Violent burglar and teenage murder accused among those in court in Yorkshire this week

A violent burglar who assaulted a woman in her own home is among those who have appeared in court in Yorkshire this week.

Also making an appearance was the 13-year-old accused of the murder of Marcia Grant in Sheffield in April. The teenager pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted possession of a bladed article.

Five men were also convicted of the murder of Adam Clapham, who died after being tortured inside a house in Rotherham after £300 went missing. They will be sentenced next month.

Read more: Huddersfield thug slashes man in face with knife in horrific attack on nightclub dancefloor

A variety of hearings – sentencings, trials, further case management and plea, trial and preparation hearings – are held at the courts across Yorkshire every week and YorkshireLive’s reporters are on hand to cover those cases.

Joshua Deere

Sick Deere violently assaulted a woman in her own home – slashing at her with a knife and smashing pint glasses over her head while shouting “kill her and take her gold.” He was jailed for 11 years for aggravated burglary after he made his way into her home with two women.

After beating her at the top of the stairs, the woman fell to the bottom and attempted to escape, but he continued to attack. Deere went on to smash glasses over her head, throw kitchen appliances at her and cause deep wounds to her hands with a knife.

The woman was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries and CSI officers at the scene found Deere’s blood, alongside the victim’s, on a knife recovered. It linked him to the scene and a hunt for him began. He was finally arrested and charged with aggravated burglary, harassment and a separate burglary charge following a public appeal.

Read the full story here.

Teenage boy

A 13-year-old boy appeared at Sheffield Crown Court this week accused of the murder of beloved foster mum Marcia Grant.

The teenager pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to possession of a bladed article – namely a kitchen knife. He was told he will stand trial in October this year and was remanded into youth detention. A further case management hearing was set for July 26. The boy cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Read the full story here.

Ian Kelly

“Lonely” paedophile Kelly thought he was speaking to a 13-year-old girl online – but it was actually a member of a paedophile hunter group. The chat turned overtly sexual, with Kelly telling her he wanted to kiss every inch of her body and suggesting he would buy her drinks if they met up.

He was jailed for 18 months.

Read the full story here.

Callum Ripley

Prolific shoplifter Ripley was jailed for eight-and-a-half months after being charged with 13 offences.

Sergeant Matt Cook from the Ecclesfield policing team said: “Shoplifting offences are not victimless crimes and have an impact on the company and members of the local community who work there. Ripley’s offending has been prolific in recent months and I am pleased he is now behind bars and facing a custodial sentence for his actions.

“Members of the public should also be reminded that anybody buying stolen items from thieves are also liable for prosecution for handling stolen goods.”

Read the full story here.

Daren Skillings

Six sex offender Skillings was finally caught out and jailed – despite being allowed to carry on with his offending after two of his previous victims were not believed.

Skillings went on to rape a third child after being reported and interviewed almost a decade ago about his abuse of two others. No further action was taken at the time until he was reported again severl years later.

He was jailed for 11 years.

Read the full story here.

Muhammed Ashraf, Arbab Yusuf, Kieron Millar, Robert Crookes, Lynette Myers and a youth

Ashraf, Yusuf, Millar, Crookes and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named were all found guilty of the murder of Adam Clapham earlier this week following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

A man who was found seriously injured in Rotherham last year told police how he had been tied up, beaten and tortured over a number of hours at a property in Spring Street. Adam’s body was found inside the house the next day.

Ashraf, of Fraser Road, Yusuf of Lord Street, Crookes, and the 17-year-old were also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, false imprisonment and rape. Miller and Myers, 39, were found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment.

Another defendant, Martin Shaw, 44, of Norfolk Court, Rotherham – was cleared of one count of assisting offenders.

During the trial, it was said the man and Adam were set upon after £300 of drug money went missing. The defendants will be sentenced on July 24.

Read the full story here.

Javayne John, Shereen Brown and Keelan John-Matheson

John pleaded guilty earlier this week to perverting the course of justice in relation to a bag that was moved following the brutal murder of Khayri Mclean outside North Huddersfield Trust in September last year.

Ms Brown and Mr John-Matheson denied the charge and will stand trial from September 2, 2024.

Read the full story here.

Olajede Webb

Huddersfield thug Webb pulled out a knife from his belt and slashed a nightclubgoer on a dancefloor in a horrific attack.

An altercation broke out between the men at the Halifax nightclub before Webb, 27, used the weapon. He was jailed for eight years on Friday.

Read the full story here.

Thomas Bottomley

Knife-wielding Bottomley robbed two people as they made their way through Halifax town centre earlier this year.

He approached a woman, asking her for directions, before demanding £10 from her. When the woman eventually gave him the £5 she had on her, he fist-pumped her and told her “safe lad” before targeting a man and demanding £30.

He was eventually charged after being identified in an identity parade and jailed for four years.

Read the full story here.

Read next: