Latest news with #MatthewBaker
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Judge warns thug involved in 'honeytrap' attack not to take revenge on friends
A thug has been warned by a judge not to take revenge on his one-time friends who involved him in a sick 'honeytrap' attack. David Bambrough allowed his flat in Small Heath to be used by associates Daniel Aston, Steven Baker, his son Matthew Baker and Shannon Wolleter to beat up Anthony Cooper after they kidnapped him on October 3, 2021. He also joined in the attack by kicking the victim, for which he admitted assault, but was the only one spared jail last month. READ MORE: Face of 'obsessive' ex-boyfriend who tormented two women and cut one's hair Meanwhile, the other four were sent down having admitted more serious offences of kidnap and unlawful wounding. Bambrough, aged 41, and now from Moseley, was back at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, August 5, along with Matthew Baker, in order to be made the subject of a restraining order banning them from contact with Mr Cooper. During the hearing Judge Dean Kershaw confirmed he had received information from 'various sources' alleging that Bambrough had made comments about 'wanting to get people who had got him into this'. He told Bambrough he was 'fortunate' to receive a suspended sentence but he would 'review whether rehabilitation is the right course' if there were further issues. Addressing his barrister Judge Kershaw said: "I want to be clear, please explain to him, do the sentence I imposed and put it behind him." He further clarified that it had not been Mr Cooper or any of the other defendants that had made accusations against Bambrough. It is understood he had been overhead making comments upon leaving court following his sentencing last month. Mr Cooper had been friends with his attackers and even worked at the same charity as them. But Steven Baker turned on him due to being unhappy that he was in a relationship with a woman named Bethany Love, who he supposedly saw as a daughter. There was also an allegation Mr Cooper was in debt for £150 to Aston. Consequently Baker, his son Matthew Baker, and Aston concocted a plot to kidnap him. They used Aston's then girlfriend Wolleter to lure him to a spot on the street by acting as a 'honeytrap' and pretending she fancied him. Once they succesfully abducted Mr Cooper they brutally beat him up over the course of the next few hours before dropping him back near his home. He had been smacked in the head with a tyre iron, punched, kicked and threatened with a knife to his throat while Wolleter and stamped on his genitals as a final insult to injury. FULL STORY: 'Chop your legs off' - Full story of honeytrap plot sparked by Facebook post But their attack was as clumsy as it was vicious and they left a trail of evidence linking them to the assault. Aston, aged 33, of no fixed address, was sentenced to five years and eight months albeit he has already been released having been remanded into custody at an early stage. Wolleter, aged 30, of Orchard Way in Trowbidge, Wiltshire, received two years and ten months. Steven Baker, 61, of Runcorn Road, Balsall Heath, and Matthew Baker, 29, of Tynedale Road, Tyseley, were both jailed for three years and nine months. Bambrough was sentenced to six months suspended, including 35 days of rehabilitation activity and 100 hours of unpaid work. Steven Baker was excused from attending Tuesday's restraining order hearing for health reasons but his barrister accepted the prosecution's application in his absence. Wolleter and Aston will be called to court to be made subject to the same order at a later date, albeit they remain behind bars.
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Honeytrap gang who lured lovestruck colleague to flat where they battered him over £150 debt jailed
A GANG who lured and attacked their own friend in a honeytrap scheme have been jailed. The judge branded the four thugs as 'animals' after they battered their friend over £150 of debt. 3 Shannon Wolleter lured a man into a flat so he could be violently attacked Credit: BirminghamLive/BPM 3 Matthew Baker had previously been involved with the victim's new girlfriend Credit: BirminghamLive/BPM Daniel Aston, 33, and his then-girlfriend Shannon Wolleter hatched the plot alongside 61-year-old Steven Baker and his son Matthew. The gang targeted their friend Anthony Cooper after saying they didn't approve of his girlfriend and because he owed them £150. They created an elaborate trap for Anthony, by using Wolleter as bait. She started texting Anthony, while pretending that she was interested in him romantically. The pair arranged to meet up on October 3, 2021, for a 'sexual encounter' at 8.12pm. When he arrived, he was dragged off the street and taken into a silver Mercedes. Baker shouted 'come here, you little c***' before beating Anthony, while Matthew Baker threatened to cut off the charity worker's legs. Matthew Baker sent videos of the crime to various people on social media, once they reached a friend's flat. Anthony was then dragged to a car park before being dropped near to his address. He was treated for his injuries, while the violent gang of four were arrested. Why You Should Blur Your Home on Google Maps – Safety Tips for Homeowners Presiding over Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Dean Kershaw branded the group as 'animals' and described their actions as 'cowardly, planned and vile'. Aston was slapped with a five-year and eight month sentence, while Wolleter was handed a two year and 10 month sentence. Both Bakers were given sentences of three years and nine months. David Bambrough, 41, was handed a six month suspended sentence after allowing the gang to use his flat during the assault. Anthony met the group through a homelessness charity and had considered each of them friends. However, the friendship broke down when he started dating a woman called Bethany love. The prosecution, Lachlan Stewart, said that this caused the sinister gang to start calling Anthony nasty names. Mr Stewart said: 'Steven Baker saw her like a daughter. There was also a suggestion Matthew Baker may have been in a relationship with her in the past. 'The group started going around calling Mr Cooper a paedo, a rapist and sex offender entirely without basis.' Anthony opened up about how the incident has left him unable to trust the people he cares about in his life. He said: 'What makes things worse is I thought all the people involved were my friends. 'It really made me not want to make more friends. 'When it was happening I thought I was going to die. 'I have never been so scared in all my life.'
