What Do You Mean, 'If'...?

Ronnie Tretton, 34, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday where he admitted burglary after he stole a gold watch worth £880 from a house in Woodside, Leigh, on May 23.

With this latest incident, Tretton now has 100 offences from 38 convictions, dating all the way back 24 years to his first offence in 1995 when he was just ten-years-old.

Well, with a record like that, at least he's going straight to j...

Judge Samantha Leigh...

Oh. Bugger!

...stated that Tretton’s victim had been left shaken by the incident and that they were now feeling vulnerable in their own home after someone had trespassed.

Yet Judge Leigh chose to defer the sentencing hearing and allow Tretton out on conditional bail, meaning he must not go near Woodside, Leigh.

Until then he must obey the terms of his licence conditions.

Yeah, what are the odds he won't, eh?

Judge Samantha Leigh gave Tretton a warning that if he reverts to his old ways whilst on bail he could face time in prison once again.

Errr, I think the 'if' is redundant. Like you should be.

“We will come back on September 27.

“If you have fully complied with the terms of your licence I will hand out another sentence, but if you haven’t, and you have strayed back into your old ways I will not.”

Place your bets!

"Help Me, Judge Samantha Leigh, You're My Only Hope!"

At Basildon Crown Court on Friday, Noel Casey, prosecuting, said: “There was a degree of struggle from all three people in the car to resist the officers.

“The defendant, who was driving, refused to let go of the wheel or open the windows despite the officers’ instructions.

“During this time, the two other people made good their escape from the police.

“He was revving the engine and the officers feared he may drive off even if they managed to get in.

“He then stalled the Focus causing it to collide with the police vehicle.”

Leeks was handcuffed by the officers, one of whom suffered minor injuries when trying to break the windows of the car. Inside the Focus, a baseball bat, angle grinders, flares and other tools were found and seized.

The other two people remain at large.

Bang to rights! But.... wait.

Mitigating, Craig Harris told Judge Samantha Leigh that Leeks is the sole carer for his 15-year-old daughter and had made the attempt to steal the tools because “he was desperate” for money to help care for her.

*bangs head on table*

Judge Leigh chose to defer Leeks’ sentencing until January 31 to prove to her he could continue being a responsible parent.

What do you mean, 'continue', you senile old bat! He hasn't even begun to be a responsible parent!

Judge Leigh ordered Leeks to pay £500 to the two officers, who she also praised for putting their safety at risk to stop him.

He had his sentence deferred for six months after admitting theft and handling stolen goods in Basildon.

How do you think he's going to make that money?

Who Says The British Don't Know How To Complain..?

Kevin Toomey, mitigating, said: “He wanted to speak to the manager to complain that he had not been allowed to use the toilets.”

“He takes full responsibility - it was absolute madness for a man of his age and his reputation.”

Yes, that's a pretty fair assessment!

“He knows the owner of the club because he has done charitable concerts there and he thought he would be allowed to nip in and use the toilets.

“Through pure frustration and embarrassment, he armed himself with his axe because he thought he may come under attack when he went back.”

Of course he did. I mean, anyone would. Right?

Sentencing him, Judge Samantha Leigh (Ed: Oh...) said: “You went home and returned with an axe. What on earth possessed you to do that, I don’t know.”

We'll add that to the hugely long list of 'Things Judge Samantha Leigh Doesn't Know', shall we?

Darby was sentenced to one year and two months in prison suspended for two years. He was given a three month nighttime curfew, must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,200 in costs plus a victim surcharge.

The axe will be destroyed.

Boy, I feel safer now. Don't you, reader?

When You Can't Even Convince 'Sob Story Samantha'...

Reilly had given evidence in court hearings when on trial for attempted murder in Southend, trying to claim she did not try to kill the man.

She went along with this, despite the CCTV clearly showing her arriving and throwing petrol over the victim in Southchurch Avenue.

/facepalm

Her brilliant plan? Feign blindness! 

Reilly told the court that she could not see the monitor showing the footage in the court room, and that she couldn’t see the judge acting out what it showed.

Judge Samantha Leigh said the performance was “worthy of an Oscar, but it was dishonest”.

She said: “She was the worst witness I have ever seen.

“She said she couldn’t see the screen.

“I gave her a demonstration, she said she couldn’t see that.”

