Charged and In Court: July 2022

Some of our investigations which have led to charges and/or convictions in court in July 2022.

Convictions include a man whose punches led to the death of a man in the city centre jailed for five years and two months, a man who sexually abused his step-granddaughter sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and two men who tried to evade officers by hiding in a suspended ceiling jailed for their part in the production of cannabis.

 

Convictions

 

Man pleads guilty to manslaughter after incident in city

A defendant whose punches led to the death of a man in the city centre has been jailed for five years and two months.

Joe Baldwin was outside Natterjacks in Braunstone Gate during the evening of Friday 27 August last year when he was involved in a disagreement with 49-year-old Charles Neeson.

During the incident, 28-year-old Baldwin of no fixed address, punched Mr Neeson twice which resulted in him hitting his head on the ground.

Joe Baldwin

 

Mr Neeson was taken to hospital with serious injuries and sadly died two days afterwards. The post-mortem examination revealed Mr Neeson suffered a significant brain injury and multiple skull fractures.

Baldwin pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter at a court hearing earlier in the month.

More information: Man pleads guilty to manslaughter after incident in city | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)

Family of Charles Neeson pay tribute: Family issue statement after man pleads guilty to manslaughter | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)

 

Father pleads guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility

A 55-year-old man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Kaushik Solanki, who was found to be suffering from a major depressive disorder, admitted the charge – which relates to the death of his wife Manisha Solanki – at Leicester Crown Court.

On 15 April last year, a call was made by a member of their family to Leicestershire Police, stating they were concerned for their welfare.

A short time later, a call was received from Norfolk Constabulary to say Solanki had been found seriously injured in Hunstanton with life-threatening injuries. Officers went to the address in Tennis Court Drive in Humberstone and forced entry where the body of Mrs Solanki was found.

Officers in Cambridgeshire – where Kaushik, 55, had been taken to receive treatment – arrested him on suspicion of murder on 17 April. However, he was released on bail while he received medical care for several months afterwards. In December, following his release, he was charged with the murder of Manisha, 49.

More information: Father pleads guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)

 

Step-grandad jailed for years of abuse

A man from Hinckley has been jailed for 18 years for sexually abusing his step-granddaughter.

The offences took place over a five-year period, between October 2015 and January 2020, inside the man’s home in the Hinckley area. The girl was 10 when the abuse began.

After it was reported to police in February 2021, the step-grandad – who is in his late 50s but not being named to protect the identity of the victim - was arrested and an investigation began.

Following a trial, he was found guilty of four counts of rape, four counts of assault by penetration, three counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of taking an indecent image.

He has now been jailed for 18 years and also given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, a restraining order against the victim and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

More information: Step-grandad jailed for years of abuse | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)

 

Officers stop more than £650,000 of cannabis hitting the streets

Two men who tried to evade officers by hiding in a suspended ceiling have been jailed for their part in the production of cannabis.

In May this year officers executed a warrant at a unit in Baker Street, Coalville, and found more than 900 cannabis plants.

Bajram Isaku and Blerim Kamberi were found by officers hiding in the suspended ceiling.

After an examination of the scene, cultivating equipment and plants with an estimated street value of more than £650,000 were recovered.

Isaku, 36, of Baker Street, Coalville, and 23-year-old Kamberi, 23, of no fixed address, both pleaded guilty to production of cannabis and were each sentenced to 16 months in prison. A forfeiture order was granted at court ordering the forfeiture of money and drugs, which will be destroyed.

More information: Officers stop more than £650,000 worth of cannabis hitting the streets | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)

 

Charges

* For note - the below are incidents where a person has been charged with an offence. Court proceedings in relation to the allegation are still to be heard.

 

Woman charged with murder following death of a child

A woman has been charged with murder following the death of a child in 2012.

Katie Tidmarsh, 38, of Station Road, Littlethorpe, Leicester, has been charged with murder following the death of one-year old Ruby Thompson. Ruby became unwell at her home address in Leicester on 11 August 2012 and was taken to hospital where she died two days later.

As part of a police investigation, two people were arrested in November 2012 and later released with no further action.

More information: Woman charged with murder following death of a child | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)

 

Driver charged following death of police staff member

A motorist has been charged with death by dangerous driving following a collision in Hinckley Road last year.

Connor Wilsher, 21, of Coleorton Lane, Packington, Leicestershire, has also been charged with failing to stop after a road accident.

The charges relate to a collision involving two cars in Hinckley Road, Leicester, on 3 July 2021.

The driver of one of the cars was 23-year-old Darcy Elizabeth Reid, who worked as a Local Support Team Officer at Leicestershire Police.

Darcy died from her injuries in hospital a few weeks after the collision occurred.

More information: Driver charged following death of police staff member | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)

 

Three men charged following attempted theft of ATM in Moira

Three men have been charged after the attempted theft of a cash machine in Moira.

Officers were called to the incident in the early hours of Thursday 7 July at the Co-op in Shortheath Road.

A 27, 32 and 33-year-old man have been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary.

They are:

• John Price, 27, of Boathorse Road, Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent
• Luke Price, 32, of Southworth Road, Newton-le-Willows, St Helens
• Arthur Gaskin, 33, of no fixed abode

The charges relate to the incident in Moira, as well as a number of other burglary offences in the Cheshire area.

The investigation will be led by Cheshire Constabulary. 

More information: Three men charged following attempted theft of ATM in Moira | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)