Latest news with #HullCrownCourt
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Luxury-loving engineer, 31, who ran drug empire to fund lavish holidays & buy second home ordered to pay back just £96k
A LUXURY-loving woman ran a cannabis and cocaine empire to fund a lavish lifestyle of foreign holidays and expensive treats - before being rumbled after a costly mistake. But Danielle Stafford has now been ordered to pay more than £96,000 back as the proceeds of crime, and she's got just 12 weeks to stump up the cash. 8 8 8 The 31-year-old made so much money by selling drugs that she bought a second house and lived without touching any of her job salary. She pretended that most of the expensive items that were found were not designer goods but were fake or had merely been given to her by family members from their foreign holidays. She was caught when police spotted her speeding. A phone constantly rang with 30 calls or pinged with up to 20 drug messages after she was arrested and police later found £26,917 cash stashed around her home and drugs with a street value of £33,600. She had luxuries including nine watches and three expensive Louis Vuitton handbags, Hull Crown Court heard. Engineer and University of Hull graduate Stafford, 31, formerly of Hallgate, Cottingham, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years in April 2023 after she admitted three offences of being concerned in supplying heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis and another of possessing cash as criminal property, on dates spanning October 2017 and May 2020. But the case resurfaced and was mentioned again so that the court could make a final decision on how much money Stafford was said to have made from her criminal activities. Nadim Bashir, prosecuting, said that the criminal benefit figure had been agreed at £96,263. She was ordered to pay it within three months – or face a default prison sentence of one year, to be served consecutively. Stafford attended the hearing via a video link from prison. Moment gutted lag is arrested at prison gates as he LEAVES jail after drug-dealing from his cell The matter had originally been scheduled to be a contested full hearing but agreement was reached between the sides. During the original court hearing in 2023, Mr Bashir said that police spotted a silver Audi heading along Priory Road towards Hull city centre at 7.30pm on May 12, 2020. It was speeding and hastily turned onto Hotham Road South, cutting the corner and cutting up a vehicle heading in the opposite direction. "It was then driven at speed along Hotham Road South," said Mr Bashir. The car was followed and it was stopped in The Odd Bottle car park on Wold Road. Police could smell cannabis coming from the inside of the car and this aroused their suspicions. She "immediately lied" and told police: "I'll be honest, I've got this" and handed police a small silver wrap containing two buds of cannabis skunk. Police found further bags of cannabis on her, including a food bag containing cannabis skunk and, from a pocket, another food bag containing cannabis skunk. 8 8 8 The car was searched and a carrier bag of cannabis skunk was found behind the driver's seat. An empty tub containing drug residue was found. The total value of the cannabis was £1,308. An iPhone was found, with drug messages on it. "From the moment of seizure of the drugs to the arrival in the police station custody suite, the mobile iPhone was constantly ringing and receiving messages from different people," said Mr Bashir. "Some 30 phone calls were received and 10 to 20 text messages." On the way to the police station, Stafford was seen "fidgeting" with her jogging bottoms and she was asked if she had any more drugs hidden. She said: "Yes, but it's not mine and I don't know what it is. I shoved it down my joggers when you pulled me." Stafford pulled out a bag containing a large amount of small bags of cocaine. There were 56 wraps of crack cocaine, valued at £2,800. Her three-bedroom home in Cottingham was searched after police forced entry. A glass jar with plastic bags inside was found hidden behind a bag of coal bricks in a coal bunker in the rear garden. From the moment of seizure of the drugs to the arrival in the police station custody suite, the mobile iPhone was constantly ringing and receiving messages from different people Nadim Bashirprosecuting There were 270 wraps of crack cocaine, valued at £13,500, and 205 wraps of heroin, valued at £4,100, in the jar. Stafford denied knowledge of them. In the living room, herbal cannabis, valued at £2,500, was found in