Worst crimes heard at Southampton Crown Court this year
If walls could talk, many shocking stories would come from the mouth of Southampton Crown Court. We are not even halfway through the year, but several defendants who committed abhorrent crimes have appeared before court. Here are some of the worst crimes we have heard this year.
Dangerous driver tried to flee scene with stolen toaster
Ross Neiland was sentenced for dangerous driving in February following a fatal crash on the M27 in February 2023.
The court heard he was travelling at more than 90 miles per hour on the motorway near Southampton in heavy rain when he lost control, crashing into a Nissan Juke which crashed into a lorry driven by Michal Kaminski. Kaminski, 36, would have died instantly, a pathologist said. The 38-year-old from Littlehampton had been shoplifting in Portsmouth earlier that day, and tried to flee the scene of devastation with stolen items - including a toaster - before he was apprehended by a member of the public.
He was jailed for nine years[1] and nine months. 
Stalker covered wall in photos of his ex
"Obsessive" Andrew Douglas, 45, followed and messaged his former partner for nearly four years after their relationship ended. When the relationship ended, he sent her letters and approached her in public, calling her on her new phone number.
He relentlessly continued to try and pursue her[2] and would stand outside her home up to three times a week, the court was told. He was handed an 18-month community order which includes 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
![Andrew Douglas]()
Andrew Douglas (Image: Newsquest) Fraudster couple swindle thousands from company
Partners in crime[3] - and marriage - Sophia and Liam McCart stole approximately GBP62,000 from SIG plc where Mrs McCart worked as an assistant branch manager in 2022. Over a period spanning four months, she took GBP62,776.10 from the company[4] while working at the branch in Southampton.
The cash was obtained through refunds processed by Mrs McCart, who then received relevant bank account details from Mr McCart, into which the money was transferred. The McCarts, both of Campbell Way, Fair Oak, were spared jail after appearing in court earlier this year. 
Fortnite predator prowled the streets and internet
An 18-year-old admitted to using Fortnite to string up a connection with an underage boy, before inciting him to perform a sexual act.
Jayden Smith, now 19, struck up a conversation with a nine-year-old boy on the popular video game, before moving he conversation to Whatsapp, under the guise of being a 12-year-old boy. He "obsessively asked" for pictures of the boy wearing underwear[5] and even requested a video of him urinating in a bottle. Less than a month later, Smith was driving around a residential area in Hedge End when he followed, stopped, and spoke to a six-year-old boy.
He encouraged the youngster to follow him into a concealed area of woodland, before asking him to expose himself. Smith, of Blendworth Lane, Harefield, was handed a prison sentence of two years and nine months in April. 
'Lonely' man set house alight on Christmas Day
A man who consumed a cocktail of drugs and alcohol was jailed for setting his home on fire.
On Christmas Day last year, Thomas Russell was rescued from his home in Eastleigh and spent six days in a coma after a drugs-induced breakdown[6]. He started the fire after spending the day with family and friends, and his thoughtless actions put his vulnerable neighbours, both in their 80s, at serious risk. Russell, of Goodacre Drive, Chandler's Ford was handed a sentence of four and a half years.
He will serve half in prison and the remaining half on licence.
References
- ^ jailed for nine years (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ relentlessly continued to try and pursue her (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ crime (dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ she took GBP62,776.10 from the company (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ "obsessively asked" for pictures of the boy wearing underwear (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ after a drugs-induced breakdown (www.dailyecho.co.uk)