FOR LONGER
tence comprising six years in custody and four years on licence. Ravenhill can apply for parole at the two-thirds point of the custodial element. He can be recalled to prison at any time during the extended licence period.
SOCHI EZEEMO
Sochi Ezeemo, 27, from Old Park Terrace in Treforest, Pontypridd, admitted kidnap, false imprisonment, blackmail, and inflicting grievous bodily harm.
A vulnerable man was kidnapped and tortured while he was held prisoner for three days as one of his captors blackmailed his family for money.
In his police interview Ezeemo claimed the victim consented to what happened in order to trick his family into giving him money.
Ezeemo was given an extended sentence. He must serve at least two-thirds of 15 years in prison before he can be considered for release and will then have a threeyear licence period.
Judge Michael Fitton QC described Ezeemo as “a man who clearly relished inflicting pain and suffering”.
JOSHUA JOLLY
Joshua Jolly, 27, from Collwyn Street in Coedely, Tonyrefail, admitted sexual assault and assault with intent to commit a sexual offence. He also admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of assault by penetration.
Married soldier Jolly sexually assaulted three women in “terrifying” attacks as they walked alone on dark streets in Cardiff in the early hours of the morning. The defendant, who served in Afghanistan, targeted the lone victims and used violence to assault them, leaving each woman suffering from profound psychological effects.
Jolly told officers he had a “high sex drive” and did not want his wife to find out he was having sex with prostitutes. Byron Broadstock, defending, said his client served on the frontline in Afghanistan and witnessed “extremely harrowing acts of violence” which continue to affect him. He told the court there was evidence Jolly has post-traumatic stress disorder.
Judge Eleri Rees found Jolly to be a dangerous offender and passed a 22-year extended sentence. He must serve at least two-thirds of the 16-year prison sentence then have a six-year extended licence period. He must register indefinitely as a sex offender. He was given permission in November to appeal his sentence.
OWAIN THOMAS
Owain Thomas, 29, from Westfield Close in Pontypridd, admitted 158 counts, including causing or inciting children to engage in sexual activity and distributing indecent images of children.
Aspiring barrister Thomas encouraged 150 children to engage in sexual activity by contacting them online using games like Roblox, sometimes paying them in game currency. The law graduate, who was working as a paralegal, paid one 10-year-old victim 400 Robux to perform a sexual act while he watched him on a webcam.
He cried as he was arrested, saying: “I need help. I know I need help. I can’t go to prison, I won’t cope in there.” The court heard he was “very isolated” at school. His counsel Andrew Taylor suggested his “paedophile interest” was “like a drug”.
Thomas was jailed for 10 years, with an extended sentence meaning he will serve at least two thirds of his term behind bars until a parole board will consider releasing him. Following his release he will spend five years on licence and will be subject to notification requirements.
Judge Richard Twomlow said he spent an hour and a half viewing the footage and referred to the “sheer scale and nature” of the offending. He added: “I have no doubt you pose a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public. You were about to move to actual contact as opposed to contact over the internet.”
AHMED ALI
Ahmed Ali, 34, from
Christina
Street in Butetown, Cardiff, admitted attempted murder.
Controlling and abusive Ali tried to kill his partner by stabbing her repeatedly with a screwdriver during a “shocking” attack that left her with life-threatening injuries. He hit his girlfriend in the mouth with a broken brick before chasing her into a nearby shop and stabbing her head and neck with the screwdriver.
The court heard the defendant had a “traumatic” upbringing in Somalia and claimed he had some signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Judge Eleri Rees found Ali to be a dangerous offender, posing a significant risk of serious harm, and passed a 19-year extended sentence to protect the public. Ali must serve at least two-thirds of the 14-year jail term before he can be considered for release and then will have a five-year extended licence period.
In her sentencing remarks Judge Eleri Rees referred to an “appalling catalogue of violence”. She noted there was a “shocking” and “remorseless” continuation of the attack once the victim was on the floor.
ROBERT CHAMBERS
Robert Chambers, 30, from Craigmuir Road in Splott, Cardiff, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. Convicted killer Chambers, who caused a man’s death with a single punch, knocked an unsuspecting football fan unconscious with a “sickening blow” in a busy city street. The victim was knocked out cold after being hit with such force he suffered whiplash in the unprovoked attack by Chambers, who was locked up as a teenager for manslaughter.
Jonathan Lewis, defending, suggested a letter from his client’s employer showed a different side to him. He told the court Chambers’ long-term relationship ended following the incident as his partner “realised he was unable to control his temper”.
The judge found Chambers to be a dangerous offender and passed an extended sentence to protect the public. The 56-month extended sentence was made up of a 32-month jail term and a 24-month licence period. The judge also imposed an eight-year football banning order.
Judge David Wynn Morgan told the defendant: “The court has seen graphic evidence of what you did that day. It is quite plain that you targeted your victim. You went up and attacked him when he was not expecting it. You struck just one blow but with significant force. It did not break any bones but caused concussion. The consequences could have been grave and you, of course, should know that.”
LEE TAYLOR
Lee Taylor, 36, from the Sandfields area of Port Talbot, was found guilty of dangerous driving and 11 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Footballer Taylor mowed down 11 young rival supporters. He lost his rag after they mocked him when he tried to set rules for a fight “between two children” after an ill-tempered game. The dadof-one slammed into his victims – aged between 14 and 19 – before trying to chase another two boys on to the pitch.
Taylor had denied deliberately trying to injure the teenagers, claiming he was trying to escape an attack by the group and was unaware of the collisions and could not hear the boys’ screams because his car stereo was too loud.
Taylor was given an extended 10-year sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of seven years. He was also disqualified from driving for 10 years and told he would be deprived of his BMW.
Judge Daniel Williams said: “The spat between two boys could have been defused by any adult with an ounce of common sense. But you don’t have that. Your fragile pride could not take the insults. You were angry and decided to exact revenge on those who dared to dent your fragile ego. You made threats of violence and then used your car as a weapon to inflict violence on the boys because a few of them had disrespected you.”