These are the names and faces of nine odious criminals who were locked up in Leeds this week.
Their crimes include a convicted paedophile who left police officers fearing for their lives as he pointed a ‘gun’ at them.
Also sentenced at Leeds Crown Court this week, was a serial shoplifter who threatened to smash a shop owner’s “face in” with a bottle of desperados.
View our gallery below for the full round-up of criminals sentenced in Leeds this week...
1. Paul Barker
Convicted teenage paedophile Paul Barker left police officers fearing for their lives as he pointed a ‘gun’ at them and then chased them down his street. The 19-year-old had been convicted in January last year of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. Judge Robin Mairs jailed him for 27 months and accepted that the gun was an imitation, given that it was never located to prove otherwise. | WYP / Google maps
2. Robert Hunter
Stalker Robert Hunter made repeated threats of violence against his ex-partner of 16 years, messaging her “almost every day” over a 10-month period, after she had ended the relationship as a result of his persistent drug abuse. He later sent the victim a voice note, overheard by their eldest daughter, saying “I’ll cut your throat and stand over your lifeless body.” The 37-year-old was jailed for two years. | WYP/Shutterstock
3. Morgan Kidger
Desperate drug addict Morgan Kidger attacked a Good Samaritan who gave him money in the street and wished him a Happy Christmas. The 27-year-old then began demanding more cash, which the man refused. Kidger then lifted his clothing claiming he had a knife in his waistband and would stab him. He then laid into him with kicks and punches. Judge, Recorder Gordon Stables, jailed him for 38 months. | WYP / YEP
4. Thomas Laffey
Drug addict Thomas Laffey, who stole from a series of shops, has been jailed for 29 months and given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to keep him away from Co-op in Ossett and Horbury, B&M in Ossett and Prospect Service Station in Ossett. The 30-year-old also threw a paving slab through a pensioner's glass door and distracted the resident before snatching the man’s wallet and fleeing. | WYP / YEP
5. Luke Mitchell
Vengeful Luke Mitchell was jailed for five years and given a 10-year restraining order after he stabbed a man multiple times in Hembrigg Park, Morley with a foot-long knife during a revenge attack stemming from a nightclub altercation. The 31-year-old and another person also rained down kicks and punches on the man, Leeds Crown Court was told. | WYP / Google Maps
6. Antony Caton
Racist thug Antony Caton has been jailed for 12 months after subjecting a security guard at a Morrisons in Rothwell to a “tirade of racial abuse.” The 57-year-old and racially abused the arresting officer, of Polish descent, telling him that he hopes “Putin invades” and “blows you up.” He was previously handed a suspended sentence in August 2025 for “threatening staff” at a private hire firm. | WYP/YEP