In a busy February for the county’s courts, here are five Hertfordshire criminals who have been convicted this month, including 22 years for an attempted murderer who fired a gun at a Stevenage pub.
1. Liam Campbell and Charlie Kettle
Liam Campbell, 26, of Rockingham Way, Stevenage, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, February 16, after being found guilty of attempted murder and possession of a firearm and ammunition. He also pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.
Charlie Kettle, 25, of Pembridge Gardens, Stevenage, was also jailed for eight years and six months having been found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
The court found that Campbell had been involved in a row with two brothers at Our Mutual Friend in Broadwater Crescent on New Year's Eve in 2022.
Shouting and swearing was heard before the 26-year-old picked up two glasses and threw them towards the brothers. One of them hit the sister of the victims, knocking her out and causing a cut to the back of her head.
Later that night, there was a second confrontation, in which Campbell fired a converted blank firing pistol twice at the men, with Kettle shouting: "Shoot it. Shoot it or let it off."
Campbell and Kettle fled the scene and the gun was never found. Campbell was arrested at an address in Welwyn Garden City on January 15, and Kettle in Suffolk on January 18.
Following their conviction, Detective Constable Chris Jones said: "We will not tolerate the carrying and use of unlicensed firearms in this town.
"I hope this sends a very clear message to those whose lifestyle involves the carrying and use of weapons, that you are not welcome in Stevenage, and we will do everything we can to make sure we keep you off our streets."
2. Howard White
White, of Whaddon Lane in Winchester, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years behind bars at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday, February 6, after he pleaded guilty to attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and arranging the commission of a child sex offence.
The court heard that in November 2022, he began communicating via social media with an undercover police officer, who, under the pseudonym of Gary, told White that he had a nine-year-old step daughter called Freya.
'Gary' told White that he would abuse his step daughter in front of him, before the 64-year-old sent explicit content to show Freya.
After further communications, where White believed he was speaking to Freya, a meeting was arranged in Hatfield before White would sexually abuse the nine-year-old at a nearby flat.
On February 10, 2023, White drove 80 miles to Hertfordshire, but was arrested by officers waiting at the property where he was planning to meet Freya.
As she sentenced White, Judge Barbara Mensah told the court: "These offences are treated very seriously by the court.
"They may well be decoy cases, but nevertheless, as far as you knew, it was a real nine-year-old child who was being spoken about.
"You had gone as far as you possibly could go. It seems to me that you had gone far enough and there is nothing in your behaviour that suggests you would have stopped."
3. Christopher Andoh-Wilson
The 32-year-old, of Brompton Close, Luton, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday, February 8, having pleaded guilty to five offences of fraud by false representation and one of acquiring criminal property.
He had been given a suspended sentence back in December, but it was later discovered that two references presented to the court were forgeries.
Andoh-Wilson had also previously been sentenced to 31 months in July 2021, for attempting to smuggle cocaine, cannabis, spice and SIM card to a prisoner while he was working as a Serco custody cells manager at Luton Crown Court.
The 32-year-old had been working as Letchworth BID manager between April 2019 and July 2021, during which time he made three applications for COVID-19 grants, including one for Letchworth BID.
He told the organisations the money, totalling £60,000, had been refused before keeping it himself. He also pocketed two £100 licences that had been paid to him.
When he appeared at court for sentencing in December, he presented a forged character reference from a work colleague and a letter of appreciation of his work from a Mayor of Luton, but the judge did not know that the mayor was his mother and that he had altered the date on the letter from 2021 to 2023.
Sentencing Andoh-Wilson, Judge Bilal Siddique said: "When I first sentenced you, you indicated you were apologetic and I took account of all the references.
"You are a repeat offender where there has been a breach of trust. It is now accepted you forged a character reference and forged a date on a reference from the mayor, who is your mother.
"This is strong evidence you had not rehabilitated. Your remorse was far from genuine. You deliberately sought to pull wool over the court’s eyes. Your conduct was extension of your previous offences."
4. Daniel Breckenridge
The 38-year-old, of The Chace in Broadwater, was sentenced to 30 weeks behind bars after appearing at Hatfield Magistrates' Court on Saturday, February 10.
He was arrested by officers from the Stevenage Scorpion Team on Friday, February 9, and was found to be in possession of stolen property worth in excess of £1,500.
"Shoplifting continues to be an ongoing issue in Stevenage and is a policing priority for my team," said Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Matt Fathers.
"We are committed to identifying prolific offenders and I hope this reassures the public that those who continue to offend will end up with custodial sentences."
5. County lines drug gang
Dealers involved in running the ‘Ghost’ line, which brought heroin and crack cocaine from Bedfordshire to Hertfordshire between January 2021 and June 2023, were sentenced after appearing in Luton Crown Court on January 26 and February 2.
Amir Hussain, 25, of Alexandra Avenue, Luton, was jailed for 12 years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Bialal Ahmed, 22, of Beresford Road, Luton, was jailed for four years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Abid Khan, 21, of Letchworth Road, Luton, was jailed for two years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Oman Sajid, 21, of Priestleys, Luton, was jailed for two years and six months for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
Graham Watkins, 55, of Trent Road, Luton, was given a two-year sentence suspended for two years for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
Nasser Shabbir, 26, from Luton, was jailed for 10 years and two months. As well as conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, he was also sentenced for dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply class B drugs, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and assaulting police.
During the operation, Herts police said they identified several 'cuckooed' addresses of vulnerable individuals in Hemel Hempstead and safeguarded two 15-year-olds who had been exploited by the gang.
Detective Constable David Purvis said: "This gang ran the 'Ghost' line, which supplied drugs out of Luton into the Hemel Hempstead area.
"The disruption of this line will make a significant impact on drug use and associated crime in the region.
"It also sends a clear message that drug dealing will not go unpunished and anyone involved will be caught and jailed."
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