Every week, Bristol Live reports from the city's courts. Reporting forms an important part of the UK's open justice system, that justice can be seen to be done.
Some of the key benefits of open justice include ensuring 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 criminals whose cases we reported, who were jailed in August 2023. Read more about why we publish defendants' names and addresses here.
READ MORE: Van driver denies causing death of mental health nurse by careless driving
Michael Young, extended sentence of 17 years
A drink and drug-addled intruder smashed into a woman's Bristol home, hit her and tried to rape her in front of her baby, a court heard. A police emergency operator heard her screaming over the phone when she called 999, in which she told Michael Young to get away from her.
After punching her in the face, ripping her underwear off and touching her improperly he desisted in attacking her further. Police who arrived at the scene found her naked from the waist down, holding her child in her arms.
Young, of Overndale Road in Downend, pleaded guilty to attempted rape and trespass with intent to cause a sexual offence. The 38-year-old also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the incident in February.
Judge James Patrick handed him an extended sentence of 17 years.
Read the full story here
Bristol Live WhatsApp Breaking News and Top Stories
Join Bristol Live’s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone
Bristol Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Christopher Benjamin, 28 months
Hard times as a result of the pandemic and lack of work resulted in a man pushing Class A drugs. And after police stepped in he has been jailed for 28 months.
Police acting on information spotted Christopher Benjamin outside the Fishponds address of a suspected drug user in July. Bristol Crown Court was told Benjamin was found with a plastic pot containing 41 Class A wraps.
Analysis showed 17 wraps of crack cocaine weighing 3.06g deemed to be worth up to £340. The remaining 24 wraps were suspected to be heroin, but were not tested, and police also recovered two mobile phones and £40 cash, the court heard.
Benjamin, 52, of Dunkirk Road in Fishponds, pleaded guilty to possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply.
Read the full story here
Cristakis Dimitriou, 15 months
Mystery surrounded a consignment of cannabis sent from California to a Bristol man. But after he denied all knowledge of it more cannabis was intercepted shortly after.
Cristakis Dimitriou, 31, of Wootton Road in St Annes, continued to deny wrongdoing. But a jury at Bristol Crown Court took just under an hour to unanimously convict him of being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC jailed him for 15 months.
Read the full story here
Nikolaus Jefferies, four years and two months
A Staple Hill man "mired in drug addiction" after bereavement and a relationship split burgled properties and stole charity boxes. And as a result he's been jailed for four years and two months.
Nikolaus Jefferies was said to have lived a "normal life" with a job, wife, children and home, Bristol Crown Court heard. But the court was told he was bereaved of his gran and later his mum, his relationship ended, he lost his job, became homeless and returned to taking Class A drugs.
The 42-year-old, of Pleasant Road, pleaded guilty to a plethora of offences involving burglary and charity box thefts.
Read the full story here
Jamie Russell, three years and four months
A Bristol man involved in supplying heroin and cocaine in Bristol was jailed for more than three years. Jamie Russell pleaded guilty to four offences and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday 24 August.
The 23-year-old was tracked by officers and seen to control a drug supply telephone line, which operated in Redcliffe between March and June this year.
He unsuccessfully tried to evade police on 20 June this year and discarded items in the Malago stream in south Bristol, before being arrested and charged.
Read the full story here
Stephen Irvine, 10 months
A hostel resident who attacked two men with a metal bar and knife was hurt when they turned his weapons on him. Christopher Johnson approached Colin Pimm and Stephen Irvine at Longhills Hostel, Fishponds.
Bristol Crown Court heard the two men disarmed him and and proceeded to punch and kick him on the floor. He was left with cuts to his head and eyelid.
Hostel residents both Pimm, 49, and Irvine, 41, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the incident in January. Irvine also pleaded guilty to two assaults on police and a racially aggravated public order at the hostel ten days before.
Judge Julian Lambert jailed Irvine for 10 months. He handed Pimm a seven-month jail term suspended for 21 months.
