The criminals jailed at Truro Crown Court in May

May has proved to be a huge month at Truro Crown Court with a large number of criminals being sent to prison for crimes that range from the shocking to the downright ridiculous.

We have reported on a total of 17 people being jailed, some of whom received lengthy sentenced in recognition of some particularly grim crimes.

Here's who's been put behind bars this month

Nathan Hughes

A 41-year-old man who robbed a booze shop in his own town while armed with a pistol was jailed for nearly nine years.  

Nathan Hughes, of Bishop Close, Wheal Harmony, Redruth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday (May 2), having previously pleaded guilty to a total of nine offences.

Father-of-two Hughes admitted a robbery charge relating to October 24, 2018, when he stole £500 in cash from Redruth Off-Licence on Fore Street.

He also admitted being in possession of an imitation firearm when the incident happened, namely a blank firing pistol.

Hughes was also sentenced for seven other counts; attempting to convert an imitation firearm into a usable weapon, three counts of possessing an imitation firearm including a fully functioning submachine gun, possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate, possession of a Class A drug (heroin) and production of a Class B drug (cannabis).

Hughes denied a second charge of attempting to convert an imitation firearm into a usable weapon, which will remain on file.

Prosecuting barrister Adrian Chaplin described to the court the events that unfolded on the night Hughes robbed the Redruth booze shop.

At around 7.45pm Alex Rogers was working alone in the shop when the front door opened and a man later identified as Hughes entered wearing a hooded coat.

As Mr Rogers looked up he saw Hughes holding a black handgun in his right hand. Hughes asked for money from the till and reached over and took £500 in cash.

Hughes made threats to slice Mr Rogers, pointing the gun in his face before making off with the cash.

Clothing that Hughes had discarded was later checked for DNA, which was matched to Hughes.

A week after the incident police raided Hughes’ property as part of a national operation that saw at least 61 firearms seized and ten people arrested in raids coordinated by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

They were targeting individuals believed to have bought prohibited Flobert or blank-firing weapons online from sellers in eastern Europe.

During the raid at Hughes’ home officers found three imitation firearms, a fully functioning submachine gun and two blank firing pistols, one of which was used during the robbery.

In police interview Hughes denied robbery but admitted an interest in guns, claiming he wasn’t aware those in his possession were illegal. He accepted the drugs offences.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Rogers said he had the misfortune of being at the receiving end of another armed robbery in the same shop just six months earlier.

“This made me want to quit my job and leave Redruth for good,” he said. “I was waking up having flashbacks and nightmares and couldn’t face going to work.

“I felt like a target and vulnerable. My job options are limited in Redruth and I feel a sense of loyalty to my boss.  

“He (Hughes) pointed a gun at my face. He made me believe I might die, that’s not something I can just forget and move on from.”

Prior to passing sentence there was some confusion over certain aspects of law, and Judge Linford apologised to Hughes for the delay.

“I am sorry Mr Hughes, this should not be happening when you are sitting in the dock and worrying about your future,” Judge Linford told him.

Hughes, smartly dressed and sitting patiently, was polite and thoroughly understanding.

After some deliberation between the barristers, Judge Robert Linford returned to sentence Hughes to a total of eight years and nine months in prison.

He told Hughes: “You pointed an imitation gun directly at his (the victim) face, and at that point he thought he was going to die.

“His victim statement demonstrates the profound effect your actions have had on this man.

“You were in possession of a number of weapons, including a submachine gun which was capable of being fired. No ammunition was found that could have armed that weapon, but this is a very serious offence.

“I’ve read a letter you have written to me and read your pre-sentence report, which is testament to the efforts you are making on remand to turn your life around.

“Your background is not your fault, I was moved by the letter you have written. You are quite clearly an intelligent and articulate man and you have expressed remorse for what you have done, and you offered this expression of remorse to Mr Rogers.”

Richard Wills

A man was jailed after storming into a doctor’s surgery and throwing a bottle of urine around a treatment room, causing the practice to close for a month.

Boat designer Richard Wills, who lives in a boatyard in Millbrook, near Torpoint, was convicted by jury of causing a public nuisance, criminal damage and common assault following a short trial.

The incident happened on the morning of June 15, 2018 at Millbrook Surgery near Torpoint.

Wills, 52, denied being the man who committed the offences, but was found guilty by a jury.

Prosecuting barrister Hollie Gilbery told the court how Wills’ actions caused damage to a bed, chair and medical equipment, while his aggressive language towards surgery receptionist Charlotte Pidgen formed the common assault charge.

The surgery had to close for a month for deep cleaning and for extra security to be installed, causing mass disruption to staff and the community.

“At about 8.30am on June 15 Mr Wills went to Millbrook Surgery where Miss Pidgen was working as a receptionist and Dr Lawrence Barnes was treating,” Ms Gilbery said.

“Miss Pidgen was sitting on the reception desk and in the middle of a call when Mr Wills walked in and walked past Miss Pidgen’s desk and let himself into the nurses’ treatment room.

“Miss Pidgen followed Mr Wills in to see what he was doing, and Mr Wills produced from a plastic bag a plastic [bottle] containing liquid, he removed the liquid from the bottle and [threw it] around the room, over the bed, chair and furniture in that room.

“Miss Pidgen was concerned and asked him what he was doing. Mr Wills said, ‘You want to f**k with me’, and Miss Pidgen called to Dr Barnes to come and help.”

Miss Gilbery added that Wills then walked out of the surgery, while Dr Barnes tried to catch up with him once the pair were outside.

