Two killers, politician who took Russian bribes, and 118mph biker jailed in November
Two killers who punched their victims causing catastrophic injuries were among offenders to be jailed in North Wales in November. In another incident a woman who plunged a broken bottle into man's neck was also caged.
In other cases a man who made a slashing motion with a knife and a 118mph motorcyclist who evaded three police stingers were also sent to prison.
At the Old Bailey the former leader of Reform UK in Wales Nathan Gill was jailed for ten-and-a-half years after admitting making pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament for cash. Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
Here is a summary of these harrowing crimes which led to judges putting offenders behind bars last month. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here[1]
Paul Ince
Paul Ince, 31, of Cefn Road, Abenbury, Wrexham, was convicted of the manslaughter of John Ithell -Credit:North Wales Police
A "remorseless" thug was jailed for eight years for unlawfully killing a Wrexham man.
John Ithell had turned up at a flat looking for drugs.
But Paul Ince, 31, of Cefn Road, Abenbury, Wrexham, stormed downstairs and punched him in the back garden. The blow sent 59-year-old Mr Ithell reeling "four or five feet" against a wooden fence and onto a concrete path. Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
Although he was later able to walk away, Mr Ithell, who was frail and vulnerable, was found later that morning in a hedge by a cyclist.
Paramedics took him to Wrexham Maelor Hospital where he died hours later.[2]
Cassie Evans
Cassie Evans, 34, of Watery Road in Wrexham, was jailed for 32 months today for wounding with intent -Credit:North Wales Police
A woman smashed a bottle against a bin and stabbed a man in the neck with it. Cassie Evans carried out the attack in Wrexham[3] city centre.
Evans, 34, of Watery Road, Wrexham, admitted wounding[4] with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
A judge at Mold[5] Crown Court jailed her for 32 months for the wounding charge. He also gave her an eight-month jail term, to run concurrently, for the offensive weapon offence.
Luke Williams
Luke Williams, 30, of Chester Road, Broughton, was jailed for six years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent -Credit:North Wales Police
A thug inflicted "horrific" injuries on a complete stranger after launching a "savage" attack on him in a pub.
Luke Williams' attack on the man "came from nowhere" and his own barrister called it "shocking". Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement
Williams, a former Airbus worker and regional rugby player, threw a bar stool and a bubble gum machine[6] at Alec Regan in the 20-minute incident at The New Glynne Arms, Chester Road, Broughton[7], in the early hours of August 6 this year.
The 30-year-old admitted causing grievous bodily harm. A judge at Caernarfon[8] Crown Court branded Williams a dangerous offender.
Dafydd Harper
Dafydd Harper, 43, of no fixed address, was jailed for 16 months for threatening a person with a blade in a public place in Wrexham -Credit:North Wales Police
A man pulled out a knife and made a "slashing motion" towards a man who was following him in a busy city centre.
Dafydd Harper then tried to hide the blade in a flowerbed in Wrexham city centre.
But a member of the public spotted him and gave the knife and spare blades to police. Harper, 43, admitted threatening a person with a blade in a public place. Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
A judge at Mold Crown Court jailed Harper for 16 months. Prosecutor Amy Edwards said the defendant had been in The Midland pub in Wrexham[9] on Saturday, September 9 this year.
Christopher Campbell
Christopher Campbell, 32, of Rhosddu Road, Wrexham, admitted an offence of controlling and coercive behaviour, threatening his mother and stepfather with a knife, and a count of wounding. He was jailed for four and a half years. -Credit:North Wales Police
A 32-year-old man who subjected his former partner to violence and threatened his mother and stepdad with a knife has been jailed.
Christopher Campbell, of Rhosddu Road, Wrexham[10], admitted an offence of controlling and coercive behaviour. He also admitted threatening his mother and stepfather with a knife[11], and a count of wounding.
He was jailed for four and a half years at Mold Crown Court. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here[14][12][13]
James Price
James Price, 41, of The Crescent, Gowkshill, Gorebridge, Edinburgh, was jailed for three years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving -Credit:North Wales Police
A "callous" hit-and-run driver ignored his seriously injured victim's pleas for help and instead dragged him "further into harm's way" before fleeing the scene. James Price was driving his car when he cut a corner and ploughed into Paul Astbury, who had been crossing the road.
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement
Mr Astbury was carried on the bonnet until Price applied the brakes, and the badly injured victim came to rest five to ten metres from where the collision happened.
Price, 41, got out of the car but ignored two desperate pleas by Mr Astbury,[15] who had suffered life-changing injuries, to call an ambulance.
James McLoughlin
James McLoughlin, 31, of Queens Road, Llandudno Junction, was jailed for a total of two years for a wounding offence and assaulting an emergency worker. -Credit:North Wales Police
A man has been jailed after wounding his partner and assaulting two police officers. The officers had to use Captor spray to get James McLoughlin under control.
A court heard the incident happened after police were called to a property in Llandudno[16] Junction in April. McLoughlin, of Queens Road, Llandudno Junction[17], admitted causing grievous bodily harm without intent to Tammy Mason, assaulting two emergency workers and breaching a court order.
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement
A judge at Mold Crown Court jailed the 31-year-old for a total of 24 months. [18]
Benjamin Williams
Benjamin Williams, 25, of Foxes Court, Mancot, was jailed for 16 months for dangerous driving -Credit:North Wales Police
An "idiotic" motorist drove at up to 115mph on the A55[19] during a police chase. He was eventually stopped, when police deployed a stinger device to bring his car to a halt.
