The 83 people locked up in Greater Manchester in February

From the predatory paedophile who met one of his grown-up victims on the same wing in prison to the gang of thugs who terrorised students in south Manchester during a three-week robbery spree.

There was the drug dealer who turned his friend's house into a lab, the thugs who attacked a family in their home, and the 'cowardly and selfish' hit-and-run driver who mowed down 11-year-old Taylor Schofield.

These are just some of the court cases our reporters have covered in February.

We've seen hardened criminals and gangsters jailed thanks to brilliant, patient police work; first-time offenders who have found themselves behind bars over one life-changing incident; and people driven to take the law into their own hands for revenge.

An open, transparent criminal justice system is an important part of how our democracy works - so we make no apologies for devoting so much time and resources to letting you know what happens in our publicly-accountable courts. And we'll be back for more next month.

The banned driver who led police on a 75mph chase through residential streets

A disqualified driver led police on a 75mph chase through the streets of Wigan.

Officers began following a blue Nissan Micra on Montrose Avenue, Wigan, after it was found not to have any insurance.

The driver Joshua Cumberbatch failed to stop for the patrol.

They pursued the Micra through Wigan at speeds reaching up to 75mph on mainly residential streets with 30mph speed limits.

Cumberbatch was eventually stopped and arrested following the incident at 12.20am on Thursday, November 22.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving with no insurance during a hearing at Bolton Crown Court.

He appeared in court again on January 30 and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

Cumberbatch, of Frog Lane, Wigan, was also disqualified from driving for three years.

The council worker who funnelled £80k to pals so they could write off loans and pay for cocaine and sex

A deluded debt-ridden town hall worker - who fancied himself a 'criminal mastermind' with a fool-proof get-rich-quick scheme - funnelled £80,000 to pals so they could write off loans and pay for cocaine and sex.

Matthew Ravey diverted cash from town hall accounts, first for himself to avoid payday loan companies, then for friends.

The Rochdale council officer emailed to one mate: "I have used it on three loans I had in the past. Two have been written off completely…BOOM xx.."

Police said Ravey, 28, thought he had come up with a 'fool-proof' plan to 'get rich while avoiding his debtors'.

But one daft mistake saw the scheme unravel - he used his work computer and work email.

A bit of bad luck on Ravey's part also led to the plot being smashed.

He has now been jailed for a year and six months having admitted three counts of fraud and one count of theft.

The nuisance woman who made hundreds of foul-mouthed 999 calls

A woman who called 999 hundreds of times - only to abuse the operators’ race and gender - has been jailed.

Monika Osinska, 34, from Salford, has been locked up for 12 weeks after her persistent abuse towards call handlers.

Police said none of the calls were made in relation to an actual crime.

Manchester Magistrates' Court heard that between September and November last year, Osinska made 339 malicious 999 calls.

GMP say this cost £1,400 in lost time in wages, and prevented call handlers from responding to legitimate crimes.

In one day alone - on Thursday, November 1, last year - Osinska called 999 23 times.

Osinska, of Liverpool Road, Peel Green, pleaded guilty to making use of a public communication network to cause annoyance.

The dumped husband's Jack Daniel's-fuelled meltdown on a Manchester flight

A man has been jailed after going on a drunken rampage during a 7,337-mile flight back to Manchester - just hours after he was sacked on only his first day of a dream job in Indonesia.

Liam Preston, 36, had been offered the chance of an exotic new life in Jakarta after his wife had left him, a court heard.

But when he arrived in the Indonesian capital city he discovered he had lost his passport - and was promptly fired and sent home.

Preston then had to contact his ex-wife for help to get back to Britain. She agreed to pay for the cheapest flights possible, which left him facing and epic 24-hour journey with two connecting flights.

On the last leg of the trip, conveyor company worker Preston got drunk in his seat - then snapped at cabin crew when they confiscated his duty free Jack Daniel's whisky.

During the meltdown, staff assured Preston he would get the bottle back when the plane landed - but he kissed the biceps on his arms as a 'demonstration of strength' and warned: “I will smash your face in - I will kill you right now.”

As the Jet Airways flight touched down in Manchester and was taxi-ing to a terminal, fellow passengers and crew had to restrain Preston when he leapt from his seat and began flailing his arms around in the aisles.

Security staff boarded the aircraft but found Preston lying on the floor and refusing to get to his feet. He then pretended to punch one guard, then hugged and kissed him on the cheek instead - before headbutting him and spitting in his face.

It emerged Preston had been offered the post in Indonesia after splitting up his wife but misplaced his passport during a connecting flight. He flew home via connections at Bangkok in Thailand then Mumbai, India.

At Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, defendant Preston, of Corby, Northants, wept as he was locked up for six months after he pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft, using threatening and abusive behaviour and assault by beating.

The 'nuisance' rough sleeper who pulled a knife on an estate agent when he was caught squatting

A drug-addicted rough sleeper pulled a knife on an estate agent after he was caught squatting at a Salford tower block, a court heard.

Norman Gordon, 41, waved the blade near his victim's throat, before smirking and running away.

He had been proving a nuisance to employees at a letting agency after he was caught sleeping in the stairwells of numerous high-rise apartments, Manchester Crown Court was told.

Gordon was served a court injunction banning him from entering the buildings.

Yet on the evening of October 14, 2018, the agency received reports that two men had been seen taking drugs in one of the properties - Mulberry Court.

At around 8pm the victim and a colleague found Gordon and politely asked him to leave.

He then pulled a knife from his pocket. The victim stepped back, narrowly avoiding the blade.

Gordon, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 18 months after admitting affray and possession of a bladed article.

The crook who was banned from a huge chunk of Trafford and south Manchester, but REALLY didn't get the message

A man banned from a massive chunk of Trafford and south Manchester breached the order TEN times - and has now been jailed.

Kevin Keogh, 52, was made the subject of a strict Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court last November.

Keogh committed 11 offences in just over a month, GMP said, at Aldi at White City Retail Park; Asda on Greenheys Lane, Hulme; the Co-op on Withington Road, Whalley Range; Costa Coffee at White City Retail Park; Stretford Mall; and Co-op, on Stretford Road in Hulme.