Police were called, and the liquid thrown was determined to be urine

Wills was arrested and interviewed by police on October 1, 2018, and provided no comment in that interview.

Miss Pidgen was the first witness called by the prosecution. She testified that she recognised Wills, as she had met him on one occasion a few months earlier.

After the jury delivered its verdict, the court also heard that the surgery had refused to register Wills as a patient due to his behaviour.  

Miss Pidgen added: “He walked straight through the door towards where the nurses’ rooms are. He took a white bottle out which was full of liquid, quite a big bottle. I asked what he was doing,

“He started to pour the liquid that was in the bottle all over the bed, the floor and the chair. I asked him what he was doing. I said, ‘you can’t do this’. [He then said] ‘You wanna f*** with me’?”

Miss Pidgen added that was “scared”, and that she “genuinely believed at that point it was petrol because of the way he was throwing it”.

She then shouted for the GP who was in the neighbouring room, Dr Lawrence Barnes, who advised her to call the police.

Miss Pidgen added that Wills then put the empty bottle back in the plastic bag before leaving the surgery, while Dr Barnes followed him outside.

Dr Barnes said he had previously had an hour-long encounter with Wills, and that he also recognised him.

In a statement, the surgery owner confirmed that the practice had to close for four weeks, resulting in the cancellation of nearly 1,500 various appointments.

The surgery was closed to enable the treatment room to be deep cleaned, while extra security measures including CCTV were also installed.

The owner added that the closure had a “big impact” on the local community.

Judge Simon Carr considered a number of sentencing possibilities, including a suspended sentence, but decided prison was the only appropriate sentence.

Explaining to Wills why he had jailed him for six months, Judge Carr said: “That is because of your continuing lack of responsibility or insight into what you did, the level of harm caused and the effect on others.

“For whatever reason, over a number of years, you have had difficulty with and challenged a number of bodies, most notably in this case the NHS.

“You perceived their recording of your symptoms and treatment to be inadequate and have been in conflict with them.

“It’s not unheard of for people to have difficulties, disputes are common, but what isn’t is your way of dealing with it.

“You have a clear tendency to confront problems with abuse, aggression, inappropriate comments and occasionally threats. That is how you choose to deal with people you disagree with.

“The surgery declined to register you as a patient, as they are entitled to do. You saw that as some sort of slight.

“You clearly planned to cause as much upset as you could. You picked that substance for one reason only, to cause maximum offence.

“You have shown no remorse for what you did and no insight into the harm you have caused.”

Judge Carr added: “That surgery, in a relatively remote area, had to close for a month. Sick, vulnerable and elderly patients had their appointments delayed.

“You are of impeccable character and you have genuine physical disabilities. You are an intelligent and articulate man.

“But I have no doubt that the courts must protect those in the NHS, those who provide an essential service in the community and elsewhere.”

A restraining order was also imposed, banning Wills from going to or contacting the surgery and its staff.

Jason Barnes

A 29-year-old who was jailed for possessing pre-teen sex images said he was suffering from a pornography addiction.

Jason Barnes, of Nicholas Parc, Heamoor, Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court on Friday, May 3.

Barnes pleaded guilty to possessing 546 indecent images of children, of making 20 indecent images and of distributing 3 indecent images in the form of videos. According to the law, the charge of ‘making’ an indecent image could mean deliberately downloading or saving them to a computer.

The dates of the offences vary between February 28 and August 25 of 2017.

Philip Lee, prosecuting, said Barnes was given a prison sentence of eight months, suspended for two years, in October of 2016 for similar offences.

He said: “Following information received, police attended his home address – this then a year later – and seized a computer and two phones. He told officers at the time: ‘I’ve been silly’. It was apparent from his phone he was still searching for inappropriate material.”

He said the charge of distributing indecent images referred to three videos, depicting children aged between 10 and 15, which were sent to another person via WhatsApp.

When asked why the case had taken a year and a half to come to court, Mr Lee said there had been a delay in examining the devices due to police workloads. A third device was also seized for examination in October last year.

“A search of the web history on that device showed a persistent interest in so-called pre-teen sex imagery,” he added.

Judge Robert Linford slammed the delay, saying to Barnes: “It is wholly unacceptable you were not initiated on that programme. When a judge directs that a defendant attends such a programme, the judge expects his order to be completed swiftly and not left for over a year.

“The effect of that has been, although you had a suspended sentence hanging over you, that you did not have that programme to help you with what your counsel has called an addiction. However, you did not need a course to tell you that what you were doing was wrong, and seriously wrong.”

Barnes was jailed for six months for possessing the images, six months for making the images and 16 months for distributing them, all to run concurrently.

The suspended sentence was also activated for two-months, to run consecutively, bringing the total prison sentence to 18 months in custody.

Barnes was already listed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Thomas Halford and Reece Jackson

A pair of drug dealers were banged up for several years after one of them was caught red-handed crossing into Cornwall in a taxi with £27,000 of heroin and crack cocaine in the boot.

Thomas Halford, 29, and Reece Jackson, 28, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing having previously pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to supply the class A drugs.

Brian Fitzherbert, for the prosecution, told the court how on October 30, 2017, Halford had taken a taxi journey around Plymouth which the driver thought was suspicious.

He asked to stop at different addresses, including one linked to class A drug activity, before booking a journey to a caravan site in Looe.

But the taxi was stopped by police crossing the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall at 7.25pm that evening.

Halford was in the back of the taxi, in possession of three mobile phones and a wrap of drugs. He told officers he was in the area on holiday.