Read the full story here
Ciaran Brown, four years YOI
An "immature" teenager told a girl she could not end their friendship, showed her a gun and threatened to harm her parents. And he has been sent to youth custody for four years.
Ciaran Brown, aged 19 at the time, was found to have fake guns as well as real knives, Bristol Crown Court heard. And he was so angry about the attempt to end the friendship he obtained a county court non-molestation order claiming the female was stalking him - and created a false social media identity for her which purported to show she breached it with messages and phone calls.
Brown, now 20, of Zelah in Cornwall, pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place. After a trial he was convicted of stalking, possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, two charges of possessing a blade and two charges of perverting the course of justice. He also admitted possessing a prohibited weapon in a private place.
The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC imposed a four year sentence in a Young Offenders' Institution.
Read the full story here
Joshua Robins, two years
Brandishing an angle grinder at a shop security guard cost a shoplifter a jail term. Joshua Robins was spotted pilfering cases of chocolate from Sainsbury's in Avon Street.
Bristol Crown Court heard when he was rumbled he told the security guard: "Don't touch me, I'll get you if you come near me."
Robins, 30, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbbery and possessing an offensive weapon in May.
Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for two years.
Read the full story here
Luke Tinkler, 36 months
When police responded to a domestic row in Knowle they had a lawnmower thrown towards them and were threatened with death. And it transpired the man making the threat had just strangled his partner.
Luke Tinkler was said to have "lost the plot" in the early hours of July 26, Bristol Crown Court heard. The 38-year-old, whose address was given as Brigstocke Road in St Pauls, pleaded guilty to strangulation, assault and making threats to kill.
Tinkler refused to attend court for sentence. In his absence Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for 36 months.
Read the full story here
David Flowers, five years and seven months
A man who left two girlfriends "fearing for their lives" in a series of violent attacks was jailed. David Flowers, of Brislington Hill, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing actual bodily harm, one of false imprisonment and one of criminal damage after attacking his then-girlfriends at the gym he owned and worked in.
The court heard how the attacks happened at Armoury Gym, also known as Real Fitness Gym, in Brislington Hill. On September 10, 2021, Flowers, 40, became angry at his then-girlfriend and repeatedly punched her in an attack lasting three hours.
Read the full story here
Nicholas Hatherall, 32 months
A judge gave a prolific offender from Lawrence Weston a stark choice. And that was either to stay committing crime or be a family man.
Nicholas Hatherall, 41, of Long Cross, appeared before Bristol Crown Court for sentence on August 23. He pleaded guilty to handling a stolen car number plate and two non-dwelling burglaries in October 2020.
He also admitted handling a stolen electric bike in September 2021 and breaching a suspended sentence. Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for 32 months.
Read the full story here
John Fleming, 29 months
After verbally abusing his dentist, making a bomb hoax and spitting at police "embarrassed" John Fleming asked for a suspended sentence. But a court found his random spate of offences spanning from May last year to April merited a spell in prison.
Fleming, 50, of Whitefield Road, Speedwell, denied a public order offence against the dentist and also denied making the bomb hoax, but he was convicted after trial. He pleaded guilty to: racially aggravated public order; assault of an emergency worker; criminal damage; making a malicious communication, possessing a knife; a public order offence and a racially aggravated assault.
Judge Julian Lambert jailed him for 29 months.
Read the full story here
Edward Rogers, seven-and-a-half years
A survivor of rape told her abuser she was left traumatised by his "terrifying" assault of her. But as he was jailed for seven-and-half years she told him: "Justice has been served, I have an amazing life ahead of me, you will not affect me any longer and you will have to live with this for the rest of your life."
The brave victim spoke at the sentence of 38-year-old Edward Rogers, of Elm Park Avenue in Tottenham, who a jury convicted of an historic rape of her in a flat near Bristol. He was sent to prison by trial judge William Hart.
The judge told him: "You maintain your denial of the offence. That doesn't make your position worse but you do not have the mitigating feature of remorse."
Read the full story here
Abdifatah Sharif, 26 months, Billy Madden, 24 months, Jack Walker, 20 months
Three hooded, drunken men who robbed a man in a Stokes Croft takeaway were jailed. The three entered Slix takeaway early on a February morning.
