'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (2024)

A 'dishonest' businessman who fraudulently made over £130,000 through his kitchen and bathroom firms was one of the highest profile North Staffordshire criminals jailed in June. Also jailed was a benefits cheat who claimed she couldn't stand at the cooker, but regularly ran 5km and 10km races; a dealer who hid an 'Aladdin's cave of drugs' at his Sneyd Green home, and a jealous drunk who twice violently assaulted his partner and showed 'not one iota of remorse'.

Our reporters cover the latest proceedings at North Staffordshire Justice Centre, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Stafford Crown Court, and other courts when local people are in the dock. Here's a round-up of the cases where criminals have been sent to prison by courts in and around the area over the course of the month:

Richard Stubbs

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (1)

Fraudulent businessman Richard Stubbs has been jailed for five-and-a-half years. The 55-year-old, of High View Road, Endon, was earlier this year convicted of three charges of fraudulent trading, seven charges of fraud, and two charges of intending to pervert the course of public justice.

His businesses - Leek-based I Design Kitchens and Bathrooms and Peak Kitchens and Bathrooms - were convicted of a total of seven counts of fraud. Now Stubbs - who once served with Staffordshire Police - has been banned from being a company director for 10 years. He was yesterday described as a 'broken man'.

The overall loss to consumers and credit card companies was £134,439. At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court earlier this month, Judge Graeme Smith told Stubbs: "You have a tendency to blame everybody but yourself for what was happening."

Stubbs' co-accused - Carl Egerton, aged 54, of Basford Green, Cheddleton - was convicted of one charge of fraud. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, with 100 hours unpaid work and told to pay £2,500 costs.

Read the full story here.

Sara Morris

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (2)

A benefits cheat mum claimed more than £20,000 she was not entitled to despite competing in scores of running events. Sara Morris, of Walton Way, Stone, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005 but in 2020 she exaggerated the extent of her condition and claimed Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

The 49-year-old told lies about the severity of her MS and said she lacked the power to stand at the cooker, lacked balance and experienced difficulties getting out of the bath unassisted. She also claimed to be so anxious when she left the house that even a trip to the pharmacy to collect her medication left her in tears.

But the mum-of-three failed to mention to the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) that she was in fact a member of the Stone Master Marathoners and regularly ran 5km and 10km races, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard.Morris was overpaid £20,528.83 between October 20, 2020 and April 25, 2023, and has now been jailed for eight months.

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Christopher Rhodes

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (3)

Dealer Christopher Rhodes has been jailed after an 'Aladdin's cave of drugs' worth £11,000 were found in a raid on his home. The 41-year-old was in the kitchen when officers searched the Fenton property.

They found heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis and a mobile phone used to send out bulk messages. Rhodes, of Buxton Street, Sneyd Green, pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply and possession of a class B drug with intent to supply.

Jailing Rhodes at for three years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge Michael Maher said: "I can't lose sight of the fact that the total amount of drugs seized are in excess of £11,000 and the bulk messages. This was not some small cottage industry. This was a significant enterprise."

Read the full story here.

James Seddon

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (4)

A thug left a stranger with life-changing injuries after launching two unprovoked attacks on a night out. Violent James Seddon - described as 'powerfully built - was handed a 10-year-old extended jail sentence after breaking his victim's jaw.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 25-year-old, who was jailed for six years in 2019 for a catalogue of violent offences, assaulted his victim in Market Place, Burslem, at 2am on March 16. He then followed him and carried out another attack.

The victim was left with a fractured jaw and other facial injuries and had to have two metal plates fitted. He was in hospital for three days and off work for six weeks. Seddon, of Clare Street, Basford, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Read the full story here.

Reegan Hynes

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (5)


Jealous drunk Reegan Hynes, of Tyne Way, Newcastle, punched his partner in the face just 10 days after breaking her finger in another violent assault. The 25-year-old accused his partner of being unfaithful and grabbed her throat with one hand and bent her finger back causing it to fracture.

