April was another busy month in the courts. A corrupt police officer and a taxi driver who raped a woman after driving her to a secluded location were just two of the Manchester cases dealt with in the crown court. Amongst those in the dock this month were a computer expert who helped dupe innocent victims out of £100 million, an 'attention seeking narcissist' who targeted a sports star and two bullying thugs who terrorised a man before killing him. Prison terms are handed out to the worst offenders. And Manchester Evening News reporters are on hand to cover the most serious cases. A man who watched Tristan Tate videos, and had a fear of rejection, obsessively planned a double stabbing to show ‘who he really is’. Viet Quoc Tran, 22, attacked his aunt and her new partner after becoming ‘jealous’ of her new relationship. After eavesdropping on their conversation, hacking into her phone, and tracking her using an app, he got the train from London to Manchester to follow them after they had been on a date. As they took a walk through the city centre, he sprayed the man with UV spray and stabbed him in the chest. His aunt tried to wrestle his balaclava from his face but was also stabbed to the leg. Tran, a former accountancy and financing student was jailed after admitting wounding. Read the full story here: Man launched horror bayonet double stabbing on his aunt and her partner in Manchester city centr e A man pulled out a knife and threatened to stab two men during a chaotic brawl outside a pub just as an England victory at the Euros was being sealed. Ewan Hughes, of Lowther Court in Prestwich , was standing outside the Stocks Hotel in Worsley on June 29, 2021 just as England triumphed against Germany in their Euros 2020 clash. Moments before celebrations were about to kick off, Manchester Crown Court at Crown Square heard how chaos ensued outside the pub. Hughes, who was 21-years-old at the time, claimed he was approached by two men who began being ‘hostile’ towards him, ‘because of an incident the week before’ which involved a friend of Hughes’. Hughes says he ‘feared for his safety’ as the two men ‘backed him into a corner’ while he was suffering from a broken collarbone and had his arm in a sling. “I pulled out a knife I was carrying and held it at waist height,” a statement read in court said. “I accept that, at the time, this action was excessive in the circumstances.” Hughes then threatened to stab the pair if they got any closer, heard the court. He was jailed for 12 months. Read the full story here: Everyone was watching the Euros - then he pulled out a knife and caused chaos A man who police said harassed a woman he believed he was in a relationship with has been jailed. Jacob Malek, 31, was arrested outside the victim's home after a report to police of a man shouting and kicking at the front door. A court heard officers spoke to the woman and she said Malek had been 'frequently attempting to contact her' by sending messages to her daughter through Facebook, said police. The messages were said to be 'unwanted' and an attempt by Malek 'to get her to speak to him'. Cheshire Police said allegations were also made that he had previously forced his way into the address by climbing through a bathroom window, leaving the victim to fear for her and her children's safety. He was jailed for 52 weeks. Read the full story here: Stalker who thought he was in a relationship with victim bombarded her daughter with Facebook messages A woman stored a deadly Glock handgun and ammunition in the bedroom of her south Manchester home for a drugs gang. Giovanna Edmondson, 35, had never been convicted of a crime when cops raided her home on Caythorpe Street in May last year. Officers found a powerful automatic Glock handgun, which has been forensically linked to four shootings, including one fatality. It was hidden inside in a large cardboard box being used as a makeshift bedside table. Police also found a regular magazine; one extended magazine; and 18 rounds of compatible ammunition - as well as a small amount of cocaine - prosecutor Neil Fryman told Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court on Tuesday (April 1). Analysis of the weapon found the DNA of two members of a county lines drugs gang - a rapper who had glorified guns, Clint Curtis, and Jerome Williams - on the trigger. Now all three, and a fourth defendant, have been jailed for their part in the gang, which ran the 'Lex' drugs line. Read the full story here: The 'very hot property' found in woman's bedroom as cops smashed 'Lex' drugs gang The details of a pervert's 'disgusting hobby' were laid bare as he was locked up. Craig Nixon hid his phone and filmed girls on the toilet. Police found documents entitled 'Spy Cam' in his bedroom. He took