Jailed in April at Truro Crown Court: Callous murderer who 'liked hardman image' and sick rapist among those jailed

Last month saw some vile and one very unremorseful criminal sentenced to time behind bars for their wicked crimes in Cornwall. Here we look back at those cases that have been heard in the past few weeks.

They range from a sick rapist who told his teen victim to delete any messages from him to a son who beat his poor mum to a pulp as she slept and the trio sentenced for their involvement in the murder of much-loved rugby player Michael Riddiough-Allen last year.

Here is what has been happening at Truro Crown Court and the sentences handed down as each was given prison time for their crimes. Please be aware we try to attend as many cases as possible but are unable to report them all. Here are the criminals we saw jailed at Truro Crown Court in April as reported at the time.

READ MORE: Cornwall prisoners serving longest sentences for crimes including murder

READ MORE: Benefit fraudster among guilty criminals we name and shame

Dangerous Cornwall sex offender given more time behind bars

A convicted sex offender has been sentenced to a further two and a half years in prison for breaching a court order made previously to try and stop him offending. Kevin Davis, 60, was residing at a bail hostel in Camborne after being released from HMP Channings Wood on 17 August 2023, where he had been serving a previous sentence.

After his release, monitoring software was installed on Davis’ laptop. But on October 3, 2023, police were notified that the laptop linked to Davis had been operated in a concerning manner.

Examination of the laptop found that Davis had viewed a small number of Category C indecent images of children. Davis, contrary to the terms of his previously issued SHPO, had also deleted search history from the device.

Davis was sentenced at Truro Crown Court on Tuesday, April 2, after entering a guilty plea to a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) at the start of what was due to be a two-day trial.

At the sentencing hearing, Davis was reminded of the terms of his SHPO - designed to limit his access to children and stringently monitor his internet usage - and sentenced to a new term of imprisonment. Davis must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

PC Mark Kutler-Pearce, from the public protection unit based in Bodmin, said: “Davis has a long history of offending behaviour and upon his release in August 2023 was being stringently monitored by the police Public Protection Unit.

“The further sentence given to Davis at court on April 2 has kept a dangerous individual from committing further offences towards members of the public and we feel the sentencing is just for the crime.”

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Trio sentenced over Bodmin nightclub knife attacks and death

Three people have been put behind bars for a combined 31 years following a deadly knife rampage near a nightclub in Cornwall last year which altered the lives of so many in just thirty seconds.

Rugby player Michael Riddiough-Allen, 32, died at the scene from his injuries and five others were injured in the frenzied attack that broke out outside Eclipse in Bodmin in April 2023.

Jake Hill, 25, Tia Taylor, 22, and Chelsea Powell, 22, all from the Bodmin area, faced charges over the incident. The trio were convicted on March 18 following a six-week trial held at Truro Crown Court - and have been sentenced on Friday, April 12.

A jury in March found Hill guilty of murder and guilty of four counts of wounding with intent. He was found not guilty of another charge of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding.

Powell was found not guilty of murder and not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of perverting the course of justice by the jury. Taylor changed her plea to guilty of perverting the course of justice and to manslaughter part way through the trial.

Hill, of Jubilee Terrace, was given a life sentence and was sentenced to serve a minimum of 28 years before being eligible for parole, reduced to 27 years and 18 days in prison taking the time he has already been in custody into account. He will remain on licence for the rest of his life if released.

Taylor was sentenced to three years imprisonment for her involvement. She will serve half of that and will then be released on licence.

Powell was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. The judge directed she too should serve half of that sentence and as she has been on remand for nine months, she was released immediately.

In her sentencing remarks High Court Judge the Honourable Mrs Justice Cutts called the night in which Mr Riddiough-Allen lost his life one of "carnage". Addressing the three defendants, she said: "On the evidence I heard, all in the Eclipse had a good time but as people started to leave violence erupted in the road outside. That violence had nothing to do with any of the three of you and there was absolutely no reason why you could not have followed the others in your group and by not getting involved you could have headed home."

She rejected Jake Hill’s reasons for carrying the knife, saying that "experience shows that those who carry them are quick to use them", but that there is "no justifications for carrying a weapon in a public place". She told Hill he had no reason to be carrying a knife, let alone one as dangerous as this one, and that he "liked the image of being a hardman" and showed not "one shred of remorse" and "absolutely no regret".

During the lengthy trial the court heard how Hill had hidden a hunting knife in a hedge near to the nightclub before he entered it that night. He later picked it up as he left the club around 3am. Prosecutors said that when a fight broke out between around 15 revellers in the street, which Hill was not originally involved in, Hill used it to either stab or slash his victims. It was alleged that both Taylor and Powell had joined in with the attack on Mr Riddiough-Allen, but none of the others.

It heard how Mr Riddiough-Allen, who suffered a single "un-survivable" knife wound, was the fifth person to be stabbed. The much-loved rugby player was unarmed and had been trying to separate the various fighting groups when he was fatally injured. Taylor was said to have punched the deceased several times to the head as he lay on the road in a defensive position.

