A host of violent criminals have been jailed for several heinous and disgusting crimes over the last few months and years in Berkshire.

From sexual assault to murder, the police have been able to track them down with the help of the public and their own high-tech resources.

The availability of more modern DNA testing and equipment has also meant that violent criminals that committed crimes decades ago can now be identified and sentenced.

This includes criminals in Reading, Slough, Bracknell and Windsor, normally trialled in Reading Crown Court.

Here is a list of the most dangerous criminals jailed this year.

Donald Robertson

This is possibly the most chilling of dangerous criminals that was brought to justice in Berkshire. For 35 years Robertson walked free after kidnapping, assaulting and murdering Shani Warren.

Shani was discovered tied-up and gagged in Taplow Lake on April 18, 1987, and only on May 19, 2022, was he locked up for decades for her murder and the rape of another young girl a few years after.

A pathologist initially concluded Ms Warren had killed herself following examination of her body after her discovery. 

But the case was re-opened in 2018 after the mouth gag found tied around Ms Warren’s head was re-tested using advanced DNA technology. 

Jacob Trussler

This 37-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison after stabbing a 77-year-old man multiple times.  The criminal murdered David Allen in his Elgar Road home on December 2021 in Reading.

Only on June 13 was he sentenced to a minimum of 20 years.

At the time of his court case, Trussler claimed that he stabbed Mr Allen in self-defence after the 77 year old confronted him with a knife.

The jury rejected this account after hearing how the victim suffered three stab wounds, one which fatally cut him 20cm deep.

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Anonymous Reading man

A 42-year-old Reading man, who cannot be named for legal reasons will spend a number of years behind bars after being found guilty of sexual activity with his daughter.

He was found guilty of touching his daughter’s breasts and groin area, thrusting against her, pulling her clothing down and asking her to touch herself when she was aged between 14-15.

He was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child family member and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.

 

Abi Khan

The Reading man was jailed for several years following a ‘campaign of harassment’ against a teenage girl from Bracknell.

He sent abusive messages, threatened, and assaulted his victim over a period of seven months.

After pleading guilty to the charge of harassment, he was jailed for three years and four months and issued with a 10-year restraining-order.

The offender was arrested and charged on January 17.

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James Lawton

James Lawton, 28, was jailed for the murder of his one-month-old son Colby who died in May 2020.

He was also convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm after giving his son a skull fracture days before his death. 

His former partner, Chantelle Stroud, 25, from Newbury, was cleared of any wrongdoing after being charged with allowing the death of a child. 

Lawton was handed a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 17 years in prison. 

 

Charlie Ward

Another chilling stabbing that has happened over the last few years is the case of Charlie Ward.

In September 2021, the Slough man was resentenced for the brutal murder of Jason Gardner at the Earl of Cornwall Pub in May 2018.

He stabbed the victim and father-of-two more than 30 times following a pub brawl.

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.

 

Chris Minards

35-year-old Minards murdered a mother-of-two in Thatcham and was sentenced to life in prison.

Christopher Joseph Minards, of no fixed abode, stabbed 43-year-old Emma McArthur on April 1, 2021, who died the next day despite the best efforts of medical professionals.

Minards will serve at minimum 16 years and two months in jail after pleading guilty to murder and possession of a knife at Reading Crown Court.