numerous videos and took screenshots of footage. Analysis of Nixon's phone revealed the extent of his crimes. In a statement read at a Manchester Crown Court hearing on Tuesday (April 1) one of his victims said she was left feeling 'uncomfortable, embarrassed and angry'. She dubbed Nixon a 'predator'. The 36-year-old, from Rochdale , was jailed for two years. Judge Hilary Manley told him: "It's you who should feel shame and embarrassment. You have an extraordinarily twisted and unhealthy sexual attraction to young girls." Nixon, from Middleton , was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to four counts of voyeurism; and one count of taking indecent images of children. Read the full story here: 'I felt something die inside': Pervert's 'disgusting hobby' leaves victims horrified A vulnerable woman trying to get home after a night out was driven to a remote location and raped by a remorseless taxi driver. She had called for a taxi after a night out with friends in Bolton town centre. Abdul Amiri - a taxi driver of 17 years - took the fare. The woman started worrying after he began driving her home in a different direction than usual. Amiri drove to an 'isolated' area and began his 'appalling' attack. The victim, who bravely faced Amiri in court and told of her ordeal, said she gets flashbacks when her partner hugs her. Amiri, 49, of Colindale Close, Bolton, was found guilty of one count of rape after a trial. He was found not guilty of kidnapping and false imprisonment. On Wednesday (April 2), Amiri was jailed for 12-and-a-half years. Read the full story here: Taxi driver drove passenger to remote location and raped her in horrific attack An evil rapist who subjected a woman to a campaign of 'horrific' abuse and threatened to kill her has been given a life sentence. 'Monster' Ryan Schofield's crimes came to light after he was arrested for breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Officers analysed his phone and found evidence of the sexual and physical abuse. Schofield, 34, of Whiteacre Road, Ashton , is said to have befriended the woman online before engaging in 'controlling behaviour' over an eight-month period. During this time he assaulted her, raped her, and kept her hostage, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. He pleaded guilty to making threats to kill, assault, rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and false imprisonment and was sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 13 years at Bolton Crown Court today (Thursday). Read the full story here: Police searched his phone - what they found has earned him a life sentence A drug dealer from Greater Manchester who boasted in a song that he was making 'stacks' of cash and would 'make a milly' has been brought down. Wannabe rapper William Bates, 26, who boasted he was 'swerving the feds', was eventually apprehended and found with 100 wraps of cocaine in his man bag after being chased on foot through woods by officers. Bates from Wigan, ran a 'county lines' operation where he used kids and vulnerable adults to 'do his dirty work' and bag up heroin and cocaine to be sold in Leigh, Wigan , and Burnley, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. He has now been jailed after detectives rumbled his 'large-scale drugs conspiracy.' Read the full story here: Drug dealer and wannabe rapper boasted he was 'swerving the feds'....he was wrong A masked thief targeted commuters throughout the city centre in a four-day spree. Subar Ahmed and another would cycle up behind their unsuspecting victims before swiping their phone from their hands. One man felt a bike go into the back of his legs before his phone was taken, and a woman felt her fingers bend back as Ahmed, 28, pulled the device from her grasp. Another victim had over £1,300 stolen from her bank account after her phone was taken. In a statement, one victim who chose to move to Manchester from New Zealand as she believed it was safe, said: “My entire life was on that phone.” Ahmed, of Withington , pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, two counts of theft from person, three counts of fraud by false representation and possession of Class A and B drugs. He was jailed at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, April 3. Read the full story here: 'He preyed on law-abiding citizens going about their normal everyday business' A gang of young burglars from Greater Manchester carried out a 14-raid spree on homes near the M62. Their target was a high-powered cars - with a preference for Mercedes vehicles. In total the gang escaped with eight vehicles worth almost a quarter of a million pounds. The burglaries began in March 2024 and continued into late April that year. There were five raids in one night on