Tony Earnshaw

Hamza Hussain has been sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to 54 months in prison after tying up a vulnerable neighbour, beating him with a baseball bat and threatening to kill him. The victim escaped and reported the attack, later describing paranoia and recurring nightmares. The court heard that Hussain has schizophrenia, a history of serious offending and a previous incident involving a knife and police tasering. His defence cited a nine-year gap in offending, mental ill health and remorse. Hussain will also be subject to a 10-year restraining order banning contact with the victim.

Colin Jack Gaines, a 73-year-old former scout leader from the Bingley area, died in hospital after being found ill in a locked cell at HMP Leeds. He had been charged with 39 alleged child sexual abuse offences involving ten victims and was due to stand trial at Bradford Crown Court. The trial had been delayed by his refusal to attend court, but proceedings formally ended after prosecutors informed the judge of his death. Gaines denied the allegations, and no cause of death had been identified; an inquest was expected. West Yorkshire Police confirmed that the case was concluded as a result of his death.

Philip Black, an 81-year-old man from Clifton near Brighouse in West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court to multiple child sexual offences, including arranging or facilitating sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13, attempting to communicate sexually with a child under 16, and arranging or facilitating a child sex offence. He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on September 29.

A Bradford Crown Court heard that Mohammed Khan was driving a Mercedes A45 at about 100mph on a 30mph road when he struck a 17-year-old pedestrian on Halifax Road in September 2024. The teenager suffered catastrophic injuries, including the amputation of his left leg and severe damage to his hand, and spent four and a half months in hospital. Khan fled, removed the car’s number plates and arranged for the damaged vehicle to be hidden before surrendering to police the following day. He pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice, receiving a 40-month prison sentence, a six-year-eight-month driving ban and an extended retest requirement. His passenger, Mohammed Fiaz Amin, denies a related charge and is due to face trial.

Former West Yorkshire police officer Jenade Yamin pleaded guilty to five additional misconduct charges, having already admitted three others linked to unauthorised disclosure of police information and computer misuse. The offences occurred at the force's Halifax headquarters between 2020 and 2022. Judge Kirstie Watson adjourned sentencing to November 6, granted bail, and warned that a custodial sentence was inevitable, with the remaining issue being its length.

Four unrelated drivers—Sarah Hanif, Ajmal Khan, Shahad Aljammoor and Naheed Razaq—were sentenced at Bradford Crown Court for perverting the course of justice after providing the details of a man who died in 2001 to avoid prosecution for traffic offences. Their offences involved red-light and speed-camera violations across Bradford and Leeds between 2020 and 2024. Each received a suspended prison sentence, with Hanif also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. West Yorkshire investigators warned that attempts to evade responsibility for driving offences can be uncovered and prosecuted.

Bradford car dealer Javed Akhtar has been ordered by Bradford Crown Court to repay £66,917 after fraudulently obtaining a £50,000 Covid Bounce Back Loan for Natasha Motors Ltd in 2020. He falsely declared the company’s turnover, failed to provide adequate accounting records when it went into liquidation, and was previously given a suspended prison sentence, unpaid work and a six-year director disqualification. Insolvency Service investigators identified sufficient assets, including cars and a solar-panel investment, to recover the loan and an adjustment for inflation. Failure to pay within three months could result in six months’ imprisonment.

Atif Asif, 28, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to three years in prison for arson with recklessness after setting fire to a shed at his mother’s home in East Bowling. The blaze spread through a fence and patio doors, damaging the living room and hallway and causing an estimated £35,000 to £40,000 in losses. Asif had left Bradford Royal Infirmary before the incident and was arrested there the following day after seeking mental health treatment. The court heard of his long-term cocaine addiction, reported hearing voices, and prior community order for harassment and offensive communications. The judge rejected his initial cigarette-butt explanation and said the offence warranted immediate custody, particularly given his assessed high risk of serious harm.

Keaton Greenman was convicted of three rapes against the same victim at Bradford Crown Court and remanded in custody, with sentencing adjourned for at least eight weeks. He and McKenzie Mottran had previously been convicted of arson for causing the March 2022 fire at Dalton Mills, which resulted in an estimated £15 million of damage to the Grade II*-listed building. Sentencing for the fire will be delayed until Greenman’s separate criminal matters are concluded.

