as Clay Davies (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

This man was jailed for raping one 13-year-old girl and sexually assaulting a second after they had been plied with alcohol by a group of street drinkers[38]. Clay Bamford met the two schoolgirls after they had gone back to his father's flat with other youngsters who had been drinking near Exeter[39] Cathedral. He carried on drinking with the girls before raping one under a duvet on the floor and putting his hands inside the clothing of the other.

She was so terrified that she thought about jumping to safety from a first floor balcony but instead chose to stay with her friend. Bamford, who had recently been released from jail for a street attack in Exeter, was due up in court the very next day for exposing himself to a policeman.

Adelaji Licaj and Valerian Ndreca

Two men were jailed after police uncovered a massive cannabis farm near Exeter[40]. Valerian Ndreca and Adelaji Licaj, both 28, were found on the roof of an industrial building in Exminster.

Inside the building police found 705 cannabis plants. The potential yearly value of the crop was estimated to be GBP1.7million. Both men appeared at Exeter Crown Court on Friday and were jailed for two years and four months.

Both were in the country illegally after arriving in boats across the English Channel, the court heard. They will likely be deported on release.

Anthony Moss has been jailed for burglary (Image: DevonLive)

A Torbay[41] man who has notched up almost 150 previous crimes was jailed for his latest stealing spree. Anthony Moss used a rock to smash his way into a shop in Paignton[42] and snatch vapes and scratch cards.

He then targeted cars in the local area - stealing vehicles and contents. Items he took included medical equipment belonging to a doctor and a laptop belonging to a teacher. Moss, aged 47, of Smallcombe Road, was told by a judge at Exeter[43] Crown Court that he is too old to still be behaving in this way.

The prolific thief has 146 previous offences on his record, mainly for burglary, taking vehicles and some violence.

Alexander Knight AKA Grice (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A former consultant anaesthetist at The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital was jailed for possessing indecent images of children, extreme pornography and other prohibited images. Alexander Grice, aged 54, also known as Alexander Knight, was caught when a colleague saw him viewing an image on his phone as they were waiting for a patient to be brought into theatre. He was reported, his electronic devices seized, and over 10,000 illegal images were found on a storage device at his home.

More than 3,000 of these were classed as category A images, the most serious in nature. Grice, of East Street, Chulmleigh, pleaded guilty to a total of five charges and was sentenced to 20 months on Friday at Exeter[44] Crown Court.

Jinu Shaji has been jailed for ill-treating a nursing home resident in Exeter (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A cruel care worker was jailed after being caught on camera subjecting a 94-year-old man to sickening ill-treatment. Jinu Shaji was working at the Langford Park Nursing Home in Exeter[45] when he pushed the vulnerable man's legs backwards over his head causing excruciating pain.

He ignored the man's cries of pain and pleas to stop and held him in position for four minutes. The incident was captured on a spy camera installed by relatives of the resident who had raised concerns with management about bruises on his legs. When the manager of the home viewed the footage she said she had never seen anything so cruel in her 38 years of working in the care sector.

Dominic Court has been jailed for violence against his partner (Image: DevonLive)

A semi-professional footballer was jailed for violent and controlling behaviour against his partner.

Dominic Court, 24, was described as a "jealous and violent bully" who made his girlfriend's life a living hell. During a campaign of aggressive behaviour he grabbed her around the throat, menaced, kicked, spat at, bombarded her with messages and told her he dreamed of beating her up. During one terrifying incident the victim considered jumping 20ft out of a window to escape his knife threats.

When police got involved he ignored an order to stay away and used emotional blackmail by crying and threatening to harm himself.

APRIL

Dean Hawkins has been jailed for burglary in Barnstaple (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A terrified single mum woke in the middle of the night to find a burglar crawling around on the floor in her bedroom. Dean Hawkins broke into the house in Barnstaple[46] while the woman and her two young children were sleeping, a court heard. She initially saw the silhouette of a figure walking out onto the landing and was so scared she pretended to be asleep.

