Colchester criminals jailed in February by Essex courts

Among those jailed in February include a registered sex offender who was found to be living at a new address with a two-year-old.

Here’s a round-up of some of the cases which have resulted in imprisonment this month.

A REGISTERED sex offender who was found to be living with a two-year-old child has been put behind bars.

Jason Bell, of Firs Chase, West Mersea, was being monitored by the police due to a sexual harm prevention order imposed upon him.

Sex offender - Jason Bell (Image: Essex Police)

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard the sex offender was banned from owning internet enabled devices unless monitored by Essex Police and had to notify officers of changes to his address.

But the 33-year-old tried to evade detection by residing at a new property which officers were unaware of.

In November, Essex Police received a call informing constables of Bell’s whereabouts and that there was a two-year-old child at the address.

An officer was deployed to the scene and arrested Bell after spotting him returning to the property.

Appearing before the magistrates, Bell was sentenced to one years imprisonment.

Read the full story here. 

THIS is the face of a teenager who terrorised Clacton by threatening to stab residents and rob them of their mobile phones.

Joshua McCorquodale, 18, robbed a 14-year-old schoolboy of his phone and shoved a postal worker during his five day spree of attacks in October last year.

Robber - Joshua McCorquodale (Image: Essex Police)

Judge David Turner KC said the “crude, spontaneous and unsophisticated” crimes were “frightening, distressing and persistent”.

McCorquodale looked tearful and slammed his chair on the floor after being told he would spend the next two years and three months behind bars at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Judge Turner claimed McCorquodale had gained “Dutch courage” from smoking cannabis and that he is a “good boy who made bad choices”.

But the judge said he had “no choice” but to protect the public.

Read the full story here.

A JEALOUS partner beat his girlfriend’s chihuahua so viciously it had to be euthanised after becoming sick of the attention she gave it.

Henry Dearsley, 36, forced a twig down pet chihuahua Boris’ throat and left him with missing teeth and brain damage after his harrowing attack.

Poor thing - a stock image of a chihuahua after Boris was savagely attacked (Image: Pixabay)

A report read to Colchester Magistrates’ Court revealed Dearsley continued to beat Boris after he knocked the dog unconscious overnight on April 3 last year.

District Judge Christopher Williams branded the incident an “evil” one, adding: “Boris suffered sustained and relentless violence.”

Dearsley, of Old School Close, St Osyth, was jailed for one year after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to protect its welfare.

He was also banned from owning any animal for ten years.

Read the full story here.

A DISQUALIFIED driver has been put behind bars for 16 weeks after "taking a risk" and flouting a driving ban for the fifth time.

District Judge Christopher Williams said Maciej Olesik, 42, was someone who “cannot be trusted” to comply with any other punishment.

Olesik, of Braintree Road, Cressing, was stopped in Cannon Street, City of London, while behind the wheel of a Mercedes on July 12 last year.

Police action - Olesik was stopped in Cannon Street, City of London (Image: Google)

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard Olesik was supposed to be serving a 36-month driving ban, which had been imposed in June 2021 when he also ignored a previous disqualification.

Police ANPR cameras flagged his Mercedes as having no insurance and when stopped, the defendant told officers he was aware of his disqualification.

Representing himself in court, Olesik claimed he decided to take a “risk” as he needed to collect a passport so he could get a job.

Read the full story here.