Dangerous offenders behind bars for longer
THESE are some of the criminals who have been given extended sentences in the past year.
Judges can pass this type of sentence if they find a defendant to be a dangerous offender – meaning they present a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public.
The defendant must usually serve two-thirds of the custodial term before they can be considered for release by the parole board and will then have an extended licence period.
Finnley Pring
Finnley Pring, 20, from Beddau, admitted wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
Pring, who was previously locked up for assaulting his own brother, attacked a teenage boy with a metal dumbbell six months after he was released. The defendant was released on Christmas Eve 2018 after serving a prison sentence for assaulting his twin and, just months later, he left a boy with gashes on his head.
Tony Trigg, prosecuting, said Pring “harboured a grudge” against his victim. Lloyd Jenkins, defending, said the defendant had been engaging in anger management sessions but that day “he lost his temper”.
Pring was given a seven-and-ahalf-year extended sentence. He must serve at least two-thirds of the fiveyear custodial element then an extended two-and-a-half-year licence period. Judge Michael Fitton QC said based on the facts of the case, his previous convictions, the pre-sentence report, and psychiatric report: “I have no doubt... That you are a dangerous young man. I have no doubt at all that it is appropriate for me to extend the sentence I pass. That is precisely because of the dangers you represent.”
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 twothirds of 15 years in prison before he can be considered for release and will then have a three-year 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.”