Benjamin Williams, 25, of Foxes Court, Mancot, was jailed for 16 months for dangerous driving. Williams, who had taken his friend's car, admitted a string of motoring offences.
Mold Crown Court heard Williams had been allowed to stay with a friend.
But before she woke up he took her Volvo car in March. Police spotted it facing the wrong way in a one-way street and an officer chased it.[20]
Gareth Jones
Gareth Jones, 25, of Cwrt Berllan, Prestatyn, was jailed for 16 months for robbery in Rhyl -Credit:North Wales Police
A robber who stole goods from a store pushed over a "courageous" shopworker as he fled. His victim hit her head on metal bollard outside the store.
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement
Gareth Jones and two accomplices had targeted the One Stop shop in Rhuddlan Road in Rhyl late on Halloween on October 31 in 2023.
They collected items and one asked about Toblerone, making the shift managers suspicious. Jones, 25, admitted robbery[21] and was jailed at Mold Crown Court for 16 months. His accomplices Anthony Horan, 46, and James Birtwistle, 32, admitted theft with both receiving community orders.
Evan Wright
Evan Wright, 22, of no fixed address, was jailed for 32 months after being convicted of using coercive and controlling behaviour -Credit:North Wales Police
An "obsessively jealous" man abused his partner for months.
Evan Wright called her offensive names and punched her.
The 22-year-old admitted using controlling and coercive behaviour against his victim between January and May this year. A judge jailed him for 32 months Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell told Mold Crown Court Wright, of no fixed address, isolated her from her family and friends.
The couple were homeless before moving into a flat in Saltney in January.[22]
Anthony Mitchell
Anthony Mitchell, 33, of Llanasa Road, Gronant, Prestatyn, was jailed for 21 months -Credit:North Wales Police
A motorcyclist who repeatedly tore past speed cameras at up to 118mph after removing his BMW machine's number plate was a "serious accident waiting to happen," a judge said as he jailed him. Anthony Mitchell, 33, of Llanasa Road, Gronant, Prestatyn[23], had at times ridden one-handed, Mold Crown Court was told.
Prosecutor Laura Knightly said on May 16 police had been waiting for him on the A548 coast road at Mostyn. But Mitchell turned around when he saw a Stinger, a device to burst his tyres.
He admitted dangerous driving, trying to pervert justice and a dozen speeding offences within a few weeks. The prosecution said he'd reached 118mph and 107mph in a 40mph limit.[24]
Rebecca Jones
Rebecca Louise Jones, 33, of Trem Engan, Penygroes, was jailed for 22 months for doing an act intended to pervert the course of public justice. -Credit:North Wales Police
A "jealous and insecure" woman tried to ruin the life of her partner's former girlfriend.
Rebecca Jones made false claims against her victim who considered jumping off a breakwater due to the mental stress of the situation. Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement
Jones' unfounded claims led to her victim being arrested twice, being suspended from work and having hallucinations about spiders.
Eventually, police realised it was in fact Jones herself who was behind the false messages over five months. Jones, 33, of Trem Engan, Penygroes, Gwynedd[25], admitted doing an act intended to pervert the course of public justice[26] and was jailed for 22 months.
Thomas Iveson
Thomas Iveson, 30, of Llyndir Lane, Burton, Rossett, arriving at Mold Crown Court -Credit:North Wales Police
A man who beat a much-loved dad to death in his own home was jailed for nine years.
Thomas Iveson, 30, killed Craig Joseph Richardson, 37, at his flat in the Plas Madoc area of Acrefair on February 23 this year.
Iveson, of Llyndir Lane in Burton, Rossett, was convicted of the manslaughter of Mr Richardson earlier this month following a trial. A jury found him not guilty of murder. Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
In the early hours of February 23, Iveson went with Mr Richardson to his flat.
Later that morning, Mr Richardson was found dead by friends having sustained multiple catastrophic injuries[27].
Iveson admitted punching Mr Richardson three times.
Nathan Gill
Nathan Gill -Credit:Metropolitan Police/PA
At the Old Bailey in London the former leader of Reform UK in Wales was jailed for ten-and-a-half years after admitting making pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament for cash.
Nathan Gill, 52, of Llangefni on Anglesey, was sentenced after previously admitting eight counts of bribery on dates between December 6, 2018 and July 18, 2019.[28][29][30]
Gill's activities were said to include making pro-Russian statements about events in Ukraine in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine.
During a previous hearing, prosecuting Mark Heywood KC, said the offences concerned Gill's time as a member of the European Parliament, having been originally elected for the UK Independence Party (Ukip).
Find crime figures for your area
References
- ^ latest court stories here (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ he died hours later. (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Wrexham (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ admitted wounding (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Mold (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ threw a bar stool and a bubble gum machine (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Broughton (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Caernarfon (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Prosecutor Amy Edwards said the defendant had been in The Midland pub in Wrexham (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Wrexham (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ He also admitted threatening his mother and stepfather with a knife (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Mold (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Court (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ latest court stories here (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ ignored two desperate pleas by Mr Astbury, (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Llandudno (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Llandudno Junction (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ jailed the 31-year-old for a total of 24 months. (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ A55 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ an officer chased it. (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ admitted robbery (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ moving into a flat in Saltney in January. (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Prestatyn (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ The prosecution said he'd reached 118mph and 107mph in a 40mph limit. (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Gwynedd (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ doing an act intended to pervert the course of public justice (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ sustained multiple catastrophic injuries (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Llangefni (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Anglesey (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ admitting eight counts of bribery on dates between December 6, 2018 and July 18, 2019. (www.dailypost.co.uk)