From a hammer killer “animal” who murdered his girlfriend in their flat, to a drug-addicted thief who dragged a hard-working delivery driver to his death, these offenders have all been brought to justice.
Also in the headlines this month was an “extremely dangerous” student nurse who carried a 10kg pressure-cooker bomb to a hospital so he could “kill as many nurses as possible”.
After a long month of sentencings for judges at Leeds Crown Court, here are 59 of the criminals who appeared in the dock -
25. Matthew Bernard
Matthew Bernard, 37, of Stainbeck Lane, Meanwood, was jailed for 13 years after he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault. The court heard how the predator with a history of sexual offending crept into a woman’s room and raped her as she slept. | West Yorkshire Police/National World
26. Simon Connolly
Simon Connolly, 44, of no fixed address, was jailed for three years after admitting two counts of burglary, one of possession of Class A drugs, as well as theft and assault. The serial burglar broke into student homes in the Hyde Park area on February 14 - but was caught after leaving fingerprints and a footprint behind. | West Yorkshire Police/National World
27. Thomas Silverwood
Thomas Silverwood, 30, of Pennyfield Close, Meanwood, was jailed for seven years and four months after possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition, two counts of dealing in Class A drugs and one of dangerous driving during a sentencing hearing this week. The violent armed robber who turned to drug dealing after being released from prison was found with a fully-loaded working pistol at his home. | West Yorkshire Police
28. Kyle Bennett
Kyle Bennett, 18, of Iveson Close, Lawnswood, was jailed for 19 months after admitting starting a fire and dealing in Class A drugs. The court heard how the young teenager started a fire that ripped through the Leonardo Building on Great George Street in October 2022, causing damage estimated at more than £4 million. | West Yorkshire Police/Mark Bickerdike Photography
29. Timothy Payne
Timothy Payne, 44, of Ashton Mount, Harehills, was jailed for 45 months after admitting two counts of dealing in Class A drugs at Leeds Crown Court. The panicking drug dealer tried to flee on foot and toss a Kinder Egg container full of drugs after a routine police stop in Hawksworth on November 2 last year. | West Yorkshire Police/Getty
30. Robert Cross
Robert Cross, of Queens Drive, Wrenthorpe, was jailed for nine years after he was found guilty of seven counts of sexual activity with a child dated between 2008 and 2011. The pervert sexually assaulted a teenage boy repeatedly at his home. | West Yorkshire Police/National World