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, as well as deterring people from committing crimes and thereby the details of those crimes becoming public knowledge.
Here are the criminals who have been jailed in February. You can read more about why we publish defendants' names and addresses here.
Read more: The dangerous men Bristol women need to know about
Mark Elliott, six months
A man armed with a cheese knife threatened to chop someone'e head off. Mark Elliott made the threat after being told not to harass people for money, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Elliott, 29,of Logos House in Wade Street, pleaded guilty to possessing a blade on June 11 last year, he also admitted two public order offences on the same day.
Judge Euan Ambrose jailed him for six months. He told Elliott: "You had a very difficult start in life and a a long history of substance abuse. You were carrying a cheese knife as a weapon."
Read the full story here
Alexander Warren-Lean, two years
A "hitman" scalded a fellow inmate at HMP Bristol in the face and chest. Alexander Warren-Lean tossed a cup of boiling hot water at Kirvan Stevenson leaving him in agony, a court heard.
Warren-Lean, who was serving a sentence for robbery, admitted he carried out the hit to receive drugs. The 28-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm in 2019.
The Recorder Mr Adam Feest QC jailed him for two years. He told Warren-Lean: "You admitted this was a hit for drugs.Therefore there was significant planning. I'm very pleased to hear you're starting to deal with mental health issues - if you don't deal with them your offending will become more and more serious."
Read the full story here
Philip Parfitt, two years
A man turned up at his partner's home with a bouquet of flowers. And after they argued he put her in a headlock, a court heard.
Philip Parfitt breached a restraining order when he visited Lisa Beasmore's home in November last year. Bristol Crown Court it was the second time he ignored the court order.
Parfitt, 28, of Logos House in Wade Street, pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order and assault. The recorder Mr Llewellyn Sellick jailed him for two years.
The judge told him: "It is quite clear that the effect of what you did that day on her was very great and caused her great distress. It was a complete flouting of the restraining order for a long time."
Read the full story here
Israel Van-Meir, two years
A trained boxer who knocked his ex-partner's teeth out in the street has been jailed. But a court heard the sentence he imposed on his victim was a ruined life.
Israel Van-Meir was riding a motor scooter in Swiss Drive, Bristol, when he spotted Danielle Aspell and her two young children. He got off the scooter and delivered two hard blows to her head and one to her face.
Bristol Crown Court heard she remained conscious and stayed on her feet as Van-Meir rode off. She then attended Bristol Royal Infirmary, where she was diagnosed with a broken rib, a broken jaw in three places and the loss of four teeth.
Van-Meir, 35, of Marshield in South Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to wounding after the assault on January 24. The recorder Mr Ignatius Hughes QC jailed him for two years.
The judge told him: "The court has seen video footage. You punched her three times, you are a man with experience of boxing and it shows."
Van-Meir, who admitted breaching a non-molestation order, was handed an indefinite restraining order to have no contact with Miss Aspell.
Read the full story here
Matthew Dobie, 20 years
A man was handed a 20-year jail sentence after being convicted of a number of child sexual offences. Matthew Dobie, originally from South Gloucestershire, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on February 18.
He carried out multiple offences on a single victim a number of years ago before it was reported to the police in 2020. Consequently, he was found guilty by a majority verdict of two counts of raping a child and four counts of sexual activity with a child.
Dobie was handed a 20-year sentence with a further four years to be served on license. He will be required to serve a minimum of two-thirds of his custodial sentence.
On top of this, the 47-year-old will be placed on the sex offenders register and subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. Judge Julian Lambert described the abuse Dobie inflicted upon the victim as ‘despicable’.
Read the full story here
Oussana Benabid and Rosa Kovacs, 32 weeks
Two shoplifters who stole £800 worth of Victoria's Secrets lingerie from a store in Cabot Circus were jailed.
Oussana Benabid and Rosa Kovacs, both of Pountney Drive in Easton, stole numerous items from the shop on January 18. Benabid, 36, appeared at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (Monday, February 21) where he was jailed for 18 weeks for the theft of the lingerie and two other thefts in which he stole hundreds of pounds worth of clothes and fragrances from John Lewis.
Kovacs, 57, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on January 19 and was jailed for 14 weeks after being convicted of theft and handling stolen goods. She is also now the subject of a three year Criminal Behaviour Order which prevents her from entering Bristol city centre and any shop or business from which she is banned.
Read the full story here
Billy Gardiner, 20 months
A Knowle man was offered a chance by a judge to avoid prison. But he blew it and he's now inside.
