Essex criminals before court last month - and how they ended up there

Though Colchester has its own magistrates’ court for minor offences, serious crimes are heard before crown court judges in Ipswich and Chelmsford.

In September, judges at these courts handled cases of domestic abusers, drink drivers, drug dealers, and sex offenders.

Whilst many of these offenders would have gone to jail in years gone by, the extreme pressure on the prison system is such that judges have little choice but to pass suspended sentences and community orders in the hope it is enough to stop defendants reoffending.

Here are some of the defendants who came before the courts in September - and how they ended up before the justice system.

Chris Allen – stalker who breached his restraining order

When Chris Allen was sentenced for stalking in August, Judge Chris Morgan was clear he would take a very dim view if the 70-year-old breached his suspended sentence.

As part of that sentence Allen was ordered to wear an electronic GPS monitoring tag to track his whereabouts and ensure he didn’t enter Halstead, where he had targeted his victim.

Judge Morgan told him: “If there is any breach, then the first breach comes to the crown court.

“Any breach is reserved to myself.

Sentence - Chris Allen was ordered to wear a GPS monitoring tag, but did not charge the battery (Image: Getty Images) “Unless there is an explanation on your behalf, a breach is going to result in your immediate incarceration.

“This, in the circumstances, is your one and only chance.”

Allen, of The Walk in Eight Ash Green, was back before Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday after he failed to charge the battery on his GPS monitoring tag, and admitted breaching his order.

He again narrowly avoided time in the cells, and was fined £250 for the breach and ordered to pay £60 in costs.

Aaron Matthews – drug dealer who stashed cocaine and cannabis in his mum’s loft

Wearing a grey suit and accompanied by his family in court, Aaron Matthews looked petrified when he stood in the dock before Judge Sarah Przybylska.

The 29-year-old had admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and cocaine after he was stopped by police in Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, two years ago.

The scale of his drug dealing operation was uncovered when police executed a search warrant his address in Rectory Road, Rowhedge, where Matthews lives with his mum.

Court - Aaron Matthews appeared before the crown court in Ipswich (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) In the loft, officers found a suitcase containing six vacuum bags of cannabis weighing 1.5kg, a bag of cocaine, and a shoebox containing £50,000 of cash – though it has not been confirmed whether that cash was inheritance, as Matthews has claimed, or money from drug deals.

Judge Sarah Przybylska gave Matthews a two-year jail sentence suspended for 18 months, saying the fact the case took 21 months for him to be charged was a mitigating factor.

Matthew wept in court when the sentence was passed and shook the hand of an officer as he left the dock.

Jack Bryan – abusive ex-partner who burned woman’s clothes with cigarettes

Before Chelmsford Crown Court last week was Jack Bryan, 34, a domestic abuser who assaulted his ex-partner, grabbed her round the throat, and belittled her in front of their daughter.

The defendant, of Frinton Road in Kirby Cross, admitted three counts of assault by beating, two counts of criminal damage, and one count of actual bodily harm before appearing in court.

Unsurprisingly, the judge was appalled by Bryan’s behaviour.

The court was told how he ripped up his ex-partner's passport, sprayed liquid foundation on her clothes, and threatened to assault her when his ex-partner confronted him about his use of cocaine.

Order - Jack Bryan received a restraining order in addition to a suspended sentence (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) When his ex-partner said she was going to call the police, Bryan dialled 999 and tried to claim it was he who was being abused.

Judge Renvoize said: “It is concerning you are able to maintain this positive character outside the family home, yet when you return to the family home, you become little more than a monster.”

Bryan was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years, 300 hours of unpaid work, and 15 days of rehabilitation requirements.

He was also handed a ten-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his ex-partner.

Monika Raczynska – drink driver who needs car because she lives in town dominated by men

When Monika Raczynska appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last month to admit one charge of drink driving, her defence barrister produced some rather unique mitigation.

Bruce Clarke argued Raczynska, 31, would be isolated without her car and had already shown she was “very brave” living in Colchester by herself, particularly given it is a city where the 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers are “not all very good boys”.

As for the offence itself, Raczynska had been seen driving carelessly in Northern Approach when she was stopped by police.

'Brave' - a barrister said Monika Raczynska was brave for living in Colchester city centre (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) It was confirmed she was over the drink drive limit, and it was suggested in mitigation she had taken the news of her brother’s death “very badly”.

Mr Clarke added: “For women living alone, a car is essential and she needs it back as quickly as possible.

“She is living in town, but a town dominated by men, I might add.

“There are 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers in that town and they are not all very good boys – it’s very brave of her.

“It’s powerful mitigation – it’s compelling mitigation.”

Magistrates were not convinced by Mr Clarke’s defence, however, and banned Raczynska, of Maldon Road, Colchester, from driving for 23 months.

Kian Leahy – sex offender who breached court orders 

Convicted sex offender Kian Leahy had already served time behind bars after he admitted sex offences against a 14-year-old girl.

He was jailed by a judge at Harrow Crown Court in December 2022 and given what are known as Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs) to prevent him from reoffending.

But Leahy, now 23, was back in court last month to admit two breaches of those orders.

The court heard he had an argument with his father at an address in Clacton in March and went to stay with his girlfriend in Witham.

The girlfriend’s parents, despite knowing Leahy was jailed in 2022 for child sex offences, allowed the defendant to stay with them at their address from Monday, March 11 until Wednesday, April 10.

Custody - Kian Leahy when he was sentenced in December 2022 (Image: Hertfordshire Constabulary) Two occupants in the house were aged eight and 11 at the time Leahy was living there, meaning he was in breach of a sexual harm prevention order he received as part of his conviction.

The court was told the defendant did not ask permission from social services to stay at the Witham address and had not informed the probation service.

A second breach of the court order involved Leahy setting up a new bank account without telling an allocated police officer.

Leahy was given a one-year sentence suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to wear an electronic tag to track his whereabouts, and must complete 120 hours of unpaid work along with 20 rehabilitation days and 40 days of an accredited programme.

Branden Amadi – 28-year-old who was sacked from role at traffic company after drink driving charge

Branden Amadi admitted one charge of drink driving before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last month after he was stopped by police on the A12 in August.

He had been driving a Mercedes Sprinter van at the time and was said to be “unsteady on his feet” when he spoke to officers.

A roadside breath test found Amadi, of Parsons Hill in Little Bromley, had 60mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which is over the legal limit of 35mcg per 100ml.

Amadi told magistrates he was at a family gathering and drank alcohol after his mum had been admitted to hospital on mental health grounds.

Banned - Branden Amadi received a driving ban (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) He added the offence was “a huge awakening”.

He said: “The day the incident took place… it was completely out of character.”

Amadi also told the court he was let go from his previous job because his employers had a zero-tolerance policy to drink driving.

Addressing Amadi, chair of the bench Daniel Pears said: “You may think yourself fortunate that you are here talking to us today and not on a hospital bed.”

Amadi, who apologised to the court for the offence, was banned from diving for 17 months and ordered to pay £253 in costs.

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