A RANGE of local criminals were locked up for serious offences in April 2022.
Here is a round-up of just some of the local offenders we have reported on who have now found themselves behind bars.
Russell Marsh
The former Ellesmere Port factory worker was sentenced to life with a minimum of 25 years for the brutal murder of estranged wife Jade Ward.
It took jurors less than two hours to reach a unanimous guilty murder verdict at Mold crown Court, amid what the judge later described as "compelling" evidence of Marsh's guilt.
Judge Rhys Rowlands said Marsh had sought to "sully" Ms Ward's character and her memory throughout the trial in an attempt to save himself.
He said: "I watched you throughout this trial and you haven't shown the slightest bit of remorse."
The judge commended the restraint and dignity shown by Ms Ward's family and friends throughout the trial. Following Marsh's sentencing, the Shotton family paid tribute to the mum-of-four.
- Read more: https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/20061654.recap-russell-marsh-sentenced-murder-jade-ward/
Daniel Dickinson and Nathan George Tuppeny
Daniel Dickinson, 30, damaged an artery in his victim's shoulder with a machete during an aggravated burglary in Ellesmere Port.
Chester Crown Court heard that if the victim had not received urgent medical attention, the attack could have been fatal.
Dickinson, of HMP Berwyn, pleaded guilty to the offence of aggravated burglary before his trial was due to take place.
The judge said an extended prison sentence was necessary and sentenced Dickinson to 11 years, of which Dickinson will serve two-thirds of that term behind bars, plus a further four years on licence.
Co-defendant Nathan George Tuppeny, 30, of Pembroke Drive, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender, as he had driven Dickinson and the machete away from the scene of the crime.
He was jailed for 18 months.
Dale Schofield and Wayne Roberts
These two men are behind bars after using their homes as safe houses to store class A drugs and cash for an organised crime group.
Dale Schofield and Wayne Roberts allowed crack cocaine, heroin and cash to be stored at their premises on behalf of the gang’s ring-leader Mark Cavanagh.
Schofield, of Alverston Road in Liverpool, was jailed for 27 months and Roberts, of East Float Quay in Wallasey, was sentenced to 20 months.
Judge Steven Everett told the pair that their role in the conspiracy cannot be underestimated and without them the ‘organised crime group can’t operate’.
Neil James Shaw
Convicted rapist from Chester Neil James Shaw tried to contact his victim weeks after being released from prison.
Neil James Shaw, 37, previously of Blacon, was jailed for eight years and told to sign the sex offenders' register for life after being found guilty of rape in June 2018.
He was released from prison in December 2021, to serve the remainder of his sentence out on licence, but within weeks he had tried to contact his victim by sending her a friend request on Facebook on February 4, Chester Crown Court heard on Thursday, April 14.
That put Shaw, who had been staying in London Road, Sandbach, in breach of an indefinite restraining order which prevented him from contacting his victim.
Judge Patrick Thompson jailed Shaw for 18 months, after Shaw admitted the breach.
David Haskell Hill
A man who took off all his clothes in a busy Chester city centre has been jailed.
David Haskell Hill, 54, of Brook Street, had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of intentionally exposing his genitals, when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court.
Hill exposed himself at 4.30pm on Thursday, February 24, outside JD Sports, at the junction of Eastgate Street and Foregate Street. He subsequently committed further offences in Chester and was jailed for 10 weeks.
He must now sign the sex offenders register for the next seven years and pay a victim surcharge of £128.
Sean Sweetman
Chester Royal Mail worker Sean Sweetman was jailed for stealing dozens of postal packets, including cash and gift cards.
Sweetman, 32, of Woodside Road, Blacon, had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of theft by employee when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court.
He also admitted a charge of fraud by false representation, in that he tried to use a stolen £80 Amazon gift card for himself.
He was jailed for 26 weeks.
Craig Crowther
A Northwich man who sexually assaulted a sleeping child and shared indecent images he had taken online has been jailed for four years and four months.
Craig Crowther, 31, was identified by National Crime Agency investigators as username ‘craggy2014’ who, on numerous occasions, discussed his sexual interest in children with who he believed were other paedophiles online.
In May 2020, Crowther, of Tilstone Close, told an undercover police officer posing as another user that he likes to ‘get involved’ with children, and had access to a child who he had sexually abused.
He had conversations with an undercover FBI officer and shared 10 images of children, even encouraging the officer, who he believed was another user, to take pictures of a child and send them to him.
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