In December last year Billy Gardiner was handed a suspended jail term being convicted for disclosing private photos and films and harassment. Bristol Crown Court heard he breached the sentence as well as a restraining order by staying at an address he was banned from.
Gardiner, 28, of Novers Park Road, pleaded guilty to breaching a suspended sentence and restraining order as well as a public order offence.
Judge Martin Picton jailed him for 20 months, which included activation of eight months previously suspended. The judge told him: "I gave you a chance in December with a suspended sentence and community based measures designed to stop you reoffending. You failed to comply, It is a serious breach of the restraining order. You shouldn't have been there, you made the wrong choices."
Read the full story here
Andrew Alford, 32 months
A Knowle woman who found burglars in her home managed to grab back her property from one of them. And police called in chased and caught him.
Bristol Crown Court heard the Langham Road resident returned to her house and found an intruder leaving via the kitchen. After she called police Andrew Alford emerged from upstairs with a camera case around his neck and a large bag.
The court heard the householder reclaimed her property from him before he tried to flee over a garden wall. Police then arrived, gave chase and arrested him.
Alford, 45, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary and two charges of criminal damage after the break-in on January 15. The court heard he had 31 previous convictions for 214 offences, including 37 dwelling burglaries.
The recorder Mr Tom Brown jailed him, in his absence, for 32 months. He told the court: "(The householder) says she has worked hard to buy items. She feels angry about about someone forcing entry into her home where she previously felt safe."
Read the full story here
Romaine Hyman, 26 years
A man from Bath who organised the supply of at least £3million worth of cocaine to the South West and boasted to his contacts that his gun had “a silencer…the whole shebang” was jailed for 26 years.
Romaine Hyman, 30, previously of Portland Place, Bath, was found guilty of 18 offences at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday (February 15) and was sentenced today (February 18).
Hyman became a key target in a South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) investigation following Operation Venetic, the UK law enforcement response to the takedown of encrypted messaging service EncroChat.
Read the full story here
David Archer, Alfie Kayanand Chad Walker, combined 24 years
Three men who raided a house with knives and a sock containing a pool ball were jailed for a combined total of 24 years.
David Archer, 54, Alfie Kayan, 33, and Chad Walker, 31, all of Weston-super-Mare, forced their way into the hallway of a supported living accommodation and threatened two vulnerable residents in April last year. One of the three thugs bit one of the victims on the arm, and the wound later got infected, a court was told.
They eventually ran off when the residents pressed a panic button - but they were caught and convicted after DNA of all three was found on one of the knives they used. After a thorough search through CCTV of the area, Avon and Somerset Police officers located a second address in the town where the three men had gathered before the attack. Kayan and Archer's DNA was also found on one of the victim's clothing.
Read the full story here
Chanz Maximen, life with a minimum 12 years
A Bristol doctor who nearly died when he was randomly stabbed in his home came to court and wished his attacker all the best for the future. Dr Adam Towler was subjected to a terrifying ordeal when teenager Chanz Maximen unleashed the attack in October 2019.
But on the day Maximen was jailed for life, the Clifton-based doctor open up to Maximen and the court about his feelings. And he stressed that he was not upset or angry with him.
Maximen, 19, of Woodland Walk in Sea Mills, was convicted by jury of the attempted murder of Dr Towler, and possessing a knife, in October 2019. He was also convicted of the wounding with intent of warehouse worker Wojtek Rozmiarek in November 2019 as well as possessing two more knives.
Judge William Hart jailed him for life with a minimum 12 years to serve.
Read the full story here
Michael Pannell, 22 months
A judge told a man who stabbed someone it was luck rather than judgement he didn't cause more harm than he did. Michael Pannell thrust a makeshift blade into Richard Mizen, Bristol Crown Court was told - but thankfully he didn't sever vital organs or arteries.
Pannell, 57, of Chestnut House in Bishport Avenue, Hartcliffe, pleaded guilty to wounding and possessing a blade in December last year. Judge Julian Lambert jailed him for 22 months.
The judge told Pannell: "You pleaded guilty that you did not act in self defence. It is luck, not good judgement that grave injury was not occasioned in this case."
Read the full story here
Jerome Edwards, five years, Youth aged 16, two-and-a-half years' detention
Teenagers who stabbed two men in Horfield were jailed.
Jerome Edwards and a boy aged just 15 were recruited to mount the attack after a victim had been declared to be "disrespectful", Bristol Crown Court heard.
In an attack lasting less than a minute the teenagers, wearing hoods up and Covid masks, inflicted serious injuries before fleeing.
Edwards, 20, of Broadfield Road in Knowle, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in August 2020.