But when the figure returned two minutes later - this time crawling along the floor - she sat up and asked him to leave. Hawkins got his feet and walked out. He was later caught by police cycling away from the scene with a bag of stolen items.

Melanie Balshaw has been jailed for arson (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A woman was jailed for torching a vehicle in a car park next to the police station in Newton Abbot[47].

Melanie Balshaw, aged 40, said it was a cry for help because she was suffering with her mental health. Three months later, while on police bail, she set fire to a sofa in her flat in Torquay[48]. She told police she wanted to rid herself of items that gave her bad memories.

Balshaw pleaded guilty to two offences of arson and one of criminal damage when she appeared at Exeter[49] Crown Court on Tuesday. She was jailed for one year and eight months.

Merwais Nasiri has been jailed (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

This depraved sex predator was jailed for kidnapping a drunken student after she left an Exeter[50] nightclub and taking her into an alleyway. Merwais Nasiri, 25, pretended he was helping the woman but his real motive was to commit a sexual offence, a court heard.

She was barely conscious when he lifted her into a rubbish-strewn alleyway just metres away from clubbers leaving Fever nightclub in Mary Arches Street. He then rolled bins across the entrance so nobody could see what he was about to do. But a takeaway worker raised the alarm and doorstaff from the club moved the bins to find him kneeling over the woman.

No sexual offence was committed but a judge at Exeter Crown Court said Nasiri's intentions were clear.

Alastair Walsh has been jailed in Exeter (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A paedophile jailed for trying to contact children online said he did it as a form of escapism from his boring job. Alastair Walsh, 49, has been locked up for 18 months after being caught in a police sting. He was convicted of attempted sexual communication with three online profiles set up by undercover cops.

He quickly turned the chat sexual and discussed the possibility of meeting up. He did not know the profiles were decoys and the children did not exist. Police arrested him at his home in Ilfracombe[51] and seized devices.

They found evidence he also liked to chat with other paedophiles about his fantasies online.

Cocaine courier Delir Visha has been jailed in Exeter (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

An Albanian man caught on the A30 in Devon with cocaine worth GBP20,000 said he was trying to pay off a debt for his failed barber business. Delir Visha, 26, was acting as a courier for a drugs gang when he was stopped heading west near Oakhampton. He gave police a false name and would not tell them his date of birth.

Checks revealed he was an illegal immigrant from Albania. A search of the Ford[52] Fiesta discovered a quarter kilo of cocaine divided into 250 street deals. A smaller quantity of drugs was found hidden in a sock at his address in Ilfracombe[53] as well as German, Albanian and Greek identity documents.

A drug driver who wreaked havoc when he tried to 'dust' police in a dramatic car chase has been jailed.

Tony McDonough, 37, left a trail of destruction around Exeter[54] when he raced away from police officers in a Kia Sportage. McDonough crashed into three cars - including one carrying a 19-month-old toddler - as he raced through residential neighbourhoods, taking on more damage as he went. He pushed through traffic, overtook on the wrong side and when the vehicle was no longer driveable after the final collision McDonough tried to escape on foot.

He was soon caught and he boasted to police: "If I hadn't have hit that car I would have dusted you lot."

MAY

Ben Milton, left, and Jack Milton, right (Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)

Two brothers who blamed each other for killing a 34-year-old dad in Torquay[55] last year were both jailed for manslaughter. Jack and Ben Milton initially stood trial at Exeter[56] Crown Court accused of the murder of Aaron Parrington. He was fatally attacked and stabbed outside their home in Ellacombe Church Road during a fight.

Following a three-week trial at Exeter[57] Crown Court, a jury found the brothers guilty of manslaughter,[58] but not guilty of murder. Jack Milton, 20, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and Ben Milton, 19, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The violent incident stemmed from the theft of a bag which Aaron believed Ben Milton was responsible for.

50-year-old Friday Ugurou has been jailed for nine and a half years at Exeter Crown Court for the attempted rape of a young girl (Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)

A man was sentenced to more than nine years in prison after trying to rape a young girl in Devon.

Friday Ugurou, 50, assaulted the victim in Axminster[59]. He was jailed for nine-and-a-half years. During the trial[60], the court was told how Ugurou tried to rape the victim in a property before being disturbed.