Hill was arrested by armed police at the home of Taylor in the early hours after stabbing Mr Riddiough-Allen. During an armed stand-off Taylor appeared from the house holding her two young children.

Taylor told police Hill wasn't inside her home but a video played during the trial showed her toddler telling police he was in the loft. Prosecutors told the jury Taylor and Powell "both individually deliberately lied to police as to events that evening" to "frustrate the police investigation".

Powell told the court that she never saw the knife, didn't know Hill had one and regretted her decision to answer no comment in a police interview after the incident. She told the jury the night out had been a rare night off from her two young children, who were 10 months old and just under three years old at the time.

She was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter but guilty of perverting the course of justice. Taylor initially denied the charges against her but later admitted her involvement during the trial, changing her pleas to guilty part-way through.

After the verdict the Crown Prosecution Service called the attack "cowardly," saying: "Jake Hill went for a night out with friends armed with a knife. That decision culminated in a cowardly attack that tragically took the life of Michael Riddiough-Allen, an unarmed man who was just trying to break up a fight."

The families of Michael Riddiough-Allen and the three defendants united in a stand against knife crime following the verdict. Reading out the joint statement, Michael's sister said: “If a change does not happen then many more families will stand on court steps, broken from the loss that knife crime brings.”

Detective Inspector Ilona Rosson, from Devon and Cornwall Police’s the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “Michael Riddiough-Allen tried to protect those around him and disarm a man who felt the need to carry a knife. In doing so, he tragically he lost his life.

“This case highlights the devastation and irreversible damage that carrying and using a knife can cause. No good can come from it.

“This was an incredibly complex and challenging investigation. I would like to thank the investigation team for their tireless dedication to bringing the offenders to justice.

“I’d also like to thank the family of Michael Riddiough-Allen and the surviving victims. They have supported our investigation through the most challenging of times and I commend them for the strength and courage they have shown.

“I hope that the sentences imposed by the judge and the conclusion of this case brings them some closure.”

For more of the latest general court news from Cornwall Live:

Woman threatened neighbour's children and attacked her own mum

Veteran assaulted drunk girl, her mum and a female police officer

Boss who exposed people to 'dangerous' asbestos sentenced

Alcoholic set ex-partner's garden on fire in drunken row

Thug held teen off the ground by her neck and sent abuse to pregnant ex

Sick rapist jailed for eight years for abusing teenage girl

A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for rape and four other sexual offences against a teenage girl in Camborne. Aaron Roberts, 33, committed the crimes in Cornwall between May and September 2020.

Roberts, from the Swindon area but of no fixed abode, was found guilty by a jury following a two-day trial in December 2023. The court heard that the victim revealed to her family in May 2021 what Roberts had done to her, which was then reported to the police.

Detectives leading the investigation revealed that Roberts had sent the victim inappropriate images of himself via social media. He also forced her into performing sexual acts on him before he raped her. Pleading not guilty meant that Roberts forced his victim to relive her horrific ordeal at his hands in court.

Officers uncovered messages sent by Roberts to the victim where he stated, 'have to do it again one day', believed to be referring to the sexual acts. He also suggested they should erase the messages.

Upon his arrest and subsequent interview in November 2021, Roberts consistently denied all allegations, stating: "I'm telling you now, I wouldn't do any of that."

Despite pleading not guilty to the charges, the jury unanimously found Roberts guilty of rape, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual activity with a child, attempted rape and sexual communication with a child after a brief deliberation.

Roberts stood before the court at Truro Crown Court on 18 April, where HHJ Judge Robert Linford handed down an eight-year prison sentence. Additionally, Roberts is required to sign the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.

Detective Constable Distin, the investigating officer, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to commend the victim for her bravery and immense courage in coming forward to police to report this crime.

"Nothing will take away the trauma that she has been through, but we hope that some reassurance can be offered in knowing that supporting a prosecution has brought this man to justice.

"We truly hope that this outcome gives other victims the strength to come forward and report incidents of rape and sexual assault to police and reassures them that we have mechanisms in place to help support victims throughout the process."

Detective Inspector Andy Shortern, the senior investigating officer, welcomed the sentence, saying: "We welcome today's sentence, I would like to thank the victim for reporting to us and supporting the investigation. This result would not have been possible without the victim's courage.

"I would also like to praise detectives from the West Cornwall Public Protection Unit for their tenacity and commitment which has resulted in this dangerous offender being brought to justice."

Alcoholic who beat her own mum runs out of chances

An alcoholic who beat up her own mum but was spared jail has run out of chances. Danielle Allen, 34, from Frogpool, Truro, appeared before Truro Crown Court today (Friday, April 26) for sentencing after breaching a restraining order made against her in April 2022 when she inflicted actual bodily harm on her own mum during an incident in College Green, St Austell.

At the time, Allen received a 15-month custodial sentence suspended for two years along with an alcohol rehabilitation requirement order, a mental health requirement order and a restraining order not to contact her mother for five years. The court heard how over the next two years Allen only attended about 50 per cent of her appointments with probation and addiction services and could not at times justify her absences as she was under the influence of alcohol.