March 30th 2024. All the burglaries were close to the M62 . Predominantly they involved detached houses, and the target appeared to be high-powered motor vehicles outside the addresses. The gang smashed their way through rear patio doors of the properties to get keys for the vehicles. Cheshire Police launched Operation Reprimanded to catch the gang. The 14 offences occurred between 24 March and 20 April, including 13 in Warrington and 1 in Middlewich. Following enquiries, on Thursday 26 September, a team of officers from Cheshire Police and Greater Manchester Police executed warrants at three addresses in Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. Aaron Gee, Mason Kenny, and Brandon Day were arrested during the raids, while Joshua Irving, from Manchester, was produced from prison. They were all jailed this week. Read the full story here: The baby-faced Greater Manchester burglars who preyed on flash cars by the motorway A balaclava-clad armed robber left shopkeepers fearing for their lives after bursting into two convenience stores in terrifying knifepoint heists committed within days of each other. Drug addict Jack Dewhurst, 27, brandished a large kitchen knife at two robberies of shops in Bolton , stealing cash at both. Shopkeepers at both stores have been left traumatised and feared they would be injured or even killed, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. Another man, Shane White, 52, who was found to have assisted him at the second robbery, was also locked up. Read the full story here: Balaclava clad thug left shopkeepers fearing for their lives in knifepoint robberies Two drug mules were caught with £675k-worth of cocaine at Manchester Airport . Djibril Djalo, 34, and Madiu Gomes, 25, were stopped by Border Force officers on December 16 last year. Concealed in cling-filmed wrapped packages in their suitcases was 25kg of the Class A drug. Djalo, from Portugal, said he had agreed to bring the drugs to the UK for a fee. His lawyer said he was 'experiencing immense poverty'. Djalo, Manchester Crown Court heard, was taken to Gambia where he was handed the drugs and flight information. Gomes claimed he was also broke when he was 'made an offer' by a criminal group. They were both jailed for four years after pleading guilty to being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a Class A drug. Read the full story here: Men 'in immense poverty' stopped at Manchester Airport before staggering £675,000 find A violent rapist has been jailed after a vicious attack which left two men in hospital. Michael Brock has been given a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years after being found guilty of three counts of attempted murder; rape; and making threats to kill. On an evening in July 2023, two women went on a night out. They returned home with two men they had met days before. One of the women received a message on Facebook from a person called 'Mike David'. Brock later arrived at the property. CCTV showed him carrying a rucksack. Its contents included a hammer; a knife; a foldable saw; a lighter; and rags soaked in accelerant. Investigations revealed he went to the property to attempt to kill one of the women. When he entered and saw the two men there, Brock attacked them in the kitchen, inflicting serious and life-threatening knife injuries. One of the men suffered a fractured skull. The terrified women were able to escape and ran barefoot to Harpurhey police station, where they reported the attack, assisted by members of the public who called 999. Officers spoke to the women at the police station while others were sent to the property. They found Brock had been restrained by the two male victims, who were covered in blood. Read the full story here: Man who arrived at house with bag of murder weapons tried to kill trio in horrifying attack A thug launched corrosive acid in the face of a 16-year-old boy in an ‘insidious’ revenge attack. Gilson Martins approached the lad in Stockport in March last year before demanding his coat off him. He then threw the substance into his face and fled. Nearby, awaiting co-defendant Joanne Edwards, 45, picked him up and drove him from the scene on Brandon Road. In the hours after the attack, he boasted it had ‘gone down a treat’. The 16-year-old went to a friend’s house to shower off the acid before going to hospital. He was left with a large chemical burn to his neck and face. Days later, Martins then hunted down the 21-year-old son of Edwards, who had overheard his plans to attack the boy, during which he showed off the acid and exclaimed: “Imagine that on his skin? It's going to melt his face off." Minshull Street Crown Court heard he kicked in the back door of his house whilst the man barricaded himself in his bedroom. Martins