These are the faces of 11 criminals who were put behind bars at Northampton Crown Court during March 2024.
They include men who threatened shop staff with dirty needles to steal cigarettes, alcohol and scratch cards, a rapist who preyed on a vulnerable victim outside a town centre pub, members of drugs gangs, and a domestic abuser branded “deeply misogynistic” over his violent and controlling behaviour.
5. Lee Nelson
Nelson was locked up for more than three years after threatening a hotel worker at 3am at knifepoint. The 37-year-old was staying at the A14 Travelodge, having been put there by a council housing team because he was homeless, when he forced his way into an office to steal £50 cash from the safe. Northampton Crown Court heard Nelson, who has convictions for 95 previous offences dating back to 200, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 44 months. Photo: Northamptonshire Police
6. Romans Vodcics
The 31-year-old was jailed for 14 months after Northampton Crown Court heard he abused staff and aimed an imitation firearm after being asked to leave a Corby hotel in September 2023. Police armed response officers who arrested Vodcics suspected he was driving under the influence but he refused to give a roadside breath test and a further one at the police station. While in his cell, the Latvian national broke a CCTV camera causing damage worth £1,317.He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, failing to provide a breath test, and to criminal damage. Photo: Northamptonshire Police
7. Rufus Cuthbertson and Darren Guthrie
Cuthbertson, aged 28, and 37-year-old Guthrie were two of three Northampton men jailed over a string of violent robberies across the town, stealing cigarettes, alcohol and scratch cards from a number of Co-op stores, threatening staff with dirty needles. Cuthbertson was sentenced to 95 weeks in prison, Guthrie to 60 weeks. Photo: Northamptonshire Police
8. Joshua Groom and Anthony Turigel
Groom, aged 24, and 19-year-old Turigal were jailed after admitting being part of a gang running a crack cocaine and heroin dealing phone line for customers across Northamptonshire. They were caught after police found nine phones showing they were selling hundreds of £10 ‘deals’ of the class-A drugs.Groom pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and one of cannabis possession and was sentenced to three years, nine months. Turigel pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and was given three years, six months. Photo: Northamptonshire Police