an open, empty banana box on a table. She denied that it belonged to her. Two glass jars contained cannabis valued at £370. Police also found weighing scales, a large amount of cash and more food bags. She admitted that this belonged to her. In Stafford's bedroom, £430 cash and £25.36 in coins were found. Herbal cannabis and Ecstasy tablets were found. Bank notes totalling £670 were found as well as £2,350 and £1,480 cash. More cash, totalling £7,580, was found in a safe but she denied that it was hers. Three Louis Vuitton handbags and nine watches were found. She admitted that these were hers. 8 8 In an upstairs box room, cash bundles of £9,100, £1,668, £550, £700, £1,110, £165, £190 and £91 were found. Examination of Stafford's bank accounts revealed that "she clearly had an additional stream of cash income" apart from her monthly wages from working for Swift Group. Holidays had been taken but there was no trace from her bank account of her buying foreign currency or making purchases overseas. "Again, evidence of an additional cash stream income," said Mr Bashir. Stafford had bought her Cottingham home in March 2016 for £124,999 in her sole name with a mortgage and a property in Hotham Road South in July 2018 without a mortgage for £68,500 in equal shares with her aunt. Stafford paid the "lion's share" of £64,927 from cashing in premium bonds and she told police that she bought it to rent out. "Even with rental or lodgings allowances, neither property was able to provide any significant source of income to justify the cash found in the house," said Mr Bashir. During police interview, Stafford claimed that a Liverpool lad had been staying with her on and off and that he had telephoned her to say that he had left something at her home. She had somehow managed to avoid her drug dealing activities coming to the attention of the police for a substantial period of time. Nadim BashirProsecuting When she got home, there was a large amount of cannabis and, when he asked her to take it to him, she said that she did not feel comfortable doing so. She claimed that he asked her just to bring a bag which was there and, in a panic, she grabbed a bag and was driving to meet him. Stafford denied that she or the lad were dealing drugs but later admitted that she would drive to Liverpool and bring him back to Hull. She denied knowledge of any of the large amounts of cash found around her home, claiming that she looked after it for the lad, including keeping it for him in her own bedroom, apart from £2,350 which belonged to her. "She said that the money in the safe had nothing to do with her and all the other cash belonged to the lad," said Mr Bashir. He told the court that Stafford was an "enthusiastic" cannabis dealer and progressed to becoming a Class A cocaine dealer. "She had somehow managed to avoid her drug dealing activities coming to the attention of the police for a substantial period of time," said Mr Bashir. "The natural result of this was that she was able to accumulate a substantial amount of wealth, including purchasing an investment property, a house to rent. "Cash found in her home address amounted to £26,917. "The contents of her home address in Hallgate, Cottingham, is strong evidence of the nature of her drugs business. "The amount, type and value of drugs found at her home were substantial. The drugs alone were street valued at £33,600. This is sustained drug dealing." During the 2023 hearing, Saleema Mahmood, mitigating, said that Stafford was street dealing cannabis and regularly and frequently took part in this. She claimed that her involvement in Class A dealing arose through a person from Liverpool. Evidence of any Class A dealing was extremely limited and came from two sets of messages. This came much later than the cannabis enterprise. There was an element of naivety and exploitation in her involvement and she had little influence on those above her in the chain. Stafford claimed that she had only the "odd piece" of designer item and that so-called expensive watches and other items bought were counterfeit or had been bought as presents for her by her family on holidays to places like Turkey and Spain. She also claimed that the family was in the habit of keeping large amounts of cash at home, rather than in a bank, and that she was entrusted to look after them for family members because she was seen as being a "responsible" person who could be "trusted" with money. She had shown remorse for what she had done. There were references from previous employers and others. She had tried to get work and had done voluntary work.
