£140m drugs boss, Facebook conman, and machete wielder among criminals locked up in June

A drugs boss in a £141 million plot, a Facebook conman who swindled victims out of designer clothes and Rolex watches, and a man who waved a machete at Anglesey doormen were all jailed in North Wales in June.

There were also a man who gouged his partner's eyes and another who attacked his ex-partner so brutally she felt she had been run over by a bus. In other shocking cases an arsonist torched his clothes and left home, with the fire alarm sounding, a man banged his partner's head into a Rhyl shop window and a thug punched a dog till it bled.

Here we summarise the hearings which led to judges sentencing perpetrators to jail terms.

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Gordon Watts

A man attacked his ex so brutally she felt like she had been "run over by a bus" and then punched her dog until it bled. Gordon Watts assaulted the woman so severely she was left with purple bruises, a court heard.

He admitted a string of offences, including threatening to disclose sexual image of a different victim aged 17. He was jailed at Caernarfon Crown Court for a total of two years and two months.

The court heard Watts, 35, of East Parade, Rhyl, had been made subject to a four-year restraining order not to contact the victim. But in April he tricked his way into her flat.

Steven Halliday

A man's campaign of domestic abuse left his ex-partner "scared to love, scared to laugh". Steven Halliday, 45, assaulted Shameem Younis over 13 months.

A judge at Mold Crown Court condemned his behaviour, which took place between July 2021 and August 2022, and jailed him for 20 months. He said the offences had had a "long-term and serious impact" on his victim, but he has shown no remorse and denigrated her.

Prosecutor Laura Knightly told how the couple had been in a relationship from July 2021 which was "brilliant" for the first six months. But Halliday became controlling and coercive.

Grant Woods

A man who gouged his partner's eyes in two separate attacks has been jailed for a total of 21 months. Grant Woods admitted two offences against his partner Nicola Parry in her own home.

A judge said the root of the 50-year-old's offending was alcohol abuse. Woods, of no fixed address, admitted two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm against Ms Parry in Ewloe last September.

He was given eight-month and 13-month jail terms respectively, with the terms to run consecutively. A sentencing hearing in Woods' case was held then adjourned to see if he was suitable for an alcohol programme.

Edward McDonagh

A Facebook conman took electronic devices and luxury goods from people without paying for them in frauds worth £27,000. Edward McDonagh, 21, would contact owners selling items on Facebook Messenger.

He pressurised and tricked them into thinking money for their iPads, designer clothes and Rolex watches had been paid into their bank accounts - even holding a "pretend conversation" with a bank on the phone to convince a sceptical victim. He left the owners upset and embarrassed but Caernarfon Crown Court heard he was eventually caught.

A judge jailed him for a total of three years for eleven counts of fraud and other offences. McDonagh, formerly of Wrexham but now of Queen Victoria Street, Blackburn, admitted fraud by false representation over 14 months between October 2022 and December last year.

Ian Edwards

A burglar took a house key from under a plant pot before he stole a safe containing cash and jewellery worth £18,000. Ian Edwards had been friends with the owner of the property, who lives in a rural house near Llangollen.

When police cornered Edwards in woodland, he led them to the safe and contents - although the cash was gone. Caernarfon Crown Court heard the 58-year-old defendant blamed his slot machine gambling addiction for the crime.

He admitted burglary in the incident in May and today a judge jailed him for two years. Prosecutor Alexa Carrier said victims Marisa Sidoli and Michael Palin lived in the detached property, and knew Edwards.

Harry Richardson

A man was found with a "Rambo-style" knife and £5,000 worth of hard drugs at a North Wales hotel. Police had been called to the premises in Y Felinheli over an unrelated matter but became suspicious of Harry Richardson.

The 24-year-old admitted possession of the knife and drugs offences. A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court jailed him for three years.

Prosecutor Richard Edwards said officers went to the Pink Palace Hotel on December 3, 2022. While there they spoke to Richardson who "stumbled over his date of birth".