John Robinson, 30, of Menston, pleaded not guilty at Bradford Crown Court to manslaughter and possessing a knife in a public place, in addition to his existing not-guilty plea to murdering Mason Jones. Jones died after an incident on Main Street in Burley-in-Wharfedale on March 1. Robinson was remanded in custody ahead of a five-day trial scheduled to begin on September 14.

A jury was discharged in the 12-week trial of five men accused of conspiring to murder Mohammed Zayad Khan and Mohammed Usama Khan in an alleged machete attack on Tickhill Street, Bradford. Zayad Khan suffered severe injuries, including the severing of his left hand and partial amputation of his left leg, while Usama Khan suffered a neck wound. All five defendants deny the murder-conspiracy and grievous-bodily-harm charges. Alice Dobson, a former West Yorkshire Police community support officer, and Rahees Khan also deny allegations of obtaining and disseminating confidential police information and perverting the course of justice. The reason for the jury’s discharge was not reported because of restrictions that were lifted on Friday.

Frankie Simpson has begun a 22-month prison sentence after driving while disqualified, evading police and crashing a Seat Leon into a taxi carrying an adult and child in Bradford. Police boxed in the vehicle using marked and unmarked cars, and four armed officers drew their weapons during the arrest. Bradford Crown Court heard about Simpson’s poor criminal record, ADHD diagnosis and difficult childhood. He was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to take an extended retest.

A video posted on TikTok appears to show an Audi and a grey car racing through Great Horton, with the Audi allegedly travelling on the wrong side of the road and reaching 111 mph. Bradford councillors Joanne Dodds and Vasim Akhtar, along with the AA, condemned the dangerous driving and warned of the risks to drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other road users. The Telegraph & Argus approached West Yorkshire Police for comment.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court heard that Usamah Khan, who suffered a neck wound during an alleged machete attack, initially refused to cooperate with police and gave limited or misleading information about the attackers. He later identified alleged assailants in a statement made five months after the incident. Khan and his uncle Zayad Khan were allegedly attacked by men travelling in a convoy, with Zayad suffering injuries including the severing of his left arm and partial severing of his leg. Five men are on trial for conspiring to murder both victims, and the trial is continuing.

Frankie Simpson, a 24-year-old disqualified driver with 23 previous convictions for 49 offences, was stopped by armed West Yorkshire Police officers after attempting to evade a police blockade in Bradford. During the escape attempt, he reversed into and damaged a taxi carrying an adult and a child. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, two counts of driving while disqualified and possessing a lock knife in public. Bradford Crown Court sentenced him to 22 months in prison, imposed a three-year driving ban with an extended retest, and ordered the knife forfeited. The judge acknowledged Simpson's ADHD, difficult childhood and concerns following an Osman warning, but said these circumstances did not excuse conduct that created an obvious risk of harm.

Usamah Khan told Bradford Crown Court that he and his uncle, Zayad Khan, were ambushed by several vehicles and pursued by men carrying bladed weapons on Tickhill Street. He said he was struck in the neck with what he believed was a machete before finding his uncle severely injured, including with an arm severed. Khan identified several alleged attackers, but the defence questioned whether poor lighting and vehicle headlights made reliable identification possible and challenged his initial reluctance to speak to police. Five men deny conspiring to murder or cause grievous bodily harm to the two alleged victims; two defendants also deny perverting the course of justice. The trial is continuing.

Police in Clayton, Fairweather Green and Lower Grange are increasing overt and covert patrols to tackle burglaries, thefts from vehicles and shed break-ins. Officers are working with partners, CCTV operators and local businesses, while targeted operations have disrupted offenders and led to a suspect being charged and remanded. Community Alert and local engagement are also being used to promote security advice and reassure residents.

Mohammed Ibrahim Mehmood, who was 18 when he stabbed 19-year-old Junaid Khan in the heart during a violent confrontation in Bradford, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years, reduced by time spent on remand. The court rejected his claim of self-defence. The incident followed an earlier assault linked to a dispute over car dealings and involved armed groups confronting each other in the street. Mehmood’s associates Luqmaan Rehman and Hamza Rehman were convicted of violent disorder and imprisoned, while Mohammed Tayyub received a suspended detention sentence for assault.

