Bringing people to justice and protecting victims of crime – Charged and In Court 2024

Across 2024, our response and investigation teams have continuously worked to bring offenders before the courts, to protect and get answers for victims of crime and to support and reassure our local communities.

Here we look back at just some of our investigations which led to a conviction in court during 2024 including murderers being jailed, sexual offenders facing justice, drugs gangs being uncovered and dangerous drivers being brought before the courts.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us and supported us in our investigations throughout the year.

 

Parents jailed for death of newborn son

The parents of a baby who died after suffering catastrophic physical abuse were jailed earlier this year.

In a police investigation spanning more than six years, officers worked tirelessly to uncover who was responsible for causing 40 bone fractures to month-old Ollie Davis – including a broken neck which caused his death in October 2017.

In April, his father, Michael Davis, was sentenced to life behind bars after being convicted of his murder in a trial. He was also convicted of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and was ordered to serve a minimum of 22 years in prison.

Ollie’s mother, Kayleigh Driver, was sentenced to a total of seven years after being found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.

Michael Davis

 

Kayleigh Driver

More information: Parents jailed for death of newborn son | Leicestershire Police

Family of Ollie Davies speak of their 'heartache and pain': Family of Ollie Davis speak of their 'heartache and pain' | Leicestershire Police

 

Man who fatally shot partner jailed for more than 30 years

A man who shot his partner in the head was jailed for more than 30 years in March.

On 21 September 2023, police and the East Midlands Ambulance Service were called to the home of Richard Basson and Carrie Slater, in Kings Road, following a 999 call made by Basson in which he said Ms Slater ‘had been stabbed in the face with a pool cue’:

On arrival at hospital, Ms Slater, 37, underwent scans and it became apparent her injury was in fact a gunshot wound. She was placed on life support but two days later, on 23 September, it was withdrawn and Ms Slater was pronounced deceased.

Basson, 45, was convicted of one count of murder following trial and jailed for life to serve a minimum of 32 years.

At a previous court hearing, he had pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

Richard Basson

 

More information: Long Clawson man who shot dead partner jailed for more than 30 years | Leicestershire Police

Family of Carrie Slater pay tribute: Carrie Slater’s family pay tribute to ‘beloved daughter, sister and auntie’ | Leicestershire Police

 

Teenager jailed for murder of 79-year-old man

A teenager who walked into a house and fatally stabbed a 79-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment in April with a minimum of 25 years.

Daniel Rounce, 18, had initially fled the scene after stabbing Gerald Wickes at a house in Queens Park Way, Leicester, on the afternoon of 22 February 2023.

But following a police search, he was found later that evening in the Aylestone Road area by officers where he was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Daniel Rounce

 

Following a trial, Rounce was found guilty of the murder of Mr Wickes and guilty of possession of a knife. 

More information: Teenager jailed for murder of 79-year-old man | Leicestershire Police

Family of Gerald Wickes pay tribute: 'One of life's helpers' - the family of Gerald Wickes pay tribute | Leicestershire Police

 

Armed robber who attacked victim with hammer jailed for 12 years

An armed robber who attacked his victim with a hammer was jailed for 12 years after being identified through police enquiries.

Damian Mould, 38, carried out the attack at a store in Oakthorpe, on 13 January this year, before stealing cash and a bottle of alcohol.

The victim, in his 60s, was left with significant head injuries and admitted to hospital for treatment where he remained for around two weeks before being discharged.

Mould was arrested three days later.

He was sentenced in November this year to 12 years imprisonment with a three-year licence extension after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of burglary.

Damian Mould

 

More information: Armed robber who attacked victim with hammer jailed for 12 years | Leicestershire Police

 

In-depth work of detectives puts sexual predator behind bars

The meticulous work of police to piece together the movements of a ‘sexual predator’ as he targeted a lone woman has led to him being jailed for seven years and three months.

Following a report of sexual assault in the early hours of Monday 18 December 2023, detectives from the force’s specialist rape investigation team worked tirelessly for more than 24 hours – trawling through hours of CCTV footage in order to identify the man responsible.

Ghulan Mohammed was arrested the following day from his home address in Princess Street, Burton Upon Trent, after footage showed the 36-year-old had preyed upon an intoxicated woman as she walked in the city centre.

In November, Mohammed was sentenced for a total of 10 offences including one count of attempted rape and four counts of sexual touching.

Ghulan Mohammed

 

More information: In-depth work of detectives puts sexual predator behind bars | Leicestershire Police

 

“Sarah never let me feel alone in the loneliest time of my life.”

These are the words of a sexual assault victim who has nothing but praise for the investigating officer in her case – Detective Constable Sarah Hogan.

The victim spoke to Leicestershire Police following a report made to police that she had been raped, controlled, coerced, and harassed by Liam Jackson.

In March, Jackson, 29, of Edward Road, Stamford, was sentenced to six years imprisonment and given a restraining order after being found guilty of one count of rape and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour.

Liam Jackson

 

Being so encouraged and positive of her experience of her investigating officer, the victim wrote to the force to share her gratitude.

She said: “I was able to talk, to feel and to live again. It took time but I had an incredible police officer who checked in, turned up and never let me down. I never thought I would be able to feel safe while speaking of something so horrible and personal, but I did, I was able to talk about it all. I was able to feel comfortable about something that was so utterly uncomfortable.”