Blimey, when you can't even convince Leigh...! 

Judge Leigh added: "In my view I have seen no remorse from either of you at all. He was a friend, and he was repaid by being set alight."

The duo were jailed for 24 years each. Reilly showed no emotion, while Archer bowed his head as he was taken down.

Perhaps she was just feigning deafness as well? 

'Lenient Leigh' Strikes Again!

Zifiso Ncube had left a party in the early hours of July 8, 2018, and was making his way home when he started targeting cars in Pleasant Road, Southend.

The 23-year-old drunkenly stumbled into one car which “upset him” and so he proceeded to start smashing up three vehicles in the street.

One of the cars had to be written off. After hearing the noise, residents came out into the street and confronted Ncube who armed himself with a plank of wood.

And a broken bottle. With which he threatened to stab the residents.

Ncube was charged with three counts of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and one count of threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place.

Sentencing him at Basildon Crown Court yesterday, Judge Samantha Leigh said...

Oh, FFS!

Judge Leigh handed Ncube one year and six months but suspended the sentence for 12 months.

As conditions of his suspended sentence, he must complete 250 hours of unpaid work, 30 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and the Thinking Skills programme. Ncube was also ordered to pay £320 in compensation and banned from entering Pleasant Road for two years.

So the next time this waste of oxygen gets drunk, he'll hopefully target Judge Leigh's neighbourhood...

Judge Samantha 'Lenient' Leigh, Folks...

Mr Whitcombe said despite Balderstone not entering a guilty plea until the day of the trial, he did so because he had genuine remorse and wanted to spare Mr Dowsett giving evidence.

He said: “He wished to avoid Mr Dowsett coming to court because he predicted it wouldn’t do anyone any good and did not want to force him to relive what could have been a far more tragic incident. Had a vehicle been following then heaven knows what could have taken place."

Nice try, but it's not really going to help, is it?

The court heard a driver who witnessed the incident said Balderstone was “swerving across lanes” and the driving was “deliberate”.

Quite. You'd have to be a moron not to see that...

Oh. Spoke too soon.

Judge Samantha Leigh (Ed: Oh, gawd..!) handed him a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and disqualified him from driving for 24 months. He must also complete 240 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 costs.

*sighs*

Here's Your Explanation, Judge Samantha....

...now do your bloody job:

When the case came before Judge Samantha Leigh at Basildon Crown Court in March, she demanded an explanation from the superintendent, saying Forbes had no way to protect herself and she “face-planted” the floor.

However, Essex Police has ruled the action by officers was justified.

So you can give her the justice she deser...

Despite these issues Forbes went on to admit five counts of an assault of an emergency worker, plus racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress and was jailed on March 4 for 16 weeks.

/facepalm 

The Criminal's Friend...

Mr Gerard offered to read a victim impact statement from the officer to the court but Judge Samantha Leigh (Ed: *sigh*) said she had seen it and it did not need to be read out.

Bull admitted affray and making threats with an offensive weapon.

I guess she doesn't think police can be victims. They must be about the only group, since she clearly believes this of criminals...

Judge Leigh handed Bull a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, so that he can take part in a drug treatment programme, noting that he was “high” during the incident.

The judge told Bull the situation with his child must be “heartbreaking” but he should handle it through the courts.

He was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work but a Crown request for costs was refused.

Bit by bit, judges like this are chipping away at the justice system,

Move Over, Leigh, There's Another 'Sob Story Samantha' In Town!

Laura Hope was emotionless in the dock at court when she received her sentence for causing the death of John Hevey, 61, in a horrific crash on Eastern Avenue in Southend on May 21 last year.

The 28-year-old was driving her partner’s BMW along the road. She had 2.9 micrograms of cannabis in her system at the time – over the legal drug driving limit – when she approached a roundabout.

She pulled out into the roundabout but failed to check for oncoming vehicles and ended up hitting Mr Hevey as he drove around.

An utterly avoidable death.

In a victim impact statement, his daughter Yasmine Hevey said her father had been “robbed” of his life, and that he will “leave a hole that no one will be able to fill”.

Her brief tried the 'plead her belly' trick:

Mitigating for Hope, Michael Rawlinson said she was remorseful for her actions and that she “will live with them for the rest of her life” and argued that her sentence should be suspended due to the fact that she has a six month old daughter to which she is the sole carer for, and that an immediate prison sentence would do serious damage to her upbringing.

