Court Round Up: The faces of Leeds criminals jailed this week

Published 7th May 2023, 16:30 BST

A burglar who sexually assaulted a female student as she lay asleep in her bed is among those sent to prison this week.

Street robbers also stole a man’s £200 trainers after kicking him unconscious, while a Bulgarian woman, already banned from returning to Britain, duped an elderly woman out of £4,000 while she was distracted in a shop.

The criminals who were all taken into custody this week.

1. Collage Maker-06-May-2023-01-59-PM-5321.jpg

The criminals who were all taken into custody this week. Photo: WYP

Brima Turay admitted breaking into a student's home in Hyde Park and stealing valuables. However, the 50-year-old then climbed into bed of the unsuspecting victim and began touching her, only for her to wake up and scream when she saw Turay facing her. He denied the assault, but was found guilty after a trial. He was deemed dangerous by the judge, who gave him an extended sentence of nine years and six months.

2. Brima Turay

Brima Turay admitted breaking into a student's home in Hyde Park and stealing valuables. However, the 50-year-old then climbed into bed of the unsuspecting victim and began touching her, only for her to wake up and scream when she saw Turay facing her. He denied the assault, but was found guilty after a trial. He was deemed dangerous by the judge, who gave him an extended sentence of nine years and six months. Photo: WYP

Nikolova had flown to Britain in March despite being deported previously, using her maiden name to avoid detection. The next day she was part of a two-woman group who followed an elderly lady from a bank and distracted her in WHSmith in Pontefract while they robbed her. They got away with £4,000 which she had withdrawn from the bank to deposit in another. Nikolova, who sobbed throughout her sentencing, was jailed for 24 months.

3. Keranka Nikolova

Nikolova had flown to Britain in March despite being deported previously, using her maiden name to avoid detection. The next day she was part of a two-woman group who followed an elderly lady from a bank and distracted her in WHSmith in Pontefract while they robbed her. They got away with £4,000 which she had withdrawn from the bank to deposit in another. Nikolova, who sobbed throughout her sentencing, was jailed for 24 months. Photo: WYP

Love-day-Sims put his partner through a terrifying ordeal by slapping, biting, punching and stamping on her before trying to strangle her with both hands. It was only when she kicked out at him did he let go. The 25-year-old had got into an argument with her over money that he said she owed him. The homeless thug was jailed for 32 months in total.

4. Zachary Loveday-Sims

Love-day-Sims put his partner through a terrifying ordeal by slapping, biting, punching and stamping on her before trying to strangle her with both hands. It was only when she kicked out at him did he let go. The 25-year-old had got into an argument with her over money that he said she owed him. The homeless thug was jailed for 32 months in total. Photo: WYP

Lewis Woodcock (left) and Richard Crawshaw were part of a gang that knocked a man unconscious and stole his £200 Nike trainers during a vicious early-morning assault in Morley. The pair, aged 22 and 21 respectively, targeted the two as the unsuspecting pair walked home after a night out. They stole phones and a silver chain, as well as the expensive trainers. They both admitted the robberies, while Woodcock also admitted his part in a school burglary. The pair were each jailed for five years.

5. Lewis Woodcock and Richard Crawshaw

Lewis Woodcock (left) and Richard Crawshaw were part of a gang that knocked a man unconscious and stole his £200 Nike trainers during a vicious early-morning assault in Morley. The pair, aged 22 and 21 respectively, targeted the two as the unsuspecting pair walked home after a night out. They stole phones and a silver chain, as well as the expensive trainers. They both admitted the robberies, while Woodcock also admitted his part in a school burglary. The pair were each jailed for five years. Photo: WYP

Ciaran Preece (left) and Harrison Wood were both jailed this week for a series of street robberies in which they targeted teenage boys in Horsforth in the space of an hour. They robbed 15-year-olds in KFC and outside of Toby Carvery. They had travelled with a third person from Bramley with the intention of taking phones and other valuables. One victim even had a bottle put to his neck. Preece, aged 18, was given 24 months' jail, while 19-year-old Wood was handed 26 months' jail.

6. Ciaran Preece and Harrison Wood

Ciaran Preece (left) and Harrison Wood were both jailed this week for a series of street robberies in which they targeted teenage boys in Horsforth in the space of an hour. They robbed 15-year-olds in KFC and outside of Toby Carvery. They had travelled with a third person from Bramley with the intention of taking phones and other valuables. One victim even had a bottle put to his neck. Preece, aged 18, was given 24 months' jail, while 19-year-old Wood was handed 26 months' jail. Photo: WYP