He was sentenced to two years after pleading guilty to theft and breaches of a CBO.

The mum who stabbed a newborn baby girl to death with scissors

A mum who stabbed her newborn baby girl to death with a pair of scissors after secretly giving birth has been jailed for life - for the second time.

Rachel Tunstill was convicted of her daughter Mia’s murder after a trial in June 2017 and put behind bars with a minimum term of 20 years.

But a re-trial has now been held after the Court of Appeal ruled that the jury should have been given the opportunity to consider a partial defence of infanticide.

The 28-year-old was however again convicted of the murder and today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years, less the time she has already served on remand.

She became hysterical after the jury’s unanimous verdict and declined to attend Liverpool Crown Court for the sentencing hearing.

Tunstill stabbed the helpless infant 14 times in the bathroom of her Burnley home while her unsuspecting boyfriend, Ryan Kelly, played computer games in the room next door. She told him she was having a miscarriage and asked him to pass her the scissors - which has left him guilt-riddled.

She placed the baby's body in a bag inside another bag, dumped it in the kitchen bin and told Mr Kelly, who thought she was only a few weeks pregnant, that she had miscarried.

Police were called in after she went to Burnley General Hospital two days later for a check up and a nurse found she was still carrying the baby's umbilical chord and placenta, which led to police finding the body still in the bin.

It was discovered that she had been born alive but died after being stabbed in the back, neck and chest.

The shameless burglar caught by cops an hour after the break-in

This is the bizarre mugshot of a shameless burglar nicked by cops a little over an hour after breaking into a family's home while they slept.

Dale Roberts showed little remorse as he grinned for police, having been tracked down after using a credit card he stole during the raid at a Tesco store.

The 29-year-old has now been jailed for 31 months following the break-in on New Year's Eve.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Roberts broke into a bungalow on Mullen Close in Warrington at around 4am on December 31, while those inside were asleep.

They were woken by the sound of Roberts leaving, before realising an iPhone and a wallet had been taken.

Officers later discovered a stolen bank card had been used to buy £30-worth of items at Tesco.

They quickly trawled through CCTV footage before spotting Roberts at the tills.

Warrington town centre CCTV operators soon traced Roberts after police gave them his description.

He was detained at 5.15am - around an hour and 15 minutes after the break-in.

Roberts, of Old Liverpool Road, pleaded guilty to burglary and fraud by false representation.

The predatory paedophile who met one of his grown-up victims in prison

A predatory paedophile met one of his grown-up victims on the same wing in prison.

Colin Cooper was serving time for a string of sickening crimes against children when he ended up in the same unit as a man he assaulted as a boy - himself locked up for raping a young girl later in life.

The man, said to have 'felt like a child' when he realised who he had run into, went back to his cell and broke down in tears.

Cooper, 67, was hauled back before the courts before being found guilty of yet more historic offences.

He has now been convicted of more than 50 sexual offences against children, committed between the 1970s and 2000s.

Cooper, formerly of Wythenshawe and Hattersley, forced some victims to eat raw meat from pigs' heads when they tried to escape his clutches.

His 18 victims were aged between five and 12. The man Cooper met again in prison was under 16 when he was assaulted in the 1970s.

He came forward following the chance encounter and realised who Cooper was.

The court heard the man is serving a long sentence for raping a young girl.

Cooper is serving an 18-year sentence, handed down in 2011.

He was jailed for eight years after a jury unanimously found him guilty of three counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency with a child, all against the same victim.

That sentence will run alongside his existing 18 year detention period.

The man who spent the night with a 12-year-old girl he said he thought was 19

Carl Hodgson, 28, invited the child to his flat in Manchester city centre a few days after they first made contact via a popular adult dating app.

He filmed her on his mobile phone as she wore a body stocking and sent it to a friend, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Hodgson also performed a sex act while the girl watched.

He pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity; engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child; distributing an indecent photograph of a child; and making indecent photographs of a child.

Hodgson, of Jordan Street, Manchester, was also banned from contacting the victim and ordered to sign the sex offender register for life.

The gang of thugs who terrorised students in south Manchester during a three-week robbery spree

A gang of thugs who terrorised students in south Manchester during a three-week robbery spree asked one horrified teenager: "Is your phone worth your life?"

Another was told: "Give me your coat or you'll get slashed."

Derice Hendrickson, 18, Shamun Hawksworth, 20, and Dante Beckford, also 20, have all been detained in a young offender institution for their part a violent three-week robbery spree in March and April last year.

More offenders involved in the robberies are still at large. 

Most of the victims were teenage college students, who were told to hand over their possessions and warned they would be stabbed if they didn't comply.

Some were attacked after being ordered to hand over phones and wallets.

The gang also demanded that they tell them the PIN numbers for mobile phones, so they could 'factory reset' the device to make it seem as though it hadn't been stolen.

PINs for bank cards were also handed over.

After being robbed, some of the gang's victims were told not to contact police.

Hendrickson, of Brentwood Street, Moss Side, pleaded guilty to five counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery. He received three years and nine months.

Hawksworth, of Daisy Bank Road, Longsight, pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery. He received a sentence of three years and four months.

Beckford, of Barleycroft Street, Hulme, pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery. He received two years and three months.

The Salford 'county lines' drug dealers and the heroin found hidden in a dry stone wall

Two 'county lines' drug dealers from Salford were caught after they rammed a police car and led officers on a chase.

Billy Carl Johnson, 27, and Stephen Ayrey, 26, from Eccles, were then linked to £1,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine, some of which was hidden in a dry stone wall.

Johnson was behind the wheel and Avery was the passenger in a Renault Scenic which police tried to pull over in Kendal, Cumbria, in December last year.

The stolen vehicle instead tried to drive off, smashing into a police car and parked vehicles, narrowly missing officers and a cyclist as it left the area in the direction of Kendal town centre.

The Scenic was then found abandoned and the pair were later arrested in the Gillingate area of Kendal.

DNA evidence linked them to the car and to £1,000 of heroin and crack, some of which was stashed in a dry stone wall, and was found with the help of a sniffer dog.

Johnson, of Reginald Street, Eccles, admitted possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, dangerous driving and handling stolen goods and was jailed for three years and nine months at Carlisle Crown Court on February 8.