But at least she wasn't up before Judge 'Lenient' Leigh. This was another Samantha.

Sentencing Hope, of Coleman Street, Southend, Judge Samantha Cohen said that Mr Hevey’s death had a “devastating” impact on his family but chose to suspend her sentence due to the effects it would have on her daughter.

Hope received 18 months in prison suspended for two years, 300 hours unpaid work, and a curfew for four months meaning she cannot leave her home between 8pm and 6am.

/facepalm

Still, if she had a clean reco..

Oh.

A woman viciously assaulted her ex-partner and his new girlfriend, a court heard. Laura Hope, 27, of Dolphins, Westcliff, launched a prolonged attack on the couple who were forced to seek refuge in a shop where the attack continued.

Hope denied two counts of assault, but was later found guilty after a trial at Basildon Crown Court and appeared at the same court to be sentenced, despite insisting she was not guilty.

Judge Graham handed her a 12-month community order. The order requires her to complete 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement with probation and 60 hours of unpaid work.

There's no hope for justice any more, is there?

"Get Out Of Jail Free Card?" "That'll Do Nicely..."

Karly Lester has been spared jail after police found crack cocaine and cannabis in her home on Canvey last year.

What?! Why?

Mitigating, Tony Ventham told the court that Lester had been coerced into the drugs trade by an experienced dealer.

He said she was “vulnerable” due to the fact that she was trying to care for her two young children, one of whom has health issues, and in her desperation fell into dealing.

Oh, who's going to f...

Judge Samantha Leigh...

Damn!

...decreed that Lester was not a major player in any drugs enterprise.

She said: “She was struggling financially as so many people are. This was totally, as she now realises, the wrong step to take to get out of the situation she was in.”

Lester received 24 months in prison suspended for two years, 200 hours unpaid work and 60 days of rehabilitation.

Judge Leigh added: “If you do as I ask, you will not go to prison.”

Chances are good she won't even if she doesn't...

Sterling Work From One Part Of The Criminal Justice System...

Jay Disley, of Coopersales, Laindon, admitted three counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs after police officers caught him red-handed. The 20-year-old was in a Ford Transit van on May 4, earlier this year, with three other men, in an area of Basildon when police officers noticed known drug users interacting with them.

The officers proceeded to pull the van over and searched the vehicle as well as Disley.

Appearing for sentencing at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, it was heard that officers found in possession of almost 13 grams of cocaine, with a street value of £508, as well as 2 grams of crack cocaine.

Disley was arrested and while in custody, officers conducted a search of his home where they recovered a further 19 grams of cocaine, worth £773, as well as two sets of scales, £1,435 in cash and phones containing evidence of drug dealing.

Bang to rights! Excellent. What could go wrong?

Sentencing him, judge Samantha Leigh...

DAMN IT!

....said: "These are not insignificant amounts in terms of either money or drugs themselves.

"You don't have any previous convictions and have a very supportive family. You also have one of the best pre-sentence reports I have seen in a long time.

"It is your choice what happens now. If you do the orders I am about to you on and do what you need to do, you hopefully will not be back in the criminal justice system.

"I am very mindful of the guidance to judges and whether courts should take every opportunity they can to stop sending people to custody where there is a chance of rehabilitation."

You know what's coming. Don't you?

Judge Leigh sentenced Disley to 20 months in prison suspended for 24 months.

Those cops must wonder why they bothered.

Look Up 'Gullible' In The Dictionary...

...I bet you'll find a picture of Judge Leigh:

Mitigating, Nicholas Cotter said Hardiman was now on her own raising her three-month-old son and was “thoroughly” remorseful, and had been trying to contact prisons about mother and baby wards over fears of a prison term.

Judge Samantha Leigh said: “You got picked up and carried away with what was going on. I am sure you did not necessarily know the full impact of what was going on.”

Hardiman was given a suspended prison term and 60 days rehabilitation.

What did she do? Well, just burned her killer boyfriend's blood spattered clothing when he called her from jail to dispose of the evidence. 

But I'm sure you're right, your honour, she didn't realise why he suddenly needed to dispose of that tracksuit...

'Lenient Leigh' Strikes Again...

