Gary Porter

Matthew Hodson, 39, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison after admitting four shoplifting offences and four breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order. Five days after receiving a suspended 12-week sentence for offences in Northwich, he stole £516.50 of alcohol from an Asda in Ellesmere Port across four incidents. Cheshire Constabulary said his repeated offending continued despite police and court interventions and expressed hope that the sentence would reassure local businesses.

Adam Francis, 48, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court to 25 months in prison suspended for two years after pleading guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation. Posing as a mortgage adviser known as the “Mortgage Man,” he and a qualified accountant who has since died persuaded four victims to hand over deposits, fees and solicitor payments between February 2017 and August 2018. The victims lost more than £203,436 after Francis used the money for personal gain and created the appearance that legitimate mortgage and conveyancing work was progressing. Cheshire Police said none of the money had been recovered, while the sentencing judge described the conduct as a shameful deception that caused significant distress.