The younger defendant, now aged 16, pleaded guilty to the same charge.
Judge James Patrick jailed Edwards for five years.
He handed the younger defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, two-and-a-half years' detention.
The judge told them: "Two men were stabbed with knives you were carrying.
"This was highly dangerous, there was an element of revenge and the attack was pre-meditated."
Read the full story here
Roger Loney, three years
A Henbury man convicted of molesting two teenage girls was jailed.
Roger Loney, 45, of Satchfield Close, denied abusing the youngsters but was convicted after a trial.
A jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting one girl and three sexual assaults on a second.
Judge James Patrick jailed him for three years.
The judge barred him from working with children and vulnerable adults and ordered him to sign the Sex Offender's Register for life.
Read the full story here
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Michael Coffey, two years and two months; Richard Coffey, 18 months
Rogue traders who ripped off vulnerable and elderly people in and around Bristol were jailed,
Brothers Michael and Richard Coffey were directors of MRC Roofing and Building Ltd, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Between them they scammed some £44,600 from customers for poor quality roofing work which needed more money to put right.
Michael Coffey, 29, and Richard Coffey, 25, both of Northwood Park, Old Gloucester Road, Winterbourne, both pleaded guilty to participating in a fraudulent business.
The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC jailed Michael for two years and two months and Richard for 18 months.
The judge said: "There was detrimental impact on the victims, financially and otherwise.
Read the full story here
Scott Lippiatt, two years and four months
A Bedminster man who wounded his older brother to the body and neck was jailed.
Bristol Crown Court heard Scott Lippiatt had a strained relationship with older sibling Ross.
Witnesses described how they argued near the junction of Elmdale Road and Luckwell Road before a fight ensued in which Ross suffered puncture wounds to his torso and neck.
Father-of-two Scott Lippiatt, 21, of South Liberty Lane, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm on August 25 last year.
Judge Michael Longman jailed him for two years and four months.
He told Lippiatt: "It is sad to hear of such animosity between brothers."
Read the full story here
Michael Tedstone, two years and eight months
Sexual chats with a non-existent child - again - cost a man jail.
In 2019 Michael Tedstone received a suspended jail term for attempted child sexual activity.
Bristol Crown Court heard he had been caught by an adult in a paedophile sting - and last year he was caught again.
Tedstone, 25, of (Milton Road) in Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite child sexual activity, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and attempted sexual communication with a child in October last year.
The recorder Mr Malcolm Gibney jailed him for two years and eight months.
He told Tedstone: "It would appear you have not learned your lesson from your appearance in this court."
Read the full story here
Lewis Mosley, 21 months
A "smashed out of his face" burglar who entered two Filton homes stole a child's jacket from one and a car from the other.
Lewis Mosley appeared at Bristol Crown Court for sentence today (February 8, 2022).
The 24-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary of a home in Kenmore Crescent in which he stole a Dryrobe garment on December 12 last year.
He also admitted burglary of a home in Braemar Avenue, Bristol, on the same day in which he took car keys and then stole a Vauxhall Corsa.
The court was told he previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving without insurance or a proper licence and driving with excess alcohol.
The recorder Mr Malcolm Gibney jailed him for 21 months.
He told Mosley: "You were drunk.
"You say you were smashed off your face and was unaware of your actions.
Read the full story here
Warren Royal, eight years
A Totterdown man who admits possessing drugs and weapons was jailed.
Warren Royal, of Wycliffe Row, pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to supply Class A drug heroin and Class C drug diazepam on December 1 last year.
The 37-year-old also pleaded guilty to possessing a disguised firearm (Taser) and knuckle duster, on December 1 last year, as well as criminal property comprising of £2,209 cash.
He denied handling 14 stolen Yankee Candles and a stolen pedal cycle and those pleas were accepted.
Judge Euan Ambrose jailed him for eight years.
He told Royal: "The offences are interwoven, one aggravating the other.
Read the full story here
Thomas Croker, eight months
A Lawrence Weston man who "bombarded" his former partner with phone calls after they split was jailed.
Thomas Croker continued to pester the woman even though both she and police asked him to stop.
Bristol Crown Court was told that between August and November last year he phoned her more than 400 times.
Croker, 29, of Badenham Grove, pleaded guilty to stalking.
Judge William Hart jailed him for eight months.
He told Croker: "What you did was to bombard her with calls and emails as well as attending her property so she didn't know whether she was coming or going.
"Those who behave like this need to know that an immediate custodial sentence is almost bound to follow.
"If you continue in this way it will mean a lot of your future life will be in prison.
Read the full story here
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