Sam Kent, 26, of Dovervelt Road, Canvey, and drinking buddy Jak Bruce, 27, smashed up 11 cars outside the Smuggler’s Den in Pooles Lane, Hullbridge.

Basildon Crown Court heard police found the pair in an “agitated state” after their rampage and had to forcibly restrain them on the floor.

Kent was banned from driving for two years after the court heard he also drove into a van and then gave chase as the terrified driver tried to flee.

Both had been on an all-day bender on May 25.

How on earth do you do £12,000 worth of damage and not see a day behind bars for it?

Judge Samantha Leigh (Ed: *groans*) handed both men a three-year community order, with 200 hours of unpaid work and a thinking skills course. Both must pay some compensation to the drivers who did not claim on insurance.

She said: “How on earth you have both got yourself in to this situation is really quite incomprehensible. It just doesn’t make sense. Mindless violence and vandalism are the only words that spring to mind.”

Oh, I dunno, Samantha, a few others actually spring to mind...

I Guess Crime Does Pay, If You're Up Before 'Lenient Leigh'...

CCTV footage showed Skarott, of Burnaby Road, Southend, activating the cards on several occasions and hiding them under the till.

Mr Thompson contacted the police, who then attended Skarott’s home. Cyrus Shroff, prosecuting, told the court:

“Police attended the defendant’s home address and found three bags of scratch cards, along with more than £3,000 in cash, and he was arrested.

“Mr Thompson has said that the total amount that his actions have cost the store is £20,980, due to him having to pay Camelot the value of the cards, and has had to take out loans and use his own funds to keep the store up and running.”

Bang to rights! A case even Essex Police couldn't fail to solve!

Barry Kogan, mitigating for Skarott, said his client has been a long time sufferer of depression and regretted his actions.

Mr Kogan said: “The defendant is deeply ashamed of himself and bitterly regrets what he did. He has apologised to Mr Thompson for letting him down so badly when he put his trust in him.

“The defendant can offer a repayment of £8,700 on this day, and is keen to make amends for his actions.

“He is a father of three children, all under six-years-old, who he looks after regularly, and it’s my case that he be granted a suspended sentence so he can maintain that relationship and continue working to pay back the money he took.”

Who do you think is going to employ him, then?

Judge Samantha Leigh (Ed: *winces*) handed Skarott a 12-month suspended prison sentence, along with 200 hours of unpaid work yesterday at Basildon Crown Court.

Addressing Skarott, she said: “It is my view that the most appropriate sentence is for you to remain out of prison so that you can continue working in order to repay back at least some of the funds taken from Mr Thompson, to ensure his business can be kept going.”

Are you going to employ him as Clerk of Court then, Samantha? Or maybe do some odd jobs around the house?

Southend Becoming Gloriously Vibrant And Diverse…

Tahmid Alam celebrated his 19th birthday in court as the jury found him guilty of the attack in Westcliff this year.

The jury unanimously found Alam guilty of wouding Glen Lashley with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon, before judge Samantha Leigh sent him down for 14 years at Basildon Crown Court on Friday.

It’s – of course! – gang related:

Former Futures College pupil Alam was the passenger in a car that deliberately rammed Mr Lashley’s vehicle at the junction of Hamlet Court Road and West Road at around 5pm on Tuesday, June 16.

He and the driver then got out of the car, raced towards the victim and, leaning through his open window, stabbed Mr Lashley in the chest.

I fail to see how that’s not attempted murder, frankly.

And Futures College is quickly becoming notorious for its problems.

Still, the Alams are quite the little crime family, it transpires.

Just weeks before the attack Alam had been on trial for the murder of Hassan Mohammed Ibrahim in York Road last July.

He, along with four others, were acquitted but his brother, Tajwar, also 19, was found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in jail.

Judge Leigh added: “This was a revenge attack and a clear message to anyone giving evidence against you or your family that it was unacceptable.”

Nor is this Junior’s first time round the block:

Alam of Roseville Road, Hayes, has previously served a custodial sentence and has convictions for robbery with a knife, another robbery, two assaults with attempt to rob, possession of a knife, possession of drugs, possession with intent to supply class B drugs and modifying an imitation firearm.

He will serve ten years of his sentence in custody before a further four out on licence, although he can be considered for release after two thirds of his ten years.