Pawel Klimas

A man who has been deported from the UK but keeps coming back has been jailed. Pawel Damian Klimas was caught at the Port of Holyhead on his latest attempt. The 42-year-old, who has convictions for drugs, violence and dishonesty, admitted knowingly entering the UK in breach of a deportation order.

He appeared for a sentencing hearing with the benefit of a Polish interpreter. A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court jailed him for ten months as a "deterrent".

The court heard that Klimas, of no fixed address, had been given a deportation order on March 9, 2011 which prohibited him from entering the UK. He came back to the UK but was deported in May 2012. He returned to the UK but was arrested for a drugs offence and deported again in June 2016.

Nicholas John Bagnall

An abusive man told his partner her house "was going up in flames". Nicholas John Bagnall also kicked and bit the woman in four assaults in Wrexham.

A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court heard that alcohol was at the root of his offending but he has worked with Alcoholics Anonymous and been baptised while on remand in prison. The defendant, 40, admitted harassing Charlie Jones and the four assaults in the Brymbo area.

The judge jailed Bagnall, of Hamlington Avenue, Gwersyllt, Wrexham, for a total of 14 months for the offences between last July and November. The court heard Bagnall and Ms Jones had had an on off relationship.

Marcus Rahilly

A 51-year-old man has been jailed after setting fire to his own home, before leaving the scene. Marcus Rahilly, of Green Terrace, Trefor, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentencing after being found guilty of arson with intent to endanger life.

Shortly after 3am on October 11, 2023, emergency services were called to a house fire on Green Terrace in Trefor, Gwynedd. North Wales Police said: "Rahilly, who was the tenant at the housing association property, had set fire to clothing in a bedroom before leaving the building.

"Less than two minutes later, the fire alarm started sounding. A neighbour heard the alarm and went inside where she discovered the spreading fire."

Lee Ure

A "chronic alcoholic" stabbed a man repeatedly with a fork in a row over drugs. Lee Ure caused injuries to his face and neck in the incident which spilled out from a flat onto a Colwyn Bay street.

The 40-year-old admitted causing actual bodily harm to victim Darren Griffiths. Mold Crown Court heard alcohol was at the root of Ure's offending but he is not motivated enough to change. Sentencing Ure to 12 months imprisonment, a judge told him he therefore couldn't suspend his jail term.

Prosecutor Thomas McLoughlin said Mr Griffiths and a friend had been in a maisonette flat on Sea View Road, Colwyn Bay on April 2 last year. Ure and a man called Stuart Moran walked past the flat. Ure shouted up, asking Mr Griffiths if he could swap drugs for alcohol.

Christopher Fisher

A man threatened to kill a relative in a "festering" dispute over a house. Christopher Fisher had been evicted from the property and got into a row with the family member.

One night in February he went round to the home in Saltney and made the threats against Colin Roxburgh, his brother-in-law, inside it. He admitted making the threats and a judge at Caernarfon Crown Court today jailed him for eleven months.

The court heard Fisher, 43, had lived in the house but was evicted for failing to pay rent. Fisher then got into a dispute about the property with two members of his extended family.

David Alfie Williams

A man turned up at his former partner's house drunk and began "kicking off" in a row over child access. David Williams had a hammer during the incident and his ex was left "paranoid" about him.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard the 27-year-old, of no fixed address, had breached a restraining order - imposed in March this year for harassment - by arriving at the property in Wrexham. A judge jailed him for 20 weeks for the breach.

Prosecutor Brett Williamson told the court Williams had been in a relationship with the woman for several years but the restraining order was imposed on March 27 prohibiting him from contacting her except through a third party over child access. But just a few weeks later on April 20 he went to her house "drunk" and "kicking off". He was shouting about child contact.

Tobias James Mansley

A woman was left "terrified" to find her former partner living in her flat with another woman. Michaela Jones and Tobias Mansley had been in a three-year relationship but it ended with him being banned from contacting her or going to her home.