Police found a series of bags in the boot, containing five sets of digital scales and two coffee jars full of heroin and crack cocaine.

They seized 123 grams of heroin, worth just under £13,000, and 143 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of £14,340.

While Jackson wasn’t in the taxi, his DNA was found on the drug packaging.

Halford was arrested, while Jackson was later arrested in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. The court heard how Jackson, carrying £300 in cash in his socks, climbed out of a window in an attempt to evade officers.

A third man was also arrested, but later released without charge.

Mobile phones seized linked both Halford and Jackson to class A drug supply. They offered no comment in police interview, but later admitted street dealing together.

The pair, both of Winsford, Cheshire, have several previous convictions; Halford has appeared in court 20 times for 47 offences, which include class A drug supply.

Jackson has been in court on 15 occasions for 22 offences. At the time of his arrest he was unlawfully at large, having been sentenced to 54 months in prison in his absence just a few weeks earlier, also for heroin and crack supply.

Judge Simon Carr sentenced Halford to four years in jail, while Jackson received a six-year sentence.

David Parnall

 

A model spoke of her anguish after she was sexually assaulted by a photographer at a bogus photo shoot on a secluded beach.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was touched on her bare bottom by David John Parnall after changing into stockings and suspenders at his request.

In a statement she described “18 months of hell” awaiting the court case. She said the ordeal had left her sleepless, crying, suffering from anxiety and unable to leave her house.

She said: “I just want to put this horrific experience behind me”.

Parnall, 31, of Chegwyns, Foxhole, St Austell, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday (May 7).

He had previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault, perverting the course of justice, breaching a sexual harm prevention order and failing to notify the police of a change of his circumstances.

At first he had denied the charges against him but changed his plea on the day he was due to stand trial. The case had been adjourned for a pre-sentence report but Parnall said on Tuesday that he wanted to change his pleas again – denying he was guilty.

He said his barrister Barry White had forced him to plead guilty after telling him he had no hope of being cleared at the trial.

Mr White said Parnall was acting against his professional judgement and so he had no choice but to withdraw from the proceedings, leaving Parnall to represent himself.

Parnall applied to the court to change his pleas but Judge Robert Linford refused the request. Judge Linford said Mr White had acted properly in his role as a barrister in giving legal advice and added that pleas can only be changed in rare circumstances. He directed that the court proceed to sentencing.

Outlining the facts of the case, Julia Cox, prosecuting, said Parnall contacted a part-time model on September 24, 2017, on Facebook using the alias Zak Vain, which he used as his name throughout his dealings with the woman.

He offered to pay her £250 for the photography session. She said it emerged afterwards that he had contacted other women using the same false name and the alias Oliver Twist.

The next day, on September 25, they met at a café in St Austell and travelled in her car to a remote beach near Par to begin a series of shoots.

Ms Cox said Parnall had been convicted by a jury in 2014 of voyeurism and made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order. That order included that Parnall tell any model of his convictions and that another adult be present at the shoot.

Ms Cox said Parnall made no mention of these and did not offer to take anyone else to the beach.

She added that at times during the six-hour shoot Parnall was jovial and at other moments he became angry with the woman.

“The defendant began talking of her undertaking pornographic and adult work. This caused her alarm,” Ms Cox said. “The defendant was acting like it was a glamour shoot, rearranging her clothing or underwear. She felt scared and was extremely concerned about what was going to happen.”

She said they walked back to her car at Par and Parnall became angry, saying that she was not comfortable and suggested a second shoot at another secluded beach in Carlyon Bay.

Once there he produced a pair of stockings and suspenders which he asked her to wear.

“He came over to her when she was putting them on and put his hand on her bottom over her thong,” she said.

Parnall was heard to say: ‘Oh yeah, that’s much better. You’re looking more comfortable’, Ms Cox added.

“He pushed his body against hers so much so that she could feel his erection through his trousers against her bare bottom. When he moved his hand away he cupped her bare bottom.”

Ms Cox said the woman ran away and the pair drove back to St Austell where she demanded her £250. She said Parnall said he had transferred it to her but he had not done so. The woman then called the police but Parnall left before they arrived.

When police turned up at his home address later, Parnall had gone to work at a hotel on the Isles of Scilly for two weeks without notifying them of his change of address.

Ms Cox said Parnall later submitted to the court a bogus modelling consent form, which claimed the woman had known of her previous court convictions.

However a police investigation revealed the document had been created on his computer two days before his first appearance at court. For this he was charged with perverting the course of justice.

Speaking to Parnall, Judge Linford said: “She had no idea of your previous convictions. Had she had, there is no way she would have gone anywhere with you.

“The photo shoot, which I regard as a complete pretext, was for photographing her for a modelling shoot. That was not your position at all. Your position was to manhandle her in the way described. The consequences of your behaviour for her are profound.”

Parnall was handed a new sexual harm prevention order.

For sexual assault, Parnall was jailed for 16 months, for breaching his court order 8 months, and for breaching his previous order 1 month, each to run concurrently.

For perverting the course of justice, he was jailed for six months, to run consecutively, bringing the total time in prison to 22 months.

Thomas Guest

A serial burglar was jailed for the fourth time after ransacking the home of a woman undergoing major heart surgery.

A court heard how the woman and her husband went away for the weekend ahead of her hospital treatment - only to return and find their Newquay home had been trashed.

Around £1,000 of items were stolen included sentimental jewellery, a watch, an iPod and a camera.