then made threats to stab him and throw acid on him before stating he would ‘carve his name into him’. When 23-year-old Martins was finally caught up with, police found drugs, a balaclava and a bottle of hydrofluoric acid. Jailing him, Recorder David Temkin KC said: “This is an extremely serious case resulting in an attack on a 16-year-old boy in revenge.” Read the full story here: "Imagine that on his skin?": Thug’s cruel boasts before throwing acid in face of teenager A computer expert who put his talents to criminal use helped to create a ‘one-stop shop’ to allow cyber fraudsters to dupe innocent victims out of £100 million. Zak Coyne, 24, was the co-creator of LabHost, a site which charged criminals a subscription fee to allow them to create realistic looking copies of websites for well known brands such as Amazon and Netflix, as well as 26 UK banks. Customers would unwittingly have their confidential data stolen, believing they were accessing legitimate accounts on banking, commercial or government websites. LabHost allowed criminals to commit fraud on a ‘massive scale’, prosecutors said. At least one million people originating from 91 countries across the world fell victim to the phishing scam. Confidential details would either be used for fraud or sold on to other criminals. The actual financial loss to victims in the UK was £100 million, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. Sentencing, Judge Jenny Lester-Ashworth said: “It was one of the most professional and sophisticated websites in the world for committing online fraud." She told Coyne: “You also enjoyed what you were doing and also by being immersed in the criminal underworld operating online.” Coyne was arrested in the departures area at Manchester Airport in April last year. The dad-of-one from Huddersfield has now been jailed for eight-and-a-half years. Read the full story here: The computer genius behind £100million of misery... caught out at Manchester Airport's departure lounge Coleen Campbell has been hauled back before the courts after she was caught on camera using a hammer in a shocking street attack fuelled by a love rivalry. Her victim was set upon in the street in Ashton-under-Lyne by an armed gang. Campbell, 41, two other women, Hannah Derbyshire, 27, and Chloe Bamford, 30, and Simon Bowden, 38, were all involved in the attack. Minshull Street Crown Court heard that it was motivated by a row over a love triangle. Derbyshire and their victim, a woman named Niamh Wasik, were both said to be in a relationship with the same person, a man named James Heaney. Campbell is currently serving a 13 year prison sentence over the killing of her ex-husband Thomas Campbell. Campbell was tortured to death in his own home, after being pounced on by three men as he opened his front door in Mossley, Tameside , at about 11pm on July 2, 2022. The 38-year-old, a convicted drug dealer, suffered horrendous injuries and was found dead the next day. His ex-wife was found guilty of manslaughter and conspiring to rob following a trial in 2023. She provided information to the killers about his whereabouts and assisted with planning. Two men were also convicted in connection with their roles with the robbery conspiracy and the killing, one for murder and another for manslaughter. A third man accused of murder is set to go on trial in the coming months. This week Coleen Campbell was told that her role in the street attack, which happened days before Mr Campbell’s murder, would not extend her expected release date in May 2031. Read the full story here: Coleen Campbell battered woman in love triangle street attack days before helping kill her ex-husband The family of a man who died after a brutal attack by two bullying thugs cheered and clapped as they were handed hefty jail terms. Daniel Vesey and Jason Trueman wreaked a years-long campaign of violent terror on 52-year-old James Thorne before kicking him to death in his own home. The two thugs made regular visits to Mr Thorne’s home in Wythenshawe over the course of ‘three or four years’, ‘terrorising’ him and his housemate into giving them money after they memorised when he received his benefits payments. Mr Thorne and his housemate, Graham Miller, were too intimidated to report the violence to the police. On June 14 last year, the violence escalated when Mr Thorne refused to open the locked door for Vesey and Trueman, shouting through the letterbox at them to ‘f**k off’. They returned a few hours later, using Mr Miller’s brother to ‘trick’ him into opening the door before entering the house and brutally attacking both men. Later that day, Mr Thorne collapsed in Tesco and tragically never regained consciousness. Vesey and Trueman both pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and