Ayrey, 26, of The Gardens, Manchester, was jailed for three years and four months after admitting possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and handling stolen goods.

The seven people jailed for life over Tunisia terror attack which killed Manchester-born dad

Seven people have been jailed for life over the Tunisia terror attack which killed thirty Brits including a Manchester-born father on holiday to celebrate his wedding anniversary.

Phillip Heathcote, 52, was killed after Aymen Rezgui opened fire on a group of tourists staying at a resort in Sousse on June 26, 2015.

The father-of-one and avid Manchester United fan, was on holiday with his wife Alison to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary when they were gunned down.

Alison Heathcote, previously told an inquest of how she played dead between two sun loungers after being shot in the stomach.

She was placed in a medically induced coma after receiving multiple bullet wounds during the atrocity which claimed a total of 38 lives.

Seven people have now been jailed for life following a trial over the Sousse attack and another deadly attack at the country's famous Bardo Museum.

Other defendants received jail terms ranging from 16 years to six months, while the charges against 27 of the suspects were dismissed.

None of the defendants received the maximum penalty of capital punishment for a range of charges that include premeditated murder, threatening national security and belonging to an extremist-linked group.

Originally from Manchester, Phillip was living in Felixstowe in Suffolk at the time of his death.

The 'cowardly and grotesquely selfish' driver who fled country in panic after leaving mum for dead in Christmas Day hit and run

A motorist who left a much-loved mum for dead in 'a cowardly and grotesquely selfish act' after crashing into her on Christmas Day then fled the country in panic, a court heard.

Arnold Malaolu, 25, hit 44-year-old mum-of-two Sharon Hamnett while she was crossing Oldham Road in Miles Platting on December 25, 2017.

After the collision, Malaolu drove off, abandoned his car then fled, firstly to Coventry and then to Dublin using someone else's passport.

It was only nine months later when Malaolu, who was banned from driving in Ireland at the time of the fatal collision, boarded a flight to Edinburgh that he was arrested and brought back to Manchester to face justice.

Now he has been jailed for two years.

Malaolu pleaded guilty to counts of causing death by driving while uninsured, failing to stop at the scene of a crash, and possessing an identity document with improper intent.

The violent thug who beat his dog so badly with a metal pole that she lost an eye

A man who battered his dog so badly that she had to have her eye removed has been jailed.

Tomas Ferreira's Bichon Frise Skye was discovered with a broken jaw, broken ribs, a broken bone in her back leg and 10 broken teeth.

She also suffered a ruptured eyeball which had to be removed, completely robbing her of her sight because she was already blind in her other eye.

Ferreira, 22, of Combs Fold, Gamesley was found causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by the infliction of a blunt force trauma and physical violence.

He was jailed for 18 weeks, banned for life from keeping animals and ordered to pay a £150 victim surcharge.

Syke has since been rehomed and is said to still be an affectionate and confident dog, despite her ordeal.

The woman who tried to smuggle £100k of cocaine through Manchester Airport

A woman who tried to smuggle £100,000 of cocaine through Manchester Airport in the struts of her suitcases has been jailed.

Stacy Joseph, 26, hid the drugs inside the tubing of three suitcases and tried to sneak it through customs after she arrived on a flight from St Lucia via Barbados.

But she was stopped by Border Force officers after landing on December 14 last year and arrested on suspicion of the importation of a controlled drug.

Joseph, a St Lucian national who has been in custody since her arrest, pleaded guilty at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court and was jailed for four years.

The burglary gang jailed after cigarette raid on Co-op

A burglary gang who stole a haul of cigarettes from a convenience store sparking a huge police search have been jailed.

Peter Clark, 32, Matthew Bowers, 32, Gareth Robinson, 28, and Ryan Stewart, 35, all from Oldham, raided the Co-op in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, on January 8.

Three of the gang forced their way into the shop at about 11.25pm before searching it and making off with cigarettes, as the fourth man waited outside in Audi A3.

As they fled the scene West Yorkshire Police's traffic team, dog unit and the police helicopter were deployed to track them down.

They were traced to Denshaw, in Saddleworth, where they abandoned the car and ran off, but were chased and arrested by officers nearby.

All four men pleaded guilty to burglary at Bradford Crown Court and were each jailed for four years.

Robinson also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession of a bladed article, while Bower pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle and driving whilst disqualified.

He was also banned from driving for three years.

The teenage robber who targeted students  

A student who fell prey to robbers who attacked victims in a park said the ordeal was the 'most frightening experience he had ever felt'.

One of the offenders, 18-year-old Saabir Rehman, has now been sentenced to five years in a young offender institution.

Judge Alan Conrad QC said such robberies are 'prevalent' in south Manchester.

He recently jailed a gang of thugs who 'terrorised' students during a three-week robbery spree.

Rehman and another man attacked victims, a number of whom were students, in incidents at night in Birchfields Park in Rusholme and in Fallowfield over a two week period.

Rehman pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and two counts of fraud.

The thug who 'shattered' man's elbow using a metal baseball bat

A thug who struck a man up to 15 times with a metal baseball bat before threatening him and his family on a street has been jailed for 13 years.

Abrar Hussain attacked victim Ishtiaq Ahmed with the baseball bat leaving him with a 'shattered elbow' and severe bruising on his body, a court heard.

The defendant then 'tracked down' Mr Ahmed while he was staying at his father's home in Rawtenstall and threatened him on Burnley Road.

Burnley Crown Court heard Hussain, 35, told the victim that if he didn't withdraw his statement to police then both him and his family 'would suffer the consequences'.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Ahmed said: "To say this attack has changed my life is an understatement."

Hussain, of Ross Street, Brierfield, was found guilty after a six-day trial of wounding with intent to cause GBH, having a baseball bat in a public place without lawful authority and witness intimidation.

He was jailed for a total of 13 years and given an indefinite restraining order.

The con artist who went on a 10-day crime spree in Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens because 'her job was too hard'

A young 'professional thief' and her accomplice stole cash and mobile phones by distracting shoppers and claiming they were raising money for charity, a court heard.

Maria Spirache, 20, played her part in the 'despicable' offences committed with another woman over 10 days in Manchester city centre.