He then stopped the attack and pleaded with her not to tell anyone.

Michael Holland has been jailed for ABH (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A thug was jailed for an unprovoked attack on a man in the middle of a Devon town. Michael Holland delivered a flurry of punches to his victim who was standing by the Jubilee monument in Axminster. After knocking him to the ground he stood over the man and shouted abuse before turning his aggression on members of the public who witnessed the assault.

Holland, 30, has a history of violence and appeared at Exeter[61] Crown Court to be sentenced for assault causing actual bodily harm. He was jailed for 15 months.

Ezra Robinson has been jailed for rape (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

Ezra Robinson, 31, a former soldier, was jailed for 11 years at Exeter[62] Crown Court. He was convicted at a trial in February of one count of rape and one of controlling or coercive behaviour within an intimate relationship.

It was his second conviction for rape. The judge added an extra five years of supervision which the dangerous offender must serve when he is released from jail. He praised the victim's dignity in reading out her personal impact statement in court.

She spoke to DevonLive about her ordeal and how she escaped an abusive relationship. While Robinson was at work she fled the house with her children.

Cheyenne Loder

A woman was brutally beaten by her drug-fuelled best friend before dying at a property in the South West[63] at the end of a three-day crack cocaine binge. Cheyenne Loder was covered in blood when she was arrested on suspicion of murdering her friend Hayley Adams in Devon on November 4, 2023.

After police arrived at the scene on Gorwell Road, Barnstaple[64], the 32-year-old woman said: "What have I done? I think I've killed Hayley." The case took a turn when a post-mortem examination revealed Miss Adams suffered from a pre-existing health condition, leading to uncertainty about the exact cause of her death. However, it was evident that, prior to her demise, Loder had inflicted a brutal assault on her friend, a mother to three.

She pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and received a two-and-a-half year sentence at Exeter Crown Court[65].

Gareth Wright has been jailed for violence (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A spurned Devon man exploded with anger and attacked his love rival who he suspected was having an affair with his partner, a court heard. Gareth Wright woke in the night to find and found his partner was not there. He armed himself with a knife and went to a nearby caravan where he suspected she might be with another man.

He barged in and assaulted the man who was sat up in bed. The chaotic scene included his partner jumping on his back to try and stop him carrying out his threats to stab. The knife ended up being thrown out of the window but Wright was not finished.

While leaving he smashed the TV and smashed the windscreen of the man's Jaguar car.

Kallum Warren has been jailed

A jealous Devon man was jailed for strangling his ex during a drunken rage. Kallum Warren, 25, from Bideford[66], laughed while slapping the woman and ordered her to put her hands up while he pointed an air rifle. He was angry after reading her text messages, a court heard.

The judge said there was no excuse for his controlling behaviour and aggression. The pair had previously been in a short relationship and Warren invited the woman over to his caravan in his mum's garden where he lived to talk about getting back together.

Cameron Duffy rom Exeter was jailed for stalking (Image: DevonLive)

A disturbed stalker from Exeter bombarded a terrified woman with hundreds of threatening messages and shared with her his "murderous thoughts". Cameron Duffy tormented the woman with chilling texts saying he hoped she would be killed and raped.

She lived in such fear of his constant threats that she would take her phone into the shower and pre-dial 999 in case he appeared without warning. Police, probation and mental health services all expressed concern about the danger Duffy poses to the woman and others due to the sinister nature of his messages. Duffy, previously of Exeter[67], was given a 14-month prison sentence at Exeter Crown Court but walked free due to the time he had already spent in custody.

Graham Ford has been jailed for attempted rape (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A 59-year-old man was jailed for attempting to rape and sexually assault a woman in Newton Abbot[68].

Graham Ford[69] was found guilty of the two offences by a jury at Exeter[70] Crown Court on March 25. He returned to court today and was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison. The offences relate to an incident which happened in May 2021.

The jury heard how Ford approached the victim and sexually assaulted her before she told him to go away. Ford then approached the woman again and attempted to rape her. The victim left the area and immediately called police.