But Ms Jones, who had temporarily moved out, discovered him in her Anglesey flat with an unnamed woman and was frightened. On Friday a judge sentenced Mansley, of Prince of Wales Road, Holyhead, to 21 months in a young offender institution for breaching a restraining order.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard Mansley and Ms Jones had been in a relationship for three years but it ended in 2021. A court imposed the restraining order in August that year prohibiting him from contacting Ms Jones or going to where he knew, or believed, she lived.

James Prendergast

A domestic abuser told his ex-partner he hoped she'd die of "bad, bad cancer" during a series of vile messages. The woman fled to a safe house but the messages continued.

James Prendergast, 38, had assaulted the woman and been given a suspended sentence and a six-year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting her but breached it four times. He showed a "complete disregard for court orders", Mold Crown Court heard.

A judge jailed the defendant, for a total of 21 months. Prosecutor Simon Parry told how the defendant had been sentenced last August for assaulting his ex-partner and was given the restraining order.

Sureshkumar Thuruirajah

A “manipulative and controlling” man who repeatedly stabbed his partner with a pair of scissors has been jailed. Sureshkumar Thuruirajah, 52, of Kingsmills Road, Wrexham, stabbed his partner multiple times with a pair of scissors at their home in Wrexham on Tuesday, April 12 last year.

The victim sustained injuries to her head, shoulders, abdomen and her hand. Thuruirajah was arrested later that day and subsequently charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

At Mold Crown Court, he was given an extended sentence of eight years in prison, having admitted the offence. In a statement issued after the hearing, North Wales Police said: "The incident happened after Thuruirajah became angry after seeing his partner speaking on the phone earlier that day."

Sam Stopforth

A man previously caught with £11,000 worth of class A drugs was caught again dealing heroin and crack cocaine. Yesterday (Wednesday) Sam Stopforth, 32, of Norman Drive, Rhyl, was sentenced to seven years in prison for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs in the Rhyl area.

A North Wales Police statement said: "Having previously been caught with in excess of £11,000 worth of Class A drugs, Stopforth continued to sell drugs and was caught again selling heroin and crack cocaine by the Renew Rhyl Team." Chief Inspector David Cust said: “County lines drug dealing destroys lives and damages communities, we are relentless in our pursuit of organised crime groups, and I would like to thank the local community for their ongoing co-operation with us.

"We have recently invested heavily in our serious and organised crime capabilities, however we rely on information coming from the public and would encourage anyone who has any information which may assist us to tackle serious and organised crime to contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 11."

Dewi Evans

A drunk thug put on a balaclava before waving a machete at two Anglesey pub doormen. Dewi Evans, 57, of Llawr y Dref, Llangefni, Anglesey admitted two counts of having a blade in a public place.

At Caernarfon Crown Court Evans was jailed for 18 months. The court heard that in November last year, Evans approached a doorman outside the Foundry Vaults in Llangefni and spoke to him in an aggressive manner, suggesting he wanted to fight with one of his colleagues, and saying "tell that bald c**t to meet me round the corner".

He then went home, got a balaclava and a large machete - about 16-inches long with a curved blade - and came back to the pub about 10 minutes later, wearing the mask and waving the machete around. Evans was "very drunk" and Judge Timothy Petts described it as a "very frightening experience" for the doormen.

Christopher Gibney

A drugs kingpin at the head of a £141 million plot to bring heroin and cocaine into the UK through a North Wales UPS depot was jailed for 21 years. Christopher Gibney, 55, arranged for hard drugs to be sent from Spain and the Netherlands to an accomplice working at the Deeside depot before they were sent for onward distribution.

Three co-conspirators - including a team leader at the UPS depot - were caught and each jailed for 15 years in March 2021, but Gibney went on the run to Spain for three years. He was caught in the Costa Del Sol with false documents after two encrypted ‘EncroChat’ phones were cracked.

Gibney, of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, Liverpool, did not challenge his extradition, and was brought from Madrid to Westminster Magistrates Court in London in April and appeared at Mold Crown Court to face justice.

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