The burglar also left behind a half-drunk carton of milk and DNA samples led police to arrest the 28-year-old.

Appearing at Truro Crown Court by a video link from Exeter Prison on Tuesday was Thomas Bernard Guest, of Luke House, St Columb Minor, Newquay. He pleaded guilty to the burglary in Chester Road, Newquay, on March 9.

Jason Beal, prosecuting, said the couple were upset to find their house had been burgled and it had taken to time for them to feel safe in their own home.

He said police traced Guest using DNA left behind on a half-drunk carton of milk. Guest was well known to the police having been jailed for 18 months in 2013 for burglary.

Mr Beal said Guest was jailed again for 15 months in 2016 for two more burglaries. He also asked at the time for 19 other similar offences to be taken into account, he added.

Then in May 2017, Guest was jailed again for burglary – this time for 876 days or nearly two and half years. The court heard the latest offence was committed shortly after his early release from prison.

Guest was sentenced to another 876 days in prison.

James Pearson

 

A man who stole a Royal Mail van full of Christmas presents at knifepoint was jailed.

James Paul Wesley Pearson, 48, of Mullion Cove, commandeered the van in Mullion on December 12 last year before eventually dumping it outside the Royal Mail sorting office in Helston.

Pearson had been due to stand trial but pleaded guilty to affray, assaulting a police officer, taking a vehicle without consent and driving with no insurance.

Pearson, who appeared in the dock at Truro Crown Court last week, approached the van whilst the driver was parked in Mullion sorting letters and repeated orders to hand it over.

When the driver caught sight of a shiny silver article he got out. Pearson then drove van to Helston where he was violent on arrest, kicking a police officer in the face.

Cornwall Live previously reported the version of events of the Royal Mail manager James MacDonald who chased the van back to Helston.

As James was heading down onto the Lizard to check on his shocked member of staff from whom Pearson took the van, he was stunned to see the stolen red van coming in the opposite direction.

Swinging his car around in the road, James chased the offender back towards Helston while he called 999.

James, 29, said: “I got the call from my post officer around 3pm that someone had stolen his van. I jumped in my car to drive down there.

“There’s only really one road out of there and I saw the guy in the van coming in the opposite direction. I swung round and chased him. I was in my private car. It’s a black BMW so he might have thought it was an unmarked police car.

“He was swerving and overtaking. He must have realised he’d been seen. I am on the phone to 999 giving them street names.”

He said he chased the stolen van back into Helston and into the Trengrouse Way public car park.

“He pulled into the Budgens’ car park and we locked eyes,” he added. “He then drove away again.”

James was surprised to discover that the offender headed next to Helston's Royal Mail delivery office, where he dumped the van in the car park at the rear of the building.

"He was blocked in. I think he tried to do a runner but the police arrived at that point and jumped on him,” added James.

“I must say that the vehicle was recovered with all its contents. At the end of the day, it’s people’s Christmas presents. I didn’t want any to go missing.”

After hearing from both the prosecution and the defence, Judge Simon Carr jailed Pearson for a total of nine months and banned him from driving for six months. He was also made him subject of a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim for five years.

Rory Lake

A would-be armed robber pulled a knife on a man at a cash machine after casually engaging him in conversation.

Rory Lake brandished the blade at the ATM at Lloyd’s Bank on Fore Street in Bodmin but ultimately received a less severe sentence than could have been expected because he had previously helped put away a drug dealer who stabbed him.

Lake, 31, of no fixed abode, had been due to stand trial at Truro Crown Court but on the morning of his trial pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery, a plea accepted by the crown.

Prosecuting the case, Philip Lee told the court how the victim went out at around midnight on October 26, 2017, to withdraw money as his benefit payment was due to enter his account at that time.

Mr Lee said: “While waiting to withdraw money the victim was approached by the defendant, who was a stranger to him, wearing a high-vis jacket.

“The victim and his friend noticed that the defendant had a swollen eye and cuts. He said he’d been in a fight and engaged in conversation in an apparently friendly way.

“As the victim went to withdraw money the defendant leaned over with a knife and held it towards him. The victim tried to push his hand away and cut his hand, eventually managing to pull away from the defendant.”

Mr Lee then described how the complainant’s friend saw the knife and dragged Lake away but as he did he fell backwards and broke his elbow.

The police were then alerted and Lake was spotted walking towards the cash machine at nearby Sainsbury’s. He was also said to have been seen earlier in the night walking around with a large knife handle perturbing from the back of his trousers.

Mr Lee then outlined how the “vulnerable” victim had a pre-existing illness which was exacerbating by the attempted robbery, leaving him unable to go out in the dark for three months. He has since moved from Bodmin as a result of what happened.

Sentencing Lake, Judge Simon Carr said: “The victim and his friend went to the cash point to withdraw money and you engaged them in conversation, either drunk or pretending to be drunk.

“When the victim stepped forward you produced a knife. I accept you didn’t intend to injury either man but what happened was a consequence of your actions.

“You have a poor record, mostly associated with your addiction to heroin, but I have to consider the assistance you provided with another matter.

"You were stabbed by a drug dealer and had the courage to give evidence against someone who received a substantial prison sentence. That said what happened to you cannot excuse or minimise what you did.”

Judge Carr sentenced Lake to three years in prison.

Andrew Opie

A man who armed himself with a knuckle duster for self-defence after internet rumours spread about his involvement with young people was jailed.

Andrew Opie, 29, was also found by police in possession of a lock knife at a disused playground in Falmouth.

