Open justice strives to ensure 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 people we reported on who were jailed at Bristol Crown Court in January 2022.
You can read more about why we publish defendants' names and addresses here.
READ MORE: Bristol men sentenced for violent behaviour at football matches
Kyle Cox, three years and six months
A man was jailed for possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.
Police issued a public appeal to trace Kyle Cox, 23, of no fixed abode, after the court issued a warrant for his arrest in September 2021.
On January 25 he appeared before Bristol Crown Court and admitted committing the offences in April 2020 and was jailed for three years and six months.
Read the full story here
Scott Hunt, eight years
"The guilt is all yours."
This is what a judge told a Speedwell man found guilty of sexually abusing two young girls.
Scott Hunt, 33, of Whitefield Avenue, abused the youngsters on multiple occasions, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Though he still denies wrongdoing a jury convicted him of three charges of causing or inciting a child aged under-13 to engage in sexual activity on one girl, and two charges of sexual assault of a child aged under-13 on another.
The Recorder Mr Neil Millard jailed him for eight years.
Both complainants read impact statements to the court outlining the guilt and shame they endured as a result of the abuse.
The judge told Hunt: "They should feel no guilt.
"They did nothing wrong.
"The guilt is all yours.
"There is absolutely no guilt on them.
"Their strength is in coming here and telling this court what you did to them.
"They are not little girls anymore, they are strong young women.
"The guilt is yours."
Hunt was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning him from contact or working with youngsters aged under 16.
He was told to register his whereabouts to police for life.
Read the full story here
Patrick Adamson, 16 months
A Lockleaze man wiih 20 convictions for driving while disqualified tried to drive off from police before crashing.
Banned Patrick Adamson was spotted in Bristol driving someone else's Renault Megane, Bristol Crown Court heard.
After leading police on a dangerous, 13-minute high speed pursuit he came to an abrupt stop when he left the road and crashed into a tree.
Adamson, 41, of Bonnington Walk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, while disqualified and uninsured, in March last year.
The recorder Mr Marcus Pilgerstorfer QC jailed him for 16 months.
He told Adamson: "You really tested the expertise of the police pursuers who were put at risk as well as other road users.
"It was only by pure chance and good fortune there were no serious harm caused to any person."
Adamson was banned from driving for 38 months and ordered to take an extended driving test.
Read the full story here
Aaron Gent, 20 months
A Downend man convicted of sexually assaulting one woman and stalking another was jailed.
A jury found Aaron Gent guilty of two sex offences but he admitted other charges.
In total the 30-year-old, of Maggs Close, was convicted of stalking, causing criminal damage, harassment and two sexual assaults.
Judge William Hart jailed him for 20 months.
The judge told him: "The offending indicates wholly inappropriate behaviour by you to both these women.
"Women should not be expected to tolerate it.
"Those who offend in this way should expect custodial sentences."
The judge handed Gent a five-year restraining order banning him from contact with both complainants.
He was also told to notify on the sexual offenders' register for 10 years.
Read the full story here
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Michael Whatley and Steven Fry, 106 months
Two men who burgled homes and a shop for high value bikes were jailed.
Michael Whatley and Steven Fry were convicted of several break-ins in which cycles worth thousands of pounds were pilfered.
In one raid they used a stole van to plunder a bike shop of three high quality bikes worth £17,000, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Whatley, 30, of no fixed address, was convicted after trial of burgling two homes and a bike shop but admitted handling stolen goods.
Fry, 31, of Lowlis Close in Henbury, admitted burgling two homes and a bike shop as well as handling stolen goods.
Judge William Hart jailed Whatley for 66 months and Fry for 40 months.
He told them: "These offences have all the hallmarks of targeted, professional, dwelling and commercial burglaries.
Read the full story here
Thomas Trott, 20 months
A driver was jailed after colliding with an e-scooter rider in South Bristol.
Thomas Trott, 27, failed to stop at a red light on Hartcliffe Way last May, and hit 20-year-old Jade Hodson-Walker as she rode an e-scooter over a pedestrian crossing.
Ms Hodson-Walker spent several months in hospital having suffered "potentially life-threatening" injuries, which police say continue to have a "profound" impact on her and her family.
She continues to undergo treatment eight months later.
Trott, of Westbourne Road in Downend, was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Tuesday (January 18) at Bristol Crown Court, and has been disqualified from driving for three-and-a-half years after his release.
He was arrested at the scene last year and charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving with a proportion of specified controlled drug above the specified limit, and driving without insurance and possession of cannabis.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted in court this week.
Read the full story here
Joseph Foster, three years and three months
A Hartcliffe man who admitted disorder against police at a Bristol Kill The Bill protest was jailed.
Joseph Foster appeared for a plea and trial preparation hearing today (January 18, 2022) at Bristol Crown Court.
The 31-year-old, of Oak House, pleaded guilty to riot on March 21 last year.