following a sentencing hearing on Monday, April 14, both men were jailed. Family and friends of Mr Thorne cheered ‘yes’ and clapped as they were taken to the cells. Read the full story here: Screams of 'yes' and cheers in court as thugs who killed beloved man learn their fate A drug dealer who 'thought he could outsmart the law' failed and landed himself back in court. Azad Yaqub has been jailed after supplying heroin and cocaine using an encrypted chat platform. A court heard how, in 2020, 41-year-old Yaqub was using two different encrypted devices where he was in conversation with a number of other people regarding the supply of drugs. Encrypted chats are often used by Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) for their communications to supply drugs and weapons, as they try to go about their illicit dealings undetected, Greater Manchester Police said. Initially, Yaqub was operating under the handle ‘blackelf’ from March to April 2020, before he changed his handle to ‘thanks.com’ between May and December 2020, the court heard. But an investigation commenced and data extracted from both devices linked Yaqub to both the profiles. An examination of the devices revealed the criminal activities of him and his close associates relating to the supply of drugs. Read the full story here: Man 'thought he could outsmart the law' in £650k heist, now he's in jail for years An 'attention seeking narcissist' who waged a vicious online campaign about 'wholly untrue' allegations of rape against a rugby union star is behind bars having breached a restraining order. Sandra Ntonya left former Sale Sharks and England star Marland Yarde's career in tatters. On February 26 she avoided being locked up for stalking when she appeared at Manchester Crown Court. A judge heard there was a 'realistic prospect' of rehabilitation and that an immediate sentence would see her young son 'suffer'. The judge however branded the 44-year-old old an 'attention seeking narcissist'. The court heard Ntonya was a sex worker. A restraining order was imposed, banning Ntonya from contacting Mr Yarde or posting about him online. She was also ordered to complete a six-month mental health treatment programme; 15 days of rehabilitation activity; and 100 hours of unpaid work. That same day, Ntonya shared previous private messages between her and Mr Yarde online and tagged him. She went on to post daily about Mr Yarde. At one stage, she 'made a comparison with Jimmy Savile' and posted that the sentencing judge was a 'liar' and 'in the pay of the police'. This week, she was jailed as Judge John Potter said: "I have no doubt whatsoever that when I imposed the restraining order upon you, you were well aware of its terms. It is extremely concerning to see you continue to defame him and have contact with him despite the restraining order being in place. "You continued to post on the internet private messages between you and the victim and you ensured anyone would view these posts by tagging him in them. You made reference to the court process. Some [posts] are uncomplimentary about me. "You described me as a liar and in the pay of the police. I want to make it clear I placed your comments about me out of my mind. You caused significant harm to your victim and you have shown a contemptuous attitude to the court process." Ntonya, from Gorton , was jailed for two years and two months. Read the full story here: She ruined a sport star's life and called a judge a liar - now she's behind bars A 'coward' punched a man to the ground before hitting him while he lay defenceless. Sebastian Jones, 37, was caught on CCTV attacking his 41-year-old victim following a night out in Oldham town centre. Greater Manchester Police says Jones launched a violent attack against his victim at around 4am on Monday, July 15 2024. Footage captured the moment Jones left a nightclub, before heading towards the victim and punching him. The force from the attack caused the victim to fall to the ground, where Jones continued to assault him. Members of the public called police out to the scene, who discovered the victim on the floor with serious injuries to his head. Emergency services administered first aid, before the victim left the scene and returned home. He attended hospital in a critical condition later that day. GMP says it searched a property on Dickens Street, in Moorside, where officers had a warrant - but Jones was 'actively evading police'. A manhunt was launched to find him, before he was found seven days later in Bury . Jones was charged with Section 18 assault and remanded into custody. He denied the allegation, but following a three-day trial in Manchester Crown Court back in January, Jones was found guilty. He was jailed for seven years. Read the