FROM a paedophile single mum who sexually abused a boy to an ugly videogame row which led to disgusting 'die of cancer' comments, it has been a busy week at Worcester's courts.
A blood-stained drug dealer spared jail, a man who threatened a Worcester ambulance crew with HIV as he lashed out, a pervert's vile riverside sex act in front of a child and a drunken spitting rampage in a city McDonald's by a homeless nuisance are just a sample of some of the shocking cases heard at both Worcester Crown Court and Worcester Magistrates Court this week.
Nicola Holton, 36, was jailed for four years by Judge Nicolas Cartwright at Worcester Crown Court this week for sexual activity and sexual communication with a child in Worcester. The mother-of-two who worked in childcare, contacted the boy on social media, asking for help with an online game her son was playing, inviting him to watch a film with her and attend a birthday party before kissing him, taking him to her bedroom and performing sex acts on him.
JAILED: Nicola Holton. Photo: West Mercia Police
JAILED: Nicola Holton. Photo: West Mercia Police
The widow of Willis Place, St John’s, Worcester admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child and one of sexual communication with a child between August 31 and October 10 last year.
Read how we reported the case here.
Richard Jonathan Weaver, 28, and partner Rebecca Kopacz, 36, of Worcester Road, Droitwich each admitted two malicious communications offences when they appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday. Because Weaver had sent similar offensive messages before, magistrates banned him from using Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger.
GUILTY: Rebecca Kopacz Richard Weaver. Photo: James Connell
UNPLEASANT: The remarks made by Weaver and Kopacz. Photo: James Connell
Read how we reported the case in full here.
Both made threatening comments against Amanda Stewart and Heather Thompson on Boxing Day last year after the couple had not invited them to join in an online game of Grand Theft Auto on Xbox, a videogame involving guns, gangsters and fast cars. The messages involved sending an electronic communication (WhatsApp voice message) conveying a threat for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety to the recipient or any other person.
Many people reacted with anger when they learned a man who performed a sex act on himself in front of a child in Hereford was able to walk free from court on bail ahead of his sentence hearing.
David Power was pictured strolling along Foregate Street in Worcester after he admitted exposure and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
The 31-year-old of Pulley Avenue, Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire pleaded guilty to carrying out both offences on August 2, 2018 when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday.
GUILTY: David Power. Photo: James Connell
SICK: David Power. Photo: James Connell
The most serious offence involved him engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child ‘for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification’. The particulars are that he knowingly engaged in sexual activity, namely masturbation, ‘by the river in Hereford’ in the presence of a child under 16, namely 13, knowing or intending the child should be aware that he was engaged in that activity.
Meanwhile, drug dealer Robin Bayer, who had brought a JD Sports bag with him ready for prison, appeared emotional as he walked free at Worcester Crown Court on Monday. Judge James Burbidge QC, the Recorder of Worcester, imposed a suspended sentence after a probation officer said there was 'a realistic prospect of rehabilitation' and he was 'in the action phase' in trying to rid himself of his addictions.
Judge Burbidge, the city's most senior judge, last Wednesday also released another dealer - 41-year-old Darren Davis - who was in a car stopped on the M5 near Worcester with 13.8g of heroin and 11.4g of crack cocaine.
FREE: Robin Bayer with the prison bag he did not need. Photo: James Connell
FREE: Robin Bayer. Photo: James Connell
Homeless nuisance Peter Swinbourne was jailed for 20 months after he carried out a ‘disgusting’ attack at McDonald's in Worcester city centre, also breaking a protective screen designed to protect staff and customers from Covid-19.
The violent outburst happened after staff had asked Swinbourne politely to leave because of his antisocial antics which began after he got out of jail and went on a benefits-funded drinking binge.
RUDE: Peter Swinbourne. Photo: West Mercia Police
PEST: Peter Swinbourne. Photo: West Mercia Police
Another case, more disgusting again, involved a Malvern burglar spitting at a police officer and throwing a cup of urine at a prison officer.
Anthony Layton, 33, of Pound Bank Road, Malvern was jailed for four years and four months for the attacks.
VILE: Anthony Layton. Photo: West Mercia Police
VILE: Anthony Layton
This week James Pratt, 54, of Park Close, Malvern was convicted by a jury of attacks on two ambulance workers at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on September 8, 2019. During the attacks he lashed out, trying to spit at and bite the crew, kneeing one of them in the head and striking the other in the chest. He will be sentenced on June 11.
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