Bristol Crown Court heard they grabbed the man's bag off him as one punched him and another threatened him with a large machete. And later one of the three committed a second robbery of another man in the street.
All three men pleaded guilty to robbery at Slix. They were Jack Walker, 22, of Woodchester, Yate; Abdifatah Sharif, 28, of Blenheim Street, Easton and Billy Madden, 33, of Maidenhead Road in Hartcliffe. Walker also admitted possessing a blade and the second robbery and Sharif also admitted possessing cocaine.
The recorder Miss Hannah Willcocks KC jailed Sharif for 26 months and Madden for 24 months. She jailed Walker for 20 months.
Read the full story here
Sign up to our court and crime newsletter here
Ronaldo Griffiths, life
A Redfield man convicted of a fatal stabbing in Castle Park was jailed for life. Ronaldo Griffiths claimed he acted in self-defence when he stabbed Adam Ali Ibrahim once in the chest during an altercation in the park in January.
But, after a two-and-a-half week trial, a jury of seven women and five men found the 20-year-old, of Osprey Road, guilty of murder. He was also convicted of attempted wounding with intent and possessing an offensive weapon.
Judge William Hart jailed him for life with a minimum 23 years to serve. He told Griffiths: "You simply lost your temper. You felt you were being made a fool of. You pulled out the fearsome weapon that was in your bag." The judge added that the killing once again highlighted the dangers of carrying a knife.
Read the full story here
Sonja Blenkiron, life
Hartcliffe woman Sonja Blenkiron was jailed for life after a jury convicted her of murdering her partner. Blenkiron, 41, denied intending to fatally stab 52-year-old Paul Wagland at her Gatcombe Road flat on January 30 this year.
But a jury of seven men and five woman unanimously convicted her of murder after a trial at Bristol Crown Court. Trial judge The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC handed her a mandatory life sentence with a minimum 15 years.
The judge said the jury rejected she acted in self-defence. He conceded there was no planning and accepts some evidence of Paul using some force on her in the past - but she was often as bad as him. He was satisfied she more frequently lost her temper.
Read the full story here
Daniel Bee, 24 weeks
A man who attacked two people at this year's St Pauls Carnival reckons he may have been given a spiked drink, a court heard. Daniel Bee said he downed around five cans of beer before being given something else.
After bumping into a reveller an argument ensued and Bee punched him, Bristol Crown Court was told. When a police inspector intervened Bee punched him and broke his nose and bit his arm.
Bee, 28, of Brigstocke Road in St Pauls, pleaded guilty to assault after the incidents on July 1. He also pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Judge Moira Macmillan jailed him for 24 weeks.
Read the full story here
Arron Gent, 20 months
Banned van driver Arron Gent decided to drive while disqualified. And after driving off in panic when police tried to pull him over he led them on a dangerous 20-minute pursuit, a court heard.
Mercifully no one was hurt after he tore off in his Vauxhall Vivaro van in Bristol. The only damage caused was to the tyres of both his van and police cars when police deployed a stinger device to stop him.
Gent, 32, of Maggs Close in Downend, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after the incident in July. He also admitted two counts of driving while disqualified and two counts of driving without insurance - in breach of a suspended sentence for dangerous driving.
Judge Michael Longman jailed him for 20 months.
Read the full story here
Bradley Young, three years
Alcohol-fuelled violence cost a man a jail term. Bradley Young turned to drink after a relationship split, Bristol Crown Court heard.
In May this year he was involved in two incidents in which he caused harm. In the first, he pushed a man who started a fight with him to the ground - leaving him with a brain injury.
In the second incident, Young asked a man to accompany him to a gent's toilet. Once there he struck him over the head with a beer bottle and stole his laptop, phone and bank cards.
Young, 30, of Wedmore Close in Frome, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) and two assauts on May 2. He also admitted assault and theft on May 9.
Judge Michael Longman jailed him for three years.
Read the full story here