The court was told how Spirache earlier 'had a job but it was too hard so gave it up'.

The pair prowled cafes, restaurants and shops fleecing customers.

They preyed on vulnerable victims, including a man on a mobility scooter shopping, and tried to steal a watch from the wrist of an 88-year-old woman.

Another victim was a student who was depositing nearly £9,000 in a bank, after saving up the money for months by working two part time jobs to fund his university education.

The pair used well-rehearsed tactics to distract their prey, including showing clipboards claiming they were from a charity and blocking the view of people trying to withdraw money from ATMs.

Spirache pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft, two counts of attempted theft, one count of theft from a shop and another bail act offence.

She was convicted in her absence of another count of theft.

Spirache, of Abbey Hills Road, Oldham, was sentenced to 32 months in a young offenders institution during a hearing on Tuesday at Manchester Crown Court.

The other woman has not been caught.

The gang who kidnapped and pistol-whipped a barber over drugs row

A barber was kidnapped, pistol-whipped and told he would be 'taken to the moors and killed' after he was blamed for the theft of drugs and cash.

The victim, who has since had to leave Manchester, was accused by Adrian Cameron of robbing a drugs courier of a bag which contained an ounce of cocaine, 20 bags of cannabis and £100.

Cameron believed the man was behind the mugging because they had a row about the sale of fireworks the day before.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Cameron, 36, along with co-defendants Ricardo Bell, 30, and Michael Wright, 46, then plotted to kidnap the man so they could interrogate him.

Usman Rathore, 33, and Azhar Mohammed, 34, were then recruited to deliver the man to the trio.

He was tricked to get into an Audi under the pretence that he was being taken to cut someone's hair.

Cameron, of no fixed address, and Bell, also of no fixed address, were both jailed for 11 years. Wright, of Canon Hussey Court, Salford, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

All three were found guilty of kidnap and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence after trial.

Rathore, of Wellington Crescent, Old Trafford, was jailed for three years and Mohammed, of Ullswater Road, Wythenshawe, was jailed for two years and 221 days.

They were both found guilty of kidnap after trial.

The thug who pointed a sawn-off shotgun at a cop

A man who pointed a loaded sawn-off shotgun at a police officer has been jailed.

Michael Scott, 27, was convicted after a police helicopter tracking his every move from the skies above filmed 'integral' evidence.

With pinpoint accuracy, Scott was recorded throwing away gloves and a balaclava before the helicopter crew led armed officers on the ground to his location ahead of his arrest.

The footage, and images of the fearsome gun he held towards the officer, has been released by Greater Manchester Police as he begins his sentence.

Scott, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a prohibited firearm and three counts of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Scott was sentenced to five years for possession of a prohibited firearm and six years for each count of possession with intent to cause fear of violence.

Thief who throttled tourist but was caught because of a cop with an incredible memory

A thief who throttled a tourist as he stole her £600 gold necklace was caught thanks his 'distinctive' top - and a police officer's outstanding memory.

Jake Smith, 19, attacked the victim as she was walking in the Chinatown area of Manchester city centre last August.

The 41-year-old woman was on Princess Street heading towards Portland Street when Smith walked in front of her causing her to stop.

He then placed one hand on her throat in a 'throttling motion' and used the other to forcibly remove her gold necklace, prosecutors said.

Smith then fled the scene with the jewellery which was worth £600.

PC Avril Gordon from GMP's City Centre team was among the first officers on the scene as the victim flagged her down.

A month later, PC Gordon attended an unrelated arrest in the city centre at which Smith was present.

"I was looking at him and it just dropped," she said.

Smith admitted robbery at Manchester Crown Court and was handy a hefty sentence of 27 months in a young offenders' institution.

He was also given a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from Chinatown in the city centre for four years.

The drunk sex pest who bottled policewoman

A drunk sex pest who was swigging a bottle of wine when he used the bottle to attack a heroic police officer said 'I've not had a job for 13 years, what else am I going to do but drink?'

Anthony Woodhead-Robertson, 39, has now been jailed for 12-and-a-half years after being declared 'dangerous' by a judge.

The officer, PC Joanne Aitken, was called to Moston where police had received reports that Woodhead-Robertson was 'playing with his genitals' in public.

Woodhead-Robertson, who was drinking from the wine bottle, then used it to hit the officer to the head.

PC Aitken bravely continued to try and subdue him, but she was struck her a further two times and she was knocked to the ground.

Despite being attacked, PC Aitken then rugby tackled Woodhead-Robertson, and with the help of members of the public he was restrained and handcuffed.

PC Aitken was taken to hospital and needed five staples in her head. She spent three weeks off work, but returned early in an act of defiance.

Woodhead-Robertson, of HMP Manchester, formerly of Floral Court, Salford, has 25 previous convictions for 36 offences, including for violence, indecent exposure, being drunk and disorderly and public order offences.

In other previous offences, he hurled racist and homophobic abuse at members of the public, tried to grab women and made lewd sexual comments.

Thug sliced innocent man's hand 'in two' with machete on Deansgate after smoking Spice and downing rum

A thug with a disturbing obsession with knives sliced an innocent man's hand 'in two' with a machete after picking a fight with him on Deansgate.

Ryan McPhee has been jailed for the sickening attack outside Barca Bar in Manchester city centre.

The 27-year-old, who had spent the day smoking Spice and drinking rum, approached the man and his friends near the Castlefield nightspot and picked a fight, seemingly for no reason.

He told his pal: "Get me the machete."

Before launching the horrific attack, McPhee said to the man and his pals: "You don't want to mess with me, I'll hurt you."

The victim, a 35 year-old sales manager, was left with life-changing injuries following the 'mindless' attack.

He was on a work night out in March last year when he was approached by McPhee and his friend Steven Ward, 25.

The two men had spent the day drinking and getting high.

Unprovoked, they began to shout abuse at the man as he stood in the smoking area with colleagues.

The victim tried to act as a peacemaker and calm the situation, but things quickly became heated.

In the moments that followed, McPhee was passed the machete by Ward, which he raised above his head before swiping at his victim.

The man put his hands up in a vain bid to defend himself. He described seeing 'blood everywhere' as his hand was 'severed in two'.