Ten days later he accused her of sleeping with members of his family and punched her eye while at a family party celebrating his brother's release from custody. Hynes, who was convicted after a trial and still denies both offences, has been jailed for 10 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Recorder Robert Smith told Hynes: "You have limited insight into your offending. In my judgement, you have shown not one iota of remorse for what you did. You treated her with utter contempt. It was despicable behaviour. You should be ashamed."

Read the full story here.

Thomas Mobbs

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (6)

Dad Thomas Mobbs strangled his partner in her own home leaving her fearing for her life. The 34-year-old butted his victim, punched her, 'threw her around like a rag doll', and strangled her.

And when he was bailed to keep away from her he contacted her and went to her Cheadle street. Mobbs pleaded guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation, and harassment.

Now Mobbs, of Hollinscroft Court, Upper Tean, has been jailed for 27 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court and handed a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim or going to Cheadle for the next 10 years.

Read the full story here.

Glyn Whitfield

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (7)

A knife-wielding rough sleeper threatened to stab a bakery worker after he was caught shoplifting. Glyn Whitfield stole from the Pound Bakery Shop in Hanley and returned an hour later to pinch more food.

But when the 27-year-old started helping himself to baguettes, a second employee told him to put them back. She heard him threaten her colleague, saying, 'I am going to stab you'.

And she saw the defendant pull out a steak knife from his waistband. She warned her colleague to get off the shop floor as she feared for her safety. Whitfield, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to theft, affray and having a knife in public and has been jailed for 12 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Read the full story here.

Andi Alla

A man has been jailed after he was caught red-handed at a Stoke-on-Trent cannabis farm. Police entered the property in Central Drive, Blurton, and saw Andi Alla, 23, jump from a window, onto a garage roof and over a fence into a neighbouring garden.

Officers searched the house and found 130 cannabis plants. Alla admitted he had been at the property for three weeks and had turned the lights on and off and watered the plants. Now he has been jailed for 12 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Hunter Gray said police attended the address on May 8 after receiving reports that there may be cannabis growing inside. Alla was arrested after trying to escape. Alla, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to cultivating a class B drug.

Read the full story here.

Mark Haddon

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (8)

Homeless Mark Haddon was among a group who smashed their way into a city centre shop in the early hours and stole sportswear and coats. The 36-year-old, together with two others, broke a panel in the door at Sale Lab, Upper Market Square, Hanley, to get inside.

They stole clothing and coats before running off. But they were tracked on CCTV to an address in Hanley where the items were recovered. Haddon, of Abbey Road, Abbey Hulton, pleaded guilty to burglary.

Now Haddon, who has 81 previous convictions for 170 offences, has been jailed for nine months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. The other two defendants will be sentenced at a later date.

Read the full story here.

Hasnain Iqbal

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (9)

Drug dealer Hasnain Iqbal drove through a red light and jumped from a moving car as he tried to evade police. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 23-year-old failed to stop his Audi A4 in Shelton New Road at 1.50pm on March 30, before jumping out as the car slowed to 10mph before it hit a wall.

Iqbal ran from police and removed his coat, which was recovered and found to contain 57 wraps of crack cocaine worth between £540 and £1,140. Police also seized a Nokia phone, a cannabis grinder and cannabis vegetation.

Iqbal, of Poolside Close, Shelton, pleaded guilty to possession of a class A drug with intent to supply; driving without insurance; failing to stop when required by a police officer; driving without a licence and dangerous driving. The court heard Iqbal has seven previous convictions for eight offences including conspiracy to supply a class B drug.

Recorder Robert Smith jailed Iqbal for three-and-a-half years.

Read the full story here.

Ryan Walker

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (10)

Monkey dust user Ryan Walker grabbed his partner by her throat until she lost consciousness, resuscitated her and then punched her to her body when she got up.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he then tried to bite her but she managed to escape. Walker, of Richmond Street, Hanley, pleaded guilty to affray, common assault, and failing to surrender to court.

