FOUR murderers, three paedophiles, a dangerous driver who almost killed a 12-year-old girl…
These are just some of the criminals sentenced to years behind bars at Reading Crown Court last month.
READ MORE: The criminals sentenced in August
It was a busy month for judges at the court who handed down lengthy prison terms to those who committed the worst offences possible.
Collectively, they will serve 93 years behind bars.
Here are the names and faces of those criminals who have been locked up.
The teenagers who killed Olly Stephens
We are not allowed to name the 14-year-olds who caused 13-year-old Olly’s death at Bugs Bottom field in Reading in January of this year.
A girl, 14, lured Olly to the field where he was ambushed by the two boys, also 14.
Here, the older boy started punching Olly before the younger boy stabbed him in the chest and the back.
It was an attack that lasted two minutes but that is all it took for Olly to tragically die in the arms of his parents who rushed to the scene after being alerted by another teenage boy.
READ MORE: Everything said in court as Olly Stephens killers sentenced to years in prison
The case attracted national headlines due to the young ages of the criminals.
Following a five-week trial in which the boys were convicted of murder, they were eventually sentenced at Reading Crown Court last month.
The older boy, who started the fight with Olly, received a life sentence and was told he will serve a minimum of 12 years in prison.
Olly Stephens.
The younger boy, who stabbed Olly, also received a life sentence and will spend a minimum of 13 years in prison.
And the girl, who admitted to Olly’s manslaughter, was handed a three-year and two-month sentence.
However, as she will only serve half of this in a young offender’s institute and because she has already served around 200 days in detention, she could be released in just ten months time.
READ MORE: How the sentences of Olly Stephens' killers compare to other teenage murderers
Sentencing, her honour Judge Norton told the trio: “Because you are part of a youth culture where you think violence is normal and knives are cool, you caused the death of a child.
'What you did that day was utterly cruel and totally pointless.
'You have taken one life, damaged your own futures and have caused so much pain to so many people.’
Charlie Ward
Early last month Slough man Ward was re-sentenced for the brutal murder of Jason Gardner at the Earl of Cornwall Pub in May 2018.
He stabbed the father of two more than 30 times following a pub brawl that spilled over from another boozer.
Ward had already been sent to prison once before following a trial in late 2018.
Charlie Ward murdered Jason Gardner at the Earl of Cornwall pub
Following a re-trial in June and July 2021, Ward was told he will serve 20 years behind bars for his part in the incident.
The brawl occurred at the Earl of Cornwall pub on Cippenham Lane when Mr Gardner, a father of two, attacked Charlie Ward, who was drinking at the pub with his wife, mother and father.
Ward, who had a Stanley knife in his possession, retaliated and stabbed the punter more than 30 times including in the eye, mouth and face.
Gardner ‘begged for help’ during the attack, a court heard, and suffered a cardiac arrest from his injuries.
But a court heard his injuries were ‘unsurvivable’ and he passed away shortly after the horrific incident.
Sentencing, Judge Nawaz said: “He [Mr Gardner] was much-loved by his family.
“No sentence this court or any other court can impose can make up for what his family has suffered.”
David Booth
A Newbury man who called himself ‘Dishy Dave’ was jailed for nearly three years after sending ‘explicit’ sexual messages to a police officer pretending to be a 12-year-old girl.
David Booth, of Riverdale Court, Newbury, told the decoy she was his ‘sexy little secret’ and tried to arrange meet-ups at hotels.
The 53-year-old sent the messages over Oasis and WhatsApp over a one-month period between September and October 2020 before he was arrested in January 2021.
David Booth will spend years behind bars. Image via Linkedin.
He started sending the messages after he went through a “tough time” having been made redundant.
But a judge sentenced him to a 32-month prison sentence after telling him this did not explain why he chose to engage in sexual conversation with a 12-year-old.
Ethan Davison
Ethan Davison, 21, was looking at his phone when he came off the road and collided with a 12-year-old girl before driving off.
The father-of-two, formerly of Harrison Road, Southampton, will spend three-and-a-half years behind bars for his ‘reckless’ driving.
He was heading towards Marlborough when he reached the A339 Greenham Road in Newbury.
The girl and her mum, grandparents and cousins were walking home from the Corn Exchange in Newbury having been to a Christmas pantomime show at around 8.57pm when disaster struck.