Opie told officers that he purchased the knuckle duster for his own protection and that he had the knife as he had been cutting carpet that morning, forgetting he had it on him.

Opie appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after previously being convicted of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Prosecuting the case, John-Paul Fitzgibbon described how on March 21 at 8.30am Detective Constable Shorton was on a mobile patrol in Falmouth when he noticed three individuals - Opie and two friends.

Mr Fitzgibbon said: “DC Shorton wanted to carry out a search and Mr Opie immediately informed the police that he had a knuckle duster. He produced it from his sock and handed it over.

“A lock knife was also found in his left trouser pocket and he said he’d been cutting carpets at a friend’s house.”

In police interview Opie accepted he had the knuckle duster, claiming he had it to defend himself and didn’t realise he had it with him at the time.

The court then heard the offence put Opie in breach of a suspended sentence for having a dangerous dog.

Following an exchange between defence barrister Piers Norsworthy and Judge Simon Carr regarding the classification of a knuckle duster as a weapon, Mr Norsworthy said: “The defendant is a male well-known in the locality and much has been said about his contact with young people which resulted in these threats.

“He has had people trying to get into his boot and drive at him while he’s been on the road. On May 5 he was involved in an incident which resulted in his being cut to the hand by someone carrying a knife. He was under a very real risk at the time.

“He is a troubled young man and has mental health difficulties. He is a vulnerable character and wishes to return to his employment in the motor trade once he is on top of his issues.”

Sentencing him, Judge Simon Carr said that even though Opie feared attack it could not justify him carrying a weapon designed for nothing other than causing serious injury.

He added that despite Opie’s difficulties, those who carry weapons in breach of a suspended sentence “can expect nothing but custody”.

Opie was jailed for six months.

Simon Robinson

A bitter ex who tracked down and continually harassed a former partner before threatening to firebomb her house, was sent to prison.

Simon Robinson, 32, persistently defied court punishments and a restraining order by turning up unannounced at the home of his terrified ex-girlfriend in Cawsands in south east Cornwall.

Robinson, of Ringmore Way in Plymouth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after previously pleading guilty to two breaches of a restraining order and threatening to cause criminal damage.

Prosecuting barrister Ed Bailey described how the victim, now aged 38, had been in a relationship with Robinson for one and a half years, the two having a child together.

The victim ended the relationship in spring of last year due to Robinson’s violent and abusive behaviour.

Mr Bailey detailed how on one occasion the defendant attended the victim’s property at 5am and damaged a garden wall and gate for which he received a community order.

Then, two months later, Robinson was back in court after throwing a rock wrapped in a towel through the victim’s window in an attempt to gain access to the property.

He was made subject of a restraining order but breached it the following day regardless by turning up at the victim’s property and attempting to speak to her.

Mr Bailey said: “Towards the end of February the victim moved out of Plymouth to Cawsands in an effort to distance herself from the defendant.

“At 7pm on February 27 the victim was expecting a visit from her mum and heard a tapping at the front door. She went to the door expecting to see her mum but was startled to see the defendant under the influence of alcohol and she suspected, drugs.

“He forced his way in and sat on the sofa and the victim put her daughter to bed. She could see a sports bag on the floor with cans of lager in.”

The victim’s parents then arrived and were approached by Robinson who was raising his fists, abusive and shouting threats. Mr Bailey added that he threatened to burn her house down and petrol bomb her car.

Robinson escaped before police arrived but returned to the property nine days later, the victim finding him sat outside when she returned from letting her dog out. He said to her “hello stranger, I think we need to talk”.

Fortunately the victim has the presence of mind to lock him in the house before police arrived and arrested Robinson.

In her victim personal statement the woman described Robinson as “a very dangerous individual” who knocked her teeth out, causing her physical and psychological injuries.

She recalled being terrified, constantly living in fear and not knowing what the defendant was capable of.

Sentencing Robinson, Judge Simon Carr said that he was given repeated chances for a string of offending and that his behaviour would have been terrifying for the victim.

He added that the victim impact personal statement made it perfectly clear that Robinson’s actions made the victim’s life hell.

Robinson was jailed for two years and made subject of a new five year restraining order.

Mikey Fox

A 21-year-old learner driver recently released from prison led police on a high-speed pursuit narrowly avoiding other cars.

Officers chased after his stolen Fiat Punto outside of St Austell until it was forced to stop with a burst tyre several miles later.

Appearing at Truro Crown Court on Tuesday (May 21) was Mikey Fox, of no fixed address.

He pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent which resulted in dangerous driving and damage, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance.

Michael Brown, prosecuting, said Fox was working at a woman’s home in St Austell on April 23. She owned a Fiat Punto and left the keys in her kitchen.

He said she left the house but when she returned at 7pm she was stunned to see her car being reversed out of the drive.

The woman called the police who soon spotted the missing Punto on the A390 on the outskirts of town.

“What followed was a high-speed pursuit by police that occurred for some miles,” Mr Brown said.

He said Fox drove down an unclassified road at speeds of around 50mph to 60mph. He then turned on to A3058 Newquay road and accelerated up to 70mph in a 40mph zone.

Mr Brown said the Punto overtook a car while traffic was coming in the opposite direction, causing the oncoming vehicles to swerve.

The pursuit ended when the Punto ran over a grass verge and burst its tyre. Mr Brown said police were able to stop the car and Fox was arrested.

The court heard Fox has been jailed for 13 months in June last year and had been released on licence when he committed this offence.

