Every week, Bristol Live reports from the city's courts. This reporting forms an important part of the UK's open justice system, that justice can be seen to be done. Some of the key benefits of open justice include ensuring public confidence and respect in democracy and the administration of justice. It also serves to deter people from committing crimes and thereby the details of those crimes becoming public knowledge.
Here are the criminals who have been jailed at Bristol Crown Court in December 2022. You can read more about why we publish defendants' names and addresses here.
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Steven Fitton, two years and four months
A man who broke into the home of a young family and stole from them was jailed. Steven Fitton, 39 of Willinton Road, Knowle, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday 21 December to two years and four months in prison.
He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of dwelling burglary at Bristol Magistrates' Court in October. He was also handed an addition two weeks' imprisonment for breaching a court order and theft. Read the full story here
Ionut-Valentin Boboc and Iacob-Bebe Chers, life with a minimum 76-and-a-half years
A pair of former abattoir workers convicted of murdering and butchering two men were both jailed for life. Iacob-Bebe Chers and Ionut-Valentin Boboc tricked their way into the Easton home of former workmate Denzil McKenzie, who was with visitor Fahad Hossain Pramanik.
They brutally stabbed both men and arranged their bodies in a scene of horror in Mr McKenzie's sitting room, Bristol Crown Court heard. Mr McKenzie had been stabbed 23 times, Mr Pramanik three times, and jurors heard the extent of their injuries and how their bodies had been left on "macabre display".
Boboc, 22, of Abingdon Road in Hillfields, pleaded guilty to murdering Mr McKenzie but denied murdering Mr Pramanik in September last year. Chers, 46, of Whitefield, Hillfields denied both murder charges. A jury at Bristol Crown Court convicted them both of the murder charges they denied. Read the full story here
Brian David, 20 years
A Totterdown pensioner convicted of historical rapes of a child is likely to die in jail. Brian David, 78, of Wells Road, described allegations that he sexually abused a girl as "a load of bloody nonsense", Bristol Crown Court heard.
But a jury convicted the former RAF man of a plethora of sexual assaults on the girl when she was aged eight to 17. David was convicted of eight counts of indecent assault, three counts of rape and two counts of buggery.
The Recorder Mr James Bromige, sitting via video link, jailed him for 20 years. He told David: "You are not in good health, you have a diminished life expectancy and the prospect is you will die in prison." Read the full story here
Gopal Clarke, Henry Olohan and Arthur Lazarus, total 46 months
A further three men were jailed for offences committed during a riot in Bristol last year. The Kill the Bill riot saw thousands of people taking to the streets of Bristol to march and then sit down outside a Bristol police station.
The protest was against a controversial Government bill that would curtail the right to protest. "Kill the Bill" campaigners are against the proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would give police and the Home Secretary increased powers to stop protests.
But scenes on March 21 turned ugly, with protesters letting off fireworks, throwing missiles at police, setting a police van on fire and smashing the windows of Bridewell police station.
Gopal Clarke, Henry Olohan and Arthur Lazarus were all sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to crimes during the riot outside Bridewell Police Station on Sunday, March 21 2021. Read the full story here
Giuseppe Geraci, four-and-a-half years
A man who sexually abused a vulnerable teenage girl in a park was jailed. Giuseppe Geraci chatted to the 15-year-old girl in Bath city centre. Bristol Crown Court heard that after telling her she was "pretty" he kissed her before they went to Royal Victoria Park. After groping her on a bench he took her to a bush and molested her, the court heard.
Geraci, 29, of East Street in Warminster pleaded guilty to three charges of having sexual activity with a child. Judge James Patrick jailed him for four-and-a-half years. Read the full story here
Tobiah Rule, 10 months
A dad-of-three who vowed to quit crime reoffended due to pressure to provide for his family, a court heard. Tobiah Rule was on licence and got work as a food delivery driver, Bristol Crown Court heard.
But when police visited his home regarding an unrelated matter they found him with a small quantity of cannabis. And his phone showed evidence of him dealing the Class B drug.
Rule, 31, of Combe Down in Bath, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Judge William Hart jailed him for 10 months. Read the full story here
Sophie Ashford, 12 months
A woman continued to assault police as a court tried to give her mental health help. And a judge told her: "I feel the end of the road has been arrived at."
Sophie Ashford, who has a personality disorder, deluged the 999 line with abusive calls saying she was not being supported. But instead of complying with officers who came to her aid she attacked them, Bristol Crown Court heard.
The 23-year-old, of Meadow Grove, Shirehampton, pleaded guilty to 19 assaults on an emergency worker, common assault and two charges of using the public communication network to cause annoyance. Read the full story here
Paul Brewster, 10 months
A judge asked members of a skittles league what he should do with their former treasurer who stole thousands of pounds in charity money from them. And after the judge was told the consensus was the fraudster should be sent to jail, that's exactly where the judge sent him for 10 months.
Paul Brewster was treasurer at Yatton and District Summer Skittles League, Bristol Crown Court heard. But when he was asked why no charitable cheques had been sent out he had taken all of it but would try to pay it back.
After a letter sent to Brewster regarding a repayment plan was ignored, police were called in and he was arrested. It transpired he had helped himself to some £7,500 which he spent in supermarkets, shops, pubs and cafes. Read the full story here
Dawn Lewis, life with a minimum 20 years
A Somerset woman who stabbed her lodger to death was jailed for life. It has also emerged the victim had previously killed his wife in front of their two young sons.
Dawn Lewis, 54, was told she would serve a minimum of 20 years for stabbing Glenn Richards, 61, to death at her Glastonbury home. The former yoga teacher had previously claimed she acted in self-defence, but the jury rejected the claim.
The trial, held at Bristol Crown Court, heard 61-year-old Mr Richards moved to Somerset after being released from prison for killing his former wife Karen in 2011. Lewis wanted to evict him from her cottage as the pair would constantly argue. Read the full story here
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