Officers attended the scene and Ford was arrested.

Kai-Rhys Lawson, Hazem Badran and Aidan Manvell

Three Exeter men were jailed for a total of more than 30 years following a brutal attack which left a former friend in a coma fighting for his life. Euan Baker was 18 when he was subjected to a vicious and prolonged beating at his Exeter[71] home three years ago. The three masked assailants, also teenagers at the time, burst into his bedroom on 27 April 2021 and repeatedly beat him with a baseball bat and a hammer.

Mr Baker sustained a traumatic brain injury and spent two weeks in a medically-induced coma on a ventilator. He was lucky to survive the injuries inflicted upon him during the incident in the Stoke Hill area. Kai-Rhys Lawson, now 21, Aidan Manvell, 20, and Hazem Badran, 20, denied attempted murder and were acquitted by a jury at Exeter Crown Court following a trial in March.

They admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent and were subsequently convicted.

Dean Mayo has been jailed for dangerous driving on the M5 (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A driver took police on a dangerous chase down the M5[72] - hitting a speed of 127mph. Dean Mayo put his foot down when police asked him to pull over. He drove on the hard shoulder at 80mph before joining the main road and powering beyond 100mph.

Police eventually stopped him using a stinger near Cullompton[73]. Mayo, aged 28, told Exeter[74] Crown Court the car belonged to a friend and he was using it to go on holiday to Cornwall. He admitted dangerous driving, having no insurance, failing to stop and driving while disqualified.

Paul Winder has been jailed for drug offences (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A Devon man was jailed after police saw him conducting a high value drugs deal in a car park near Braunton.

Paul Winder was watched by cops as he got out of his Vauxhall Astra and made an exchange with a man in a Jaguar who had driven from London. Police moved in and arrested both men at the scene. Winder later said: "My heart sunk.

I'm going to prison for a long time." Winder, 41, had a one kilo block of cocaine, with a street value of GBP80,000, in the waistband. When police searched the Jag they found GBP26,990 in cash and a secret compartment near the glove box with another kilo of cocaine inside.

Drew Davey has been jailed for extreme violence (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

This drunken thug launched a horrifying attack on two vulnerable men living in sheltered accommodation after they found him sleeping in a shed.

Drew Davey pummelled his victims with a broken broom handle while shouting "Do you know who I am?" When police arrived at the scene they found two men covered in blood on the floor. They both suffered brain injuries as a result of the severe unprovoked violence dished out by Davey at premises in Westward Ho!

The 25-year-old ran from the building but was found a short time later hiding behind bushes. He said he had drunk eight cans of lager and could not remember the extreme violence.

Darren Medland has been jailed for historic sexual offences (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A Devon paedophile was jailed for sexually molesting two children more than three decades ago. Darren Medland admitted multiple charges of sexual touching, digital penetration and indecent assault at Exeter[75] Crown Court.

He committed many of the offences when he was under the age of 18, the court heard. Now aged 54 he was sentenced to nine years and one month which includes 12 months on extended licence when he is released. The court was read statements by both of his victims who described the lasting trauma caused by his assaults.

One felt rage at what had happened many years ago when he was a child.

JUNE

Stephen Parsons has been jailed for the murder of his wife (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A husband man who lied about killing his wife as part of a suicide pact was jailed for life after being found guilty of her murder. Stephen Parsons, 71, was convicted of killing 69-year-old Erica Parsons at their home in Bondleigh in 2023 following a trial at Exeter[76] Crown Court. The judge sentenced the killer to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years, less the time already served.

The court heard that on 11 February 2023, police were called to the couple's home after Stephen Parsons sent a message to a friend saying, 'by the time you read this we will be dead'. Emergency services rushed to the scene where they found Erica Parsons deceased in bed. Stephen Parson was found next to her with serious injuries to his arms and he was taken to hospital for treatment.

Tyler Brown has been jailed for burglary (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A man was jailed for massive spree of burglaries and vehicle thefts across Devon and Somerset.