Ethan Davison. Image via TVP
Davison, who had been looking at a map on his phone, which was on the passenger seat, mounted the pavement and hit the girl.
The girl’s family immediately called 999 and she was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Newbury for emergency surgery.
Her family was told to prepare for the possibility that she may not survive the procedure.
However, the now-teenage girl survived but suffered life-changing injuries, which include permanent brain damage, scoliosis, visual impairment and the inability to walk.
In a victim statement, her mother said: "This has been a living nightmare that has been impossible to get out of.”
Marjan Prendi and Ilir Biba
On Friday, September 24, Albanian nationals Marjan Prendi, 27, and Ilir Biba, 38 of no fixed abode, were each sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
This came after the duo were cultivating cannabis in a Wokingham industrial estate.
TVP image shows Biba (left) and Prendi (right)
The operation at Hogwood Industrial Estate had a potential crop yield of £2,000,000.
A hearing at Reading Crown Court was told the factory had "a substantial amount of cannabis plants."
Investigating officer, PC James Greehy, based at Loddon Valley police station, said: “This was a well-organised and sophisticated cannabis plantation set up for commercial gain.”
Christopher Minards
Minards will serve a minimum 16 years and two months in jail after pleading guilty to the murder of Emma McArthur on April 1.
He attacked Ms McArthur, whom he knew, at the junction of Crookham Hill and Burys Bank Road.
A murder investigation was launched and Minards was charged on April 4.
Senior investigating officer detective inspector Sally Spencer said: “This incident has had a devastating impact on the family and friends of Emma, and shocked the entire community, and we are committed to bringing such offenders to justice.”
“No words can express the sadness and feelings we have as a family at the loss of Emma,” her family wrote in a tribute.
Emma McArthur (left) who was murdered by Christopher Minards (right) in Thatcham in April
“Emma had a wonderful smile, a giggly laugh, and smiling eyes that could light up a room,” their statement read.
“Emma touched so many lives and she leaves us all with good memories that we hope will carry us through the tough times ahead.”
Stuart Woods
National gymnastics coach Stuart Woods, of Wellington Road, Sandhurst, was found guilty of sexually abusing a child as well as engaging in sexual communication with two others.
Following scathing remarks made by a judge, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Judge Burgess QC told the 34-year-old he was a selfish, highly manipulative, and a volatile man who had done “profound damage” to his victims and their families.
“Your offending against [the victim] was a dreadful violation of [the victim] physically and mentally,” said the judge.
“You have wounded [the victim] deeply and at an emotional level.”
Judge Burgess said Woods had groomed vulnerable children who were "suffering from social isolation and low self-esteem," forging a dependence on Woods and the alcohol he gave them.
Stuart Woods. Image via TVP
He said Woods “poisoned” one victim against their family, all the while “feeding your own insecure, narcissistic ego.”
Reading Crown Court heard how Woods was 'obsessed' and 'infatuated' with one victim. He emotionally threatened and blackmailed them to get what he wanted, the judge said.
Kamran Ali
A man who threw flaming bottles at a home while a family including a four-year-old were inside has been jailed for arson.
Kamran Ali, of Bromford Lane, Birmingham, not only launched the flaming missiles but went on to drive at two police officers before attacking one of those arresting him.
The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to a string of offences including two counts of arson, dangerous driving, criminal damage, and assaulting an emergency worker.
Reading Crown Court heard how Ali launched his attack on November 2, 2020, when he threw bottles filled with flammable liquid at a property in Moor Lane, Maidenhead.
The occupants were inside at the time and the building was damaged.
Ali then drove off at speed and launched another bottle of flammable liquid into the road.
He continued his rampage by going on to damage a door and window of a property in Switchback Close before trying to leave - as he did he damaged a parked car and repeatedly rammed another.
Kamran Ali
Now on a flat tyre, Ali drove at speed to Colliers Close where he stopped and was found by two police officers. He reversed the car at them, although the managed to get out the way, and Ali smashed into a garden fence and concrete post.
He locked himself in his car, but police were able to get him out before he then attacked one of the officers.
Ali pleaded guilty to the string of charges on January 28, 2021, and was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, September 8.
He was sent to prison for seven years and handed a 18 month driving ban for once he is out.
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