A not guilty verdict was entered for the initial charge of strangulation. Walker, 27, has been jailed for eight months.

Read the full story here.

Reece Chell and Michael Davis

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (11)

A runner for the 'S' drugs line in Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed. Reece Chell, 25, was involved in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin in the city last year.

Chell was arrested on July 31 last year in Shelton Old Road, Stoke. He was caught with crack cocaine and heroin, but that did not deter him from involving himself in the supply of the drugs.

Chell, of Hartshill Road, Stoke, pleaded guilty to two charges of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison.

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (12)

Co-defendant Michael Davis, 32, of Icknield Port Road, Birmingham, was also involved in the movement of crack cocaine and heroin between the second city and potteries. He pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply and two charges of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug.

Judge Michael Maher jailed Davis for three years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Read the full story here.

Erjon Dushaj and Zamir Geca

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (13)

Two men found inside a Stoke-on-Trent cannabis factory have been jailed. Erjon Dushaj, aged 31, and Zamir Geca, aged 34, were inside the former Empire Bedroom and Dining Furnishers, on Tunstall High Street when police raided it.

Officers found two 'grow rooms' with 124 cannabis plants in each. The 248 plants had a potential yield of 13.5 kilograms.

Both men, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the production of a class B drug. Now the two defendants have been jailed for 12 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Read the full story here.

Thomas Todd

Heroin user Thomas Todd 'recklessly' stabbed a police officer with his syringe during a struggle. The officer was left worried and anxious while he waited for test results for HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

Todd, of Packett Street, Fenton, has 40 previous convictions for 98 offences. He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and failing to surrender to court.

Now the 31-year-old has been jailed for 42 weeks at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. The officer was responding to a report of criminal damage at an address in Longton on December 19.

Read the full story here.

Leighton Jones

A dad who left a 10-week-old baby boy with a head injury has been jailed. Leighton Jones, 25, was locked up while a woman — who hasn't been identified for legal reasons — was handed a community order.

Stafford Crown Court heard that in September 2019 the parents called for an ambulance after their son stopped breathing. He was taken to hospital and underwent a CT scan where doctors discovered he had chronic subdural haematoma, which is where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain.

It was the opinion of the consultant paediatrician that the tot had abusive head trauma, said Staffordshire Police. He also suffered various fractures - but has since made a full recovery.

Jones admitted two counts of Section 18 – grievous bodily harm with intent at an earlier hearing and was jailed for six years and nine months.

Read the full story here.

Kiefer Dawson

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (14)

Pervert Kiefer Dawson was jailed after he pretended to be a 13-year-old schoolgirl to have sex chats with older men. The 29-year-old was banned from having devices capable of accessing the internet due to his criminal past.

But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard police found 'secret' devices where Dawson used several aliases on social media platforms. In one instance, he posed as a schoolgirl and engaged in sexualised conversation with men.

During a search of his Stoke home, officers found child abuse mages and evidence that he had sent a category C photo to another individual. Now Dawson, of Woodhouse Street, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to making indecent images of children; distributing indecent images of children; two charges of breaching a SHPO; and two charges of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register.

Judge Michael Maher said Dawson portraying himself as a 12 or 13-year-old girl to another pervert on Kik was 'stoking the flames of his warped cravings and your own'.

Read the full story here.

Matthew Bentley

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (15)

Dangerous driver Matthew Bentley took his friend's Audi and hit speeds of 70mph in a 30mph zone as police gave chase. The 30-year-old had two passengers in the car as was tailed by officers at high speed along Park Hall Road, Weston Coyney.

He headed onto the single-track Hulme Road where other drivers were forced to dodge the Audi TT. Bentley, a dad, ditched the car but officers foujnd him - and he also had monkey dust on him.

