Every week, Bristol Live reports from the city's courts. Reporting forms an important part of the UK's open justice system, that justice can be seen to be done.
Some of the key benefits of open justice include ensuring public confidence and respect in democracy and the administration of justice. It also serves to deter people from committing crimes and thereby the details of those crimes becoming public knowledge.
Here are the criminals we reported on who were jailed at Bristol Crown Court in September 2023. Read more about why we publish defendants' names and addresses here.
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Grant Bradley, 23 years
A “cold-hearted” friend who killed his drinking buddy after a row in a pub was found guilty of his murder. Grant Bradley walked to Marcus Dunkerton’s home in Thames Close in Charfield, South Gloucestershire, to 'sort out' their dispute after being punched in the face and his partner was pushed at the Railway Tavern on June 24, 2022.
Angry and in possession of a kitchen knife, Bristol Crown Court heard how an intoxicated Bradley punched a clearly asleep on the sofa Mr Dunkerton several times before stabbing him five times in the buttock and thigh. Mr Dunkerton's partner Nicola Sansum had tried to grab Bradley to restrain him, but he left the property and walked back to his nearby home on Avon Close.
Read the full story here
Alec Sulley, nine years
A woman raped in her sleep told how the attack left her decimated. But she said that, though it was she who felt guilt for reporting her abuser, it was "absolutley the right thing to do" and it was time for her to nurture healing.
Her moving impact statement was read to a judge at the sentencing of Alec Sulley at Bristol Crown Court. Sulley, 23, whose address was given as Woodfield Road in Nottingham, was convicted after a trial of two charges of rape and one charge of intending to commit a sexual offence.
Judge Martin Picton jailed him for nine years.
Read the full story here
Jason Woodman, 15 months
A Hanham man with a history of domestic violence accepted the consequence for his latest assault. And that consequence turned out to be prison.
Jason Woodman rained blows on a partner who accused him of infedility, Bristol Crown Court heard. As a result she sustained nasty bruising to an eye and a suspected orbital fracture.
Woodman, 49, of Lower Hanham Road, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the incident which occurred in July. Judge William Hart jailed him for 15 months. Read the full story here.
Lee Bendall, 146 days
A protective dad-of-four told a van had driven at his child threatened the driver with a hammer. And in the course of a melee that ensued he assaulted a woman, a court heard.
Bristol Crown Court was told the incident was an escalation of a neighbour dispute in Knowle. Bendall, 37, whose address was given as Orchard Road in Long Ashton, pleaded guilty to assault and threatening with an offensive weapon.
Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for 146 days. Read the full story here.
Muhammed Edrissi, three years and Mohammed Dilshad, 18 months
Two men were jailed for their parts in supplying cocaine in Weston-super-Mare. Muhammed Edrissi, 19, of no fixed abode, was arrested at 1.30pm on 19 March 2023 in the Boulevard, after being found in possession of cocaine and cash.
He denied charges of possessing 10 grams of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property (£180 cash). Edrissi was found guilty by a jury after a trial and at Bristol Crown Court he was sentenced to three years in prison for drug supply, with three months to be served concurrently for the second offence.
A second man, Mohammed Dilshad, 27, of Leicester, was arrested in Weston town centre at midday in February after being found in possession of cocaine and cash. After previously admitting possessing 1.7 grams of a class A drug with intent to supply and possession of criminal property (£230 cash) Dilshad appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 22 September and was jailed for 18 months for the drug charge, with three months to be served concurrently for the second offence. Read the full story here.
Anthony Hemmings, 33 months
A paedophile whose actions left one of his victims unable to trust men, even her own dad and grandad, was jailed. Anthony Hemmings sexually abused two teenage girls between 2003 and 2008 on a number of occasions.
Hemmings, 69 and from Yate, denied abusing either of the girls. However, he was found guilty by a jury of: indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, gross indecency with a girl under the age of 16, engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15, and two counts of assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by touching. Read the full story here.
Marcus Laing, 14 years
An armed robber who stole cash during a spate of incidents around Bristol was sent to prison. Marcus Laing threatened people with a knife while raiding a bank, shop and home in three robberies over the space of six days earlier this year.
The 43-year-old of Rodney Road pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery and three charges of possession of a bladed article. During a sentencing hearing at Bristol Crown Court, a judge described Laing as a "dangerous offender". Read the full story here.
Connor Moore, two years and six months; Joseph Nash, two years and eight months
A pair of crooks who broke into several businesses to steal thousands of pounds in cash were sent to prison. Connor Moore and Joseph Nash targeted pubs, bakeries, sports clubs and restaurants during a spate of raids across Bath, Bristol and North Somerset last year.
Avon & Somerset Police said the duo raided businesses between October and December 2022, using tools to smash their way into the properties. Some of their actions were caught on CCTV - which can be seen at the top of this article - including one incident where they were spotted crawling on their hands and knees before breaking into a safe room and whacking a camera with a crowbar. Read the full story here.
Bradley Ball, two years and eight months
A man has been banned from entering Southmead for more than six years after being found in possession of class-A drugs with intent to supply. Bradley Ball of Ravenglass Crescent, Southmead, has been given a jail term as well as a Criminal Behaviour Order, banning him from entering the area.
The 25-year-old has been jailed for two years and eight months after being convicted of possessing cocaine and heroin with intent to supply, as well as acquiring, using and being in possession of criminal property (cash) at Bristol Crown Court. In addition to serving time behind bars, Ball was ordered to pay a £9,000 confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act, as well as abide by the terms of a Criminal Behaviour Order. Read the full story here.