Judge James Patrick jailed him for three years and three months.
The judge told him: "I've dealt with a lot of these cases.
"Normally I explain why it is so serious.
"You know how serious this was.
"Everyone agrees that your behaviour has a sentence which starts at six years.
"You were threatening to police officers, climbed onto a police van and was trying to tip it over."
The judge conceded Foster had learning disabilities and mental health difficulties and got "caught up" in the riot.
Read the full story here
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Joshua Nigh, five year extended sentence
A violent partner who slashed a woman's wrist and then claimed she had cut it herself was jailed.
Joshua Nigh, who had a restraining order not to see the woman, had been drinking with her before she ran a blade over her arm for a "release", Bristol Cown Court heard.
With that Nigh pulled her arm out and told her: "If you are going to do it, do it like this" and slammed the blade down on her wrist
She sustained damage to a tendon and a cut nerve and had to undergo surgery,.
Nigh originally claimed she self-harmed, the court was told.
The 32-year-old, of Douglas Road, Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to wounding, three charges of breaching a restraining order and one charge of doing an act tending to pervert the course of justice.
He had a previous conviction for assaulting both the woman and his father and the judge perceived him to be a dangerous offender.
Judge James Patrick jailed him a five-year extended sentence, comprising of four years' prison and 12 months' extended licence.
He told Nigh: "These are very serious offences.
"In my judgement you are dangerous and out of control when drunk."
Read the full story here
Daniel Bishop, 14 years and eight months
A "depraved" Emersons Green man drugged a woman so he and others could rape her.
Daniel Bishop obtained the GHB "date rape" drug from a Dutch website, Bristol Crown Court was told.
After slipping it into her drink he forced himself on her while she was unconscious and broadcast the abuse via the internet.
And he also arranged for other men to similarly abuse her, the court heard.
Bishop, 43, pleaded guilty to three rapes, three attempted rapes, a sexual assault and administering a noxious substance.
Judge James Patrick, who categorised him as a dangerous offender, jailed him for 14 years and eight months with extended licence of eight years.
He told Bishop: "You fall to be sentenced for a set of depraved offences.
"What you did is, in my judgement, degrading and humiliating."
The judge ordered Bishop to register as a sex offender for life and barred him from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Read the full story here
Christopher Lawrence, ten years
The victim of child sexual abuse bravely told a court how his life has been decimated as a result.
He said being molested at the hands of Christopher Lawrence prompted him to seek solace in obsessive behaviour, ruined relationships and caused him trust issues.
He told Bristol Crown Court: "I've realised how much the abuse affected me and how much it changed my life."
Lawrence, 72, of Orchard Square in Redfield, pleaded guilty to nine historical charges of indecent assault on a male.
The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC jailed him for ten years.
Read the full story here
Paul Barton, four-and-a-half years
A complaint about cannabis smoke caused a man to be clobbered with a metal pole, a court heard.
Vitalij Plechov raised the issue with fellow resident Paul Barton at their flats in Upper Church Road, Weston-super-Mare.
Bristol Crown Court heard Barton grabbed a 900g fishing rod support, bashed Mr Plechov's door and then struck him on the head.
Barton, 45, pleaded guilty to causing damage but a jury convicted him of wounding with intent after the incident in June last year.
The recorder Mr David Chidgey jailed him for four-and-a-half years.
He told Barton: "There was a complaint about smoking cannabis in the flats.
"You had your door open, your's was a ground floor flat.
"You didn't react well.
Read the full story here
Nasir Ismail, two years and nine months
Police who checked a car in Easton found a man with Class A drugs.
Officers noticed the black BMW parked in the car park of Twinell House, Easton.
When they searched passenger Nasir Ismail they found him with wraps of drugs as well as a basic mobile phone and £700 in cash.
Ismail, 34, of Beaconsfield Close in Barton Hill, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and crack cocaine as well as acquiring criminal property in November last year.
Judge Julian Lambert jailed him for two years and nine months.
The judge said that when Ismail was given a suspended jail term in 2015, for supplying Class A drugs, he received a chance of a lifetime when he received a remarkably merciful sentence.
The judge told him: "From that experience you knew the risk you took if you came to deal Class A drugs.
"You are older but none the wiser."
Read the full story here
Michael Harkin, 36 months
A "menace on the streets" who assaulted paramedics and burgled an NHS building was jailed.
Michael Harkin committed a spate of offences between May and November last year.
Bristol Crown Court heard that in two instances of disorder he bared his buttocks.
The court was told he had 54 convictions for 120 previous offences.
Harkin, 32, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two public order offences, two assaults on paramedics, criminal damage, possessing cannabis and two burglaries.
Judge Julian Lambert jailed him for 36 months.
He told Harkin: "Much of your offending reflects a deep-seated addiction to drink.
"You are also a menace on the streets."
Read the full story here
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