Nearly a year after the attack, he is still unable to tie his shoe laces and do up buttons. He may never be able to drive again.

McPhee was jailed for 16 years at Manchester Crown Court after a jury unanimously convicted him of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Ward was jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to the same offence.

The kingpin and his crony who launched a frenzied gang attack on a drug dealer

A drug dealer 'heard his skull crack' during a frenzied gang attack in which a TV was repeatedly dropped on his head as he lay motionless on the floor following a terrible beating.

The kingpin of the violent crew and his thug crony have been jailed for their part in the sickening assault.

Michael Hayes, 31, and Kieron Walters, were part of the group of ten masked men who launched the horrific attack, which left the victim with a fractured skull and in a coma.

The gang also attacked and robbed a witness who tried to call the police.

The men, who each have a string of previous convictions, were both handed long jail sentences for their crimes at Manchester Crown Court .

Walters, of no fixed address, was handed a 15-year jail sentence after he admitted causing GBH with intent, wounding with intent and robbery.

Hayes, of Mere Gardens in Bolton, was handed a nine-year sentence after admitting wounding with intent and robbery.

The drug dealer who turned his friend's house into a lab

A drug dealer who turned his friend's house into a lab where a stash of £300,000-worth of amphetamine was found has been jailed.

Brian Norton, 53, used his mate Lesley Roberts' home in Oldham to make and cut drugs.

But the pair were brought down by Operation Arcadia – a surveillance-led investigation into the production and supply of controlled drugs in the Oldham area. 　

When arrested, Norton said he was ‘bang to rights’ and admitted the drugs found were all his. 　

Roberts admitted that she’d agreed that Norton could use her address to cut up drugs in return for £100 per week.

Norton, of Delph Lane, Delph, Oldham, was jailed for six years at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class B drugs and being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. 　

Roberts was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. 　

The drug-driving mother-of-four who ruined a man's life

A drug-driving mother-of-four who had 'five or six bags of cocaine' along with vodka and cider at a party lost consciousness at the wheel before ploughing into a grandfather on a bike ride, leaving him fighting for life.

Kelly Sumner has been jailed after after Stephen Derbyshire was left with a bone protruding from his skin and needing CPR.

The 57-year-old IT consultant also suffered a life-changing brain injury and spinal fractures having been flung at least 10 feet into a lamp post. 

Sumner, 35, drove her Nissan Micra, without insurance, hours after staying up partying until 3am.

She sobbed in the dock as she was sentenced to three years behind bars.

The dangerous pervert who performed an indecent act while watching young boys - then stalked them through park

A convicted sex offender watched young boys from a bush while performing an indecent act - then 'stalked' them through a park, a court heard.

Christian Taylor, 41, has now been classed as 'a dangerous offender' by the judge who locked him up.

Taylor, from Macclesfield , already had a suspended sentence hanging over him for similar offences when he approached the lads in Warrington last autumn.

Taylor, of Percyvale Street, Macclesfield, pleaded guilty to four offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The court heard that had been made in August 2017 when he was given a 15-month suspended prison sentence for similar offences involving a boy in public toilets.

Judge Cummings told made an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

The thugs who attacked a family in their own home as an act of revenge for rescuing a woman

Two thugs attacked a family in their own home as an act of revenge for rescuing a woman who had been assaulted.

Patrick Murray and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, smashed a teenager with a baseball bat with such force that it broke into pieces, before slashing his father on the head with a machete.

The pair have now been jailed for the attack, which happened in Cheetham Hill last year.

The court heard how Murray, 65, had been stood on the side of the road arguing with a woman in her car on Thursday, June 12.

Murray, of Alderwood Walk, Cheetham Hill, was jailed for four years and two months at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to assault and affray offences.

The 17-year-old was jailed for one year and six months in prison for affray and assault.

The gang caught on camera making a £30k heroin drop

This is the moment members of a drugs gang made a £30k heroin drop, oblivious to the fact cops were watching.

The rucksack, handed from Ramiro Orr to Robert Smith contained 2kg of the Class A substance.

The pair - now serving jail terms along with the man who oversaw the busted operation - had no idea they were under surveillance.

Smith, 34, is shown handing over the bag to promising ex-footballer Ramiro Orr in the footage shot in January.

Smith, of Cromwell Avenue, Cheadle, Stockport; and Orr, of Edlin Close, Manchester, were both already serving time in prison for drug offences.

The two of them, along with Bailey, 28, were charged with conspiracy to possess Class A drugs with intent to supply.

They pleaded guilty to the charges at Manchester Crown Court.

On Monday, Bailey was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison. 

Smith was jailed for five years and 8 months in prison; while Orr was given two years to run concurrent with the four years and six months sentenced he is already serving.

The 'spineless cowards' who held mum at knifepoint in her own home while kids slept upstairs

A 'cowardly bunch of opportunists' threatened a mum at knifepoint after breaking into her home while her kids slept upstairs - before nicking her car and beer from the fridge.

Eugene Stynes, 27, tied the woman's hands together with a tracksuit cord and threatened her. The woman's teenage children we asleep upstairs at the time.

The woman earlier woke up to find Stynes stood over her, holding a knife inches away from her neck during the terrifying raid at her home in Dukinfield , Tameside , last year.

He demanded that she show him where her car keys were and said: "Where's the cash? Don't mess me around."

A court heard Stynes, along with two others, got into the house through an open back door on a hot August evening last year.

Stynes gave the keys to the woman's Kia Picanto to his accomplice, Daniel Bartrip, 23, whose face was disguised by a neckerchief.

Bartrip, and another man, Wayne Pollitt, 24, then stole the car.

Before running away, Stynes went into the kitchen and filled a carrier bag with bottles and cans of beer, before warning the woman not to call police.

Neighbours arrived a short time later and helped the woman free herself and raise the alarm.

The three men were caught after running into a police dog unit on patrol in the area.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Stynes of Anchor Street, Oldham was jailed for six years after admitting the robbery.

Bartrip, 23, of Keswick Avenue, Hyde, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after being convicted after trial.

At the time of the offence, Pollitt - of Matlock Avenue, Dawley, Telford - was on bail for burglaries. He was jailed for a month short of seven years after admitting robbery and a separate count of burglary.