full story here: Thug punched man to the ground before continuing his cowardly attack A man repeatedly punched his girlfriend in the head causing her to suffer a catastrophic stroke after she asked him about suspect messages on his phone. Harry Boulton, 29, set upon his then-partner of four years when she asked him to explain messages which suggested he had been unfaithful. During the attack, he punched her up to six times, including to the back of the head. The force was such that the carotid artery at the back of her neck was dissected. The 30-year-old woman suffered a huge stroke which has left her with a speech disorder as well as her ability to walk and do basic tasks. She now lives under the care of her family, has lost her managerial job, her flat, her car and her independence. Boulton, of Sale , pleaded guilty to section 20 wounding without intent just days before the woman was due to give evidence. He initially claimed he acted in self defence, stating his partner was the ‘aggressor’ but changed his plea. Read the full story here: She asked him about messages on his phone, then her life changed forever A BMW driver was jailed after his dangerous driving caused death of Gavin Andrews. The father was on his way way home with a takeaway when he was killed, leaving his daughter, Lacey, without a father. He was killed by a speeding driver as he crossed the road , on Walmersley Road in Bury , and left for dead. Then, a bid to cover up the crime was launched. Almost three-and-a-half years since the tragedy, Gavin's family have seen justice done. In her heartbreaking testimony, Lacey said: "Now every time I see someone with a dad I get sad." Faizaan Haider, 25, who denied being behind the wheel of the BMW which killed Gavin on November 9, 2021, was jailed for nine years and three months after being convicted of causing Gavin's death by dangerous driving. He was driving at 57mph in a 30mph zone, and was under the influence of alcohol. His uncle, Suaiel Haider, 43, was sentenced to four years and three months after being convicted of perverting the course of justice, after he set fire to the BMW in a bid to destroy evidence and cover his nephew's tracks. But the plot failed and this weekend both men are behind bars. The eventual conclusion of the criminal case may provide some solace and comfort to Gavin's family, but they were left broken the minute they heard about his fate. Gavin's mum Isabelle Kane heard a knock on her door that night. “I have been heartbroken since that night, and my health has deteriorated," Gavin's mother said in a statement read by prosecutors at the sentencing hearing. “Gavin was a real character. His laugh was infectious. He had lots of hobbies, too many to mention. Birthdays, Christmas and Mother's days, Gavin would always be the first person I would see. I am mentally and physically drained and don’t really know how I am still here. “My life will never be the same without my Gavin. To lose a child is indescribable.” Faizaan Haider, of Mosley Street, Bury, and Suaiel Haider, of Langdale Mews, Bury, were both sentenced on Friday (Apr 25) at Minshull Street Crown Court. Read the full story here: 'You are the one who destroyed a little girl’s life' A heartless predator who abused two young children for years has been sent to prison. Carl Sinderby, 43, was sentenced to 11 years and four months at Minshull Street Crown Court on April 25. Sinderby's campaign of abuse lasted over three years, ending in July 2024. His victims, who bravely spoke to police about their torment, were only five and seven-years-old when it began. Police say that he would build the trust of his victim's parents, only to exploit it without their knowledge. Sinderby, of Manchester Road, Rochdale , was sentenced to 11 years and four months at Minshull Street Crown Court. He was found guilty of 20 offences, broken down to ten counts of sexual assault, two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as six counts of taking and making indecent images of children. He was jailed following an investigation by the Greater Manchester Police Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) who worked alongside the Digital Forensic Investigation Unit (DFIU). The offender came to the attention of OCAIT after information was passed onto the unit by a partner agency. An investigation was immediately launched and evidence of his sickening abuse was discovered by specially trained digital investigators on devices seized from his property. Once the abuse was uncovered, Sinderby was arrested and interviewed over two days by detectives. He made a full confession around his prolonged abuse of the children, admitting to having a sexual interest in children and that he had harmed them to satisfy his needs. Read the