Andrew Bardsley

Courtney Ambrose Lee, 29, was sentenced to life imprisonment after attacking two women in London and Salford within days of each other. He assaulted and imprisoned his former partner in London, then subjected another woman to a prolonged knife attack at a Salford flat, leaving her with life-threatening injuries. Lee was acquitted of attempted murder but pleaded guilty to other charges, including false imprisonment, intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He must serve a minimum of seven years and 229 days, plus a consecutive 18-month sentence for breaching a suspended sentence.

Prison officers Jai Gascoyne and Elle Walton were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after admitting inappropriate relationships with inmates Dil and Haq Nawaz at HMP Buckley Hall. Investigators found Valentine’s cards, jewellery, phone evidence and messages indicating romantic relationships, although no contraband was smuggled. Gascoyne received 16 months in prison and Walton 13 months, with both expected to serve up to 40% behind bars. The Nawaz brothers, already serving lengthy sentences for a major Lancashire crack cocaine and heroin conspiracy, received an additional year each for assisting the misconduct.