Fox was recalled to prison to serve his remaining time and handed a new eight-month prison sentence. He was also banned from driving for 16 months.

Barry Crowley

A man who abused two young girls in a case described as “an appalling breach of trust” showed no remorse as he was sent to prison.

The elderly pervert had been convicted by a jury of abusing two young girls more than three decades apart.

Barry Crowley, 75, of Ludgvan near Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Friday, May 24, at the end of the trial this week.

He was convicted of four counts of indecent assault, indecency with a child, three sexual assaults of a child under 13 and causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard Crowley touched both girls in their vaginal area as well as getting them to masturbate him. The abuse took place decades apart.

The first victim told the court how she remembered four occasions in the 1970s when she was touched sexually by Crowley.

He touched her inappropriately under her clothes before later performing another sex act on her and placing her hand on his penis and masturbating him. Some of the abuse took place in the lorry he would drive for work.

Deni Matthews, representing Crowley, said his client was in good health but, as he was already 75 years old, it was probable that he would serve the remaining years of his healthy life in jail.

He said that notwithstanding the effect on his victims, his behaviour had also had profound consequences for his own family and himself

Judge Robert Linford outlined the proven facts of the case and said Crowley’s victims had suffered for years as a result of his abuse.

He said the first victim had suffered feelings of depression, self-loathing and guilt throughout her life.

He said to Crowley: “For years and decades your savage abuse of trust has haunted this girl. You have never uttered a word of remorse for what you have done.”

He said the woman was “frankly fobbed off by Derbyshire Constabulary” when the abuse was first reported in the 1980s. Judge Linford added that it was only the work of Devon and Cornwall Police more recently that led to the prosecution.

He said the second victim also suffered similar effects, including feelings of isolation, self-loathing and betrayal.

Judge Linford added to Crowley: “This case demonstrates how sexual abuse destroys the lives not just of the poor individuals abused but of the wider family around them. This was your doing.”

He added that the jury had seen through Crowley’s “ludicrous defence” and found him guilty of all counts.

In the case of the first girl, Crowley was sentenced to four years in prison on each count and 15 months for indecency, to run concurrently. Crowley was handed four month prison sentences for each of the counts relating to the second girl.

Judge Linford ordered that each set of charges run consecutively, meaning Crowley was jailed for a total of eight years.

Speaking after the case ended, a spokeswoman for the NSPCC said: “Crowley clearly thought he had got away with the abuse he inflicted on his first victim, going on to target another young girl decades later to fulfil his own sexual desires involving minors.

“Thanks to the bravery of his victims speaking out about what he subjected them to, Crowley is now behind bars and unable to strike again.”

Anyone who is concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or nspcc.org.uk. Children and young people can call Childline on 0800 1111 or get help online via www.childline.org.uk.

David Lewis

A pervert was jailed after twice being snared by fake profiles set up by a paedophile hunter.

David Lewis, 43, made contact on Facebook with two ‘girls’ aged 12 and 13 before going onto bombard them with sick messages and explicit pictures.

The profiles were actually fake and part of a sting operation by paedophile hunter Izzy Hunter, who then passed the evidence onto Devon and Cornwall Police.

Lewis, formerly of The Coastline Housing Homeless Centre on Basset Road in Camborne, appeared at Truro Crown Court via video-link from HMP Exeter.

Lewis appeared to be sentenced after admitting two attempted sexual communications with a child charges, twice attempting to cause a child to look at images of sexual activity and two counts of attempting to invite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecuting the case, Heather Hope said that Lewis had served a prison sentence for another sexual offence before being released in 2010.

She said: “On December 14 the defendant sent a Facebook friend request to a female who said she was aged 12. The profile was a decoy run by a lady called Lizzy Hunter who is a self-confessed paedophile hunter.

“The profile set up under the name Brooke accepted the request and she and the defendant started chatting. He asked her age and she replied that she was 12. He said he was 42 and was a chef and he started asking her about family and personal life.

“The defendant told Brooke not to tell anyone and to delete all the messages, explaining how she could. The conversations became increasingly sexually explicit and Mr Lewis asked if she knew what sex was. She said no and he sent her a photo of two adults and said that’s what your mum did, before sending her a photo of an erect penis.”

Miss Hope described that Brooke told Lewis her mum and her partner were away at the weekend and it was then that Lewis offered to come and stay. He sent her a clip of two people having sex and said he’d teach her.

Lewis then called Brooke and in a conversation lasting four and a half minutes when he could be heard masturbating he told her to place her hands in her knickers and masturbate herself. He tried to persuade her and told her it’s normal and he’d done it with 12-year-olds before.

Miss Hope said: “He told her to meet him on Friday and to wear a short skirt and no knickers. She said she didn’t want to have sex but the defendant told her he was going to do it anyway before sending her a graphic description of what he wanted to do sexually. When she said no he became angry and told her to do what she was told.”

Miss Hope added that Lewis offered to book a hotel and told Brooke he’d had sex with a 12-year-old before.

The meeting was set to take place on December 21 2018 but the defendant failed to turn up. Ms Hunter was so troubled by the conversation she travelled to Cornwall and confronted Lewis live on Facebook, Lewis saying ‘lock me up’.

Evidence was handed over to the police and Lewis was arrested and bailed.

One month later a profile was added to Facebook under the name Megan which was once again actually Izzy Hunter.

Miss Hope said: “The defendant sent a friend request to Megan and engaged in innocent messages. He asked how old she was, she replied she was 13.

“He said he was 43 and the conversation took a similar path to the one with Brooke. It went on for a few days with the defendant asking her for personal information and information about her mother. He said he wanted to take her mum out.

“He asked for a picture, told her she was pretty and took a photo of himself in bed. He said they should meet and he could 'sort it'.”

Miss Hope stated that Lewis tried to get to Megan through her mother before sending her a pornographic video and picture of his erect penis, suggesting what he wanted to do to her.

Despite a visit from a police officer Lewis continued to message Megan and asked her for a picture of her genitals. He told her to Google videos about sex and on February 14 suggested they met for sex, saying it was ‘nothing to be scared of’ and he’d be gentle.

Police were called and arrested Lewis and in his backpack they found lager, condoms and KY jelly.

Sentencing Lewis, Judge Robert Linford said: “You are 43 and were released from prison in 2010 following a conviction for a sexual offence.

“In December 2018 you embarked on a course of conduct using social media putting you in contact with a child under the age of 13.

“She was much older and pretending to be a child to trap people who have this interest. You sent a series of explicit images and messages and arranged to meet although you didn’t turn up.

“You were caught, interviewed and bailed but when on bail returned to this behaviour. You were then trapped by the same person pretending to be 13 before carrying out a similar course of conduct.

“It has to be remembered that you fall to be sentenced not for contact offences and that you didn’t actually meet a child. You have a terribly sad background and have made attempts to overcome your difficulties but on occasions fate has dealt you a rough hand. That however is no excuse.”

Lewis was then jailed for four years and made subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.

Darren Tripconey

A paedophile who was caught with “the most appalling” child abuse collection including a video of an eight-year-old girl being raped whilst wearing a mask has said that he “just wants to be normal”.

Darren Tripconey, 46, had been caught accessing child abuse images before and even used a neighbour’s wi-fi to try to bypass an order attempting to curtail his behaviour.

Tripconey, of Green Parc Road in Hayle, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Thursday (May 23) after admitting possessing Category A indecent images of children, possessing Category B indecent images of children, possessing Category C indecent images of children, distributing Category C images and breaching a Sexual Offending Prevention Order.

Prosecuting barrister Deni Matthews told the court that police visited Tripconey’s home in November 2017 after intelligence led them to his neighbours’ address.

When officers arrived they were informed that Tripconey lived next door and that he had previously asked to access their wi-fi. A search was carried out at Tripconey’s home and officers seized a tablet, notepad and a phone, Tripconey telling them “it’s me, I’ve lapsed again”.

A search of the devices revealed a collection of child abuse pictures and videos spanning all three categories.

Officers sent the equipment away to be examined before returning to the premises in April 2019 and confiscating a USB stick plugged into Tripconey’s TV which was found to contain one Category C image.

Mr Matthews explained how enquiries revealed that Tripconey had been using his Xbox games console to access the internet since 2010, putting him in breach of the the terms of a Sexual Offending Prevention Order.

Subsequent enquiries showed that Tripconey had an online chat with someone of similar perversions to whom he sent a number of photographs.

The court heard how some of the footage showed the anal and oral rape of children as young as six, in one clip a child could be seen vomiting during the ordeal.

Sentencing Tripconey, Judge Robert Linford said: “You were made subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order in 2009 and very soon after set about breaking it. You have an appalling record for accessing, downloading and now distributing this material and you are an ingrained pervert.”

Judge Linford went on to recite graphic details of the plight of one of the victims in the video, a girl of eight forcibly raped whilst wearing a mask.

He added: “That was not something invented on the internet or a computer generated image. This is a real girl being savaged by some pervert to give sexual gratification to people like you. These are appalling images.

“You have not learned from a suspended sentence and previous efforts to rehabilitate you. Because of people like you young people are being abused – anally and orally raped.”

Tripconey was jailed for 22 months.

Edward Trezise

A paedophile drug dealer told police officers “if you’re taking my laptop I’m going to prison” seconds before they seized the device containing thousands of sick child abuse images.

Edward Trezise’s laptop was found to have more than 5,000 disturbing images and videos and rather than try and escape a custodial sentence, Trezise actually asked to be sent to prison.

Trezise, 29, of Rocklands Place in Callington, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after admitting an array of charges. He pleaded guilty to three possession of indecent photographs of children charges, two assaults, possessing a prohibited image, possessing extreme pornography and possessing with intent to supply class C drugs.

Prosecuting the case Philip Lee described how on March 9 police were called to Trezise’s address following reports that a woman had been threatened by a knife.

Mr Lee said: "The defendant went to his door armed with a knife. He was arrested and his room was searched.

“Police found various containers and tablets and two of the containers were marked Xanax and diazepam.”

A total of 1,000 tablets were seized with a street value of £1,200.

Mr Lee added: “Texts showed evidence of selling to various customers and Trezise later admitted he’d supplied five or ten friends, making enough to fund his own habit.

“Police seized his laptop and he commented to officers, ‘if you’re taking my laptop I’m going to prison’.

“The defendant said that he was addicted to Xanax and admitted viewing child pornography and masturbating to it. He did add that he didn’t look at children in the street in the same way.

“The images were all found readily available to the user of the laptop. There were thousands of them, ages ranging from two to four through to 13 to 14. Predominately the victims were children aged eight to 10.”

The laptop also had software capable of hiding browser history.

Moving on to the assaults, Mr Lee described how they took place in April of this year when Trezise punched a man to the head and spat in the face of another who tried to restrain him.

Sentencing Trezise, Recorder Malcolm Gibney said: “From what I hear your life has effectively gone off the rails and the assaults are indicative of how the spiral has continued.