Police evidence presented at Bradford Crown Court described how Zayad Khan allegedly suffered multiple severe machete wounds, including a severed hand, during an attack in Bradford. His hand was transported to Leeds General Infirmary in a sick bowl, while Usamah Khan suffered neck injuries. Five men are on trial for conspiracy to murder and cause grievous bodily harm, and Alice Dobson and Rahees Khan face an additional allegation of perverting the course of justice. All defendants deny the charges, and the trial is continuing.

Six people from Holme Wood pleaded not guilty at Bradford Crown Court to conspiring to supply cocaine and amphetamines between March and April 2023. Codie Calvert also denied a separate allegation of involvement in cannabis supply. The defendants were released on bail, with a ten-day trial scheduled for May 8, 2028, the earliest date available.

A Bradford Crown Court jury heard evidence about a timeline allegedly linking former West Yorkshire Police community support officer Alice Dobson to two violent incidents. Prosecutors say Dobson accessed confidential records about the machete assault of Mohammed Rizwan and photographed police logs before sharing information through her then-boyfriend, Fazal Mohammed, with Rahees Khan. Two months later, Rizwan’s alleged attackers, Mohammed Zayad Khan and Mohammed Usamah Khan, were themselves violently attacked, leaving Zayad with severe injuries and Usamah with neck wounds. Five men deny conspiracy charges relating to those attacks, while Dobson and Rahees Khan deny perverting the course of justice. Dobson has separately pleaded guilty to unrelated offences involving attempts to pervert justice and misconduct in public office. The trial is continuing.

Haseeb Rashad was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to 31 months in prison after pleading guilty to distributing an indecent image of a child and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He had joined Telegram groups associated with child abuse, contacted undercover police officers, and used a phone he had claimed was lost. The court assessed him as posing a high risk of harm to children and reoffending, and ruled that the risk could not be managed in the community. Rashad will remain subject to the order until 2032 and must register as a sex offender for ten years.

Wayne Lee, Mark Alstead, Jonathan Britton and Jack Maddocks were sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to a combined 222 months in prison for robbing a vulnerable man and attempting to burgle two other flats in a Bingley housing scheme. The court heard that Lee assaulted the victim and demanded drugs and money before the group took cigarettes and a Bluetooth speaker. Britton also admitted dangerous driving and driving without a licence. Lee received 67 months, Alstead 52 months, Maddocks 45 months and Britton 58 months, with Britton also receiving a driving ban and an extended retest requirement.

Lewis Judson, 30, drove a stolen Seat Leon with false registration plates at up to 50 mph in 30 mph residential zones while being pursued by police in Bradford. The chase ended when he crashed onto a grassed area and hit a concrete bollard before fleeing and being arrested. The court also heard that he had stolen property, bank cards and cash from four cars and used the cards to make more than £600 in purchases. Bradford Crown Court sentenced him to 13 months in prison, including an activated suspended sentence, and disqualified him from driving for 42 months with an extended retest required.

A jury has been sworn in for a 12‑week trial at Bradford Crown Court involving six defendants accused of conspiracy to murder and cause grievous bodily harm following a double stabbing in Bradford. Five defendants face four conspiracy charges relating to two alleged victims, while two defendants are also charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly accessing and sharing confidential police information. All defendants have pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution is scheduled to open the case the following day.

An inquest detailed the events leading to the death of 15-year-old Zakir Mohammad Mughal, whose body was found in Chellow Dene reservoir after he was reported missing. Testimony described conflicting accounts at the scene, including statements from a girl who had been with him and who entered the water intending self-harm before running away. Evidence indicated Zakir had been drinking heavily, was intoxicated, and was last seen shortly after midnight. A post-mortem concluded he drowned while intoxicated, with no signs of assault or third-party involvement. The inquest remains ongoing.

A Bradford driver, Sohail Jahangir, was sentenced to ten years and seven months in prison and banned from driving for more than 15 years for causing the death of cyclist Adrian Stocks in a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on Denton Road in Ilkley in 2023. Evidence presented in Bradford Crown Court detailed the fatal collision, failed attempts to save Stocks, and victim impact statements describing profound family loss. Jahangir’s subsequent involvement in dangerous driving and Class A drug dealing was also outlined. The judge rejected his earlier claims that the victim was at fault, criticised his lack of genuine remorse, and ordered the forfeiture of his vehicles, drugs and phones.