More information: “Sarah never let me feel alone in the loneliest time of my life.” | Leicestershire Police

 

Footage showed driver speeding and dangerously overtaking moments before fatal collision

Footage showed a driver speeding and overtaking moments before he crashed the vehicle leading to the death of his 26-year-old friend.

Luke Sullivan, who was found to have cocaine in his system, was then shown running away from the scene of the fatal collision in Leicester Road, Anstey.

In May, as the 23-year-old was jailed for six years and eight months for causing the death of Kieran Andrews by dangerous driving, police released the footage to highlight the serious impact dangerous driving can have on numerous lives.

Luke Sullivan

 

More information: Footage shows driver speeding and dangerously overtaking moments before fatal collision | Leicestershire Police

Family of Kieran Andrews release statement: 'The suffering within our family is still raw' | Leicestershire Police

 

Drug-dealing gang jailed for more than 25 years

Six members of a gang were jailed for their part in supplying class A drugs to the streets of Leicester and Leicestershire.

The group ran the ‘ZK line’ and used a phone to send bulk texts to would-be buyers of crack cocaine and heroin. The line was primarily operated by Tariq Gul, Firoz Khan and Akbar Osman.

They employed Mohim Uddin, Adam Fradj and Adam Caird,– also known as Daniel McKenzie – as their runners to sell the drugs on the street and from an address in Saxby Street.

At a previous court hearing, Fradj, Uddin and Caird pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and one count of conspiracy to supply heroin. Gul, Osman and Khan were found guilty of the same offences in June following a trial.

They were sentenced in August this year.

More information: Drug-dealing gang jailed for more than 25 years | Leicestershire Police

 

Investigation leads to man being jailed for encouragement of terrorism

An investigation into a man who described a mass killer as a ‘hero’ and shared harrowing footage of a terrorist attack led to him being convicted of and jailed for encouragement of terrorism.

Edward Griffiths sent videos to people of the terrorist attack, which was committed at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March 2019 and resulted in the killing of 51 people, stating he would “love” to do what the perpetrator of the attacks did. Griffiths also stated that he would “like” to go on a killing spree and talked about different people he would like to kill and various weapons.

The police and prosecution’s case did not allege that Griffiths was planning any specific attack but that he had an extreme mindset and was reckless about whether his actions would encourage others to commit terrorist acts.

Following trial, Griffiths was found guilty of one count of encouragement of terrorism and of two counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication. He was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment.

Edward Griffiths

 

More information: Investigation leads to man being jailed for encouragement of terrorism | Leicestershire Police

 

Pair sentenced for taking thousands of pounds from Leicester theatre

A couple who fraudulently took more than £800,000 from Curve Theatre were sentenced in September.

Karen and Graham McGowan’s crimes were uncovered in April 2019 when it was found that £868,804.31 had been taken from the theatre’s accounts over a period of 16 months – and paid into a bank account in Graham’s name.

Karen was employed by the theatre, but Graham had never been an employee. However, in each case the money was quickly laundered into a bank account in his name.

An investigation was carried out by Leicestershire Police’s Economic Crime Unit.

Karen McGowan, 50, was sentenced to four years and 10 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of concealing/disguising/converting/transferring/removing criminal property.

Graham McGowan, 57, was sentenced to 23 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to entering an arrangement which he knew or suspected facilitated the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property.

Karen McGowan

 

More information - Pair sentenced for taking thousands of pounds from Leicester theatre | Leicestershire Police

 

Victim’s report sees stalker jailed

Leicestershire Police is urging anyone who has been a victim of stalking or harassment to report matters to police after a man was jailed in August.

Jordan Hancock bombarded his victim with messages and videos on several social media platforms over an eight-month period. He also exhibited threatening and controlling behaviour towards her, demanding to know where she was and who she was with. His behaviour escalated further when he began to visit her address, causing damage to her car.

In October last year, she reported what was happening to police and an investigation into the 25-year-old’s actions began. However, he continued to send her messages, often setting up fake profiles to carry out his crimes.

Jordan Hancock

 

He was subsequently charged leading to him pleading guilty to one count of stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress at court. He was sentenced to 31 months’ imprisonment and is subject to a restraining order prohibiting contact with his victim.

More information: Victim’s report sees stalker jailed | Leicestershire Police

 

Man jailed for trying to influence juror outside court

A relative of a man standing trial at Leicester Crown Court was jailed after he was found guilty of trying to influence a juror.

On 5 August 2021, Malcolm Vann attended the hearing of someone known to him who was standing trial. During a break in proceedings, he went outside for a cigarette where he saw someone he recognised as being on the jury.

Vann spoke to the juror and said he could disclose things that would ‘make them think different’ and continued to disclose details not talked about during trial. The juror, knowing that they should not be conversing with one another, went back inside the Wellington Street building and disclosed what had happened to court staff.

Vann, 69, of Blakesley Walk, Beaumont Leys, was arrested by police when he went back into court. He was convicted of one count of perverting the course of justice following a trial and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment in October this year.

More information: Man jailed for trying to influence juror outside court | Leicestershire Police