Among those facing justice were a drunken thug who put his partner through an “unforgiveable” assault at her Leeds home, an obsessive stalker who made threats to a woman, and a “compulsive shopper” who drained nearly £70,000 from dead people’s accounts while she worked for a care company.
The criminals all appeared before judges in the city, with jail sentences ranging from just a few months up to several years.
7. Ben Bland
Stalker Ben Bland bombarded his ex with hundreds of calls and would also hide in her garden in Leeds, taking videos of where she had been. The obsessive 24-year-old made threats to the woman and chillingly told her: “I will do what I have to. If I have to murder, I will.” Bland, of Poole Crescent, Crossgates, was jailed for three years and handed a restraining order to keep him away from the victim indefinitely. Photo: West Yorkshire Police/National World
8. Isiah Powell
A lockdown callout to police led to promising young Leeds basketball player Isiah Powell being uncovered as a drug dealer. They found drugs including cocaine, ketamine and cannabis at the 22-year-old's apartment at Citispace on Regent Street in the city centre in January 2021. He was given 32 months behind bars. Photo: West Yorkshire Police/Google
9. Lynn Mann
“Compulsive shopper” Lynn Mann drained nearly £70,000 from dead people’s accounts while she worked for a Leeds care company. The 57-year-old, of Bellflower Close, Castleford, admitted fraud by abuse of position and was jailed for 32 months. Photo: West Yorkshire Police/National World
10. Harrison Scott
Former Leeds Rhinos youth player Harrison Scott was found to be selling drugs after he made threats to a user over money owed. More than £37,000 and weapons, including an air rifle, machete and a knuckleduster, were found at the 23-year-old's house, in Brayton Terrace, Swarcliffe. He admitted a string of offences and was jailed for three years. Photo: West Yorkshire Police/National World
11. Joel Joyce
Convicted paedophile Joel Joyce, formerly known as Samuel Kettell, was found to have been searching for illegal images online. The 23-year-old was given a sexual harm prevention order in 2022 for sending vile abuse images of children to other perverts online, but during a routine visit by police to his home in The Avenue, Outwood, last year, they checked his phone and found images of partially-clothed youngsters. He admitted possessing indecent images of children and breaching the order. Joyce was handed a nine-month jail sentence. Photo: Durham Police/National World
12. Fatmir Meco
Cannabis farmer Fatmir Meco was caught tending to 114 plants at a house in Sutherland Mount, Burmantofts, in November. The 29-year-old admitted a charge of producing cannabis and was jailed for 20 months. Photo: West Yorkshire Police/Google