The mum who stabbed her boyfriend in chest after finding out he was having affair with her best mate

A mum plunged a knife into her boyfriend's chest after finding out he was having an affair with her best mate - but the pair hope to rekindle their relationship once she's out of prison.

Rachel Tinsley was jailed for 20 months stabbing her partner and puncturing his lung during a bust-up on October 30.

Incredibly, Chester Crown Court heard the couple are keen to rekindle their stormy relationship once she is released from prison, the Liverpool Echo reported.

Tinsley, 33, got embroiled in a furious row at their flat in Orford, Warrington, after she found out her partner had been intimate with her closest pal.

The court heard Tinsley had been in a 'problematic' relationship with her boyfriend for four years.

Things got heated when she returned home to find her boyfriend drinking, and damage caused to a mirror and some of her clothes.

An argument started and it was said that the man became aggressive, grabbing his girlfriend's arms, before she took hold of an eight-inch kitchen knife and stabbed him in the chest.

Tinsley then quickly pulled the blade out and hit the victim on the shoulder with it.

The man escaped and sought refuge in a nearby phone box as he tried to ring the emergency services.

Tinsley, who admitted unlawful wounding, is also currently serving a 22-week sentence for criminal damage, and a public order offence.

The 'cowardly and selfish' hit-and-run driver who mowed down 11-year-old Taylor Schofield

A 'cowardly and selfish' hit-and-run driver previously banned from the roads THREE times has been jailed for mowing down an 11-year-old boy in Beswick. 

The family of Taylor Schofield have been served a life sentence, police chiefs said, and the six years and eight months sentence handed to Michael Ricardo Robinson, 31, "would never be enough for the family." 

Robinson was travelling at 55mph in a 20mph zone on Albert Street, near the Etihad Stadium, when he struck Taylor Schofield as he attempted to cross the road on his mountain bike near his home.

Robinson briefly stopped but then fled the scene, close to The Townley pub, on the early evening of Saturday January 12 as the stricken  youngster lay in the road, before later handing himself in to police.  

When Robinson, from Gorton, pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court on Monday to causing death by dangerous driving, it emerged he had  been disqualified from driving on three previous occasions.

The driver who raced through Chorlton at 70mph and attacked police officer

A driver raced through the streets of Chorlton before attacking a police officer so badly he is expected to have to leave the force, a court heard.

Kevin Brown, 46, left the male officer temporarily blind in one eye following the 'vicious' attack.

Brown was first spotted by a the officer on patrol in an unmarked car while he was driving on the Princess Parkway.

The officer began to follow him after becoming suspicious that his car may have had false number plates, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Shortly after, the officer activated the sirens and ordered Brown to pull over.

But instead Brown lead the officer on a high speed chase through the streets of Chorlton on a busy Thursday morning, on February 22 last year.

During the chase Brown mounted the pavement several times, with pedestrians having to take evasive action.

He went through red lights and went 'head to head' with oncoming traffic, the court heard.

In his black Ford Fiesta, Brown reached speeds of up to 70mph in 30mph zone, and reached similar speeds in a 20mph zone near a school.

On two occasions, the police car blocked Brown in, after he had turned down a dead end.

Undeterred, Brown drove on the pavement or over people's front gardens to escape.

Brown also rammed into the police car on two occasions.

He was boxed after turning onto Shanklin Close, a cul-de-sac in Chorlton.

With nowhere else to go, Brown got out of the car and ran.

Following closely behind, the officer fired his Taser at Brown, but it hit his jacket and had no effect.

Brown then 'rained punches' onto the officer's face, calling him to fall to the floor.

At that time he couldn't see out of one eye due to his injuries, but he got up soon after and continued the pursuit.

Two other officers had arrived as backup. Brown ran into them and jumped onto the police car's windscreen, causing it to crack.

They got out and tried to subdue Brown by hitting him to the legs with their batons, but that didn't work.

The injured officer was then able to fire his Taser at Brown again.

Brown fell to the floor, but he continued to be violent. He was Tasered a second time, and officers were then able to handcuff and arrest him.

Brown, of Fern Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to resist arrest, and dangerous driving.

Judge Patrick Field QC sentenced Brown to five years and four months in prison

He was also banned from driving for four years and eight months.

The machete swinging robbery gang who struck fear into the hearts of bank workers

CCTV has captured two terrifying raids carried out by a robbery gang who were helped by an inside man - and the moment their getaway car crashed, leaving police with crucial clues to their identities.

The footage shows the Salford -based thugs brandishing machetes, and sparks flying from an angle grinder as they use it to break into an ATM in one bank.

But their crime spree started to unravel when they crashed a Ford Focus in the picturesque village of Ramsbottom moments after one raid.

Now a G4S security guard who was the 'inside man' in the gang's three armed bank raids across Greater Manchester has been jailed for 20 years.

Thomas Keane, 52, had denied any involvement in raids at two Santander branches and a NatWest, but was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery by a jury at Manchester Crown Court .

His information enabled a Salford-based robbery gang to escape with £165,000.

Sentencing Keane to 20 years on Friday, Judge Anthony Cross QC told the gang: "Each of the defendants played their part in the conspiracy, which when executed struck fear into the hearts and minds of your victims.

"This crime is to be marked by long custodial sentences, of the type reserved for crime carried out by professional criminals. Essential to the crime was the intelligence provided by you Keane.

"You knew full well that when you struck there was members of the public present.

"You intruded in the lives of ordinary members of the public. They were doing no more than enjoying a stroll in the streets of Ramsbottom, or enjoying a meal in a restaurant.

"Your victims were left in no uncertain terms that if they didn’t do what you required, then violence would follow."When threats were made, they were not empty threats."

Jack Pennington, 28, was jailed for 14 years nine months; David Oxton, 34, for 14 years; Neil Callaghan for 13 years six months, which included a 12 month term for an unrelated blackmail offence; Scott Holmes for ten years six months; and Lucas Dodd, 19, for four years six months.

The thug who said he'd eat cereal from girlfriend's skull

A convicted kidnapper who once threatened to 'eat cornflakes out of girlfriend's skull' rammed an unmarked police car and nearly ran an officer over during a high-speed chase.