The Irish Sun
08-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Honeytrap gang who lured lovestruck colleague to flat where they battered him over £150 debt jailed
A GANG who lured and attacked their own friend in a honeytrap scheme have been jailed. The judge branded the four thugs as 'animals' after 3 Shannon Wolleter lured a man into a flat so he could be violently attacked Credit: BirminghamLive/BPM 3 Matthew Baker had previously been involved with the victim's new girlfriend Credit: BirminghamLive/BPM Daniel Aston, 33, and his then-girlfriend Shannon Wolleter hatched the plot alongside 61-year-old Steven Baker and his son Matthew. The gang targeted their friend Anthony Cooper after saying they didn't approve of his girlfriend and because he owed them £150. They created an elaborate trap for Anthony, by using Wolleter as bait. She started texting Anthony, while pretending that she was interested in him romantically. Read More on UK Crime The pair arranged to meet up on October 3, 2021, for a 'sexual encounter' at 8.12pm. When he arrived, he was dragged off the street and taken into a silver Baker shouted 'come here, you little c***' before beating Anthony, while Matthew Baker threatened to cut off the charity worker's legs. Matthew Baker sent videos of the crime to various people on social media, once they reached a friend's flat. Most read in The Sun Anthony was then dragged to a car park before being dropped near to his address. He was treated for his injuries, while the violent gang of four were arrested. Why You Should Blur Your Home on Google Maps – Safety Tips for Homeowners Presiding over Aston was slapped with a five-year and eight month sentence, while Wolleter was handed a two year and 10 month sentence. Both Bakers were given sentences of three years and nine months. David Bambrough, 41, was handed a six month suspended sentence after allowing the gang to use his flat during the assault. Anthony met the group through a homelessness charity and had considered each of them friends. However, the friendship broke down when he started dating a woman called Bethany love. The prosecution, Lachlan Stewart, said that this caused the sinister gang to start calling Anthony nasty names. Mr Stewart said: 'Steven Baker saw her like a daughter. There was also a suggestion Matthew Baker may have been in a relationship with her in the past. 'The group started going around calling Mr Cooper a paedo, a rapist and sex offender entirely without basis.' Anthony opened up about how the incident has left him unable to trust the people he cares about in his life. He said: 'What makes things worse is I thought all the people involved were my 'It really made me not want to make more friends. 'When it was happening I thought I was going to die. 'I have never been so scared in all my life.' 3 Steven Baker, pictured, was part of the plan to attack Anthony Credit: BirminghamLive/BPM
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Hopkinsville man allegedly strangled, planted tracking devices on now ex-girlfriend
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Hopkinsville man has been accused of using tracking devices to stalk his now ex-girlfriend from 2024 to early 2025. A criminal complaint alleges that in September 2024, a woman said she found a tracking device with nearly an hour and a half of footage, and a second tracking device was said to be hidden inside her purse. She told Hopkinsville police that she thought her now ex-boyfriend, Matthew Baker, 52, planted the devices in her purse because he would frequently show up wherever she went without her telling him of her plans. She said she ended things with Baker after finding the devices and throwing them out the window. Around 10 p.m. in March 2025, she said she was staying at Baker's house after attempting to rekindle their relationship, according to the complaint. She told him that she was going upstairs, where she believes Baker noticed she was active on Facebook, which then led to him coming upstairs. Hopkinsville man allegedly strangled, planted tracking devices on now ex-girlfriend Louisville officials plan 'massive' volunteer cleanup ahead of Kentucky Derby Lexington police announce passing of officer 'known for his smile and laugh' While upstairs, the victim reportedly told law enforcement that Baker took her phone from her and began looking through it, which led to an argument and eventual 'tug-of-war' for the phone. During the argument, she said Baker slammed her on the ground, climbed on top of her, and attempted to strangle her. After escaping from Baker, she said she called her mom to pick her up, and she ended things with Baker again. On March 25, the complaint noted that she was out driving when she noticed a vehicle stopped very close to hers and proceeded to follow her. Down the road, the vehicle pulled up beside her with the dome lights on, allowing her to see Baker inside, which caused her to panic and drive to a friend's house. Court records show that after arriving at her friend's house, she claimed that her friend received a Facebook message claiming she and Baker were still having a physical relationship. He then sent along a video that showed the two of them engaging in explicit activity. She told the police that the video was old and she hadn't spoken to Baker since ending the relationship. On April 10, Baker was arrested and charged with: Video voyeurism Distribution of sexually explicit images without consent First-degree strangulation (domestic violence-related) Fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) First-degree stalking Eavesdropping Intentional unlawful use of a tracking device Violation of a Kentucky EPO/DVO The police said she knew Baker had filmed the pair because he had occasionally sent her explicit videos of them. Read more of the latest Kentucky news In the complaint, the police noted that Baker had allegedly made multiple threats against her. She told the police she felt scared for her life and that she could not make Baker stop because of 'his wealth and connections.' Court records show that Baker is due to appear in court at 9 a.m. on April 25 after being released on a $10,000 bond on April 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