Patrick Devaney, three-and-a-half years
An “evil” and “cruel” ex-prison detention officer sat in silence as dozens of victims recalled the horrific abuse he caused them. Patrick Devaney, 81, of County Down in Northern Ireland, repeatedly assaulted boys aged between 14 to 17-years-old in his care at Eastwood Park in South Gloucestershire, where he worked from 1970 until 1983.
The former physical education instructor denied wrongdoing but a jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty of misconduct in a public office. Devaney faced sentencing at the same court), sitting in the dock with his arms crossed as the prosecutor read from numerous moving victim impact statements. Read the full story here.
James Malone, eight years
A pervert who sexually abused a young teenage boy in Bristol was jailed. James Malone touched the youngster improperly and committed a sex act on him, Bristol Crown Court heard.
The abuse halted after the child - aged under 16 - said he would tell his dad what happened. The boy then reported Malone to a teacher.
Malone, 47, whose address was given as Ashville Road, Poulton, in the Wirral, pleaded guilty to 10 charges. They comprised of: eight counts of sexual activity with a child; engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and exposure. Judge Michael Longman jailed him for eight years. Read the full story here.
Ronny Shaw, 27 months detention
A Bristol man and teenager admitted car crime and drug offences. And they have been handed immediate or suspended jail terms.
Lewis Rees, 24, of Holly Road in Kingswood, and Ronny Shaw, 18, of Grace Drive in Bristol appeared at Bristol Crown Court for sentence. Rees pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and theft, while Shaw pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.
Judge Michael Longman gave Shaw 27 months detention. He handed Rees a 14-month jail term suspended for two years, with a six-month curfew, rehabilitation and 120 hours' unpaid work. Read the full story here.
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Clinton and Jamie Jackson, 22 months and 19 months
Brothers who smashed a man's jaw at a Bristol pub in a "brutal and savage" unprovoked attack were jailed. Clinton and Jamie Jackson turned on their victim at the rear of The Whitchurch pub, Bristol Crown Court heard.
After both men rained punches on him he was left with a jaw fractured in three places. And the motive for the attack is unexplained.
Both Clinton Jackson, 28, of Eva Turner Close in Hengrove, and Jamie Jackson, 21, of Pine Grove in Horfield, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm on December 3, 2021. Judge Martin Picton jailed Clinton Jackson for 22 months and his younger brother for 19 months. Read the full story here.
Sam O'Reilly, 45 months
A Knowle man physically and verbally abused a woman and posted intimate photos of her online. And after he told a judge he was ashamed, the judge told him: "You should be, you should be deeply ashamed."
O'Reilly, 36, of Carlow Road, pleaded guilty to a plethora of offences. They included an abusive behaviour charge, two charges of disclosing private photos, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage and two assaults on emergency workers.
Judge Martin Picton jailed him for 45 months. Read the full story here.
David Cardwell, three years
A convicted sex offender ordered to declare his internet enabled devices failed to do so. And when police checked up on him they discovered he had a secret stash of devices, some of which contained a depraved collection of child abuse images.
In 2019 St John Ambulance volunteer David Cardwell was jailed for 11 months after pleading guilty to three charges of attempting sexual communication with a child as well as possessing prohibited images of children.
He was told to register as a sex offender. Crucially, he was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop him reoffending.
On September 6 Cardwell, 56, whose address was given as Beaufort Road in St George, was back at Bristol Crown Court on a video link from HMP Bristol having admitted two breaches of the SHPO. He also pleaded guilty to making 1,749 indecent images of children.
Judge Michael Longman jailed him for three years. Read the full story here.
Damien Revill, 18 months
A woman repeatedly called police saying a man had threatened to knock her teeth out. And then she confirmed he had.
Damien Revill threatened the woman with a number of calls early on August 23 last year, Bristol Crown Court heard. The court heard he turned up at her home, punched her in the face and knocked a tooth out.
Revill, 34, of Shelley Way, Horfield, was to face trial but asked for an indication as to maximum sentence on a guilty plea. He then pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and Judge Martin Picton jailed him for 18 months. Read the full story here.
Zak O'Neill (Restricted Hospital Order)
Voices in a teenager's head commanded him to 'go to the gym naked or do something worse'. Zak O'Neill decided on the second option. That culminated in a frenzied, fatal knife attack on his loving mum Michelle in which he stabbed her nearly 100 times.
O'Neill, now 21, of Salamanca Road in Oakley, Cheltenham, appeared at Bristol Crown Court charged with murder in March last year. He denied the charge but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Judge William Hart sentenced him to a Restricted Hospital Order, meaning O'Neill will remain in hospital until a medical tribunal or the Ministry of Justice considers him fit for release. Read the full story here.
Timothy Douglas, extended sentence of three years and six months
An accusation about a stolen crack cocaine pipe led to a man slashing a neighbour in the face and hand. Timothy Douglas, who has a history of violence, swung a kitchen knife at Jordan McCarthy having accused him of theft in their Bristol-based supported accommodation.
Bristol Crown Court heard Mr McCarthy suffered cuts to the side of his hand and to his forehead. Douglas, 57, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to threatening with a blade in a private place and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the incident in January.
Judge Moira Macmillan handed him an extended sentence of three years and six months. That comprises of 12 months in custody and two years and six months' extended licence. Read the full story here.
Matthew Powell, 42 months
A Weston-super-Mare who committed lewd acts as he stared at women on a train was arrested and released on police bail. And then Matthew Powell tried to have sex with a girl aged 13, a court heard.
Mercifully, though the women were left anxious about their experience, the girl aged 13 was, in fact, a decoy operating with a paedophile hunter group. And, having been arrested a second time, Powell is now behind bars.
The 48-year-old, of Newton Road, pleaded guilty to outraging public decency in November last year. He also pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between February and March this year. Judge James Patrick jailed him for 42 months. Read the full story here.