Jonathan Ruane, 38, mistakenly thought he was fleeing gangsters from "back home" in Manchester who were "going to take [his] head off".

Ruane was out of prison on licence when officers tried to block his Vauxhall Zafira in Hull, East Yorkshire, on August 3 last year.

Hull Crown Court heard that as one cop positioned the 2008 Toyota in front of the Zafira, a colleague got out and ran to the driver's window, where he shouted: "Police! Open the door!" 

The officer tried the door handle but finding it locked shouted again and extended his baton, the Hull Daily Mail reports.

Emma Downing, prosecuting, said the officer "could see from his face the defendant was panicking and was turning the steering wheel. Fearing for his personal safety, [he] smashed the driver's window to try to remove the ignition keys".

But Ruane was having none of it and set off "at speed", ramming the Toyota with such force it knocked the driver "sideways" and caused £2,130 of damage.

As another police car entered the car park to try to block Ruane's exit, he turned the car towards another officer on foot, who had to "literally jump out of the defendant's way to avoid being hit".

The Zafira then hit metal railings at the side of a disabled ramp, striking them so hard "the front two wheels left the ground". 

Ruane, who had left a flat on Great Thornton Street with a woman, got away and was not arrested until August 14.

Ruane, of Samman Road in Beverley, East Yorkshire, but originally from Manchester, admitted dangerous driving.

On Thursday, Ruane was jailed for nine months by Judge Simon Jack, who banned him for driving for two years and ordered him to pass an extended driving test before he can hold a licence.

The founder of City Watch website who waged 'chilling' stalking campaign

The founder of a popular Manchester City fan website has been jailed after waging "chilling" campaigns of stalking against two contributors.

Stuart Marshall, 36, who the court was told had set up the City Watch site from scratch, began flooding the men with messages which became more and more threatening and sinister.

Mocked-up porn images involving the men's girlfriends were sent to them and they had their social media accounts hacked as part of the campaigns of stalking.

Then when police officers raided his home in Bury, several dozen indecent images and videos of young boys, aged between 11 and 16, were found on a pen drive.

Marshall, of Leslie Avenue, Bury, pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to two counts of stalking,  one charge of using unauthorised access to computer material to facilitate the commission of an offence, relating to the hacking and three charges of possessing indecent images of children.

He was jailed for two years and four months.

The convicted drink and drug driver who mowed down an 80-year-old pedestrian

An 80-year-old woman mowed down on her way home from the shops by a man with drug and driving convictions died after nearly a month in hospital.

Dympna Campbell was hit by Darren Lloyd Waul as she crossed the road in Trafford.

Waul was over the legal limit for a cocaine by-product. He had trace amounts of the Class A drug - and cannabis - in his system. 

He has previous convictions for drug possession and driving without a licence.

Ms Campbell died after spending nearly a month in hospital having suffered extensive soft tissue injuries; pelvic fractures; and an ankle break, which needed surgery.

A judge described a medical report into Ms Campbell's condition after the smash as 'harrowing'.

Waul, 48, 'took no evasive action' and only reacted after hitting the pensioner.

Ms Campbell's family said Waul 'got what he deserved' after he was jailed for four years and nine months. He earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit.

The bully who 'terrorised' his adoptive mother

A bully 'terrorised' his adoptive mother while receiving benefits to care for her, a court heard.

Daniel Beech, 37, from Openshaw, was brought up by his aunt following the death of his biological mother, his aunt's sister.

He ended up in court after repeatedly threatening her during months of 'persistent domestic bullying', which caused her to lose five stone in weight.

He has now been jailed for 16 months.

His defence team told the sentencing judge that Beech was 'the nicest lad you could meet' when he has not been drinking, but was prone to abusing alcohol.

But Manchester Crown Court heard on Monday how Beech moved out of the family home in Openshaw 12 years ago. But he returned intermittently after the breakdown of several relationships.

Beech later pleaded guilty to common assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.

The judge made a restraining order preventing Beech, of Chariot Street, Openshaw, from contacting the woman for two years.

The 'cowardly fool' who stabbed a man in the street

A knifeman who stabbed a man in the leg in a 'cowardly and foolish attack' has been jailed.

Dean Moores knifed his victim in the street following an argument.

But the whole thing, including his getaway, was caught on CCTV, leading police straight to his front door, where the arresting officers also discovered a cannabis farm.

After Moores, 37, was jailed for five years and five months after pleading guilty to Section 18 assault and cultivating cannabis, a detective told how the 'evidence trail' led police straight to him, adding his actions 'were as foolish as they were brutal'.

Det Sgt Sam Taylor said: “This was a cowardly and foolish attack on a man who was left with a serious wound to his leg.

“We are pleased that he has recovered well from his injury and hope that today’s sentence provides a form of closure on the incident.

“Moores’ actions were as foolish as they were brutal – completely ignoring the fact that CCTV captured the majority of the offence, as well as his getaway car.

“Not only did the evidence trail lead officers straight to them, it also led to a significant quantity of cannabis at his property.”

The drunk thug dad who bit cop during arrest - before telling him he had AIDS

A police officer had to undergo tests for hepatitis and HIV after a thug dad bit him before telling him he had AIDS.

Sean Fiddaman, 31, has been jailed for 12 months after he was convicted following a trial.

Manchester Crown Court heard Fiddaman didn't reveal he had lied for 16 hours, meaning the officer had to go to hospital for tests.

Fiddaman was in a car which crashed into a wall in Hulme, at the junction of Greenheys Lane and Bold Street in the early hours.

He and another man left, but they were tracked down after residents called 999.

Officers arrived and found Fiddaman was drunk and smelt of cannabis.

When they questioned him, he gave a false name.

As an officer began to handcuff him, Fiddaman's behaviour 'changed dramatically', prosecutor David James said.

He 'lunged' at one officer then bit the other on his right hand.

Fiddaman, of Stanton Street, Stretford, was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm and common assault after trial. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis.

The married dad-of-five who lost wife, family and liberty trying to meet a '14-year-old girl for cigarettes, beer and sex'

A married father of five who lost his wife and children after paedophile hunters trapped him trying to meet a 14-year old girl for sex at a railway station is now behind bars.