ITV News
13-05-2025
- ITV News
Arsonist jailed for life after setting man on fire in Grimsby
An arsonist who is already serving a prison sentence following a nine-hour rooftop standoff with police has been jailed for setting a man alight as he tried to escape a flat fire. Ryan Tomney, 29, was locked up for seven years in 2023 for an offence of affray after taking to the roof of a property in Lincoln Boulevard, Grimsby. Several homes were evacuated and a number of vehicles and houses were damaged as Tomney threw bricks at police during the incident on 28 April 2022. He had scaled the building as officers tried to arrest him over an incident four days earlier, when he set fire to a man as he fled a flat at St Luke's Court, in Heneage Road, Grimsby. Hull Crown Court heard Tomney had started a fire in the flat and then set the victim's BMW alight. A woman who was staying with the victim raised the alarm and he emerged from his flat wearing only his boxer shorts. Tomney then doused the 51-year-old man in flammable liquid and set him alight as he tried to get out. A number of residents poured water over the victim in an attempt to put the fire out. The victim sufferd 30% burns and spent five days in intensive care. He had subsequently died from unrelated causes, the court heard. Tomney, of Normandy Road in Cleethorpes, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and arson with intent to danger life. He was given a life sentence with a minimum term of eight years. Judge John Thackray KC said CCTV footage of the incident was "horrific to watch"."It must have been terrifying for him and his female friend. It caused horrendous injuries and you made the remainder of his life a misery. He was in significant pain." Det Con Scott Jackson, of Humberside Police, said: 'Tomney is a violent individual who attended the flat with one motive – to cause significant harm. 'The value of damage caused to the flat at St Luke's Court totalled over £15,000, but that is nothing compared to the suffering caused to the man injured in the incident."
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Arsonist set man on fire after targeting his flat and BMW during night attack
Ryan Tomney, 29, from Cleethorpes, left a man with horrific burns after throwing accelerant at him during an arson attack where a flat and a car were set ablaze, a court heard An arsonist set a flat and car on fire in an attack in the early hours of the morning which left a man with horrific burns. The 51-year-old victim sadly died six months later, although this was not directly linked to the incident. He had suffered 30 per cent burns in the attack on April 24, 2022 at St Luke's Court, Heneage Road, Grimsby. Ryan Tomney, 29, of Normandy Road, Cleethorpes, admitted arson with intent to endanger life and causing grievous bodily harm. Prosecuting at Hull Crown Court, Jeremy Evans told how CCTV footage showed Tomney and another man getting into a blue Ford Ka vehicle on Dame Kendall Grove, Grimsby and arriving at St Luke's Court at around 5.30am. While the engine to the car was left running, Tomney was filmed spraying accelerant through an open kitchen window of the ground floor flat. He set three seats of fire, first through the kitchen window before going to the rear car park and igniting a BMW. He also set fire to a front living room after smashing the window. Mr Evans said there were 15 residents in the block of flats, many of them elderly and one of whom was wheelchair bound. A woman who was staying with the victim raised the alarm when a smoke detector sounded, reported GrimsbyLive. The victim emerged from his flat wearing only his boxer shorts and Tomney threw accelerant on to him causing him to roll around on the ground in the entrance way inside the flats. "There was some ignition on his shorts. There were a number of residents, who had the presence of mind to pour water on him," told Mr Evans. He said 30 per cent of his body was burnt and he was taken to hospital and later transferred to the specialist burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield. He spent five days in intensive care with treatment for burns to his back, arms, buttocks and left leg. Mr Evans told the court the Crown Prosecution Service did not lay the cause of the man's later death at the hands of the defendant otherwise the charges would have been more serious. He died in November, as the result of a drugs overdose, after becoming more reliant upon drugs, he said. The victim required skin grafts and had extreme pain as a result of the injuries. Mr Evans told how Tomney had 43 offences recorded against him including arson, robbery and affray. In 2018, a fire was started on Hainton Avenue, Grimsby when petrol was poured down chimney pots. Tomney was jailed after being at the centre of a rooftop stand-off when police attempted to arrest him. On April 28, 2022 emergency services threw a cordon around Lincoln Boulevard in Grimsby and led a nine-hour stand-off after Tomney set fire to property and threw tiles and bricks at vehicles and police. That stand-off cost residents thousands of pounds in damage and Humberside Police said the cost to the force in manpower was in excess of £36,000 and involved 40 members of staff. The overtime bill ran to over £3,700, a previous court hearing was told. Tomney was jailed for five years in March 2023. Mitigating, Tim Savage submitted a letter from the long-term partner of the defendant. He said his client had made a lot of progress while in custody. He added he had gone through a difficult and deprived background but had "a determination to address his offending behaviour." "Rehabilitation is a real possibility and he has been using his time well (in custody)" said Mr Savage. He also submitted a written letter