Bentley, of Jervis Street, Hanley, who has 16 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was jailed for two years.

Read the full story here.

Ian Stanway

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (16)

Former soldier Ian Stanway was jailed after he strangled his partner in her own home. The 33-year-old was drunk when he carried out the terrifying attack on his victim leaving her fearing for her life.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he grabbed her neck and threw her to the floor. He then sat on the bed and squeezed tight with both hands. He then put his fingers on her eyes and applied pressure, before squeezing her neck again.

It was at this point his victim thought he was going to kill her. He sniggered at her but she was able to escape. Now Stanway, of Hanley Road, Sneyd Green has been jailed for 27 months after pleading guilty to non fatal strangulation

Read the full story here.

Sharna Elson

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (17)

Rough sleeper Sharna Elson carried out a terrifying attempted car-jacking in the city centre. The 23-year-old was homeless and using drugs when she went on her crime spree in the summer and autumn of last year.

One terrifying incident saw her approach a woman on a car park at 6am before smashing the window with a fire extinguisher and then getting inside. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the terrified driver then fled the scene.

Other crimes saw Elson bite a police officer trying to arrest her; brandish a metal bar at a man; and strike a woman with metal handle bars, leaving her with an injury which needed hospital treatment

The defendant, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years and four months after admitting criminal damage, attempted robbery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two charges of possession of an offensive weapon and breaching a suspended sentence order.

Read the full story here.

Jamie Wright

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (18)

A foolish burglar was caught stealing from the same shop - twice. Jamie Wright was seen on CCTV leaving the Royal Oak Furnishers in City Road, Fenton, with two lamps.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 41-year-old - who has more than 100 offences on his record - then went to Jack Ashley Court where he was arrested by police and the lamps were recovered. Wright had just been released from prison on licence less than 10 days prior.

However, an “age-old drug addiction” and his “struggle to find work” drove him to carry out the burglary. Wright was handed a 13-month jail term after admitting burglary.

Read the full story here.

Malachi Kelly

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (19)

Knifeman Malachi Kelly left his ex-partner and her children living in fear during a terrifying one-year stalking campaign. The 35-year-old was described as a 'loose cannon' after he turned on his victim following the breakdown in their relationship.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court Kelly would threaten to harm the victim - who was pregnant - and her property, yet on other times he would tell her he loved her, and even bought her cat food and cake. On one occasion, Kelly walked around the property 10 times whilst the victim and her children hid in a bedroom with furniture pushed against the door.

Kelly, of Church Lane, Wolstanton was arrested in December last year whilst on bail after being chased by police for having a hunting knife in public. The defendant pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place and was convicted of stalking.

He was handed a 60-month prison sentence.

Read the full story here.

Rhys Jones

'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (20)

A Staffordshire man has been jailed for killing a dad with a brutal punch while on holiday in Blackpool. Rhys Jones, 27, was staying in the Lancashire seaside town for a few days and went on a night out with his friend on August, 14 2023.

In the early hours of the following morning, George Fenlon, 23, from Blackpool, was also out with friends. Preston Crown Court heard Jones met a girl and was trying to convince her to abandon her boyfriend and go with him.

Mr Fenlon came across Jones arguing with the boyfriend in an alleyway on The Strand. Very brief words were exchanged between Jones and Mr Fenlon before Jones squared up to him near to the Trilogy nightclub.

The court heard he threw several punches which caused Mr Fenlon to fall to the floor twice, but he quickly got back to his feet, before Jones delivered a final punch which proved to be the fatal blow.

Jones, of Hampton Street, Cannock, had been charged with murder. The defendant offered a guilty plea to an alternative charge of manslaughter - which was accepted as the Crown Prosecution Service accepted he did not want to kill Mr Fenlon.

Jones was sentenced to 10 years and two months' imprisonment.

Read the full story here.

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'Dishonest' businessman and benefits cheat among criminals jailed in June (2024)

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