Tyler Brown, 20, from Exeter[77], admitted 20 counts of burglary, two attempted burglaries and 15 further offences relating to the theft of vehicles from those burglaries. He was sentenced to five years and eight months. Brown, of no fixed abode, broke into 26 separate homes at night, often whilst the victims were asleep, to steal car keys and other personal belongings.

He would then take the owner's vehicles causing significant damage before abandoning them. The thefts involved differing makes and models of vehicles, but mainly those perceived to be of a higher value. The number plates were altered or changed to cloned plates.

Amarpreet Padda and Remi Curtis

This pair were jailed for attacking staff at McDonald's in Torquay[78] after trying to steal food from a delivery driver.

Amarpreet Padda, 43, and Remi Curtis, 29, assaulted members of staff after they were confronted for taking food from a delivery bag at the drive through on Hele Road on October 23 last year. Padda was jailed for five years and three months and Curtis to two years and one month. The court heard they takeaway shortly after 10pm where Curtis took a delivery bag from the driver and hid it under the table.

When they were approached about the stolen food by members of staff, Padda punched one to the face and grabbed another to the throat before following him as he tried to walk away.

Alfie Smith has been jailed for drug offences (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

An Exeter man was jailed after being caught dealing at a notorious drugs hotspot in the city. Alfie Smith was seen by cops trading heroin and crack cocaine for cash at Flowerpots Park. The judge said the playing fields have become well-known to the courts as place where drug dealers operate.

Smith, of Exwick Road, was sentenced to three years at Exeter[79] Crown Court. The 22-year-old was found to be in possession of nine wraps of cocaine with a street value of GBP90, heroin wraps worth GBP480 and some cash. At his home, police discovered two pairs of Nike Air Jordan trainers and a Louis Vuitton bag which was seized as criminal property.

Tyrone Barton has been jailed (Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

A depraved paedophile from North Devon[80] was jailed for 27 years for a 'campaign of rape' against two children.

Tyrone Barton was convicted of multiple sexual offences at Exeter[81] Crown Court. The 64-year-old, from Barnstaple[82], admitted 12 offences. The judge said the most serious offence 'could only be described as evil'.

The court heard moving statements from both victims in which they described the trauma caused by offences. Afterwards, police praised their courage in coming forward and welcomed the sentence.

Joshua Theophanides from Newton Abbot has been founf guilty of one count of rape and three counts of stalking (Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)

This dangerous Devon man was taken off the streets and jailed after being found guilty of rape and stalking charges. Joshua Theophanides, 37, from Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot[83], was handed his sentence at Exeter[84] Crown Court following a trial where he was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of stalking.

Theophanides received an extended sentence, which includes 11 years in custody and an additional four years to be served on extended licence. He is also required to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life and was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting 20 years. During the trial, the court was told that Theophanides raped a woman, causing her severe psychological trauma.

Megan Tarrant was convicted of violence in Exeter (Image: DevonLive)

An Exeter woman who stabbed a neighbour told police she had 'wanted to kill' for a while.

Megan Tarrant attacked the man when he came to speak to her about her aggressive behaviour to his partner, a court heard. But Megan, who has appeared in several independent films as an actor, claimed not to know who he was and stabbed his hand and leg. She told him: "If you come back here I'm going to stab you in the neck."

She was arrested and was originally due to stand trial accused of attempted murder. The Crown accepted her plea to wounding with intent and she was sentenced on Monday to three years and one month in jail.

A woman was jailed and banned from keeping animals indefinitely after 191 dogs were found living in squalid and overcrowded conditions in a remote field in Devon. Diana Curtis crammed the animals, including puppies, into pens and crates, causing them unnecessary suffering, a court heard.

Curtis, 66, moved the animals between premises in North Devon in an attempt to avoid detection. When RSPCA inspectors finally caught up with her they found a scene of chaos, with a huge number of dogs living in dirt under tarpaulin sheets behind fencing and in the back of a lorry. Many of the mud-covered animals were tightly packed in pens, crates and partly-built stables, competing for meagre supplies of food and water.

Two of the dogs had to be put to sleep by vets.

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