So he’ll probably be out before his 25th birthday. Ain’t justice grand?

Why Not Just Re-Use The Other Reports..?

Ian Cliff, representing Lee, told the court that he had been remanded in custody since he was arrested in January.

He also told the court that Lee was on his “third strike” having committed drugs crimes before the incident.

Then he's going d...

Oh.

Mr Cliff asked Judge Samantha Leigh (Ed: *groans*) to delay the sentencing for six weeks to allow for a report to be prepared into Lee’s situation.

What's another report going to tell her that the others didn't?

Judge Leigh agreed to adjourn the sentencing hearing until the week commencing March 23 at the same court.

By which time, when she eventually gets around to passing a sentence, it'll probably have to take into account the time on remand, and he'll walk.

Straight back to his spot to deal drugs again.

Why Wasn't He Handed A Plane Ticket Back To Albania?

Following the police raid, it was estimated the street value of the drugs was anywhere between £88,000 and £266,000.

Hoxhaj made full admissions to the police and said he had been at the property for around two months prior to the raid. He admitted one count of producing cannabis.

Bang to rights! 

Mitigating, Shazia Malik highlighted that there had been a delay in the raid and court appearance but he had not offended again and had found himself stable accommodation. Ms Malik said there was an “element of exploitation” and he previously worked 14 hours a day in the car wash, earning just £13.

She added: “He is unable to return to Albania due to fears of the reprisals of the debts.”

Any actual proof of this? Did the court request any? 

Hoxhaj was handed a suspended 16 month sentence, 200 hours unpaid work and 30 days rehabilitation.

*sighs* What sort of idiot judge wou...

Oh. Of course: 

Judge Samantha Leigh told Hoxhaj: “You were working in a car wash in dismal conditions, you were offered an opportunity to earn more and have somewhere to stay.

“You were also receiving threats back in Albania made to your family to pay off a debt.”

Was he, Samantha? Was he really? 

Only 'Could'...?

A teenage drug dealer has admitted carrying cannabis just five months after dodging jail when he was caught with £38,000 worth of crack cocaine and heroin.

Dealer Tyrese Terry appeared dressed in a grey hoodie and trousers at Basildon Crown Court, to admit his latest offence, which could activate a two-year suspended sentence handed to him in May.

Why isn't it automatic? Why should it be left to the judge?

Addressing him in court on Friday, Judge Samantha Cohen (Ed: Whew! Not Samantha Leigh...this time!) said: “Your legal team are making arrangements on whether the much more serious matter should be tried. This will be heard on December 16.”

One to watch...

Brighton's Answer To Judge Samantha Leigh...

Step forward, Judge Shani Barnes! Her latest case?

Rowan Hudson attempted to rob the Costa Coffee in London Road, Brighton, and robbed Burger King on the seafront.

Both incidents happened in front of “terrified” families and young children. Staff at both venues were left shaken and in tears.

The “unstable” 32-year-old was arrested by police and said: “I don’t care, f*** Costa Coffee, f*** Burger King”.

But the former soldier who served in Afghanistan was given a suspended prison sentence because of his struggles with post traumatic stress and the time he has spent in prison waiting for his case to be heard.

At Brighton Crown Court Her Honour Judge Shani Barnes told Hudson: “There will not be another chance.”

Unless he's up before you...

The Only Surprise Is It Wasn't Judge Samantha Leigh...

...unless she's decided to transition, I suppose:

Judge John Lodge sentenced him to two years in prison but then suspended the sentence. Judge Lodge said: “You were in effect the delivery man. It’s often said so far as prison is concerned that there’s a tipping point.

“People go into prison, they operate in the system and then it becomes second nature and the punitive effect ceases to operate.

“It’s your good fortune that no one has given you bail in this case. You’ve learned that prison can do good and give young people opportunities.”

And what was their crime? A bit of petty shoplifting? Handling stolen goods?

Isfahan Khan, 23, of Aerofell Grove, Colchester, and Mohammed Islam, 18, of Folkestone Road, London, were spotted by Essex Police’s Op Raptor team in November. Khan’s grey BMW was pulled over in Long Riding.

The pair were caught with 45 wraps of cocaine and 28 wraps of heroin together with mobile phones linking them to drug deals.

*sighs*