full story here: "Cruel" sexual predator jailed following campaign of abuse A disgraced police officer had flings with two crook associates and was so 'infatuated' with a criminal that she funded his use of mobile phones in jail. A court heard how corrupt cop Choni Kenny, 27, who joined Greater Manchester Police in 2020, had a 'casual sexual relationship' with Josh Whelan, described as a 'committed criminal', and a 'physical but casual' relationship with her former schoolmate Rahim Mottley. One kiss was captured on prison CCTV, signalling the beginning of the end for Kenny. Liverpool Crown Court was told how Kenny was attracted to both men and may have been 'infatuated' with Whelan. She used her position to access databases and pass information to Mottley, 27, and Whelan, 31. The court heard how Whelan was in possession of 20 different mobile phones while serving time in prison between 2021 and 2023 and their use was funded by Kenny. The pair would communicate with the devices that she paid for and delivered. Kenny accessed police information and intelligence which she disclosed to Whelan, including a victim statement taken when he was accused of violence against a former partner, the court heard. During a GMP investigation, Kenny was also caught on prison CCTV visiting Whelan at Forest Bank dressed in her police uniform. In November 2022, when Whelan was released from a prison sentence, Kenny was seen with him in her BMW and went to a Nando’s restaurant with him, before going to work where she searched for details of prisoners released that week. They split up after Whelan was released and Kenny then started a relationship with Mottley, who was under investigation by GMP and had moved to Spain. Mottley was extradited from Spain in October 2024 to face the courts following his arrest three months earlier by the National Crime Agency. The court heard after Mottley was arrested in February 2022, Kenny searched police systems to access information about the investigation. She also told him about a planned police firearms raid and promised to find out who the 'local grasses' were before attending a course about handling police informants, the court heard. The court was told how he tasked Kenny to keep him up to date with police intelligence, which she did by accessing and passing on confidential information. An investigation proved she had accessed sensitive information on GMP’s IT system when she had no lawful purpose and had communicated with Whelan while he was in prison on the mobile phones she provided. Mottley was arrested in Spain, where some of his family lived and Kenny had spent time with him, and was extradited to face proceedings. A GMP spokesman said Kenny had been dismissed following an accelerated misconduct hearing on April 1. On Wednesday (April 22), Kenny, who had already been sacked by the force, pleaded guilty to four offences of misconduct in public office and one of conspiracy to commit misconduct with Mottley. She was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment. Sentencing her, Judge Flewitt said: “Your actions were not motivated by a desire for a financial or other advantage or borne out of any malice. They were a consequence of your naivety, immaturity and wish to maintain the friendship of Josh Whelan and Rahim Mottley.” He said the men 'took advantage' and 'exploited' Kenny’s willingness to disclose information which could be of benefit to themselves and criminal associates. But, he added: “You must have known that what you were doing was wrong.” Mottley, 28, was sentenced to two years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. Whelan, of Purley Avenue in Wythenshawe , Manchester, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting three counts of possessing a specified item in prison, possession of a bladed article, racially aggravated assault, threatening behaviour and a bail offence. Read the full story here: Disgraced GMP officer had flings with crook associates and bought criminal mobile phones to use behind bars A thug who said ‘I’m going to do him in’ moments before stamping and kicking a vulnerable man using his prosthetic leg has been jailed for life. Shannon Meaney was in Clarendon Park in Salford on February 14, 2023, when he saw then 57-year-old John Lowe. He called him over before grabbing him in a head lock and throwing him to the floor. Meaney, 34, began violently kicking and stamping on Mr Lowe and was seen to use his false leg to inflict the blows, Manchester Crown Court heard. He then asked a man to pass him a hammer from his holdall, but the man pretended he couldn’t see it. Meaney then said to Mr Lowe: “Go to sleep, you c***.” Mr Lowe was later found dumped at the side of a path and was struggling to breathe. As a result of the