A 65-year-old man from Keighley received a 40‑month prison sentence at Bradford Crown Court for grooming and sexually abusing a vulnerable boy after offering money for sexual acts that he photographed. The court heard that the victim suffered severe psychological harm, becoming withdrawn and distressed. Police investigations revealed that the offender had searched online for sexual content involving boys and gave no‑comment answers in interviews. Despite his lawyer citing remorse and caregiving responsibilities, the judge determined that the seriousness and planning of the offences warranted imprisonment, ordering lifetime sex‑offender registration and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Ameer Khan received a 30‑month prison sentence after pleading guilty to attempted robbery and criminal damage following a violent incident at a Bradford jewellery shop. CCTV footage showed him punching the sole shop worker and jumping over the counter before being restrained. Prosecutors described the attack as pre‑planned, while his defence cited peer pressure, debt and remorse. The judge called it a targeted and vicious assault, noting the victim’s vulnerability and the shop owner’s resistance that prevented the theft.

A convicted child rapist, Safraz Rabnawaz, received an additional 36 months in prison after being caught trafficking heroin and cocaine in Bradford alongside long‑time drug user Mir Nawaz Khan, who was sentenced to 37 months. Police discovered multiple wraps of drugs and cash in their car, and both men had extensive criminal histories involving drugs. During sentencing, the judge condemned the broader harm caused by drug trafficking to communities and highlighted the defendants’ repeated involvement in drug-related offending.

Police officers and community partners in Bradford were honoured at the annual Bradford District Awards, where senior leaders highlighted their dedication, bravery and community impact. Veteran former detective Ray Copeland received the Bradford District Shield for nearly five decades of service, while other winners were recognised for leadership, reducing knife crime, tackling organised crime and strengthening community relations. Bradford 2025 City of Culture was also acknowledged for effective collaboration with police during major events. The ceremony emphasised policing’s essential role in community safety and cohesion.

A 29-year-old man, Niall Worsfold, appeared via video link at Leeds Crown Court charged with murdering his one‑month‑old son and with child cruelty. The baby died in hospital in July 2020 after being admitted from an address in Leeds. Worsfold did not enter pleas, and a four‑week trial is scheduled for February next year. He was remanded in custody, with a plea and trial preparation hearing set for September. Police confirmed that a 25‑year‑old woman arrested during the investigation was released without further action.

Three members of a Bradford family received suspended or community sentences after admitting involvement in a 2023 incident in which a man was assaulted and robbed of his Audi A3 over an unpaid debt. Judge Sophie McKone described their actions as thuggish, noting that Ali Shahid punched the victim, took his keys, and drove off in the car, with his father and brother also involved. The Audi was never recovered. The court imposed suspended sentences, community orders, curfews, and a five-year restraining order against contacting the victim.

A mechanic, Pavanraj Singh Samra, was prosecuted after issuing seven fraudulent MoT certificates for vehicles that were not present at the testing centre. The DVSA investigation showed the cars were elsewhere in the country when the certificates were issued. Samra, who managed the family-run Surefix Motoring Centre, pleaded guilty to fraud and expressed regret. Magistrates imposed a 12‑month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work, and financial penalties, and Samra was banned from conducting MoT tests for five years.

Billy Ocean delivered a well‑received open‑air concert at Halifax’s Piece Hall, performing a long list of hits that energized an enthusiastic crowd. His strong vocals, upbeat atmosphere, and connection with the audience were highlighted, with fans singing along and capturing the moment as the sun set. Marti Pellow opened the show, adding to the celebratory mood.

A woman driving alone in Bradford was targeted by Luke Stephenson, who blocked her car, displayed sexual images, and attempted to open her door before fleeing. Police identified him through a rental vehicle and he was convicted of sending sexual images to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation. The judge condemned his actions but imposed an 18‑month community order instead of further custody, noting his time already spent on remand and curfew, along with mental health issues. Stephenson must register as a sex offender for five years, complete rehabilitation activities, and pay court costs and a surcharge.

A man from Elland was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to 25 months in prison and given a seven‑year restraining order after violently assaulting his former partner, including strangling her until she lost strength in her legs and causing multiple injuries. The court heard details of the attack, its impact on the victim, and Whinnett’s behaviour before and after the incident. Mitigation highlighted his remorse and conduct while in custody, but the judge ruled that immediate imprisonment was necessary due to the seriousness of the offence.