It was also heard that she breached her restraining order last December when she went to her mother's address, albeit as her defence barrister said, only to drop off Christmas presents for her child.

She pleaded guilty to the breach in January this year and has remained on remand since. The court heard from her barrister that the services being such that there is no capacity or prospect of a residential rehabilitation treatment at present. In mitigation it was heard that Allen is "desperate to progress on what she has already achieved" and she has now been sober for a significant period of time.

Her barrister said: "She has been tarred by the fact that in the past she didn't properly tackle her alcohol addiction but she wants to demonstrate what she can do. She has been sober for a significant period of time and wants to maintain that going forward. We would ask that she is given the chance to be the sober Danielle Allen not the person the courts have been familiar with."

His Honour Judge Simon Carr said Allen is an alcoholic who can't drink any alcohol under any circumstances "because it will spiral out of control eventually", adding: "Today is the first time you actually understand that."

He said: "In April 2022 you subjected your mother to an assault for which you faced a prison sentence. But the court decided to give you a chance to sort out your alcohol addiction. You have only attended 50 per cent of your appointments. Probations services have been gentle to give you every possible chance to comply. In December you attended your mother's address and matters escalated and the police were called.

"I accept the strides you have made forward in addressing your addiction."

Sentencing Allen to eight months in prison for the breach of the restraining order, with half the sentence having already been served while on remand, Judge Carr told Allen: "You only have a few weeks to prepare yourself for the shock of release."

Son beat his sleeping mum to a pulp with wooden sword

A woman, who was beaten with a wooden sword by her own son while she slept was so badly injured she looked like she had been in a car crash, a court heard. The mum was woken by the brutal beating and was heard screaming for help by neighbours.

Kai Pink, 26, from Pendeen Place in Pargolla Road, Newquay, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding with a view to cause grievous bodily harm. He changed his plea to guilty when he appeared for the first day of what had been scheduled as a three-day trial at Truro Crown Court on Monday, April 29.

Ryan Murray, prosecuting, told the court how on November 12 last year, Pink went to his mother's address following a night out with friends. He went into her home and walked to her bedroom upstairs where his mother slept. It was then that he repeatedly hit her with a black wooden sword.

Pink's mother woke up in agony and terror as her own son was beating her and was heard by neighbours screaming for help as she tried to flee and escape the blows. The court was told how Pink chased his mum down the stairs and out the house and continued to pummel her with his wooden sword.

Mr Murray said that in their witness statements some of the neighbours described her screams as "life or death screams" as Pink's mother shouted for help. Alerted by the horrific screams, several neighbours in the small close came out of their homes. Two of them managed to restrain Pink while others, including a paramedic living in the street, attended to Pink's mum's medical needs.

Mr Murray told the court that police and ambulance attended and Pink's mother was first taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske in Truro before being transferred to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. He said: "She was treated in hospital for a catalogue of injuries.

"She had wounds to her head and hand. Her right elbow was fractured and she had three broken ribs and a punctured lung. One of the neighbours said she resembled someone who had been in a car crash."

Mr Murray added: "Mr Pink's mother had been asleep when her own son attacked her and as she tried to flee he kept beating her on the back of the head, her back and shoulders as she did so. There were trails of blood found in her house going from her bedroom, down the stairs, to the back of the house."

The prosecutor said Pink's motivations for the attack had been strange, and he alleged to the police that his mum had told him to kill himself. After being arrested, Pink at first refused all legal aid and advice that was being offered to him, telling officers he was guilty for what he did and there was no point. In interviews he later said that he had been out to the pub and was so drunk he had no memory of the events between leaving the pub and ending up in police custody.

Ramsay Quaife, defending, told the court that Pink is a man with no previous convictions who drank too much as a way to cope with childhood trauma. He said Pink, who has been on remand since the attack, had written a letter to the court "not as a way to manipulate the court" but to explain himself.

Mr Quaife added: "He has mental health issues. He previously said it was not him that night but there has been some realisation that it was him but he wanted to say this is not the true him. There has now been full acceptance of what he has done. He is deeply ashamed and remorseful. There has been a journey for him to realise that it was him that night. There is remorse but as to what motivated him it's not clear.

"This is someone who has been misusing substances against early life trauma. He has been on remand for more than five months and he has engaged with everything that has been offered to him. He has taken responsibility for himself. There has been that realisation that he has to make that decision himself and get on with it."

His Honour Judge Simon Carr said Pink's depressive state was not relevant to what he did but being drunk was. He told Pink: "You took against your own mother. Your reaction was terrifying. You went into her house and beat her repeatedly while she slept. That was sustained and caused multiple injuries to her body.

"She would have woken up terrified being beaten by her own son. I accept the challenges you have been dealing with. There is remorse but greater remorse would have been seen by a much earlier guilty plea." Judge Carr said there were many aggravating factors in this case, including alcohol, the domestic setting as well as the seriousness of the injuries inflicted.

Pink was sentenced to four and a half years in prison and will serve two thirds before he is eligible for parole.