“Your attitude is to go away to custody and this court is going to oblige you.

“Police were called to an incident involving you and whilst at the premises police seized your computer and to your credit you acknowledged if there was to be an investigation you’d be going to prison.

“Of grave concern is that there were thousands of images of children. I accept you were getting sexual gratification but at no stage were you seeking to access young children or distribute what you had downloaded.

“As a result of people downloading this type of material this crime occurs. You are feeding an industry and that cannot be tolerated.”

Trezise was jailed for two years and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Nathan Richie and Anthony Barker

Three cogs in a drug dealing machine that brought narcotics from Liverpool to be packaged and sold in Cornwall appeared in court to be sentenced.

Local addicts Nathan Richie, 26, and Natasha McCulloch, 37, were persuaded to help sell the drugs in exchange for free or cheaper drugs for themselves.

Co-accused Anthony Barker, 20, was brought down from Liverpool to take part in exchange for writing off a debt he had run up through his own habit.

Richie, of Harvey’s Way in Hayle and McCulloch, from Brewery Drive in St Austell, both appeared at Truro Crown Court to be sentenced.

Richie previously admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and McCulloch two identical charges as well as being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Barker, from Liverpool, failed to attend the sentencing hearing meaning that he had skipped court for a second time. Judge Simon Carr sentenced him in his absence.

Opening the case, Adrian Chaplin described how police attended McCulloch’s address at Cooperage House on March 14, 2017, and seized a phone that showed that both Richie and McCulloch were involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine.

Officers also found ketamine, £650 in cash and a CS gas canister. A third man identified in court as Mr Evans, who has since absconded, was also present at the address.

Both McCulloch and Richie were interviewed and bailed and on November 7, 2017, police executed a further raid at the address and found McCulloch, Barker and Evans.

In the living room they found £1,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia, wraps of cocaine worth more than £900 and heroin valued at £1,900. More heroin and cocaine was found in McCulloch’s bedroom, McCulloch later telling police that ‘scousers had taken over’ and that she was scared and had no choice.

Mr Chaplin said the case has all the hallmarks of county lines drug dealing, a practice that sees drug kingpins move in to the homes of vulnerable local addicts to set-up a drug dealing base.

Defending McCulloch, Deni Matthews said that she has since kicked her habit and obtained employment.

He said: “She has admitted her involvement and done everything she can possibly do to put drugs behind her and get back to a productive life.”

Robin Smith, representing Richie said that his involvement stopped following the first raid and that there is “tangible evidence of motivation from him to stop offending”.

Mitigating for the absent Barker, Michael Brown described how his client has no previous convictions and failed to show as he didn’t have the financial means to travel to Cornwall.

Mr Brown said that Barker turned to drugs following the death of his father and sister and as a result ran up a debt to dealers, which he was told could be cleared if he went to Cornwall and helped transport, package and sell the drugs.

Sentencing the trio, Judge Simon Carr said that McCulloch and Richie came into contact with dealers as a result of their addiction and that their fears of violence must have been predicted when they entered the murky drugs world.

Judge Carr said to Richie and McCulloch: “There is clear phone evidence that you were both directly involved in the trade.”

Moving onto Barker he added: “He is essentially a man of good character who lived in Liverpool and was the source of the drugs being brought down. This is the second occasion he has failed to attend and each time the excuse is a lack of funds.”

Judge Carr proceeded to sentence Richie to two years in prison and Barker 18 months.

Highlighting the immense progress McCulloch has made Judge Carr gave her a two years prison sentence, suspended for two years. She must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work and a 10 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Jordan Ferris

A paedophile who downloaded thousands of sickening images of children was found to have searched for “swimming lesson timetable for children at Truro Leisure Centre”.

Jordan Ferris, 23, had pictures and videos of children as young as a few months old being abused, as well as children having sex acts performed on them by animals.

Ferris, of Longfield in Falmouth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after admitting three making indecent images of children charges and three distributing indecent images of children charges.

Prosecuting the case, Ed Bailey said that on October 14 2017 police searched the defendant’s home and seized a number of devices.

When examined the devices revealed 940 still and six Category A movies, 642 Category B images and 1,788 Category C stills.

Mr Bailey said: “The children depicted had an age range of a few months old through to 16 and the images were downloaded over a year and a half.

“Evidence showed that some images had been distributed to other users of a similar interest including 10 Category A image, 13 B and four C.

“The defendant had browsed websites indicative of child abuse and searched swimming lesson timetable for children at Truro Leisure Centre.

“During interview he agreed he’d downloaded and uploaded images and said he was going through a period of depression and confused about his sexuality.

“He stated that he had been chatting to children online but denied visiting swimming pools. He stated he masturbated sometimes to the point of ejaculation when viewing the images and that he had a sexual interest in children.

“He also admitted he had been sent images of young children being abused by animals.”

Sentencing Ferris, Judge Simon Carr said: “It is clear that for at least 18 months you’d been downloading and on occasions distributing images of children, some as young as only a few months old.

“You not only downloaded Category A images but also B and C showing that you had a very large collection.

“You distributed images to those of a like mind and even when you were arrested in 2017 and had your computer examined you bought a second computer and continued to download the images. The short, sharp shock of arrest did nothing to stop you.”

Judge Carr described how the number of images, the period of time they were downloaded over, the young age of some of the victims and the fact Ferris shared the material left him no choice but to impose a period of immediate imprisonment.

Ferris was jailed for 15 months and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.