attack he was left with a traumatic brain injury and now resides in a care home with 24/7 support. Jailing Meaney for life the Recorder of Manchester, Judge Nicholas Dean KC said: “You have condemned Mr Lowe to a living death. His own daughter said he has zero quality of life. That is what you condemned him to - and for what reason?” Meaney, of no fixed abode, must serve two thirds of his minimum term of 13-and-a-half years in prison before a Parole Board will consider him safe to be released on licence. He was initially charged with attempted murder, but pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding with intent. Read the full story here: Thug made chilling six-word threat before stamping on vulnerable man with his prosthetic leg A vile rapist dragged a woman down a secluded path then threatened to stab her if she made any noise. Brandon Smith told his victim he had been watching her for six months and threatened to harm her family if she told anyone about the vicious attack. The 25-year-old, of Larch Road, Denton, was jailed for 12-and-a-half years after being found guilty of rape and other sex offences. Bolton Crown Court heard the terrifying attack took place on Friday, July 5 last year on a path off King Street and Pitt Street in Hyde that leads to a footbridge over the M67. Smith and the victim didn't know each other. He was arrested two days later. Following a trial he was found guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one assault by penetration. Speaking after the case Det Con Kim Daniel said: "Firstly, I must thank the victim having the strength and courage to come forward and allow us to fully investigate this case. This allowed us to take a dangerous offender off the streets and away from harming other potential victims. "Smith maintained throughout the trial that he had never met the woman before, yet forensic evidence made it clear that he had been in contact with the woman. Smith offered no defence throughout the trial." Read the full story here: He'd been watching a complete stranger for six months, then came his chilling threat Two men have been jailed for a combined total of more than 16 years after a police investigation into the conversion, supply and possession of guns. Police said intercepted messages showed Dominik Pelikan discussing with Mohammed Raji a 'sinister' plan to source a firearm and shoot another individual. "Just need to hit him once," Raji says in one message, GMP revealed. Pelikan, 20, of Mayfair Gardens, Rochdale, was jailed for eight years and nine months for four seperate offences including possession of ammunition and conversion of a firearm. Raji, 21, of Mansfield Road, Oldham, was jailed for seven years and six months for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Both were sentenced by a judge at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court. During last year's investigation, Pelikan travelled from Manchester to Bradford and attended a 'business premises known for supplying blank-firing firearms and weapons', GMP said in a statement after the sentencing. He bought an Ekol Botan blank-firing handgun then returned to Manchester. On August 2, Pelikan bought 8mm of solid brass from a DIY store, police added. Police swooped on his house later that day and found an iPhone, ammunition, hand tools and a barrel which was later confirmed to be from an Ekol Botan blank-firing pistol. Read the full story here: 'Yh bro my man was giving me chattin so I showed him Im guna be in gorton today' Two teenagers were exploited and recruited to import drugs into the UK, before being caught by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport. The boys were separately stopped with 42kg and 43kg of cannabis on return trips from Bangkok via Dubai. Days later, the home of then 17-year-old Daniel Speirs was raided by police who were investigating a drugs line. They found cash, a phone attributed to the drugs line and a debtors list. They also found a second phone, which revealed messages between Speirs and co-defendant Jay McLean discussing recruiting the boys. In one message, McLean said to Speirs: “Come on, we need to get these f****** in the air ASAP.” Other messages showed the defendants arranging the travel for the teens, discussing how much they were to be paid and sorting out their passports. Both McLean, 27, and Speirs, now 18, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of class B drugs. McLean, of Baron Fold Crescent, Little Hulton, was jailed for 26 months. Speirs, of Chain Road, Blackley, was handed an 18 month youth rehabilitation order, with a supervision requirement, a curfew and 100 hours unpaid work. Read the full story here: When Manchester Airport asked if he'd packed the suitcase himself, the answer was 'no