Danny Tetley, a former X Factor semi-finalist jailed in 2020 for sexually exploiting seven boys, has been released from prison after serving more than six years of a nine‑year custodial term. The Ministry of Justice confirmed he will be supervised under strict licence conditions and can be recalled for any breach or increased risk. Tetley had admitted multiple offences involving sexual exploitation and indecent images, and the sentencing judge had condemned his abuse of celebrity status and labelled him a dangerous predator.

Police pursued Mohammed Jabbar for eight minutes through Bradford after he drove dangerously in a stolen Audi while banned and uninsured. Officers found cannabis, cash, testosterone ampoules and other drugs in the vehicle. Already on licence and with previous convictions, Jabbar admitted dangerous driving and drug offences. He received 16 months in prison, a driving ban of over two years, and an order to forfeit the drugs and cash.

Jonathan Girling received an eight‑month suspended sentence, a ten‑year sex offender registration and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after engaging in explicit communication with an online decoy he believed to be a 14‑year‑old girl. When confronted by a child protection team, he acted violently and threw a television at them. The court considered evidence including message screenshots and call recordings. Mitigation cited remorse and mental health issues. Judge Sophie McKone imposed rehabilitation requirements, unpaid work and the confiscation of his phone, stressing the potential harm such conduct poses to children.

A Bradford man, Anthony Gribbin, faces a Proceeds of Crime hearing after being jailed for 33 months for multiple fraudulent attempts to sell heavy machinery he did not own. Previous convictions include handling stolen goods, VAT fraud, and selling stolen equipment. The court detailed several fraudulent transactions involving fake machinery sales, partial refunds, and prior stolen goods. A hearing has been scheduled for October 16 to consider confiscating his criminal proceeds, while he remains subject to a director disqualification order until 2029.

Robert Ritchie received an 18‑month community order after assaulting a woman during an argument over drinks at his father's wake in Bradford. The confrontation escalated when he dragged and slammed the woman to the ground, after which she suffered a broken arm. Judge Christopher Smith noted uncertainty over whether the injury occurred during the assault or in a subsequent fall. Ritchie, who had no previous convictions, was ordered to complete unpaid work, rehabilitation days and pay court costs and a victim surcharge.

CCTV shows two men impersonating police officers before carrying out a robbery at Chacha Jewellers in Bradford, where more than 70 gold rings were stolen. Jamie Beardshaw and John Smith attempted to handcuff staff before the alarm was raised, leading to a hurried escape. Beardshaw received ten years and eight months in prison, while Smith was sentenced to four years. The court described the incident as a planned commercial robbery involving the use of police-style clothing to gain access and control.

A disqualified and uninsured driver, Aiden Kerridge, led police on a 110mph chase along the M606 before crashing into traffic lights near Bradford. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, with the court hearing he previously had similar convictions and tested positive for cannabis at the roadside. Judge Colin Burn imposed a 12‑month driving ban and a 12‑month prison sentence suspended for two years, along with unpaid work, rehabilitation days and an extended retest requirement, warning Kerridge to avoid future offending.

Judge Jonathan Rose oversaw the 2026 SPRUCE programme, a three‑day legal education event for Year 12 students designed to introduce them to careers in law through lectures, speaker sessions and mock sentencing exercises. Participation grew from 22 students in 2015 to 90 this year, with contributions from legal professionals and academics across Bradford. Judge Kirstie Watson will assume leadership of the programme going forward. Rose emphasised widening access to the legal profession and credited the support of court staff and volunteer speakers. The programme’s success is reflected in positive student feedback and former attendees who later entered legal careers and returned as speakers.

A neighbour dispute in Wyke escalated when Kian Wild stabbed a man multiple times after being confronted about repeatedly leaving a communal gate open and triggering an alarm. The victim sustained serious wounds, significant blood loss, and lasting scarring, and reported being mistakenly handcuffed by police when they arrived. Wild initially lied about the incident but later pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possessing a knife. The court heard he had developmental and mental health conditions that impaired his impulse control. Judge Kirstie Watson sentenced him to four and a half years in prison, noting the attack could easily have been fatal.