Nigel Ryan 33, was arrested after investigators from the North West Predator Hunters group created a fake online profile claiming to be truanting teenager - and caught him sending explicit pictures.

During an exchange of messages over a three day period, Ryan asked: 'ASL?' which stands for 'age, sex and location', falsely claimed he was 29 and then sent the undercover investigator a GIF image with the caption  'nice arse.'

Ryan from Stalybridge, also  said: 'I will FK you,' asked for school uniform pictures then sent pictures of his genitals adding: ''I can get done for this.'

Later he arranged a meeting at the town's train station by himself pretending to be 13-year old girl who was vouching for him. In one message he said: ''You can have cigarettes and beer. The sex will good too.''

He was subsequently confronted by the group on the concourse and they live streamed him being detained in a video which attracted 187,000 views on Facebook.

Officers searched Ryan and found two Playboy condoms in his pocket plus two mobile phones and two cans of lager in his bag.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Ryan admitted attempting to meet a child following grooming and was jailed for 30 months.

He initially denied wrongdoing but has since been dumped by his shocked wife.

Ryan was also issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was further ordered to sign the Sex Offender register for ten years.

Gambling addict burglar who's been a menace in Wythenshawe locked up after being tracked down through app on iPad he nicked

A gambling addict burglar has been locked up after he was tracked down through an app on an iPad he nicked.

Aaron Fielding, 33, and another man threatened to kill a terrified couple - and their dog - after breaking into their Wythenshawe home.

The victims barricaded themselves in their bedroom, a court heard.

Fielding has been jailed for seven years for his part in the shocking incident.

He and his accomplice were traced with the help of the quick-thinking victims, who used an app to find an iPad stolen in the raid.

The couple were left so shaken they have moved out of Wythenshawe, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Fielding was previously jailed for five years last summer, for a number of burglaries in Wythenshawe.

Judge Patrick Field QC said he found it 'breathtaking' Fielding was released after being arrested for the robbery.

Fielding then went on to commit the burglaries, for which he later received the five year prison term.

Fielding, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and two counts of aggravated vehicle taking.

The 'Coke-on-Trent' gang who smuggled drugs disguised as decorating materials from China into Manchester Airport

A multi-million pound drug racket smuggled cocaine cutting agents from China to the UK in parcels disguised as decorating materials, a court heard.

Drug rings in Manchester and Staffordshire imported the drugs under the names of Charles and Charlie - both common references to cocaine.

One of the dealers was even nicknamed "Gaz - Coke-on-Trent."

The drugs were labelled as types of decorating materials including "nylon powders" and "pigments," in a bid to avoid detection.

Experts calculated the street value of cocaine when cut with the 425kg of imported benzocaine at more than £30m.

At Staffordshire Crown Court, twelve members of the racket were jailed for a range of drug offences, including two men from Manchester.

Brian Bowden, 40, of Waterside View, Droylsden, was sentenced to 14 years and eight months after admitting two counts of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Gary Davies, 36, of Arrowsmith Walk, Ancoats, was sentenced to 8 years after pleading guilty to the same offences.

Manchester-based Bowden, led the cocaine supply side of the operation, the court heard.

Andrew Fradley, 50, of Apedale Road, Bignall End, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 17 years 6 months after pleading guilty to intentionally encouraging or assisting the supply of benzocaine for use as a cutting agent.

Karen Broad, 54, of Apedale Road, Bignall End, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 15 years after being convicted of the same offence.

Gareth Marsh, 30, of Edgar Place, Sandford Hill, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 14 years 4 months after admitting two counts of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Zac Marsh, 21, of Clayford Grove West, Sandford Hill, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 6 years 4 months after admitting the same offences as Gareth Marsh.

Nicholas Elliott, 43, of Windsor Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, was sentenced to 5 years 6 months after being convicted of possession with intent to supply cocaine and supplying cocaine.

Andrew Lawton, 30, of Chiltern Place, Knutton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced to 7 years 4 months after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Kurt Jackson, 27, of Denry Crescent, Bradwell, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced to 6 years and James Foster, 29, of Liverpool Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, sentenced to 6 years for the same offences.

Ross Slater, 26, of Albemarle Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced to 16 months suspended for 12 months after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and to supplying cannabis.

Jenny Legge, 26, of Liverpool Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, sentenced to 24 months suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and supplying cocaine.

The robber with a 'gambling problem' who hid in the roof of a bank

A knife-wielding robber who hid in the roof of a bank then jumped out and threatened terrified staff into handing over thousands of pounds.

Craig Gresty, 34, 'smashed' his way through the roof and then 'concealed' himself in the ceiling before pouncing when three female staff arrived to open the Vernon Building Society in Hazel Grove.

He held the manager hostage at knife point and made her empty the contents of the safe before making his escape, a court heard.

However the bungling robber was caught as he was photographed getting into a bright red car registered to his partner as he tried to get away.

Gresty, of Brierlow Bar, Buxton, in Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of a bladed article and criminal damage at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced to 10 years behind bars with Judge Angela Nield ruling he was a "dangerous" offender and an extended sentence was needed to protect the public.

The hapless drug dealer caught after running off when police made eye contact

A hapless drug dealer was caught after running away from police when they made eye contact with him.

Shilo Cargill, 20, has now been jailed for two years and eight months after being caught with cocaine and heroin.

He was with another man on China Lane, off Dale Street in the Northern Quarter when officers in a police car drove past, Manchester Crown Court heard.

They noticed Cargill, as he was said to be acting suspiciously.

“As soon as they made eye contact, he (Cargill) ran off," prosecutor David Lees said.

Officers got out of the car and chased Cargill, but a brave member of the public who followed and apprehended him, near Minshull Street Crown Court in the city centre.

When officers asked Cargill why he ran, he admitted having drugs on him.

He was found to have £150 worth of heroin and £110 worth of cocaine.

Cargill, of West Didsbury, also had £200 in cash and two mobile phones, one of which had evidence of drug dealing.

Data on the phone showed that he had been dealing to at least nine people.

Cargill, of Barnett Avenue, West Didsbury, pleaded guilty to two counts possession with intent to supply drugs, namely heroin and cocaine, and a further two counts of being concerned in the supply of drugs, again heroin and cocaine.