Court reporting forms an important part of the UK's open justice system, that justice can be seen to be done. To this end BristolLive reports from the city's crown court every week.
Some of the key benefits of open justice include ensuring public confidence, respect in democracy and the administration of justice. It is also said to deter people from committing crimes, thereby the details of those crimes becoming public knowledge.
Here are the criminals who have been jailed in September 2022. You can read more about why we publish defendants' names and addresses here.
READ MORE: Man stabbed former partner nine times with four blades
Paul Miller (indefinite Hospital Order)
A mentally ill man unleashed an unprovoked knife attack at a Bristol petrol station. Paul Miller walked into the Morrison's Daily shop where bricklayer Liam Kittlety was getting a coffee from the machine.
Without word or warning Miller stabbed him multiple times with a kitchen knife. Mercifully, in a struggle that ensued, Mr Kittlety was able to get to safety.
Bristol Crown Court heard paranoid schizofrenic Miller - who had not taken his medication but had been taking drink and drugs at the time - turned his attention to shop staff.
They too managed to flee, the court heard. Armed police who arrived at the scene became locked in a stand-off with Lewis before baton rounds and a Taser were deployed and he was arrested.
Miller, 53, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder on September 9 last year. After hearing medical evidence Judge William Hart imposed an indefinite hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act.
Read the full story here
Frank Bastable, six years
A former DJ who helped a friend supply drugs was left owing £40,000 to dealers, a court heard. And police who zeroed in on him found he had £55,000 worth of drugs stashed at homes in Bristol and Banbury.
Frank Bastable accepted he was "banged to rights" when police came knocking at his door in July. Having been put in the back of a police car he tried to make a run for it, but was quickly detained.
Bastable, 27, of Causeway, Banbury, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of MDMA, cocaine and ketamine, a well as possession of the drugs with intent to supply, between July 2021 and July 2022. He also admitted escape from lawful custody.
Judge Moira MacMillan jailed him for six years. Read the full story here.
Ben Johnson, 56 months
A teenager who robbed a woman of her car at knifepoint was faced with a big problem. He couldn't drive her automatic Vauxhall Corsa and crashed it moments later.
Ben Johnson approached his victim as she returned to her car parked in Cabot Circus car park, Bristol Crown Court heard. After showing her a large blade in his waistband, she handed over her car keys - but when he climbed in he saw the Corsa was an automatic and he asked her how to drive it.
As he struggled to get underway, she managed to flee down a stairwell and call police. After Johnson managed to move the car from the car park, he shot down Temple Way and careered into stationary traffic, leaving at least one driver hurt.
Johnson, 18, from Southampton, but then living on licence at premises in Brigstocke Road, St Pauls, pleaded guilty to robbery, possessing a blade and dangerous driving in July. Judge Martin Picton handed him 56 months custody with three years' extended licence. Johnson faces a three-year driving ban on his release from custody.
Read the full story here.
Shomari Kondwani, (four years, eight months), Kemar Watson (two years, six months), Kavel Hines-Hastings (20 months, suspended for two years)
Three men who admitted to being behind a drug line which sold Class A drugs were sentenced, police have confirmed. The drug dealers, who were all from North Bristol, were caught dealing in South Bristol.
Shomari Kondwani, 32, of Linnell Close, Bristol controlled the mobile phone which drug users would contact to buy cocaine and heroine. Kemar Watson, 20, of Selbrooke Crescent, Bristol and Kavel Hines-Hastings, 20, of Cottrell Road, Bristol were two of Kondwani's couriers who would deliver the drugs on his behalf.
All three appeared at Bristol Crown Court last week after previously admitting two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Watson and Hines-Hastings also each admitted two charges of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs during an earlier hearing.
Read the full story here
Connor Beer, seven years
A Bristol drug dealer caught by police running a drugs line to Weston-super-Mare was jailed for seven years.
Connor Beer pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, after police tracked all the deals and transportation requests on his mobile phone.
The 24-year-old from Station Road in Henbury, Bristol, played what Avon and Somerset police described as a 'major role in supplying heroin and cocaine in Weston-super-Mare'.
Read the full story here.
Samuel Moulder, eight years
A Gloucester man found guilty of double rape was handed a lengthy jail term. Samuel Moulder denied wrongdoing but was convicted after a trial at Gloucester Crown Court.
The 34-year-old, of Newton House in London Road, was found guilty of abusing the complainant in 2017. Bristol Crown Court heard one offence took place in a hotel and the other at her home.
Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for eight years. He told Moulder: "Any rape is an exceptionally serious event ... her eloquent and somewhat measured victim personal statement is a reminder of how catastrophic such events are to victims."
Read the full story here
Laura Pomicter, two years and four months
When alcoholic Laura Pomicter demanded money from a woman at a Bristol ATM she was refused. And she pushed the woman over, breaking her hip.
Carol Wakefield, then 64 and a walking stick user, was withdrawing cash from the cashpoint at Morrisons in Fishponds before a shopping trip. Bristol Crown Court heard Laura Pomicter came up behind her and said "Give me some money".
When Ms Wakefield declined, Pomicter swore at her before pushing her. The shove caused Ms Wakefield to fall to the ground, where the horrendous pain she felt turned out to be a broken hip.
Pomicter, 61, whose address was given as The Bristol Wing, Bridewell Street, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm on June 27. The recorder Mr James Bromige jailed her for two years and four months.
He told Pomicter: "An addiction to alcohol has blighted your adult life."
Read the full story here.
Charley Little, six years
A 25-year-old woman was jailed for six years at Bristol Crown Court for causing death by dangerous driving.
Charley Little was driving a Vauxhall Astra on the M32 motorway in the early hours of 30 August 2021 when the car left the carriageway, launched from an embankment at 83mph and landed in a drainage ditch. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
23-year-old Tenisha Cooper was in the front passenger seat and died instantly.
Read the full story here.
Konner Derrick, two years and six months
A man who sexually abused a girl aged under 16 when he was aged 20 was jailed. And after a delay in dealing with the case he received a big discount on what he would otherwise had to serve.
Konner Derrick, 24, whose address was given as Dunmail Road in Southmead but in court said to be homeless, pleaded guilty to seven charges of having sexual activity with a child. He also admitted one charge of causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.
Judge Michael Cullum said the offences should have attracted a four-year prison sentence. But after a delay he handed Derrick a term of two years and six months.
The judge told him: "Delay in the case is utterly unacceptable to the court".
Read the full story here.
Simon Mills, 15-year extended sentence
A trespasser entered a woman's home near Bristol and raped her. And he was handed a hefty jail term.
Simon Mills denied wrongdoing. But a jury at Bristol Crown Court convicted the homeless 37-year-old of rape and sexual assault by penetration.
Judge Julian Lambert handed him a 15-year extended sentence. That comprises of ten years' custody and five years' extended licence.
The judge told Mills: "The jury found you showed her no mercy and abused her sexually. They found no consent, and you knew there was no consent.
"There is an element of a predator about you and I find that very disturbing.
"You waited for her friend to be out of the way. You were cold, calculating, cruel and callous in what you did. I think you are dangerous."
Read the full story here.
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