From a vicious attack with a 'zombie knife' to a predator who preyed on a young girl, these are the faces and stories of the criminals locked up by crown court judges this week in north Essex.
Rapist locked up for 13 years for preying on young girl
A MAN who raped and sexually abused a girl has been jailed for 13 years.
Simon Jacobs, 58, of Chase Lane, Dovercourt, raped and indecently assaulted his victim, a girl under the age of 15 when the first offence took place.
At the Old Bailey, Judge Simon Mayo QC ordered Jacobs to serve a total sentence of 13 years for the nine attacks with at least two thirds to be served in custody.
Jacobs had denied but was convicted of six counts of indecent assault and three of rape between 1999 and 2003 when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court in April.
The court heard his crimes only came to light when the victim reported the abuse to the police last year.
The jury was told during his trial Jacobs would buy the girl gifts in order to “buy her silence”.
Read more:
- Police praise bravery of rape victim after serial abuser handed 13 year sentence
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The woman also said her own experiences had impacted on her relationship with her daughter.
She said: “Sometimes I could not hold her because of the harrowing memories which are in my head.”
In passing sentence, Mr Mayo acknowledged Jacobs had not committed any sexual assaults since the attacks 19 years ago.
As he was taken down to the cells, Jacobs said he wanted to express his “extreme sorrow” to his victim.
Thug used vicious 'zombie knife' to cut through victim's arm
A THUG wielding a "Rambo-style" blade sliced through a man’s arm and left his scarred victim reliving the vicious attack in his nightmares.
Liam Lofting, 23, severed muscles, arteries and nerves when he brought a fearsome knife down with force onto the right arm of his victim in Clacton.
The attack, carried out with a “zombie-style” blade, was launched without motive, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
In May last year, the victim visited a friend at a block of flats near Clacton seafront in order to collect some items of clothing.
As he entered the flats, he spotted a masked and hooded Lofting and the pair exchanged a brief greeting.
The court heard the victim knew Lofting through a mutual friend.
Read more:
- Thug locked up for slicing man with 'zombie knife'
- Victim of vicious 'zombie knife' attack describes impact of assault
When the victim left a few minutes later, he was set upon by Lofting, bringing his right arm up to defend himself as the thug swung the blade.
The knife sliced almost clean through his arm.
The victim was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, where his injury was described as “life and limb threatening”.
The cut had severed an artery, nerves and muscle before making a small cut in his right humerus bone.
The victim said: “I have this wariness that has crept into my dreams, so I can’t escape it there.”
Lofting, of North Road, Clacton, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Howard Cohen, mitigating, said his client has no previous convictions and suffered with a number of mental health conditions.
The court heard Lofting, of North Road, Clacton, had served as a “model prisoner” at HMP Norwich since his remand last summer.
Recorder Sally O’Neill QC deemed Lofting to be a dangerous offender and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment.
Dealer stashed more than 100 wraps of drugs between his buttocks
A DRUG dealer linked to an organised crime group was found to have stashed more than 100 wraps of Class A drugs between his buttocks.
Officers from Operation Raptor, who target county lines drugs gangs, were on patrol in Colchester when they saw four people approaching a car in Lisle Road.
Following what appeared to be a drug deal between the two parties, the officers stopped the car and detained three occupants.
During a strip search in custody, one of the passengers, Darryl Meade, was found to have concealed 60 wraps of heroin and 53 wraps of crack cocaine between his buttocks.
Drug dealing messages were found on a mobile phone, which had been seized from inside the car and was forensically linked to him.
The investigation found he was linked to a London-based organised crime group.
Meade, 29, of Pedro Street, Lower Clapton, London, admitted possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday.
He was jailed the same day and was ordered to serve a sentence of three years.
Speaking after Meade’s sentencing, PC Andy Sumner said: “Meade will now be spending months in prison and faces the risk of being in debt to the criminals he worked for because of the drugs they lost when he was arrested.
“This is a dangerous cycle that young people enticed by drug dealing don’t see when gangs flaunt cash in their face and make music videos that glamorise the grim reality of their lifestyle."
Drug dealer 'was victim of modern slavery', court hears
A DRUG dealer who sold crack cocaine and heroin to an undercover police officer acted out of fear and was a victim of modern slavery, a court heard.
Kenneth Blinkho, 33, has remained in prison for 16 months awaiting sentence after he admitted supplying Class A drugs to a police officer.
Ipswich Crown Court heard the undercover officer acquired the telephone number of a drugs line in October 2019.
He met with Blinkho on two separate days in Clacton, purchasing heroin and cocaine.
Barry Gilbert, mitigating in court yesterday, said his client had remained locked up at HMP Norwich for an “awfully long time” awaiting the conclusion of the case.
He said: “Mr Blinkho is a longterm user of drugs, he was with his sister in her flat and he was essentially being cuckooed.
“We considered for quite some time as to whether a trial should be run on the basis there was some kind of duress, but eventually for all sorts of reasons we decided a guilty plea was the right way forward.
“As time goes on it becomes a matter of pragmatism, with him sitting inside for longer than he was possibly going to.”
Cuckooing is a term used to describe the act of dealers taking over the home of their vulnerable victim to serve as a base.
Mr Gilbert said it was accepted his client was a victim of modern day slavery.
Blinkho, of Elm Road, Clacton, admitted three counts of supplying Class A drugs, on the basis he was threatened and coerced into doing so.
The court heard he was threatened with a knife by another dealer.
Recorder Antony Dunne said: “I am going to pass sentence today which allows for your immediate release.”
Blinkho was sentenced to two years and three months imprisonment, but will be released from custody as he has already served half of his sentence.
Mr Dunne added: “I remind myself of the impact of Covid on conditions in prisons.
“It is hoped conditions will soon improve but while conditions remain as they are it is harsher than in normal times.”
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