of apology from the defendant. Sentencing Tomney, Judge John Thackray KC said the offences at St Luke's Court had a significant level of planning, involving a balaclava disguise and accelerant. "You set fire knowing he was in there and set fire to his car and when he left the building you set fire to him. I have watched the CCTV footage. It is shocking, indeed horrific to watch," he said. "It must have been terrifying for him and his female friend. It caused horrendous injuries and you made the remainder of his life a misery. He was in significant pain." He added he was impressed with the progress the defendant had made while in prison. He acknowledged his difficult background. Tomney is already serving a sentence for affray which has a release date of March 2030. He jailed the defendant for life because of the danger he poses to the public. He will serve a minimum term of eight years before being considered for parole. Judge Thackray said Tomney had been assessed as at a high risk of danger to the public and imposed a life term in prison. That means he will be on licence for the rest of his life when he is released after eight years, with the approval of the parole board. Mr Evans said after the hearing 'This was a targeted and callous attack with complete disregard, not only for the victim but also the other people in the block of flats. Today's sentence recognises he poses a significant risk to members of the public in the future and will now provide the protection required until he is considered not to be such a danger.' He added 'Our thoughts go to members of the victim's family who, it is hoped, will find some comfort in the sentence at court today.' Officer in the case, Detective Constable Scott Jackson said: 'Tomney is a violent individual who attended the flat with one motive – to cause significant harm. The value of damage caused to the flat at St Luke's Court totalled over £15,000, but that is nothing compared to the suffering caused to the man injured in the incident. 'I'd like to thank the members of the public who tried to assist the man with his injuries before emergency services arrived, not knowing the significant damage that had already been caused. Tomney was completely reckless, and I am reassured that he is now behind bars and no longer poses a risk to the wider community. I hope this sentencing serves as a stark warning to anyone else considering committing such horrendous crimes.'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Stabbed girl fortunate not to die
A jury was told that a 13-year-old girl found with stab wounds near the A63 in East Yorkshire was "extremely fortunate not to have died". Hull Crown Court heard she was found covered in blood by passing drivers following an alleged attack by a 15-year-old boy with a samurai-style sword last year. The defendant, who cannot be named due to his age, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but has pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possessing a bladed weapon. Forensic pathologist Dr Christopher Johnson told the court the victim suffered 10 wounds to her body, including damage to a lung and her liver. Dr Johnson said that, in his opinion, the girl was subject to "a sustained assault with a bladed weapon". He said the location of the injuries to her chest and abdomen meant the girl suffered a "very serious threat to her life." Asked by prosecution barrister David Lamb KC about marks on the girl's neck, he said they were probably caused by "a forceful gripping of the neck during an assault". Defence barrister David Godfrey asked Dr Johnson if some of the girl's wounds could have other causes, such as contact with items on the ground. He replied: "It is possible, but a slim possibility". The jury has previously heard the girl was allegedly attacked while on a camping trip with a group of friends near the Humber Bridge on 1 November. The prosecution said the boy claimed he was offered £20 by one of the friends to attack the girl following an argument. The trial continues. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Teenage stab victim lucky to be alive, court hears Boy offered £20 to stab teenage girl, court told
BBC News
06-03-2025
- BBC News
Stabbed girl fortunate not to die - Hull Crown court told
A jury was told that a 13-year-old girl found with stab wounds near the A63 in East Yorkshire was "extremely fortunate not to have died".Hull Crown Court heard she was found covered in blood by passing drivers following an alleged attack by a 15-year-old boy with a samurai-style sword last defendant, who cannot be named due to his age, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but has pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possessing a bladed pathologist Dr Christopher Johnson told the court the victim suffered 10 wounds to her body, including damage to a lung and her liver. Dr Johnson said that, in his opinion, the girl was subject to "a sustained assault with a bladed weapon".He said the location of the injuries to her chest and abdomen meant the girl suffered a "very serious threat to her life."Asked by prosecution barrister David Lamb KC about marks on the girl's neck, he said they were probably caused by "a forceful gripping of the neck during an assault".Defence barrister David Godfrey asked Dr Johnson if some of the girl's wounds could have other causes, such as contact with items on the replied: "It is possible, but a slim possibility".The jury has previously heard the girl was allegedly attacked while on a camping trip with a group of friends near the Humber Bridge on 1 prosecution said the boy claimed he was offered £20 by one of the friends to attack the girl following an trial to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
